Open Letter to J Ho

I sent this to the SMH, but they did not like it... oh well, their loss...

Dear John,

I really do not want tax cuts thank you. I really think that a lot of the electorate do not want them either.

What I do want is for you to spend some of that massive surplus that the mining boom has created on fixing some on going long term problems.

How about getting together with the state governments and matching spending on adding public transport infrastructure. I know Sydney is screaming for a new rail line or too to developing areas and I suspect that most states could benefit similarly. You could offer to match state funding on the new lines, to ensure they actually happen closer to when they are needed, instead of waiting till it is too late. Not to mention, building new rail lines, to reduce dependence on private cars is also good for the environment, so it would improve your green credentials.

How about providing some funding directly for hospital capital expenditure too? Your reign over the country has seen federal expenditure on health decline compared to state funding, so why not offer to fund some new facilities, or some new equipment, things that our hospitals are crying out for in various places.

And of course, some more money for education would not hurt either, considering the way you have failed to adequately fund our public education system.

You could do all of these, yet still keep the budget in surplus, if you can afford the tax cuts. More to the point, these suggestions would help to reduce some of the pressures in the economy that are causing inflation. Not to mention, by not giving the tax cuts, you are reducing that inflationary action too.

But I forgot. You are not really interested in economic management, despite what you say. You really just want to get re-elected. And you have yet given me any reason to do so.