The WSJ has one of its characteristically snappy and devastating op-ed pieces on the Rudd Stimulus package. Unfortunately they now have a pay-wall.
When Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd unveiled a massive 42 billion Australian dollar ($38 billion) stimulus package last year, he sold it as a far better response to recession than “to allow the free market to let rip.” Now like other national leaders who sprayed out taxpayer cash, he’s finding government may not be as efficient a savior as the market, after all.
After a devasting critique of the home insulation debacle, the green-loans debacle, and the solar-panel debacle this is the bottom line.
None of this is a great surprise. Australia’s green stimulus, like its American cousin, was always more about promoting liberal visions of wealth redistribution than actually spurring sustainable growth. Australians are now paying for Mr. Rudd’s mistakes.
Bugga, wish I could read it..
VinceOZ
3 Mar 10 at 3:41 pm
…Australians are now paying for Mr. Rudd’s mistakes.
We sure are. And now the Rudd government has graduated from electrocuting people to “health reform.”
What could possibly go wrong?
C.L.
3 Mar 10 at 3:42 pm
Dr. Nick Riviera has been sounded out by the government to head up the reforms.
Infidel Tiger
3 Mar 10 at 4:15 pm
Rudd should ask “Sorry” Pete Beattie to track down his old mate, Jayant Patel, and ask him to be 2IC.
C.L.
3 Mar 10 at 4:18 pm
We sure are. And now the Rudd government has graduated from electrocuting people to “health reform.”
What could possibly go wrong?
Are they getting patients to install foil insulation in hospitals? That is one way of clearing wards for new patients.
dover_beach
3 Mar 10 at 4:28 pm
I can’t believe he’s actually trying this shit on.
In the earlier part of the week dopey was apologizing profusely about the government short comings and for screwing things up. In fact you had the entire echelons of the ALP and even state premier (except Gillard) apologizing.
Then Mid week the dude is proposing a huge very sensitive reform.
Shouldn’t he be focusing on fixing problems like he said rather than making another proposal. The guy is an idiot.
JC
3 Mar 10 at 4:38 pm
Only sinkers could link this rubbish on the day conclusive evidence that the stimulus saved Australia from a quite severe recession.
Reminds me of Sinkers saying no-one believed the handouts were doing anything and then we saw the December Retail Trade turnover figures.
Catallaxian crackpots can never admit they are wrong even when the evidence is overwhelming
Butterfield, Bloomfield & Bishop
3 Mar 10 at 5:39 pm
Homer, how about you telling us what you believe in and what you care about instead of using all these electrons to take potshots.
ken n
3 Mar 10 at 5:49 pm
No ken. You’re meant to say “Is that so, Homer?”
Sinclair Davidson
3 Mar 10 at 5:52 pm
Catallaxian crackpots can never admit they are wrong even when the evidence is overwhelming.
You’re one to talk, Homer. Last week you quote-doctored Ian McFarlane, remember?
The evidence tells us that no “GFC” monster was ever going to badly spook Australia. This was predicted. Insofar as Australia was shielded from recessional fallout, two things matter more than anything else:
1) the fiscal and regulatory cakewalk inherited by Rudd and Swan;
2) China’s insatiable appetite for our gear.
Hardly anything to do with Rudd building toilets and burning houses down.
C.L.
3 Mar 10 at 5:57 pm
Only on BKTCs Day (or hour) Sinc
Meanwhile, I’m trying to help him improve his contribution.
ken n
3 Mar 10 at 5:58 pm