the laboral party has factional disputes, over which bum gets the front seat, but is broadly in agreement that the oz electorate is getting the government they deserve.

and i agree as well: sheep will be ruled by dogs.

a few days ago i remarked that usa was 'living on it's capital'. this link develops that idea in a broad survey, from the horses mouth. a chilling reminder that imperial societies are intrinsically self destructing.

http://yournewreality.blogspot.com/2007/08/america-as-roman-empire.html

Precisely. To have an ideological battle you at least have to appear interested in the territory. So far neither side seems to want to claim it.

I wonder why?

The ALP's policy on this is unchanged from 1996, though they have clarified that they will phase out by preventing new enrolments from 2009, rather than abolishing existing places.

Rubbish. Look at the ALP website, type in "degrees". You'll see recent comments on the 35% cap, etc etc.

Gary,
the ALP has pledged to phase out full fee degress for domestic undergraduiates by 2009.

Lyn,
Rudd talks in terms of the education revolution and the under investment of higher education.Thus we find the following:

Education is the pathway out of poverty. It is the pathway to a career, security and a decent standard of living.We want education to be about lifelong learning. From the cradle to the classroom, from the living room to the workplace, we need to keep investing in ourselves, in our skills and therefore in our future.No matter where you are from, or how much money you have, you should still get a great education. That’s our goal. We want education to be for the many and not the few.

Investment in education is tied to productivity growth, ie., an economy can’t reach its full potential unless it continually strives for consistent improvements to productivity and workforce participation.

Ok, I admit I have no university degree and my wife has but I am not any lesser for this. Indeed, as a CONSTITUTIONALIST I have defeated many a lawyer in Court (Their university degrees didn’t help them!).
Still, I do hold the view that universities should be free for Australians. Sure, have “aliens” pay for their education!
By charging university students a fee, it means that when they get into the workforce they have to charge this, with interest payable, back upon the community. So, doctors need to recoup it from their patients, etc. and on and on it goes.
Why should the poor be denied university education, where the parents cannot afford the high cost?
We would do better if we simply commit university students to have free education provided they work at least 10 years following completion of their studies in Australia. In my view, that would be a worthwhile investment and we would have a far better society. After all, why rob those who pursue university studies to be lumped with huge cost that basically rob them in their prime years to settle down because of the huge financial burden to pay back the study cost?
We might just find that economically, in the long term, we are better of to provide free university education. Where there is a will there is a way.