It was time to end the disconnect in Australian politics: the disconnect between our political dialogue and our real needs. Too much of the public debate was about gesture rather than answers. The challenge was to identify broadly agreed principles for a new and different reform agenda. In April 2002 the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, at the University of Melbourne, and The Australian rose to this challenge. The upshot was a national conversation, Towards Opportunity and Prosperity, between leading thinkers from academia, politics, public service, business, unions and community groups. Topics covered included: * Unemployment, Joblessness and Welfare Reform * Education and Innovation * Population Policy * Work and Family * Ageing and Retirement * Health Policy * The Environment and the Kyoto Protocol * Are We Becoming a Branch Office Economy? * Microeconomic Reform Peter Dawkins and Paul Kelly, two of Australia s leading policy analysts and commentators, draw out the main threads of the policy debates in these areas, and plot the outlines of the new reform agenda which emerged from this fascinating and wide-ranging conversation. , but placing more emphasis on the human dimension-a 'hard heads, soft hearts' approach.

Readers of Alan Blinder's regular Business Week column appreciate his concise, thought-provoking opinions and his eloquent prose. In Hard Heads, Soft Hearts he brings to life the inner workings of America's economy and in so doing explains what's wrong and how to fix it.

Soft Hearts and Hard Times is the true story of a little boy who's age of awareness coincided with beginning of the Great Depression. It tells the story of how he and his family endured; and how the dismal events of the day affected them. It demonstrates how, even in the worst of times, there is still time for a boyish pleasure or two.

The largest, most comprehensive, and most entertaining reference of its kind, The Dictionary of Clichés features more than four thousand unique clichés and common expressions. Author Christine Ammer explores the phrases and terms that enliven our language and uncovers expressions that have long been considered dead. With each entry, she includes a thorough definition, origin of the term, and an insightful example. Some of the clichés brought into the limelight include: • Blood is thicker than water • Monkey see, monkey do • Brass tacks • Burn the midnight oil • Change of heart • Moral fiber • By the book Whether clichés get under your skin or make you happy as a clam, The Dictionary of Clichés goes the extra mile to provide an essential resource for students, teachers, writers, and anyone with a keen interest in language. And that’s food for thought.