attention politicians who think every tragedy is a "photo op" !

[Swagman]

A letter to the editor in today's The Age ( Melbourne)

"JUST as one might question whether a falling tree actually makes a sound if there is no one there to hear it, one may wonder whether a politician smiles if there is no one there to record it. Well, on Boxing Day, at least, one did. While most were sleeping in and trying to recover from the gluttony of Christmas Day, a certain elected official was serving breakfast to the homeless.

It wasn't your typical political event — there was no media and no road show, just a few security personnel and the Prime Minister.( newly elected Labor Prime Minsiter Kevin Rudd)

He handed out the Boxing Day fare, eggs and bacon — a rare treat — and listened intently and with respect while guests and fellow volunteers told him their life story and their commentary on how he was doing so far.

What struck me is that while we make sport of our political leaders in Australia, and such criticism is healthy in a democracy, we perhaps need to show a little respect where respect is due. Our elected officials are not always self-serving egomaniacs. They have given a large part of their lives to public service — just ask their families. So the next time we're calling Howard a coward or Rudd a dud, maybe it would be wiser to give a little more credit to those who have given so much."

Ashley Arthur, client referral officer, Early Morning Centre, Canberra, on behalf of appreciative volunteers

http://www.theage.com.au/letters/

some of Kevin Rudd's promises already begun after just one month in office:
1. halve homelessness within 5 years
2. pump billions of $$ into Medicare ( socialised medicine)
3. restore funding to public and tertiary schools and universities
4. disolve "work choices" that gave employers complete control over workers and banished unions from the workplace
5. sign Kyoto principle
6. establish office to examine supermarket and oil company price gouging

[babylonsister]

1. Rudd rocks better than Howard, and enjoy your summer!

[silverweb]

2. You elected a fine humanitarian leader.

Someone who leads by good example. May we be as wise.

:hi: