Broken promises. What is acceptable?

[i-need-a-martini]

Lots of broken promises are made by governments. If the promises are broken because of economic need, I understand.

But what of the empty promises that they know they can never keep. Like the 'Stop the Boats' promise?

Or this one: where Abbott promised at the Garma festival in the weeks leading up to the election that he would spend his first week as Prime Minister in Yolgnu country.

To break promises like this is just a low act by someone who knew he would never be able to keep it.

See where he says it clearly here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1OKujvU2wQ

I wouldn't bother to listen to the whole boring speech (although many of his off the cuff comments are a little eyebrow raising) but at 21:40 he starts making promises he can't keep.

[*crikey*mate*]

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@i-need-a-martini wrote:

But that is the point I am trying to make Criley. 

Howard introduced GST after announcing he had no intention of doing so. I opposed it then and I oppose it now. But I accept that boken promise because I believe he thought it possible to continue with the old system. However, he was then forced to introduce it by his own party. 

But when a politician makes a promise that they KNOW they can't possible keep - like stopping the boats or spending his first week in a remote community, that's unacceptable. That's an out and out lie.

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Should also point out:

Medicare was free up until 1999 when another government changed the status.

Education was free and equal until another government changed the status (private school and uni fees).

Not sure about legal aid. Wasn't it always means tested?

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What do you mean by Medicare was free until 1999? 

When were children with disabilities given adequate access to a free and just education?

And the gov has no option BUT to keep private schools accessible, because it is cheaper for them to keep a kid in a private school than it is for them to pay for one in the public system, and they can't even adequately look after and eduacate all the ones they have in the public system now, far less overloading it with a few thousand more kids.

Didn't Whitlam introduce free uni? (not that this was a good idea anyway, it was an illinformed decision.

Yes, legal aid always means tested, but they can't even provide it for those who meet the financial criteria - it is severely limited these days.

"promises they know they can't keep" c'mon hey, how sustainable do you really believe the NDIS to be in the manner it was rolled out? As I said all parties do this. They make promises they can't keep.

[topsidesoul]

Considering the current Government and its supporters made a career out of pointing out broken promises when they were in opposition ......I say make sure to let them know that now they are in Government that their mistakes and broken promises and the way they btreated former PM's and language used will be used in the ssame way against their party and their leader.

You throw mud, expect it to be thrown back at you.

[azureline**]

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@**meep** wrote:

“Why shouldn't I, if you will permit me, spend my first week, as Prime Minister, should that happen, on your country,” said Mr Abbott.

With the end of his first week as Prime Minister fast approaching, social media has erupted and is accusing Mr Abbott of breaking his promise.

Warren Mundine who heads the Coalition’s new Indigenous Advisory Council has dismissed the claims that Mr Abbott has broken his promise.

“This idea he was going to do it in the first week is a bit crazy, because we know the Prime Minister of any government, the first week is setting up cabinet and getting on with the job,” says Mr Mundine.

“His promise was quite clear to everyone who has half a brain, that it was about being in an Aboriginal community on an annual basis and he wanted his first trip to be to Yolngu country,” he said.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/09/24/abbott%E2%80%99s-broken-promise-sparks-online-controve...

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That half a brain comment is despicable and insulting, intelligent people, with an education, surely don't think that is acceptable speech?

[twinkles**stars]

Howard introduced GST after announcing he had no intention of doing so

The Liberals were voted back in knowing the GST was on the table and would be introduced. That was clear before the election.

[i-need-a-martini]

Crikey - I am not going to debate those issues on this thread  cause we have debated them adnauseum on others. Happy to have the discussion (again) on a new thread.

I suppose what I am specifically interested in is WHAT type of 'promise' is acceptable given it's possibility of success and the intention behind it?

[i-need-a-martini]

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@twinkles**stars wrote:

Howard introduced GST after announcing he had no intention of doing so

The Liberals were voted back in knowing the GST was on the table and would be introduced. That was clear before the election.

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OMG.

Isn't that what I said and the point I am making??

Howard said he would not introduce GST. HE went to the election on that promise. But he was then forced to introduce it. I said that I found that acceptable given that he was forced to by his colleague.

I think that this type of promise is different to one where you KNOW you can't possibly keep it.

[**meep**]

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@topsidesoul wrote:

Considering the current Government and its supporters made a career out of pointing out broken promises when they were in opposition ......I say make sure to let them know that now they are in Government that their mistakes and broken promises and the way they btreated former PM's and language used will be used in the ssame way against their party and their leader.

You throw mud, expect it to be thrown back at you.

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yes, totally agree, to be expected.  hence the anticipation of this forum getting 'worse' post election (as mentioned on many occasions)

[twinkles**stars]

Huh? All voters knew the GST would be introduced, there was no big secret about it. No broken promises. And yet the Liberals were voted in....easily.

[izabsmiling]

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@**meep** wrote:

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@topsidesoul wrote:

Considering the current Government and its supporters made a career out of pointing out broken promises when they were in opposition ......I say make sure to let them know that now they are in Government that their mistakes and broken promises and the way they btreated former PM's and language used will be used in the ssame way against their party and their leader.

You throw mud, expect it to be thrown back at you.

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yes, totally agree, to be expected.  hence the anticipation of this forum getting 'worse' post election (as mentioned on many occasions)

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It won't get like it was ...subjected to racism,mud slinging,diversional tactics ,rude, crude,blood, sex, lies,false accusation, victimising asylum seekers, targeting certain religious beliefs/races, income levels, and sexism and other manner of offensive material from the likes of Andrew Bolt and pickering (they are on Tony's side ) ....you name it ...we have had it here thanks to them and those who admire that sort of work.

all that excused by those journo's and their fans.. the name of a Win  

a win isn't a win when it's based on lies and deception

[i-need-a-martini]

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@twinkles**stars wrote:

Huh? All voters knew the GST would be introduced, there was no big secret about it. No broken promises. And yet the Liberals were voted in....easily.

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Easily?

They only won that year because One Nation managed to get a whopping 10% of votes which they passed on the Howard. There was a massive swing against the Liberal Party - much greater than the swing against Labor in the 2013 election.

The senate voting was something like 40% primary votes to Labor and 20% to Liberal. And they only managed the 20% with the National primaries.

But as I keep saying - it was a promise he couldn't keep because his own party wouldn't allow it. But he wouldn't have known that when he (repeatedly) made the promise. That is not the type of promise I am talking about in this thread.