It's the (Global) Economy, Stupid

The Labor party has run a very disorganised federal election campaign; the Liberals by contrast have been safe and controlled. All polls suggest the Liberals have been more effective. With five days to go to election day, most people are already calling the result. Tony Abbott has put on a suit of indifference to criticism, within which he finally appears comfortable. For his part, Kevin Rudd has not given up. The Liberals always come across as better micro-managers while Labor, as a trademark, likes to massage the big picture. But, is it enough to look Prime-Ministerial? Is it enough to deflect the questions, smile and just keep walking? Maybe so - three years' of relentless negativity and now a concerted "small target" campaign seem to be working. While I do not support social engineering, I am not convinced a laze-fair free market system is optimum either. And while I understand the importance of the economy, a government has many pressing issues to deal with - namely security, sovereignty and fairness - within sensible budget constraints. In the face of the GFC, Australia needed a Labor federal government. Between the two of them - the Libs taking and Labor giving back - Australia reverts to the mean over time. The big question in my mind then is whether there is imminent global economic (and political) prosperity, or will we see a number of years of constrained growth and geopolitical difficulties. It breaks down to that simple equation: If you think the former, vote Liberal; but if you feel the latter, vote Labor.