And that's why I called you ignorant.
Here's a common Australian scenario:
Husband and wife work their asses of for 10 years. Buy house with mortgage. Have kids. Property boom comes and their house value goes up. They access some equity and buy an investment unit with idea to fund children's education or retirement. For the first time in their lives they feel like they have done the hard yards and made it. This is the single most important thing in their lives (that a govt has any control over) and nothing is going to take it away from them if they can help it.
What they've achieved could be taken away by some bad economic managment by the govt. Howard has a proven record and is the less risky of the two choices.
I really, really dislike the situation as i don't think it is as common as you believe it to be. I'll grant you that in some cases, yes, such a situation exists and economic management would have been of some (hopefully not all) importance to those when voting in the election.
Why you can't understand that is beyond me. You have a serious lack of empathy if you can't grasp that that's how a lot of people think and that there's absolutely bothing wrong with it.
Bizarre. I do understand this concept (It's far too simple not to understand and is rather dull), but i also understand that there are many below the poverty line, on whom the economy would have little to no affect by adjusting interest rate levels and so forth. Those people need to be looked after and supported as well. Not everybody is thinking 'Gee, i hope I/R levels stay relatively low so i can invest in my second property, and my children can profit from that'. Many are hoping for a way out of their predicament such as impoverishment and yes some economic factors - like more employment.
No. Ignorant because you can't accept that (many) others think different to you (and with good reason).
Ahh, but in a democracy, shouldn't everybody's voice be heard, not just the majority? You are pretty much accusing me of not looking at the 'bigger picture' and you think i cannot understand why people would want I/R levels low. Quite funny really, you are doing the exact same as my saying you do not take into account those who cannot benefit from strong economic management, other than rising employment.
For the record: I don't think like the scenario that I outlined, but I do understand that it's how many people think, why they think it, and that it's perfectly ok to think like that. That'd make me not ignorant, and you ignorant.
Love the punch line. Your entire argument is a bitter one, refusing to actually consider my opinion.
1. It's about priorities. Everything else is insignificant to most of those families who are geared. Once again you don't seem to be able to understand why people think different to yourself.
Errr.... Yes, of course i cannot comprehend those who think differently to me [/sarcasm]. The fact i believe is that, many people who would have voted in Howard on strong economic management (which as i've said is quite justified) would have already been quite well off if they're considering an investment with a secondary home... Did they really need that extra $10,000 a year? A lot of people are business-corporate folk already earning quite a large sum of money.
I also find it interesting you seem to think i had a different stance on the election, given i told you in my first or second post that i'm currently in the 'family position' and am purchasing a house with a very restricted budget.
2. The economy is the single most important role of the govt. Without a good economy, there is high unemployment, or high inflation, or low growth, or a low SOL, or a combination of these. No point in having other desirable policies if a sound economic policy isn't in place first.
Ouch. SO let me get this straight, law enforcement, well-being and the health of citizens isn't of upmost importance to a government? That's what i cannot understand, as i put it in my original post - Why do people put the economy ahead of basic values, such as, education and health.
It is no good having a low rate of inflation, a low current account deficit, a stable dollar and low-medium interest rate levels, if there is increasing crime (due to lack of education and health) which promotes things such as drug use etc, which all have a negative impact on our society. You cannot simply turn a blind eye to this kind of stuff, as it is prevalent to many suburbs in Melbourne. And if such a situation exists, well it is almost impossible to have good employment growth, unless of course, one hour working per week for mum or dad in the garden (brushing up the area so their clients can come to see them at home) categorises you as an employed person.