What you see, is rarely what you get.

This is an oldy but a goody and worth remembering as we line up to vote:

"CHOICES........................

While walking down the street one day a "Member of Parliament" is
tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter.. 'Before you settle in, it seems
there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts,
you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.'

'No problem, just let me in,' says the man.

'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is
have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose
where to spend eternity.'

'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says the MP.

'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down,
down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle
of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in
front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked
with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him,
shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while
getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and
champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly & nice guy who
has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good
time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator
rises....

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St.
Peter is waiting for him.

'Now it's time to visit heaven.'

So, 24 hours pass with the MP joining a group of contented souls moving
from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good
time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St.
Peter returns.

'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now
choose your eternity.'

The MP reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I would never have
said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would
be better off in hell.'

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down
to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren
land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and
putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. 'I
don't understand,' stammers the MP. 'Yesterday I was here and there was
a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank
champagne, and danced and had a great time.. Now there's just a
wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.


What happened?'

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, 'Yesterday we were
campaigning... ...


Today you voted.'

Do you understand the state of Health?

If health is one of the issues that you are voting on this election then you need to listen to both of the below interviews. Regardless of what you think of Alan Jones, the content of this interview is very informative. The interview is with Dr John Graham – the head of the medical council at Sydney hospital – and Dr John McIntosh – from Mackay

Original Audio can be found here: http://www.2gb.com/index.php?option=com_podcasting&task=view&id=2&Itemid=41

Broadband

I am 26 years of age, I have been renting for 5 years, at none of the apartments (5 different places) I have rented have I ever had a land line telephone, at none of the apartments have I ever had fixed line Internet, yet I use the Internet every day and night, I also make phone calls every day and night.

The company I work for is in the construction industry, 90% of the site based staff we employ don't know how to use a computer (regardless of age), most don't have a computer in their home, most have no desire for this to change. 

Knowing my demographics and the demographics of those that work with me I believe my small sample is representative of the spread across society. I also understand the importance of high speed internet for business, as at times the restriction of speed can be an issue (but this is very rarely), obviously other industries are different. 

What I refuse to accept is the Labor party belief that we need high speed Internet connected to every household. The take up simply won't exist, it will not be used by the vast majority of the nation. It is my belief that the CBD of all major sites should have high speed Internet, areas like Chatswood and Parramatta (and the equivalents in other states) should be included in that. Regional centres like Woolongong, Newcastle, Tamworth, Bathurst etc. should be connected to the network. However the suburbs and smaller towns should be driven by demand. 

You are a fool if you believe that Western and South Western Sydney needs fibre optics to every house, you are a fool if you believe that every house in the leafy Eastern Suburbs or North Shore needs fibre optics connected to every house, you are a fool if you believe that every business needs high speed broadband to function. You are a fool if you believe that the largest Government infrastructure project ever undertaken in Australia should be implemented with out a comprehensive business plan, without a cost benefit analysis and without proper scrutiny and consultation. Senator Conroy and former Prime Minister Rudd cooked this system up, they are the geniuses that also cooked up the Internet filter which the IT industry has broadly condemned. The broadband plan was created by the kitchen cabinet that was dumped by its own party, we can't sit back and let this plan become reality without putting in through proper scrutiny.

However I think come this Saturday, the very people that will NEVER subscribe to the high speed broadband at their homes or work place are going to be the very people that will commit us to this ill conceived idea.