Economics with social conscience

"They dedicate themselves to remedying social disadvantage out of prosperity by giving every child the opportunity of a quality education through excellence in teaching and high-quality school facilities.

"Market democrats understand that simply providing opportunity to the underprivileged does not guarantee it will be taken up. That's why market democrats support underprivileged children and their families through early childhood development and early intervention programmes."

The extent to which Emerson reflects Rudd's line of thinking, and vice versa, is not apparent to us, but much is reflected in the platform that Labor took to its election campaign, now adopted as policy.

They are manifested in the social democratic party's "education revolution", and policies on "economic prosperity", climate change and water, industrial relations and health.

It's mirrored in the composition of the Rudd Cabinet, which for the first time includes a Minister for Social Inclusion, part of the "super ministry" of Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, carrying on her shoulders the many "firsts" in Australian politics.

The ironic criticism of "intellectual" Rudd today is of a man with a populist bent entangling himself in everyday issues ranging from petrol prices to dysfunctional families neglecting the care of their children, rather than occupying himself with the big picture of policy.