In the last several decades the "peaceful years" could be counted on one hand. .

I'm not American so my understanding of this may be a little off, but didn't Germany and Italy first declare war on the US due to a mutual defense treaty with Japan after the US declared war on Japan.

No, I'm saying that when it's your own son or daughter that stands a chance to end up blown to pieces in some desert or jungle, it makes you think a little bit before voting to engage in unnecessary foreign entanglements.

I too once received a knighthood:

"Dear Sir....

I am writing you on behalf of the exile king of ........ Our kingdom would like to reward you the golden cross, our highest recommendations, a knighthood.

In exchange for this great honor, we would like you to help with releasing the frozen accounts of the king, by allowing a small sum to pass through your account ....."

What about the Google level filtering? I mean typing "kiddy porn" in the search engine wont get a link to uncle-toms-basement.com. If anything its just got companies selling filtering software.

The filter wouldn't of changed the kiddy porn distribution one bit because I'd imagine that stuff would be done mostly peer-to-peer.

Regardless of Govt, I think Google's done a fine job stopping what it can and that adding a filter on ISP's is quite redundant.

I always thought this filter campaign was simply a legal thawte at privacy allowing the Govt later to scrutinize peoples access better.

Then please please PLEASE stay home playing Yahtzee on election days from now on. Trust me, it's way more fun than having your voice heard. Everyone's doin it.

Work Choices.

If Rudd didn't get into power things would have been very different during the GFC. With Work Choices in effect wages for every profession would have dropped through the floor, mass layoffs would have been commonplace and working hours increased. We are extremely fortunate that Rudd repealed Work Choices before the GFC actually hit.

Contrary to popular belief, the last three years under Rudd have not been a total disaster, our national debt is not spiralling out of control, in fact we are one of the few nations to come out of the GFC. Debt is at far less then 10% of our GDP, right now I have more cash in the bank then is required to pay my share of the national debt (A$9,050, BTW, my state of WA is in the black) and this is during a global recession.

Here's where you go horribly wrong. right now Labor cant do anything without the Greens and independents, I want to keep it that way. Green preferential vote goes towards Labor so Labor remains in power whilst being reliant on the Green party who has openly opposed Labors more insane policies this term such as the filter and ETS. My interest is in keeping a minor party in a position of power as they are actually afraid of being voted out. My preference is two or three minor parties but I'd also like a pony.

The worst possible scenario for Australia is a dripping-wet, semi-naked Tony Abbot being elected Prime Minister. This is something we fear deep in our hearts.

Frankly the Coalition scare me more then Conroy. Both the leader of the Liberals and the Nationals are ultra conservatives (not in the good way, they are religious nutbars) so voting them in would be just as bad, probably worse then another 3 years of Rudd.