Thanks Julia.....

[Echo]

Thanks for the update re the convoy , Graham. I"m not far from Clermont at the moment ,would like to get to the road to wave them on.

[NiqueNaque]

Gents,I thought I"d put in my two bobs worth. Hopefully Juliar will be the end of it, Bobliar, of the Menzies variety started this sell off at the behest of the Bank, aka Collins House, now Westpac. Mr Holt probably got eaten because he wouldn"t play along.What is happening here - "what, another tax?" - comes as no surprise to anyone, but there seems to be a large ignorance as to how it comes about, I"m not saying that the populace of GP"s is elluded but it is a global thing.Here is my idea on this issue:The government has done some stupid things over the years, and it is not limited to labor alone. What the government [both liberal and labor] don"t realise seemingly is that their taxes come from our incomes, no matter how our incomes are derived.Have a look at the photo"s in this link:http://www.google.com.au/search?q=ma...66&bih=643This ship as I understand it does a run every week for Wal-Mart in the states, shipping goods from China to the US. I carries something like 5,000 containers... or moreThe US government and our government along with many others fell prey to the free trade agreement [FTA], where no taxes and levies are imposed on imports. And, as per the Button Car Plan, certain of our industries were exposed to the world, like the clothing industry which has fallen in a heap. The FTA only helps those countries that have cheap labour, and you"re going to start seeing it in the States now that their economy is collapsing. The US government was big with its spending on wars, space and other programmes which burned up their money and left nothing behind, there is no legacy for those billions of war dollars other that the terrorism and wasted lands where people die from mines left in the ground. They also are busily exporting their income tax base overseas.Engaging in such stupid things as the FTA only does one thing, drag us all down to the pay level of the poorest people in the world, where these "global companies" shop for their labour. It does this because we buy their goods, and the content of it that lands as "cost" at the docks in Australia is that portion of income that the government cannot tax [FTA], so that part of the tax goes overseas. Every little transaction like this erodes the *tax base* that the government has available to it. With such a shrinking tax base the government, blindly, adds another [carbon / mining super / super profits / goods and services] tax to make up for the loss.... then the people have less to spend.... so they have go out and buy cheaper gear to make ends meet ... where does cheaper gear come from - overseas - perpetuating the cycle of the diminishing tax base. Then, to top it off, people who want to buy something big borrow money - who has all the money - China! We then borrow it off them and pay interest, and like the USA, increase our debt, reducing our unencumbered income and thereby forcing us to buy ever cheaper things, increasing the exportation of taxes and income from us to them, it is a wealth transfer like no other.The other aspect to consider is the interference of the state in the affairs of an individual... this nanny state mentality we have is costing us dearly. Think about this - there is never a police person there when you need one... they seem to be the accountants of crime, they act historically - always after the fact, so why bother having them? Usually what catches criminals is their own stupidity. When you think about Police, think further to government, as the government is merely an extension of the Police. If we reduced the size of the Government things might be less expensive, as they seem to charge us a lot to launder their money for them.For those who think the "mining boom" is helping us, I would like for you to think about this:Who owns the mining companies - where do the profits get expatriated to? Here?Who makes the machinery to mine the land - Australia?? I can"t think how many Hitachi, Leibherr, CAT, etc, etc.. machines are used to dig out the coal / minerals - where do the profits and costs for these go - to Australia? I think not.Who owns the ships that move the ore overseas for processing? Where are these ships made or registered - not here.Where do we buy the steel for our buildings and mine gear if we make it at all from - Australia? Nyet, these days I can"t buy a stick of pipe for my sprinkler systems that doesn"t come from China / overseas.Who makes the rail cars and locomotives that ship the ore across the land? China.Have a look at all the tools you have - made in Australia?Have a look under the crockery in your kitchen - made in Australia?The computer you"re using right now - made in Australia?When you think about it - we dig the stuff out of the ground - iron ore and bauxite [steel and aluminium], they pay us for it.

[Brian]

Terrific to see you back here Nick Naque, good post, lots of relevant points plus here"s a couple of why the mining boom is particularly helping the govt1 employment for anyone wanting to work2 Mining royaltiesStupidity certainly isnt linited to the labour party, politics now is based on popularity and getting re elected next time around.Very few voters are interested in seeing visionary politics, we want the good time all the times, hang having to pull our heads in while we pay off long term infrastructure programs....ones that will actually help this country make money into the future ...more than 6 months away

[NiqueNaque]

Cheers Brian,I just wonder when the Australian population is going to wake up tothe good guy - bad guy act that we have, and vote for a party that isn"t owned by the banks or big business or the unions.We will never see it happen while corporate sponsorship is possible for any party or individual. Or while the media is permitted to ignore the entirity of possible representatives for an electorate, and this comment includes the ABC. We are all government cash cows, especially men.Nic.

[tonydenton]

..........

[tonydenton]

obviously still trying to learn the insert quote bit . hope that doesnt take a year like me trying to load photos.

[NiqueNaque]

"We are all government cash cows, especially men."Tony, men are the productive backbone of any economy, no sleight on women, but men work longer, harder and more productively through their lives than do women. We earn more, we get taxed more. It is that simple.When men start to get put on the back-burner it is a terrible thing for any economy, I"ve only got to look to the US for proof of that idea.Cheers,Nic.

[gbw]

"When men start to get put on the back-burner it is a terrible thing for any economy, I"ve only got to look to the US for proof of that idea."You been wasting your time thinking again Nique Naque?My son has an honours degree in science, and a degree in pharmacy,and is married to

[NiqueNaque]

Mr Woolley,Great to see from you again!I confess, Eka stirred me up again, I"m just waiting for the SCG to descend [from 5" [because he"s too scared to go any higher]] on my comments with his bush witticisms...

[birdy]

I"m just waiting for the SCG to descendI stoped readn after an hour nakers, you posts are too long.

[Echo]

I " concur " with Birdy ......... started to have a Nanna nap half way through .

[Echo]

Chopper,
..........

[Des Garvin]

Echo I see where you are comming from.

[birdy]

We all have lost the real meaning of a fair days pay for our services rendered.Ex f^%#$n zactly Des.You hit it on the head in one shot. And this is the reason why i no longer call meself an australian.Australians used to be individualistic n cut their own lunch. Not now, they want everythn for f^%#$all, and if they dont get it, the rest of us are expected to cut their lunch for um.Been sayn it for years, this countrys f^%$ed, and the people cant see it.Our neibours can tho, you can bet your house onit.

[aussie_paul]

Well said Des and Birdy. I reckon it is only a matter of time before we have similar riots to the UK ones a week or two ago. :-[Aussie Paul.