R.C. AndersonRudd vs Howard
May 23rd 2007 07:30
Many of my friends have been asking me whether I think that Kevin Rudd will be a good alternative Prime Minister to John Howard. I have told many that I am still reserving my judgement but the more I see of Rudd, the more concerned I am.
Yesterday Rudd announced that the ALP would not repeal the Howard Government's controversial policy of Voluntary Student Unionism which outlaws universities charging students a fee to assist paying for student services.
Now this idea may make a lot of sense, however consider this: with student unions weakened Howard was also able to push through a 25% rise in University HECS fees. This means that even a degree at the lowest HECS rate, like a BA, went from $3768 a year to $4710... a rise of $942. Sort of makes the $130.50 I paid to the Deakin University Student Union look kind of insignificant doesn't it?
And yet the major parties are telling us that we're better off? You're kidding me...
This is one example in a long line of policies that Kevin Rudd has introduced which move the ALP closer and closer to the Liberals. Here are some more examples:
CLIMATE CHANGE:
Howard: invest in Nuclear Technology, a technology that would not be available in Australia for another twenty years...
Rudd: Invest in "clean coal technology" a technology that doesn't actually exist.
IMMIGRATION:
Rudd/Howard: An "Australian Values" test for newcomers to Australia.
URANIUM:
Howard/Rudd: support increasing the number of Uranium mines in Australia, mines which often displace Indigenous People from their land.
FORESTS:
Rudd/Howard: Continue the destruction of Tasmania's old growth forests, even though it is damaging Tasmania's essential tourist industry.
And countless other policies. Maybe the question shouldn't be "Will Rudd be a good alternative Prime Minister?" it should be "Will Rudd be an alternative PM at all?"
It is interesting to note that in elections for the Monash Student Union, the Labor Right (Rudd's faction) run on the same ticket as the Liberals. Maybe they should do the same in Canberra too...
Yesterday Rudd announced that the ALP would not repeal the Howard Government's controversial policy of Voluntary Student Unionism which outlaws universities charging students a fee to assist paying for student services.
Now this idea may make a lot of sense, however consider this: with student unions weakened Howard was also able to push through a 25% rise in University HECS fees. This means that even a degree at the lowest HECS rate, like a BA, went from $3768 a year to $4710... a rise of $942. Sort of makes the $130.50 I paid to the Deakin University Student Union look kind of insignificant doesn't it?
And yet the major parties are telling us that we're better off? You're kidding me...
This is one example in a long line of policies that Kevin Rudd has introduced which move the ALP closer and closer to the Liberals. Here are some more examples:
CLIMATE CHANGE:
Howard: invest in Nuclear Technology, a technology that would not be available in Australia for another twenty years...
Rudd: Invest in "clean coal technology" a technology that doesn't actually exist.
IMMIGRATION:
Rudd/Howard: An "Australian Values" test for newcomers to Australia.
URANIUM:
Howard/Rudd: support increasing the number of Uranium mines in Australia, mines which often displace Indigenous People from their land.
FORESTS:
Rudd/Howard: Continue the destruction of Tasmania's old growth forests, even though it is damaging Tasmania's essential tourist industry.
And countless other policies. Maybe the question shouldn't be "Will Rudd be a good alternative Prime Minister?" it should be "Will Rudd be an alternative PM at all?"
It is interesting to note that in elections for the Monash Student Union, the Labor Right (Rudd's faction) run on the same ticket as the Liberals. Maybe they should do the same in Canberra too...
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