Comments | halfeatenmoon: Budget bore

halfeatenmoon

Budget bore

May 14, 2009 18:13

My computer's gone crazy and I can't switch the settings from 4-bit colour and some wacky resolution that's all wrong for the monitor. (Well, I say 'my' computer like I own it. I don't. The computer that I use to access the internet is stuck in 4-bit colour and my web browser occasionally crashes for no discernable reason ( Read more... )

politics, computers

Comments 11

ruthyuki999 May 14 2009, 09:18:12 UTC

XD I'll talk economics with you, though my knowledge is far from great. Though the only thing I can say about the loss in revenue is holy shit that's a lot.

(About the computer weirdness, mine sometimes does that. Restarting seems to help)

halfeatenmoon May 14 2009, 21:51:20 UTC

I used to think economics was the most boring thing ever, but then this book came out in 2007 called Ozonomics and now it's turning into my favourite thing.

I think Tim Colebatch in the Age on Wednesday said what I think about this budget most succinctly - despite the huge deficit, it doesn't FEEL like a big-spending budget because it's lacking all the handouts we got used to during the boom times. But because the government's income has effectively been slashed by $210 billion, they have to borrow money just to keep welfare, health and education services at their current level. Although welfare in particular is going to cost MORE than it has over the last decade because more people will be living on unemployment benefits.

I watched Malcolm Turnbull's reply last night and it sounded more like an election campaign speech than a budget analysis to me. ;) He may have a valid point about cigarette tax and supporting small businesses, though.

(The comment has been removed)

illidanstr May 14 2009, 09:29:22 UTC

Lies. My computer loves me right now.

pointytilly May 14 2009, 09:47:40 UTC

MINE LOVES ME TOO.

Though Firefox 3 occasionally falls over, completely at random. It must be some weird crap it's got goin' on, because there's a few other people it happens to (and it's NOT Flash, I checked).

If it's the same problem for you, try Opera?

halfeatenmoon May 14 2009, 21:53:14 UTC

Okay, it's back to crazy again. How do I fix video drivers or whatever they are?

Thread 6

rantinan May 14 2009, 22:08:52 UTC

Speaks economics.
If i was to go on about middle class welfare, whoa boy, i could go on for DAYS. I'll just say this instead. Means testing the private health care rebate is a good thing. Eliminating that stupid pos prop up a struggling industry concept with government handouts and putting the money into public health instead = SO much better. Taxing cigerates to retain handouts to middle and upper class people who dont realy need it..... not such a good thing rly.

halfeatenmoon May 15 2009, 04:07:18 UTC

Well, in some ways I could accept the tax on cigarettes. If it were aimed at reducing the deficit, sure, why not, at least that's consistent since the Opposition won't shut up about the deficit. It is a little hypocritical when you compare it to the alcopops tax, though, given that the block on the alcopops tax legislation is being blocked so hard it could turn into a double dissolution trigger.

utopia_tears May 14 2009, 23:43:11 UTC

Am all for the cigarette taxing but I think the tax cuts to middle & upper income earners are unnecessary.....of course my parents don't agree as they fall into that category ;)

The increase in the pension is a plus but I'm not sure about upping the pension age, I know that logically as life expectancies increase people surely can't be (very badly) supported for 30 years of their lives but just because people aren't ill at say, 66, doesn't mean they'll be able to do the same work that they were earlier. Of course, I suppose that's true of any age considering the individuality of people and there has to be a cut off....do you have any better solutions?

halfeatenmoon May 15 2009, 04:13:06 UTC

I'm hesitant to talk about the increase in the pension age because I worry that maybe there's something there I don't understand because I'm young. But to me, two years doesn't seem like a hell of a long time to keep working. Sure it would suck if you were turning 65 and preparing to retire and suddenly found out you had to keep working, but NOBODY is going to be in that situation - that's the reason the higher pension age is being phased in gradually over six years, so that the people who are going to be affected by it have time to prepare ( ... )