5% unemployment (half that of the US), Watch this space, inflation half what it was 10 years ago Not true, 2.77% ten years ago and 3.42% last year and over 1.5% this first qtr. and interest rates almost half compared to 4 years ago Ahhh May 2008 8.7% vs 6.99 and at a level indicative of a healthy economy. I don't think so! Not to mention company bankruptcies being down every quarter for the past year and a half. (as far as back I bothered to look.) Are you sure, go to ITSA and have a look, from the 08 crash 8564, 8427, 8052 and so far this year 6734 which annualised is a record 8979
I just don't understand where you get the idea the economy is dead in the water. You don't? FFS Bas, mate read all the stuff in red, and I am not trying to pick fights or play polotics with you, because you are a mate, and I need you to get onto some more work for me shortly so I need you to stay in business too.
So, we have the Murdoch News Network telling me we are all stuffed (contrary to the facts) and their saviour is promising sweeping changes to fix it, while being shy on details. I don't see what good could come of that. Murdoch press.... who on earth are they?
I am voting for the one that goes: "if it ain't broken, don't fix it."
Political leaning is irrelevant, facts and common sense are. Yep, and my political belief has nothing to do with all the customers, suppliers, courier drivers and everyone else I talk to.
Ok now for an interesting read, while I go do some work!
The value added tax (mervärdesskatt or moms) rate in Sweden is 25%
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from a pay check of "100", 63.42/131.42 (i.e. 48.3%) is paid as taxes
See, Sweden had a lot of taxes and a lot of social services. They had a lot of cutting they could do. Applying to same to Australia could well cut taxes and services to American levels; i.e.: unsustainable.
You can't keep cutting these things every time things go bad, you'll have nothing left eventually as voters don't allow you to increase taxes in good times.
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Not true, 2.77% ten years ago and 3.42% last year and over 1.5% this first qtr.
Are you sure, go to ITSA and have a look, from the 08 crash 8564, 8427, 8052 and so far this year 6734 which annualised is a record 8979
Are we looking at the same figures in the same way? When I look at the quarterly statistics, the last quarter was the first on with a slight positive change; the two years before that saw a drop.
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Murdoch press.... who on earth are they?
The ones the majority of the voters read or consume via the "news" on commercial television.
A lot of people are in work, almost more than ever, on very good wages and falling mortgage rates on their homes. The problem with the economy is not taxation levels, it's consumer confidence. If you are constantly being told how bad things are and that you will lose your job soon, would you go out and buy stuff?
(Australians mostly only investing in non-productive assets like homes doesn't help either.)
It always beggars my belief how much people like Baswell worship the government and its wonderful management of the economy. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, since there were also a load of good Soviet comrades who thought the five year plans and central control were a good idea. Oh how disappointed they must be now...
Capacitors as you would know are the big things, but many other items in power electronics suffer a hard life, line disturbences.....especially those big flashy ones
So control boards with switch mode psu's and all are surface mount.
you fix one bit this month, another the next, lots of variables.....you know the story!
These things are not like TV's that last forever, well almost.
If Centrelink removed the disability pension for people with dyslexia, agrophobia, sexual indecision, and those that left their mothers breast too soon, the unemployment index would raise to 10%, which is how many people are "unemployable" at any index in any country on any date.
The thing is, and it's not narrowed to Labor, but people who work 4 hours per week are classed as fully employed/ not unemployed/ good employment statistics.
It's my opinion that people like baswell are as culpable as the current ALP incumbants if they support them in defiance of public and available evidence such as the Fairwork /Craig Thompson saga, who, if he were a man of principle, would stand down until his allegations are proven true or false. If it takes 4 years to do this there should be a By-Election because the Constituents are essentially unrepresented in the 3 year cycle.
And that's the problem with the Libs/NAT'S, that they have principles, lack balls, and fall on their swords at the first wiff of scandal, yet Labor just stick it out.
What a sad and sorry state of affairs. It makes me want be be a KIWI, but I don't know how to spell it.
Anyone who believes any government can control how much we pay for housing is a fool, for instance. And the other guys make plenty of promises along the lines of "making things more affordable" when they have no power to do so. We are a market economy, after all.
The last thing I will ever worship is any politician. The choice is always between the lesser of two evils.
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If Centrelink removed the disability pension for people with dyslexia, agrophobia, sexual indecision, and those that left their mothers breast too soon, the unemployment index would raise to 10%, which is how many people are "unemployable" at any index in any country on any date.
The same is true for any country, some even more so that ours (think Western European countries) and so that doesn't change the comparison between two countries if you are trying to determine which one is doing relatively better.
It is disappointing you are pointing the finger at me for being "culpable" when all we have is a difference of opinion on what are sound economic and fiscal practices. You nor I are omniscient beings that know with certainty what the right way forward is. All we have is opinion.
Apologies baswell, I tend to push my opion sometimes to the detriment of the discussion. I get so cranky when for all intents and purposes the, (read this as any party), incumbants, should get the blame for any mess that has happened under their watch, however and usually, that blame is taken off them and somehow burdened on the opposition. A lot of that criticism undeserved.
$hit doesn't just happen, some ar$eholes cause it!
$hit doesn't just happen, some ar$eholes cause it!
True! But you need to keep in mind things happen for reasons both beyond the control of the incumbent (i.e.: the best they can do is make the best of a bad situation like the GFC) or are the result of a path set by those before them.
I cringe when I hear Labour taking credit for lowering interest rates, as if no other country in the world had to lower them in the same period because of the GFC. You really think rates falling that quick after an election is your doing?
At the same time, it is very easy for the opposition to say their handling would be better as they will never be proven wrong; by the time they get to make their changes, the world has moved on and what works then may have been counter productive 3 years ago. Or more likely, they will have a new policy for the current situation.
People on both sides are always really good at producing spin around this.
That said: I still think the level of taxation and government services in Australia is at the right level. Not too much (Sweden) not too little (US). And I am willing to bet the Libs would keep it at the same level, just pushing collecting and spending to slightly different sources and beneficiaries. The main problem is being efficient when spending the money. But remember that in countries as in business: you gotta spend money to make money.
Baswell, if you think taxes are lower in the US than Australia, I think you might be right, but only just. Most people forget that states, counties and cities levy taxes there too, including income taxes and not at insignificant rates either...
On the other hand, if the US was running the same level of budget deficit as Australia, their taxes would be higher. MUCH higher...
Having said all that, how is your opinion worth anything when it comes to how much tax is a good thing? You're happy to cheer on having a huge unelected bureaucracy steal an enormous slice of the collective pie without restraint? Do you think it will stay at that level without continually beating it back with a big stick?
if the US was running the same level of budget deficit as Australia, their taxes would be higher.
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Having said all that, how is your opinion worth anything when it comes to how much tax is a good thing?
Same as yours. By disagreeing with me, you are expressing your opinion too.
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unelected bureaucracy
There was an election and a bunch of MPs decided to vote together, thus forming a government. That's how it works, that they don't all belong to the same party is of no importance. The opposition is a coalition as well, always. (Hence the name)
Apart from your confusion between debt and deficit, I don't quite understand how this graph is a response to my earlier statement. Care to clarify?
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Originally Posted by baswell
Same as yours. By disagreeing with me, you are expressing your opinion too.
I have no opinion on how much of and how to spend other people's money, unlike yourself...
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Originally Posted by baswell
There was an election and a bunch of MPs decided to vote together, thus forming a government. That's how it works.
Actually it doesn't work that way. We do not elect our government - only our parliamentary representatives. The government is appointed by our monarch, or at least by her representative. The civil service, which by and large determines how and how much money is spent, remains completely democratically unaccountable and immune from dismissal.
There was an election and a bunch of MPs decided to vote together, thus forming a government.
Unfortunately
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That's how it works, that they don't all belong to the same party is of no importance.
Actually it is of great importance. With the deals done in the background, a minority get their moment of importance and the ability to force up the majority policies that would prevent them being elected to govern in their own right. It bemuses me how our system permits a party forming a Guvinmint with the votes of Independants. They are independant, and elected as such. Therefore they should not have the power to choose who governs. To me, these people are pretty much guilty of Fraud/false advertising, or whatever you want to call it. You advertise yourself as independant, then pseudo join a political party....they should goto jail!
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The opposition is a coalition as well, always. (Hence the name)
Maybe its about time the Nat's seperated and stood on their own 2 feet again. Many people i know would love a 3rd viable option. Brown sandwiches mob just don't cut the mustard. (yes i know he quit, but with the damage that clown has done, they shall remain titled brown sandwiches mob in my mind..unless they actually do something good)
The tax rates for working families* in Australia might be low compared to other countries, but it isn't for the fat cats who make more than around the whopping amount of $100,000 (who are being subsidised by the working families according to our dear leader).
If I make $100, 10% goes to the govt. Of the $90 remaining, I pay 48.5% plus flood levy = 49.5%, leaving me with $45.45 of the original $100. Out that amount, I also pay rates, car rego, case fees etc - things one might have thought that the $55.55 taken off me might have paid for. In any event, at least some portion of the $45.45 I have left goes to the Govt (including as GST)
So the Swedish tax rates you quote don't really frighten me at all.
And before anyone points out that my example above only applies to income over $180k, that doesn't really make me feel any better. It changes the equation I know, but not by that much that I think wow, taxes are quite low.
And before anyone says that I receive government services, yes I do. And I would happily pay more for the defence force, good roads, bridges, tunnels, schools, good public transport etc - but there is no money left for such things after the govt has paid the working families all the different bribes they receive.
You can apologise to the working families all you want.
I won't!
They chose to have kids.
I'm single, with no kids. whats in the budget for me? HIGHER costs!
The handouts equate to a 2.7 % tax break for working families.
Making that a true tax break of 1.5% across the board would not cost the gov anything, but the spread of 're-imbursemnet' would be more equal.
As a sole trader, my turnover is considered, NOT the amount left for an actual wage. Hence i get JACK SHOE in any budget, or government vote buying exercise.
My position is a growing dynamic in this country, at an alarming rate. It's high time we get recognised for our contribution.
Actually it is of great importance. With the deals done in the background, a minority get their moment of importance and the ability to force up the majority policies that would prevent them being elected to govern in their own right.
No argument from me there! The "no importance" comment was purely legal based.
It is the bane of a two-party system. I prefer preferential voting where you are more than likely to end up with 3 medium to large parties where two will need to form a coalition.
It means more stable policies (no knee-jerk reactions every time government changes) and cleaner politics as it's a bit hard to trash talk the opposition when soon you'll have to form a government with them.
The whole idea of "local representation" in the form of electorates/constituencies is rather outdated anyway. Might as well just vote for a party...
Has its drawbacks too, of course. The occasional embarrassing failed government for one.
As a sole trader, my turnover is considered, NOT the amount left for an actual wage.
I think you need a better accountant. All taxes are paid, and means testing performed on, taxable income. That is your revenue minus business expenses.
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The handouts equate to a 2.7 % tax break for working families.
As wikipedia would say: "citation required".
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They chose to have kids.
Those kids will be changing your nappy by the time you stop paying taxes.
so I need you to stay in business too.
who on earth are they? 
