Mega Thread The Random Thoughts Thread Part 1

[NoddyHolder]

No wait - I am Mick Young's paddington bear

 

[Dylan8]

When taking a global view, yes.

Here's a thought experiment for you: if you had the power to equalise every single person on the planet's financial circumstances with the press of a button, do you think your current standard of living would increase or decrease?

Increase

 

[bomberclifford]

I am Janine Haynes' bouffant hair-do and school marm glasses.

 

[_VXV]

what the

He's white & male.

Headstart by a mile.

 

[bomberclifford]

Increase

Ok, so you're strength isn't maths.

 

[Steve Dore]

I am Meg Lees' room temperature cooked chook

 

[Dylan8]

Ok, so you're strength isn't maths.

I'm gonna flip this on you and ask how it decreases

 

[bomberclifford]

I'm gonna flip this on you and ask how it decreases

We are closer to the 1% than you realise.

 

[LukeSA]

I am Meg Lees' room temperature cooked chook

Do you get taxed if you get salmonella poisoning?

 

[Dylan8]

We are closer to the 1% than you realise.

I get that we've got it good in comparison to third world nations but what is the maths here

 

[El_Scorcho]

When taking a global view, yes.

Here's a thought experiment for you: if you had the power to equalise every single person on the planet's financial circumstances with the press of a button, do you think your current standard of living would increase or decrease?

It would decrease slightly (and i'm quite comfortable financially), but on the flip side billions would be unbelievably better off.

 

[chiwigi]

Just listened to the podcast.
Raman, you should kick yourself
In the balls!

 

[bomberclifford]

It would decrease slightly (and i'm quite comfortable financially),

Two questions:
1. Why only slightly?
2. Does this not make you (and all of us) the biggest part of the problem?

but on the flip side billions would be unbelievably better off.

Of course. Which is precisely the point.

This means that we are all part of the problem and until we collectively decide to reduce our standard of living, then we're stuck with this system. Middle class whingers calling for 'fairness' when they themselves are overwhelmingly favoured by a system that exploits millions in far flung hell holes for the sake of cheap sneakers and the constant supply of rare earth minerals is the epitome of hypocrisy.

Remember that conversation thread a week ago where some here posited that young people shouldn't need to do without luxuries because "it's 2016"? That is precisely the problem. We measure ourselves against those we deem as 'haves' even though we are firmly entrenched in the same class when taking a global view.

/rant

 

[El_Scorcho]

Two questions:
1. Why only slightly?

It really depends how we're measuring the financial situation of people. Are we taking debt into account? Are we just talking net worth? Certainly there is enough wealth in the world for every single person to be healthy and comfortable.

2. Does this not make you (and all of us) the biggest part of the problem?

Well, no, the people who control the vast amount of wealth and use the power that comes with that to ensure that they continue to be able to do so for years to come are the biggest part of the problem.

I will agree that it's an issue in this regard that people as a whole, when it comes down it it, vote with their back pockets instead of any sort of greater good.

Of course. Which is precisely the point.

This means that we are all part of the problem and until we collectively decide to reduce our standard of living, then we're stuck with this system. Middle class whingers calling for 'fairness' when they themselves are overwhelmingly favoured by a system that exploits millions in far flung hell holes for the sake of cheap sneakers and the constant supply of rare earth minerals is the epitome of hypocrisy.

Remember that conversation thread a week ago where some here posited that young people shouldn't need to do without luxuries because "it's 2016"? That is precisely the problem. We measure ourselves against those we deem as 'haves' even though we are firmly entrenched in the same class when taking a global view.

/rant

I'm pretty sure that was me with the "It's 2016" stuff.

But really, Australian and lower class whingers are whinging about Australian policies. Yes, it would be great if we pumped a lot more money into foreign aid, but predominantly these discussions are taking place regarding policy in this country. They are lobbying Australian politicians.

Australian politicians are absolutely able to direct policy to close the gap between the wealthy and the poor, but they subscribe to the ridiculous theory of trickle down economics because it suits them and they go the other way.

If instead of talking globally, you talk about in Australia if we equalised the financial situation i'd be significantly better off, and i'm a comfortable home owner with a good job. There isn't a global government we can lobby to, but we can lobby to the Australian government to make the situation better for low income earners to try to break the cycle of generational poverty in our country.

And having people live in poverty in Australia in 2016 isn't okay, even if they aren't bad off compared to those in 3rd world countries. A big part of the elite's campaign to keep themselves rich and keep the poor poor is to make the people in lower classes turn on each other and blame each other for any financial issues they may have instead of blaming those who can actually do something about it.

 

[edgie]

Aussies as a whole are a self serving group, but it starts at the top. What motivation and inspiration do the masses have to stop double dipping the system when those at the top who really don't need to will continue to do so without consequence?

Sent from my Lumia 800 using Tapatalk

 

[Portia]

Lick Pier ginger beer is a ****ing ripper

Starving children would love this shit

 

[edgie]

Lick Pier ginger beer is a ******* ripper

Starving children would love this shit

Random, second time I've heard that today. Might have to give it a go instead the old crabbies.





Sent from my Lumia 800 using Tapatalk

 

[bomberclifford]

Lick Pier ginger beer is a ******* ripper

Starving children would love this shit

My favourite ginger beer ever. Nice and spicy.

 

[bomberclifford]

Certainly there is enough wealth in the world for every single person to be healthy and comfortable.

There probably is.

But there is most definitely not enough for every single person to have their own personal sport utility vehicle, large screen tv, iphone, gaming console, seats at a sporting venue to watch their team, air travel to exotic locations, burger of the month for lunch, imported boutique beer on tap at the local pub, etcetera, etcetera.

When I meet someone who is willing to give up the mod cons for the benefit of those below them in the pecking order, then I might take them seriously.

Until then, from my perspective, this bleating about how the rich man keeps the poor man down, from those who aren't willing to acknowledge that they are NOT the 'poor man' and are a part of a system that keeps others down for their benefit, is just a lot of hot air.

For the record, I don't know what the solution is, but I do know that the distraction of fighting a 'class war' while only looking upstream is not it.

 

[Janus]

We have reached the stage of fight club videos to support political opinions.

That book was deeper than you realize

 

[Portia]

When I meet someone who is willing to give up the mod cons for the benefit of those below them in the pecking order, then I might take them seriously.

LOL, thats pathetic.

Until then, from my perspective, this bleating about how the rich man keeps the poor man down, from those who aren't willing to acknowledge that they are NOT the 'poor man' and are a part of a system that keeps others down for their benefit, is just a lot of hot air.

Who has said that they're not part of the system? Dylan has already gone on record as admitting he's rocking some privilege, and I'll do the same. So who are you talking about?

For the record, I don't know what the solution is, but I do know that the distraction of fighting a 'class war' while only looking upstream is not it.

In other words you have no solutions and don't want to listen to potential solutions unless they're delivered by perfect human beings, and even then you only `might' listen. Are you sure you're not a Liberal MP?

 

[Janus]

There probably is.

But there is most definitely not enough for every single person to have their own personal sport utility vehicle, large screen tv, iphone, gaming console, seats at a sporting venue to watch their team, air travel to exotic locations, burger of the month for lunch, imported boutique beer on tap at the local pub, etcetera, etcetera.

When I meet someone who is willing to give up the mod cons for the benefit of those below them in the pecking order, then I might take them seriously.

Until then, from my perspective, this bleating about how the rich man keeps the poor man down, from those who aren't willing to acknowledge that they are NOT the 'poor man' and are a part of a system that keeps others down for their benefit, is just a lot of hot air.

For the record, I don't know what the solution is, but I do know that the distraction of fighting a 'class war' while only looking upstream is not it.

Australia's total household debt has now eclipsed the entire annual output of the economy — the highest level in the world.

Last year, in a footnote to a speech, APRA chairman Wayne Byres revealed that Australia's big four banks and Macquarie did not have enough capital set aside against mortgages to cover loan losses in the event of a severe house price crash.

The banking regulator has been troubled by a "net income service" model, under which banks have been willing to lend amounts that leave the borrowers not much above the poverty line after making loan repayments.

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2016-...-lending-could-lead-to-banking-crisis/7296956

Add that to the IMF saying that Australia needs to worry about arresting the rising debt levels for households by surprise, surprise, reducing income and company tax levels while increasing GST and you get a better understanding why the leftist agenda of it being someone else's problem doesn't work.

After a golden run spanning more than two decades, the economy is facing headwinds from the winding down of the investment phase of the resources boom, weak non-mining business investment, a declining terms of trade due to plummeting iron ore and coal prices, a lack of confidence among business and consumers, and unemployment nudging over 6 per cent.

"Australia's problem is productivity," Mr Daniel said. Without a repeat of the economic reform burst from the Hawke, Keating and Howard governments in the 1980s and 90s, the economy would lag and the public ultimately suffer.

http://www.afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/financial-services/imf-to-probe-australias-record-property-and-debt-levels-20150501

That's why the government is spending all this money on innovation and new growth markets. The old ways are antiquated, and Australia needs to create new industries in which the world can say "Oh, get the Australian made version of that" in the same way they would about something made in Germany or Japan - because it's world leading.

We need to start poaching the best minds from top universities around the world, encourage the spending of education resources in areas that promote ideas rather than self-service, and make Australia "the light on the hill" that the US has abandoned. If that means tax breaks for tech companies, so be it. Research and development? You got it. High speed rail? Absolutely. Invest in the right areas - which isn't social welfare - and I promise you, the social welfare spending will increase as a matter of course because the money will start rolling in.

Then you'll get your money to fully fund Gonski and do all the social reforms that you want to do. Starting from the bottom up is a stupid idea and only perpetuates a cycle of growing debt.

 

[Portia]

We need to start poaching the best minds from top universities around the world, encourage the spending of education resources in areas that promote ideas rather than self-service, and make Australia "the light on the hill" that the US has abandoned.

You do realise that best minds/top university, education that is linked to industry, are both things that the US does, right?

If that means tax breaks for tech companies, so be it. Research and development? You got it. High speed rail? Absolutely. Invest in the right areas - which isn't social welfare - and I promise you, the social welfare spending will increase as a matter of course because the money will start rolling in.

You say that, but using the US again, which of these things are they not doing?

Then you'll get your money to fully fund Gonski and do all the social reforms that you want to do. Starting from the bottom up is a stupid idea and only perpetuates a cycle of growing debt.

Bullshit. Innovation predominantly comes from populations that have an ability to experiment without fear of imminent starvation, hence why so much shit comes from the West. If you want more innovation, create an environment in which as many Australians as possible have the capability to take a chance without losing everything. That starts at home.

 

[edgie]

I'll go on record as saying despite my taxpayer funded grandparent fed upbringing, we stay had a bit of luxury and comfort.

That doesn't mean we were out starting new business with an equal high risk/high reward gamble. The risk outweighs everything, and there'd be a lot of people in that position whose passion and work ethic for what they would like to do shouldn't be brought in to question when the alternative is poverty.

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[tribey]

I am Meg Lees' room temperature cooked chook

She had to have been incentivised somehow. That was the most unexpectedly unnecessary career suicide - not just her but her entire party - in the history of democracy.