For all the talk of economic management, Howard's claims about interest rates have been exposed as a fraud. And WorkChoices has exposed him as arrogant, out of touch and power-hungry.

This political turnaround has shed new light on the government's record in other areas-Iraq, civil rights, refugees and immigration and global warming.

But the importance of the election result has not been reflected in the campaign. Howard and Rudd's day-to-day policy announcements have hardly inspired water cooler conversation.

One reason for this is that millions are nervously awaiting the outcome. Understandably, no one wants to mention the unthinkable.

But another explanation is that Labor is promising to continue virtually 90 per cent of Howard's policies.

Where are the reforms to re-fund our public hospitals and schools or to protect workers from pay cuts and lay-offs? Why has there been no opposition to the government over its $34 billion tax cut plan or its increasingly disastrous NT intervention?

If by some miracle Howard hangs on, it will be because Labor has offered nothing to the millions of people who want to vote for it.

Learning from history

Defeat for Howard on November 24 will be a godsend. There will be time for celebration and reflection.

Rudd will quickly attempt to take full advantage of the new situation-and the results are likely to disappoint. How do we know this?

Firstly, he has hinted at some big changes. He will probably ask the state governments to hand over their IR powers to the Commonwealth. There has been talk of doing similar things over hospitals and schools-though none of it has included boosting public spending.

Secondly, he is a micro-manager and a control freak. Between 1989 and 1992, when he was chief of staff to the Queensland premier, he moved swiftly to establish continuity with the ousted, and utterly discredited, former Coalition government. He was nicknamed "Doctor Death"-any public servant who got in his way was trampled on.

Thirdly, just look at the state Labor governments. Hospitals across the country are in crisis.

The Victorian and NSW governments have imposed arbitrary pay caps on public sector workers, and NSW Premier Iemma wants to privatise retail electricity and Sydney ferries. Why would Rudd be any different?

The bitter truth is that he won't be. His election campaign offers little to inspire.

That's why, on November 24, voting 1 Greens 2 Labor makes sense. It means contributing to Howard's downfall and supporting a challenge to Rudd's policies.