Re: Share the pain
 

Slightly changing the subject, The Katter/Palmer party - now that would be just gold.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politi...430-zr1mb.html

Re: Share the pain
 

Slight shift in thread: but it was running warm yesterday.Today's Government Gazette talks about Thomas Piketty a French Economist. Put your spectacles on...not Pikey.

His new book is a sort of 21st century follow up to Marx's 19c tome..but perhaps not Marxist: it's title borrows from Marx.

He talks about the pain of Capitalism.

He alludes to the contradiction of Capitalism in its current form. I guess that this means we all want to work hard for ourselves which Capitalism affords but by the same token some are getting too far ahead...interestingly a point was made that 50 years ago it was expected that capitalism would bring equality ; (in practise, and I am guessing here, this is probably an overall material advantage enjoyed by all).

He is flawed though in that he promotes high taxes: arguably this creates more advoidance and stifles growth: (Gerry's SMEs?)

But let's pay down debt but also look at what will pan out economically in the decades ahead.

Re: Share the pain
 

See back on page 5 : http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...7&postcount=72

Basically he takes apart the glib assurances of capitalism, all the nice little claims, and shows with evidence that they don't actually hold water.

His conclusion is that the 20th century increase in equality was an accident of increased energy availability (eg oil) allowing returns through wealth creation to outstrip returns through investments. In the future, in the same way as the past, this will revert, meaning growth will slow and the wealthy will get even wealthier, and the poor will get poorer.

Since this isn't sustainable with the population densities we have, he concludes that we need taxes on capital concentrations to keep our economy and society working.

Which has made the libertarians and other far right loons spew - because its straight forward neoclassical economics that he's doing it with (their chosen weapons) and there's so much evidence it's just about impossible to refute.

Re: Share the pain
 

He has quite a few critics, naturally, some of whom might be jealous of his timing and his sales...

I can see the criticism behind high taxation...how about we lower packages paid to CEOs in the first place...

Re: Share the pain
 

...... and lets smash the biggest contributors with even more means testing rubbish.

You know, if I earned a million a year, raped and pillaged for tax, all I would ask is if it was my turn for a handout, I want it, and I want it now. ..... and I don't mean if I went broke. I would just like to be on an even footing with those who earn less, rather than being the focus of resentment. Luckily I'm not on a million a year :)

http://www.news.com.au/finance/money...-1226901261262

and linked to that article is this

http://www.news.com.au/finance/money...-1225845061248

THE Sydney suburb of Edgecliff and surrounding area is the nation's richest with an average income of more than $186,000 a year.

An average of $186,000 a year?????? how do these people live in Edgecliff on that. Must be old Jewish money? Garry don't start on your hidden tax scheme thingy bob :)

Re: Share the pain
 

That's something I have struggled to understand is why people who have been paying tax on $150k PA salaries shouldn't have exactly the same 100% paid parental leave privilege as those who have been paying tax on $50k PA salaries. After all, their tax contribution is proportionately higher.

Re: Share the pain
 

What I mean TB is when we were first started looking into moving to Australia, houses and land were ridiculously cheap, jobs were plentiful and at that time Australia looked a hell of a lot more attractive than the UK. That was when we first started thinking about it and making moves to get our Visa.
Now in Australia as I'm sure you know, houses cost a bloody fortune, land isn't as cheap as it once was and jobs aren't as plentiful, I'm not saying it's not worth moving now, but what attracted us to pursue a Visa in the first instance doesn't really exist anymore.
Friends of ours moved during the period I mentioned and made a huge financial gain, their house is now worth nearly triple what they paid for it.

Re: Share the pain
 

Yep totally agree.

Re: Share the pain
 

Behave yourself !

Anyway, it doesn't look like we are going up that end now, I think we are going to end up more your way, Snobville ;):lol:

The job my husband was hoping to get on in Brisbane has been delayed, so he thinks we should go closer to Sydney where there's more work. Personally I'd prefer to go to Perth, the people there seem more down to earth. :p

Re: Share the pain
 

If it's simply equality that you want then the current Labor scheme gives you that. If you think we should be spending $5.5billion on paid parental leave then you're an idiot. This stupid idea is to encourage women to go back to work after having a baby. Will it do that? I can't see how it will change the mind of any woman who would otherwise choose to stay at home after giving birth. Plus, the real issue is affordable childcare. If these women were to use this money to fund for their childcare costs once they return to work then it makes sense. But there is no incentive to.

If the age of entitlement is over, why are we giving tax back to people who actually don't need it with the hope they pay us back by going back to work? Will all of these women have paid $50000 in tax before having a baby? If they were to choose to not return to work after the 6 months, would they then be expected to repay that $50000 they got?

Re: Share the pain
 

Now here's a novel idea. How about those mothers who put more in before they became mothers get more back during their time off. Think of the incentive to create wealth before you had a baby. Or. An incentive to get part up front and the remainder if and when you return to work. Or scrap the whole idea of paid parental leave all together. Can't be fairer than that.

Re: Share the pain
 

In Perth now. Just paid $4.00 for a coffee. Nice place, but I'll stick with snobsville where a coffee is $3.00, and there's plenty of work.

Referring to your property thoughts. Not sure where you are in UK, but if you are in the South East, salary proportions and property prices aren't too dissimilar to Snobsville. There's hope for you yet. :)

Re: Share the pain
 

Yeah, like parental intervention of squabbling siblings. Right, no one gets anything! :D

I'd say a better system is to put in place the mechanics pf the paid parental leave system with the ideal being 100% payment but make it a percentage set by the government of the day and dependent on prevailing affordability. Or even better: a floating percentage based on how much we are in surplus.

Re: Share the pain
 

Tricky to implement, but I like your incentive based approach. Or successful based approach. 'We are all in this together, our collective success is your success'

Rather than the lefty view of Mine, Mine, Mine (see apology to asylum thread)

Re: Share the pain
 

The trick of mothers where I used to work was to take the generous maternal leave allowance (right up to the max), come back to work for one day - to resign and walk straight back out the door.

You could always tell that that was their plan, the husband never took any of that paternal leave allowance.

Thing was, pregnant women were basically untouchable from a redundancy or sacking perspective also - so if it were their plan they basically took the p*ss during pregnancy as well. Upshot was a useless team member for at least a year of salary and if the axe came a swinging during that time, then productive members of the team got hit, rather than someone who had no intention of staying.

And they wonder why companies are hesitant to employ child bearing age women...