Sadly, the writer undermined her own logic with the metaphor "the government kept on spending like drunken sailors".
Irrespective of sobriety, sailors spend only their own hard-earned money. And they don't waste money on irrational "thought balloons", but invest in realistic projects like tattoos, female companionship and alcohol, thereby providing income to a service industry. Finally, when drunk, sailors are incapable of spending more. It's hard to achieve the thoughtfulness of a drunken sailor.
Stuart McCulloch, Wendouree, Vic
JUDITH Sloan is indeed the mistress of pragmatism. Not for her a policy whose objectives are sloppy or sentimental nor a policy that may create a more civil society or provide benefits for the undeserving poor. For Sloan, a policy must meet its objectives, have measurable outcomes and be economically rational. A policy may be content neutral and its goals value-free, and yet still be eligible to meet Sloan's exemplary criteria.
Marilyn Willis, Kallista, Vic
WAYNE Swan will go down in history as one of our worst Treasurers. Everyone is to blame for the lack of a budget surplus but him. Swan mistakenly believed that if you talk about a surplus ad nauseum it would magically appear. But not so. In spite of commonwealth revenues increasing every year he's been in charge of the budget, the Treasurer hasn't managed to balance the books.
Ann Crawford, Tynong, Vic
THE reason we have nothing to show from the mining boom is not that the government has wasted the proceeds, but that there were no proceeds. The billions of dollars of mineral wealth were distributed, like the dirt itself. Why should it be that the shareholders of a mining company are the sole beneficiaries of the common wealth belonging to the country? Just because they dig it up? Anyone could do that.
Lance Scott, Sheldon, Qld
JUDITH Sloan's criticism of family tax benefits is misplaced. Family tax benefits are not "middle class welfare". They simply implement the principle of horizontal tax equity, which states that people of similar means should pay similar amounts in tax. A person with children on the same nominal income as a person without does not have the same means to pay because the children impose additional costs. The tax system is right to recognise this difference by having people with children pay less net tax.
Chris Curtis, Hurstbridge, Vic
WHILE agreeing with most of the content in your editorial ("Squandering the benefits of the resources boom", 28/12), I feel you were a bit severe in your criticism of John Howard and Peter Costello. They paid out Labor's $90 billion debt, started the Future Fund, and had cash of $20b in the bank. We all shared in the benefits of the mining boom in the form of tax cuts, which in turn stimulated the economy. This left us in an almost ideal position to deal with the global financial crisis.
Rob Hurdwell, Port Macquarie, NSW
PETER van Onselen is spot-on in his article on Wayne Swan's backflips and treachery to Kevin Rudd ("Swan's got gold-medal form for policy backflips", 29-30/12). Rudd managed the GFC and maintained policy cohesion. Neither Swan nor Julia Gillard showed ethical integrity in their backflips on the carbon tax or the cast-iron surplus.
Despite his flaws, Rudd would have given little consideration to policies such as Nicola Roxon's limitation of civil rights.
David Gould, Moonah, Tas
Last Post, December 31
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Last Post, December 31 ... It is great to see The Australian promoting home-grown talent and columnists such as Ross Fitzgerald ("Austen ...
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Last Post, December 31
- The Australian
- December 31, 2012
Annette James, Glasshouse Mountains, Qld
True to form, Wayne Swan has blamed someone other than himself and his incompetent government for derailing the much-promised 2013 budget surplus. At least it wasn't Tony Abbott's fault this time.
Paul Keefe, Wyreema, Qld
I'm surprised Wayne Swan hasn't included Elvis in his list of conspirators.
Paul M Bickford, Wilston, Qld
It wasn't the Tea Party that ruined the surplus: it was the fiscal stimulus party, from which we are now suffering the inevitable hangover.
Justin Baulch, Graceville, Qld
Will Wayne Swan give an ironclad guarantee the budget will stay in deficit while he remains Treasurer?
Ian Cooke, Alstonville, NSW
Wayne Swan has surely jumped the shark with his absurd attempt to blame the Tea Party.
Burt Bosma, Surrey Hills, Vic
Tony Greig will be remembered for being on the receiving end of Jeff Thomson's unplayable sandshoe crusher during the 1974 Ashes series.
David Crommelin, Strathfield, NSW
Tony Greig has been in my life as a cricketer and commentator for so long that he feels like a friend even though I never met him.
Richard Smith, Spring Hill, Qld
It is great to see The Australian promoting home-grown talent and columnists such as Ross Fitzgerald ("Austen Tayshus sends a postcard from the edge", 29-30/12).
PA Smith, Mount Archer, Qld
It's time to rethink the rules of cricket. In this modern era when players earn their living at the game, it is unfair to ask a team to compete with a depleted side. Amend the no-substitute rule to allow a full replacement in the event of a genuine injury.
Ryan Rob, Atherton, Qld
"2013 belongs to the party with the vision to lead us" (29-30/12). I'm afraid the year will be an orphan, living on the streets.
Michael Cunningham, West End, Qld
Mitchell Johnson must be rested to avoid injury -- to Sri Lankan batsmen.
Trevor Farrant, Hackney, SA
How I wish I lived in the same country as Craig Emerson ("The Cassandras of retail need to see the big picture", 29-30/12).
Liam Hayes, Somers, Vic
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