Power struggle drama serial must end - put national above self interests

When will Labour learn to maintain party discipline, be a good government and grow in strength. Unfortunately, Labour has a history of disunity since it lost power to the Liberals, long before Kevin Rudd became PM.  Labour has been and is still seen as a bunch of scatterbugs held together by factional leaders akin to mafia chiefs.

Yes, Julia Gillard may have done the incorrect thing to stage a coup to remove Rudd whose popularity was waning and was a poor team player. However, Labour might not have lost the elections. That's a hypothesis and no one really know what would have happened with so many "if"s.

However, since Gillard has been holding steady and trying to implement  despite disruptions from the sadistic and destructive Tony Abbott and backstabbing vengeance from Rudd. Every politician has some skeletons in the closet. The difference is a matter of degree.

Aussies are generally averse to strong leadership but good government does need time to build up. For the benefit of the nation, please stop the bickering.

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-23/rudd-signals-he-may-challenge-gillard-for-labor-leadership.html

Realisation of global credit squeeze and rising borrowing costs on Australian banks

We actually saw it coming I'm not kidding. Variable rate will at best be put on hold, if not rise to match the higher costs of borrowing and funding due to rising uncertainties and risks from the gravity of European debt ridden economies and the tenuous US "recovery".

http://www.theage.com.au/national/home-owners-pay-for-the-banks-pain-20120210-1smgz.html

Getting it right is not something to boast of. Nevertheless, Australian borrowers would have expected the Reserve Bank to have some inkling even if it had not forewarned of possible rate rises that would cause additional pain to households saddled with mortgages. When many of us including the experienced and savvy investors have suffered severe bashing in the volatile markets since the Global Financial Crisis, suffice to say, an ability to envision beyond six months in financial planning is no mean feat.

Instead of explaining the gulf between the Reserve Bank's anticipated rate cut, which is out of sync with the market forces, and impending mortgage rate rises, Treasurer Wayne Swan has capitalised on the populist bank bashing bandwagon to mask bureaucrats' missed targets.

http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Wayne-Swan-Australian-banks-funding-costs-pd20120131-R28CV?OpenDocument&src=mp

Indeed, bank bashing has overshot and exceeded reasonable limits - "fever pitch" as some analysts call it. There are always two sides of the story. Blaming another to reap political capital or higher profits would not benefit the common folks. A fairer and more intelligent strategy might.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/economy-needs-smarter-strategy-than-bank-bashing/story-e6frg71x-1226265118327

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/bank-bashing-is-fraught-with-unknown-consequences/story-fn558imw-1226267144306

http://www.smh.com.au/business/banks-deep-pockets-short-arms-and-shorter-memories-20120210-1sm17.html

Fighting Home Grown Extremism

It is comforting to know that two highly educated Muslims (a university student and banker) have taken the time and effort to spread messages of peace. Too little, too late?

http://www.smh.com.au/national/peace-promoters-hope-to-nip-violent-ideologies-in-the-bud-20120205-1qzvd.html

Hopefully, more will come forward and this is not a one-off thing publicity stunt to appease Australians and quell apprehensions. These two heroes of the community must get strong community support and protection, not just in financial terms (counterterrorism funding). In the past, moderators have been afraid to be out the open for fear of being exposed to attacks by extremists. The rest of the community would be inclined along with whoever is more aggressive for fear of ostracism.

However, addressing dangers of home-grown terrorism is fraught with challenges and pitfalls. While promoting multiculturalism, certain individuals have abused their freedom. In a society governed by rule of law, under no circumstances should local tribal traditional practices prevail over secular authority and laws.
The recent trial of male family members killing four of their women folk in Canada is shocking. Sane and morally upright Muslims do not commit murders.

http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCATRE8140QP20120205

Those people, not just Muslims, who claim to be firm and true believers and use religion to justify suppression and killing of others will not be tolerated. No one should place themselves above the law in family disputes or commercial settlement, whatever their religion might be. It should be treated no differently or even more harshly as with cases of dysfunctional families, child abuse and bullying.

Ignorance perpetuates the myth that all Muslims are extremists. This must be altered through education for a terrorist is not born but groomed. The fact is that followers of Islam are a diverse group with different emphasis. Many are moderate and observe the cultural heritage, able to think and adapt to enhance peace living among communities of today. More importantly, poverty and social problems which are often the root causes of crimes and terrorism should be examined and redressed.

In the longer term, demonstrating that Australia sincerely adopts a level playing field in domestic and international arena would deprive home-grown of any excuses to destroy fellow human beings.