They're gone

Much as I hate to admit it I can't help but think that the Gillard government's days are numbered. It is difficult to imagine that the Labor party will be able to find another person to lead it to victory. The thought for example of a Rudd revitalization is just laughable.
To be sure Abbott's unremitting whining is being increasingly believed. The characterization of the PM as a 'liar' has been repeated so often that the electorate has begun to simply accept it.
The nail in the coffin? Nobody wants a tax. This encourages disbelief, people simply Want to believe all this because they don't want to pay.

Laurie Oakes in  a feature piece in the weekend's Herald Sun offers a long sought-after critique of the parlous state of politics  in this fair land. One sentence, perhaps, damns both sides

"the Opposition Leader is getting away with purveying trashy policy because the nation is mesmerised by the Government's woes. While Julia Gillard continues to stumble from one mess to another, Abbott largely escapes scrutiny."

It raises the question about whether we have the best sort of leaders or those who have been seduced by the myth of "pragmatism" versus "policy".
My feeling is that if for one moment our leaders/parties could grasp the nettle of creative policy and pursue it with vigour, whilst resisting the temptation to water down vision with some perverted notion of what is popular we would see a shift in political allegiance. distracted.
 Oh dear! So shallow! On all sides. From all parties.

Climate change

The shrinking (North) Polar ice cap-1979 -2003

Interesting reflections emerge about the climate change debate. Although its become the "in topic", several more serious commentators are noting that in the last 5-10 years the actual science has become more sharply honed. Such a one was Alan Dupont on Margaret Throsby this a.m.
His keen observation is worth listening to.
Observing the political scene one could be forgiven for thinking that the sort of opportunistic vote-seeking politics that both our major parties go in for will not be a good mindset for actually dealing with the problem.
If I hear the idiocy of our PM saying we are not signing Kyoto because other people (chiefly the Yanks we should note) are not signing; and it makes no sense unless everyone signs it, then I swear I shall scream! Little J is such an opportuntist and ballot-box responsive that he will never do more than cobble together a policy which will win him what votes he can (see here).
This simply is not good enough, we will need leadership which will lead not just that which will push from behind, or follow the most popular line.
Where is Adolf when you need him?