Rupert Murdoch - "Bludger mustn't become Aussie icon" (1 Viewer)

[chicky_pie]

AUSTRALIANS must avoid "institutionalising idleness" or risk making the bludger our national icon, media magnate Rupert Murdoch says.

In the first of his six Boyer Lectures, the News Corp chief has outlined his vision for Australia going forward, a country the Manhattan-based US citizen still calls home.

News Corp is the parent company of the publisher of news.com.au.

Australian business must take advantage of emerging middle class markets in India and China and embraced internationalism to move forward, Mr Murdoch said.

In areas of trade, agriculture and climate change we must lead the world, not follow suit.

And at home, we must reform our 19th century education system, encourage full reconciliation among Aboriginal and white Australia and be open to immigration.

Additionally, we must endeavour to get people off government subsidy, or risk becoming a nation of bludgers, he said.

"At a time when the world's most competitive nations are moving their people off government subsidy, Australians seem to be headed in the wrong direction,'' Mr Murdoch said in his lecture, aired on ABC Radio National today.

"While real incomes increased since the end of the 1980s, about 20 per cent of the working aged population today receives income support, compared with only 15 per cent two decades ago.

"While a safety net is warranted for those in genuine need, we must avoid institutionalising idleness.

"The bludger should not be our national icon.''

He congratulated Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's declaration that his Government is pro-market, pro-business and pro-globalisation, but said the next step must be to end subsidies for those who were well off.

Mr Murdoch spoke proudly of the country he called home, but said Australia must embrace its pioneer heritage to tackle the challenges that lay ahead.

"I appreciate that many Australians will debate whether I still have the right to call myself one of you,'' he said.

"I was born in Melbourne, I was educated in Britain and now make my home in Manhattan.

"But this country means a great deal to me.

"And the main reason I agreed to come to Australia to deliver these lectures is that the country I see before me simply is not prepared for the challenges ahead.

''... Australia will not succeed in the future if it aims to be just a bit better than average.

"Specifically, I believe that we need to revive the sense of Australia as a frontier country, and to cultivate Australia as a great centre of excellence.''

Part of that change in our identity should be to finally make Australia a republic since it was already independent in every other way, he said.

"The establishment of a republic of Australia will not slight the Queen, nor will it deny the British traditions, values and structures that have served us so well,'' Mr Murdoch said.

"But we are no longer a dependency, and we should be independent.

"In this young century we should assert our personality. We alone must define our future.

"An independent Australia will have no excuses for failure because the mistakes will be all our own.''



http://www.news.com.au/business/story/0,27753,24589987-31037,00.html

thoughts?

 

[Trefoil]

I skimmed over it. Makes sense to me.

That is: I think he overstates the dangers, but the core message is logical and practical.

 

[wagga]

Agree with the welfare bit wholeheartedly, Howard created a dangerous culture of middle class welfare dependence through his ridiculous pork barrelling through a variety of welfare payments. So far Rudd has done little to reduce this.

 

[BackCountrySnow]

spread the wealth imo.

 

[Trefoil]

Agree with the welfare bit wholeheartedly, Howard created a dangerous culture of middle class welfare dependence through his ridiculous pork barrelling through a variety of welfare payments. So far Rudd has done little to reduce this.

Do you even know what you're talking about? You sound like Sarah Palin.

Didn't John Howard release some of the burden on the welfare system by changing it to a workfare system? Which is in my opinion the optimal compromise between respect for the free market, and the need for a welfare state.

 

[tau281290]

"In short we have a 21st century economy with a 19th century education system. That is an injustice to these citizens and it puts a burden on Australian society," Mr Murdoch said.

Is our education system really that outdated?

 

[Trefoil]

Is our education system really that outdated?

Well if it is, they had some pretty fucking awesome education systems back in the 1800's, based on Australia's OECD education rankings (roughly 8th).

 

[nikolas]

Well if it is, they had some pretty fucking awesome education systems back in the 1800's, based on Australia's OECD education rankings (roughly 8th).

I think what Rupert means is that were in danger of falling behind.

 

[Trefoil]

I think what Rupert means is that were in danger of falling behind.

Yeah, fair enough. I won't argue with anybody who wants to improve our education systems.

 

[wagga]

Do you even know what you're talking about? You sound like Sarah Palin.

Didn't John Howard release some of the burden on the welfare system by changing it to a workfare system? Which is in my opinion the optimal compromise between respect for the free market, and the need for a welfare state.

I am not talking about the burden upon the welfare system, I am talking about how families become dependent upon family tax benefits a & b, because they are structured so as people who wish to return to work face huge effective marginal tax rates (in some cases actually making them worse off returning to part time work than staying on welfare). Hence, the system provides a huge disincentive for people to return to work, and fosters a culture of dependence upon that welfare.

 

[xONBROKENWINGSx]

cool story bro

 

[tau281290]

So what is Murdoch saying? Survival of the fittest? He is telling the govt to scrap all the welfare support in a competitive world, i.e. telling the ones who can't survive just die.

That's great advice for those who want to live a competitive world, but too bad for those who just want to suck off the welfare system.

I don't think survival of the fittest is exercised in this world at all. It should be part of nature, but human beings are distinct animals who have conscience.

In effect, we are going back to the beginning of primal earth, rather than advancing.

 

[chicky_pie]

Agree with the welfare bit wholeheartedly, Howard created a dangerous culture of middle class welfare dependence through his ridiculous pork barrelling through a variety of welfare payments. So far Rudd has done little to reduce this.

Well John Howard DID do it for the votes. It's called the Howard Doctrines.

 

[chicky_pie]

So what is Murdoch saying? Survival of the fittest? He is telling the govt to scrap all the welfare support in a competitive world, i.e. telling the ones who can't survive just die.

That's great advice for those who want to live a competitive world, but too bad for those who just want to suck off the welfare system.

I don't think survival of the fittest is exercised in this world at all. It should be part of nature, but human beings are distinct animals who have conscience.

In effect, we are going back to the beginning of primal earth, rather than advancing.

Hmm ok I agree with your point, anyone know how the U.S welfare system works? Like do they have Youth Allowance and other welfare benefits like we do?

 

[tau281290]

Hmm ok I agree with your point, anyone know how the U.S welfare system works? Like do they have Youth Allowance and other welfare benefits like we do?

America's social security is in a total mess. It is based on people in the generation after you pays for your social security. It keeps on going until when the population stops growing. Since the baby boomers are all about to retire, the population after them are going to be significantly less, hence not enough money for the baby boomers. The baby boomers may not even be entitled to their share of social security. So the social security explodes in America.

People's living standards go down the drain in a few years, especially in a financial crisis where people are losing their jobs. The American Govt has literally no money but full of debt.

I wouldn't want to live in America, nor associate with them.

One more thing, the American income inequality is thrive.

 

[Trefoil]

The American welfare system is horrible on both fronts: inefficient and non-universal.

I have no problem with workfare instead of welfare (as in Australia now), but America's system is not the answer.

 

[hopethisworks]

too late.

 

[tau281290]

The American economy is all about spend and consume. They may have lots of pleasure [and economic growth] right now, but one day it is going to implode when they cannot service their foreign debts.

After this, it must sell off whatever assets they have to foreigners, like the new superpowers - China, maybe India. In a few years' time, you would be seeing mega American companies sold to China for cheap, like General Motors, Exxon etc. Most the valuable assets they have will have been sold to foreigners. They have NO power anymore!

America would be virtually non-existent as economic superpower in the short future. It is just an economy filled with an abundance of people who really knows how to spend in the short term. Majority of Americans do not understand the concepts of save and invest.

I think im getting a bit off topic =P

 

[aussie-boy]

i just watched murdoch's lecture; while his argument is somewhat compelling, he provided no statistice - just general rhetoric (quite convincing nonetheless)

Welfare should be regarded as a means to get back into work, and must be conditional upon this... things like the baby bonus and "free money" directly negate this. However, basic pensions must be maintained for the sick, carers and old, super-less people.

He's definitely right about the education system though. There's a HUGE disparity between Summer Heights High and JRAHS... everyone should be able to go to their local school and transform their academic potential into UAI points - the government should come down hard on truancy and laziness

i think one of the best ways to address these issues would be through naming and shaming bludgers who want welfare

 

[tau281290]

serious lols @ people who think China is the next superpower

Seriously lols @ ppl who don't think China will be the next superpower. i think its going to be shared by a few.