Why pardon the intrusion?

Comments on Arthur Sinodinos “Pardon the intrusion”, 8/10/2009, http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26179436-5013479,00.html

I think Sinodinos has got some important facts incorrect or wrong in linking Rudd to Menzies, if the following introduction by the Australian correctly reflects his view although I suspect it may not:
“KEVIN Rudd would do well to emulate Robert Menzies and balance pragmatism with ideology, writes Arthur Sinodinos.”

Firstly, while I don't know much of the situations in Australia back to the days of Chiefly and Menzies, the situation in Australia now is very different from the great recession since the great depression many advanced countries in the West have been experiencing. In fact, there has been no recession in Australia so far in this global turmoil.

The implication of that is that Australia has performed so well economically in the recent global financial and economic turmoils its economic system and regulations have been vindicated as one of the best in the world and the best in the advanced world. As such there is no imperative to change.

So the conditions for government intrusion are not there. What Rudd has done so far is to use the unfounded fear of a hit by a great recession that never came. So Rudd’s intrusion is more likely to fail or unworkable once people realise its fallacy.

The second point is that while Rudd may be good at disguise his real political ideology by micromanaging the media in terms of 24/7, his government has already displayed significant problems in managing the economy and the budget even though it has been luck due to the inheritance of an economy in excellent shape it has got from the previous government.

Given that this has already been occurring, it is not like a situation that a political party is not in power and it can use empty rhetoric to cheat its way to power. The only way for the Rudd government is to be recognised completely by the public or voters as it really is, not more and not less. However, in that way the future of the Rudd government does not look good from its deed.

The only thing in Australia federal politics is we have an ineffectual and disunity opposition that has made no alternatives to the current incompetent Rudd government. Once the opposition can get its house in order, the days of the Rudd government will be numbered.

Australians do not have appetite for a more intrusive and bigger government. No matter what Rudd’s skill in balancing pragmatism with ideology, its ideology does not accord well with the public and will fail.