This article from the Guardian says it all: A "Lost Decade". For Australia. For us, too.

[Aristus]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2217016,00.html

That's what we can call the 00's; The Lost Decade. A Twilight Zone era of lost hopes, lost dreams, lost prestige, lost budget surpluses and lost civil liberties. A Lost Decade under George W. Bush.

The ascension of Rudd to the office of Prime Minister is not a grand swerve to the left, after all, apparently. And Howard's years as PM are being called a "Lost Decade". Australia's present is our future...

[Joanne98]

1. Is voting still mandatory in Australia?

[Esra Star]

5. Yes. nt

[gulfcoastliberal]

2. Is it coincidental that here we have the DLC destroying the left, the UK has "new labour", and now

we learn that the Australian left has also been eviscerated. I'm sure it's all just my imagination...

[Robbien]

4. It is not coincidence

It is by design. There is big money behind the movement worldwide to shift politics to the right.

[malaise]

9. You are 100% correct

but this moment in history will soon pass.

[cboy4]

3. Yea, John Howard is really one of the more terrible

human beings on the planet.

I wish him nothing but unhappiness and poor health in his days ahead.

He deserves it.

[Skittles]

6. it is unseemly to wish ill-health on people

unfortunately, in some cases I too cannot help myself

[cboy4]

7. lol.

I knew you'd understand.

[Skittles]

8. I remember when one rightwing blowhard had a kidney stone

I was hoping it had antlers :o

[roguevalley]

10. BWHAHA! Such an image I have now. :-D

[Aristus]

11. You don't have to wish ill-health on someone, Skittles.

Just kick their asses once in a while... B-)