Economic management vs health, education and the arts: you're linking the 2 in a rather bizarre fashion.
Which is the entire problem he Left have, they seem to regard having to pay for things as being unconnected to the things themselves.
Sure we need good economic management, but we equally need good health, education and the arts.
Can you have the former without the latter? Can you have the latter without the former?
Sound economic management is teh foundation for a productive culture, and by productive I include decent health care for all, artistic freedom, the ability to explore our world in any of it's facets and so on.
If you're country is so bankrupt that it needs everyone working at a subsistence level then none of that will happen.
JWH's mantra is almost exclusively the economy and outside threats. He says that we must first of all have good economic management above all else. This is obviously wrong.
Why?
My view, FWIW, is that if we have good economic management then the population can do whatever they desire to make the others happen. I expect teh govt to create the environment where a sound economy allows those people motivated enough to deliver certain aspects they find appealling (be they artistic, scientific, personal, spiritual, sporting or whatever other category there is).
None of which can be done if we're all working to pay back crippling loans for money that governments (of both persuasions) have used for pork barrelling and ultimately wasted (eg NSW property tax bonanza, GST funds etc)
For example, what's the use of creating the world's best economy when you forget to provide adequate education and training for the people to take advantage of it?
There's the rub. Assuming we agree that we have a very good economy (not necesarily the world's best), then are we providing adequate education and trainign opportunities?
On a global scale the answer is a resounding YES. Sure we get the campaigns for more money into unis, TAFEs, schools etc, that is a PRODUCT of sound economic management. We have the money, look at the level of schooling we provide, the level of access to universtiy is incredible and so on. Do we NEED more money in thoseareas? No. Would it be NICE to have more money in those areas? YES.
But if anyone truly believes we are not providing access to good basic education then they need to look around at the world. We may not be the absolute best (in the same way we're not the best economy) but education is certainly well covered in Australia.
We need both sides to be managed well, and JWH doesn't have a clue when it comes to the humanities.
Nor does he need to. He and his govt have created the conditions for anyone who desires to put the effort in that they can do so. If you're really into the humanities then this is in many ways a golden age, you are free to pursue those opportunities as you see fit.
Of course, if youexpect the governemnt to pay for all those humaities and associated interests then you'll be disappointed. You are expected to get them up and running with like minded souls rather than relying on government handouts.
SG
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