down-turn in commodity pricing, but IT STILL IS A FOOT IN THE DOOR. Actually, Costello should have had the guts to take the initiative on this subject. Costello was a gutless lazy treasurer only happy to see the gold amassing in the surplus box from a few increasing collection plates while flogging the slaves... As far as the "deregulation" of the worker's market, there is "merit" in this only if the chips are cooking and everyone is getting a fair go while everyone has their hand on their heart... This rarely is the case, as bosses often take advantage of workers, even if they don't see it that way, especially those who are the most vulnerable. As soon as the chips are down, Howard's views of employment become nightmares in hell for many. Have we forgotten Howard's "never ever GST"? Have we forgotten how Howard took us to war in Iraq on a whim and many lies? Have we forgotten all his other flip-flops, the destruction of medicare and his baby bonus devilishly followed by the jacking up of education costs?... John Howard was a con artist, a trickster -- possibly with principles, but many of these came from the book of shove wrapped in ugly populism -- while Julia Gillard, for a politician, is actually more trustworthy than most. Even if she pragmatically changes her mind, there is no ill-intent in her actions, as wrong as some people want to paint them. Sure some of the stuff she's trying