I am with you on hyperinflation and reckon Wayne Swan might find that not only has the inflation genie got out of the bottle, but that she is pretty angry this time and will be damn hard to catch

Our taxpayers money in Australia isn’t enough to pay for stimulus packages…we need to either borrow it from someone (will they keep lending?) or print it.

- borrowing = Australia having to claw its way out of masses of debt over the next 10years or so. This will greatly stifle our economic recovery.

- printing = massive inflation. Hyperinflation is extreme, and I doubt it would come to that. But stimulus packages are also stupid, and we’re getting 3 of those. So don’t completely write off the hyperinflationary scenario just yet.

As for Rudd he receives plenty of sickening praise from the mainstream press, so I figure he can handle our jibes

However I agree that big government is a real problem. All those lovely sci-fi movies set in a future where everything is communist and there is really tight, often militaristic, control over the populace -- it really scares me that we have started down that path.

A global (fiat) currency is also very very scary.

I wonder, why do we need a ‘global’ approach to the GFC anyway? Basically, the US and most of Europe, and us and NZ (and others) stuffed up really badly. When we stuffed up, we didn’t all join hands and come up with brilliant plans to stuff up. We just copied whatever everyone else was doing, because it looked like they were making lots of money.

I think this global bailout crap is just another way for Gov’s to shift blame from their own country to the rest of the world. “Oh it wasn’t our fault, how could we see this coming, it happened to everyone at the same time”. Sadly, I think that line will work on the masses…

Millie: Our Opposition is crap, i agree. As for what can be done about it…well, I think there is a way (i’ll explain below). But the mess we are in now is our own doing. We became so complacent during ‘boom’ times that we not only re-elected Howard, but we allowed the pathetic Labor and Liberal parties to dictate the terms on which they would debate and be elected. We are a very spineless masses indeed.

The way to fix it all? Well, our Opposition is woeful, our Gov is worse, and all the other minor parties are just lackies for the bigger parties. At the moment, don’t think any major changes can be made. What could cause major changes?

1) very hard economic times, eg Depression, hyperinflation.
Think: Rise of Hitler in WWII. All Germany wanted was a leader that could make things better, and they decided to go for someone that could make changes. Ultimately it turned out pretty badly for them and everyone else.

2) world war.
This changes the dynamic of a country, and therefore requires new leadership. People will vote out of fear and might take on a new leader who makes the best promises, not one that has the most eloquent public service speak. Depending on who we get, this could make a large difference in other areas of policy. Perhaps they will also be pro-republican.

3) a Gov. General on a mission.
Hey, maybe if the GG wasn’t always best buddies with the PM they could potentially make some changes. Spending of “stimulus” money could be arguably terms to depose Kevin.

There are probably more things to add, like a MAJOR oil price spike ($300 a barrel?) which would be economically crippling, major energy issues, major climate change issues, protectionist strategies by gov’s., publicised major gov. corruption…the list is probably endless.

- Some time to fly around in his fossil fuel burning VIP jet.
- Great photo opportunities. “Look Australia, they are talking to me”.
- Time to abuse some cabin crew on the VIP jet for not having his milk warmed correctly. (he gets a sore tummy if he has cold milk)
- An opportunity to be surrounded by journalists from Australia who would not know a hard question even if someone wrote it for them and marked it as “hard”.
- The chance to run around and tell everyone how good the Australian banking system is without mentioning that the neo-liberalist Costello set up APRA, which is one of the main reasons our banking system is in good shape.

As much as I would be happy for him to stay away from Australian longer this is negated by the fact that while he is away Gillard is holding the fort… and that is truly scary.