Mandarin or doublespeak?

OK. Here's a little Christmas Quiz. Not hard, I promise

First, read this inspiring quote from our Great Helmsman as he rouses the unions with some hearty advice and a lovely big cheque for $180m of your money. He's giving the money to them because… well, it's a Great Australian Tradition to give big chunks of money to the motor vehicle industry when they ask for it and, after all, it's only a tiny bit of the $6 billion prezzie he promised them a few weeks ago.

'In the year ahead, there will be some very tough times,' Mr Rudd said at the company announcement, flanked by thousands of auto-industry workers and their families. 'It will be hard. There will be some cruel times. And we are in many respects in uncharted waters. But if we stick together and government continues to provide leadership in securing the nation's future, then we will see Australia through.'  extract from: The Australian

Now, here's the question: When the Prime Minister warns the boys at General Motors of 'tough times' ahead, do you think he means theirs or yours? (Hint: did you get $6 billion for Xmas?)

For bonus points: The Age newspaper says that it's 'substituting dogma for reality' to criticize these subsidies because there's every reason to think that they'll put the industry back on it's feet and we won't be 'locked-in' to propping up General Motors. Question: Does The Age believe in the tooth-fairy? Or have they forgotten that we've been propping up this industry with direct subsidies, tax subsidies, high tariffs, concessional imports, import quotas and import bans since 1948?