I dunno everyone these days thanks to Google are either Economists, Sociologists, Political Science Majors or Civil Engineers. It's hard at times to sift through the opinions mixed with fact to arrive at an accurate snapshot of what's actually likely to happen vs unlikely.
Is Abbott a bad PM? He's winning the race so far so that would indicate that most Australians are in agreement with that whether they'd prefer him to be the ideal candidate or not. Is Clive Palmer a serious contender, apparently 6% (by mainstream media polling) state this guy is worth listening to and so on. The collective intelligence of humans isn't exactly something we should all agree are "intelligent" as we just have to watch Big Brother or Listen to Miley Cyrus before we come to the conclusion that there are massive memory leaks occurring somewhere. NBN is one of this contentious issues where we all want 100mb/s and nobody really is saying no to fast Internet. The problem is we are haggling over the execution plan for it, specifically at what point do you turn and say "yeah this is a little more expensive than I had planned" ...its kind of like watching "House Design" (ABC TV show) where you watch these people build this big bold outlandish houses that often starts out with the owner saying "I have 1million pounds" and then towards the end of the episode they have spent $2million pounds... its not about the cost really its more about the fact that was the end result still worth it. I suspect LNP don't have vision on this per say, I'd wager they saw a weakness in ALP's execution plan and it centred around cost and time to deliver, the figured out a counter proposal that in parts will land in the same region of delivery but with less anxiety & risk towards delivery. They are the ones who basically walk up to the house and say "You can't have smart wiring and you can't have solar panels" and we're all arguing over the return on investment for the said additions but aren't arguing what the compromise between the two positions are. Looking back on it we should have third option to discuss and / or have political parties come together with a smarter compromise but it won't happen? ..so its really down to the party of the day taking advantage of the others weakness whilst feeding off that to pander to our concerns around "economy management". No doubt in 4yrs we'll be seeing ALP using the NBNCo as yet another whipping post to highlight "see told you we were onto something.." and this topic will agree or disagree with what is said. --- Regards, Scott Barnes http://www.riagenic.com On Thu, Sep 5, 2013 at 2:20 PM, Paul Evrat <p...@paulevrat.com> wrote: > ** ** > > Without doubt any elected official acting out their vested interests (no > matter what) belongs behind bars, but we were talking about business > lobbying, and I’m saying it’s not about making easy lives easier. **** > > ** ** > > There is a role for government (and rent seeking beneficiaries if you > like) when A. The country is trying to develop a new industry or grow an > existing one, B. Phase out an uncompetitive old one, or C, Assist an > industry in transition. My point was just that those areas are the main > focus of business lobbying, and keeping those areas constant (level playing > field) in the face of constant pressures for other changes – left agenda / > right agendas, other country’s protectionism etc .. Without that and with a > fully free-market we’d only have mining, some agriculture, tourism, and > some construction serving the employees and needs of those industries that > weren’t outsourced to cheap labour overseas. Everything else would come > from China, India etc .. **** > > ** ** > > What sort of people do you want running the country? Haven’t we had enough > ex-lawyers and unionists. Agree re Berlusconi etc but Turnbull wouldn’t > make a bad PM. I’m not saying Clive would, but a minority role in > government would be a good kick in the pants for the rest of them all and > make TV a lot more interesting ..**** > > ** ** > > Maybe it comes back to basic political views, do you see the role of > government as redistributing wealth from those that build it, or as setting > the playing fields and enabling individuals and companies to build wealth > so we can afford better welfare safety nets etc.**** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > *From:* ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [mailto: > ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com] *On Behalf Of *Ken Schaefer > *Sent:* Thursday, 5 September 2013 12:34 PM > > *To:* ozDotNet > *Subject:* RE: [OT] NBN revisited**** > > ** ** > > Wouldn’t you want some sort of lobbying against government outsourcing IT > / coding to India etc?**** > > ** ** > > And that’s what an economist (and I) call “rent seeking” – I’m asking the > government to impose an implicit tax/penalty on everyone else (e.g. through > paying higher prices) to make life better for myself. Which is why I’m not > particularly enamoured of the idea that “business people” running the > country is good for “the economy”, because what’s good for a particular > business person is the opposite of what’s good for an economy. **** > > ** ** > > The same applies to unionists being good for “the economy” – they’re not. > They’re good for their particular rent-seeking constituency.**** > > ** ** > > As I said before, there’s plenty of business people that have gone into > government (Thaksin, Berlusconi) that haven’t done anything particularly > good for the overall economy, which ultimately is what makes us all better > off.**** > > ** ** > > Cheers**** > > Ken**** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > *From:* ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [ > mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com <ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com>] *On > Behalf Of *Paul Evrat > *Sent:* Thursday, 5 September 2013 11:58 AM > *To:* 'ozDotNet' > *Subject:* RE: [OT] NBN revisited**** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > Lobbyists are always going to keep themselves busy but that just counters > the relentless lobbying by welfare groups for non-economy boosting > government spending. Unless you’re the big 4 banks or Coles or Woolworths > with monopolistic characteristics business is pretty tough even in good > times. **** > > ** ** > > Shouldn’t the car industry lobby for government support to keep some sort > of car manufacturing in Australia? **** > > ** ** > > Wouldn’t you want some sort of lobbying against government outsourcing IT > / coding to India etc? Or would that just be programmers trying to keep > things cosy for themselves ??!!**** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > *From:* ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [ > mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com <ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com>] *On > Behalf Of *Ken Schaefer > *Sent:* Thursday, 5 September 2013 11:21 AM > *To:* ozDotNet > *Subject:* RE: [OT] NBN revisited**** > > ** ** > > I think you have a naïve view of what business lobbying is about then.**** > > Tax breaks or write-offs for “x”, import restrictions on “y”, government > grants for “z”**** > > ** ** > > Free markets are best for consumers (and best for business as a whole). It > just makes life hard for individual businesses, because it keeps them > honest. Which is why so many business people are forever calling for > government intervention to make their lives easier (maybe that’s what “a > decent playing field” is a euphemism for)**** > > ** ** > > Cheers**** > > Ken**** > > ** ** > > *From:* ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [ > mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com <ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com>] *On > Behalf Of *Paul Evrat > *Sent:* Thursday, 5 September 2013 10:28 AM > *To:* 'ozDotNet' > *Subject:* RE: [OT] NBN revisited**** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > True, Clive and his policies in total are a bit over the top but he knows > he’s not going to be PM, it will be a long time before there is other than > a Lib or Labor PM, but there are too many balls and chains around business > and economic progress at the moment and having a slightly over the top > pro-business minor party with some kick-arse influence would be > unprecedented (I think). Plus the current leaders on both sides are too > dull, boring and lame, it’s time for some colour and go-get-it influence.* > *** > > ** ** > > Agree that total free market is not good for business, the country is way > too small for that. But in terms of balancing business and welfare safety > nets Australia has the best chance. Don’t agree business are rent seekers, > they just want a decent playing field then for government to get out of the > way. That’s what business lobbying is about.**** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > *From:* ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [ > mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com <ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com>] *On > Behalf Of *Ken Schaefer > *Sent:* Thursday, 5 September 2013 9:26 AM > *To:* ozDotNet > *Subject:* RE: [OT] NBN revisited**** > > ** ** > > There are multiple ways to cook an egg. Clive’s policy platform isn’t > necessarily the best one.**** > > ** ** > > Pro “free market” (as opposed to “pro-business) is what’s generally best > for *consumers* (even though it’s not good for an individual business), > whereas business people tend to become “rent seekers” lobbying for favours > for their industries. Adam Smith noted something similar ~300 years ago in > the Wealth of Nations, and nothing’s changed.**** > > ** ** > > Silvio Berlusconi is an example of a successful businessman who’s > “pro-business” attitude didn’t really extend to making life better for the > general population.**** > > ** ** > > Cheers**** > > Ken **** > > ** ** > > *From:* ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [ > mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com <ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com>] *On > Behalf Of *Paul Evrat > *Sent:* Thursday, 5 September 2013 8:37 AM > *To:* 'ozDotNet' > *Subject:* RE: [OT] NBN revisited**** > > ** ** > > Any pro-business force in parliament can only be good for the country. If > business isn’t doing well we can’t afford anything else .. **** > > ** ** > > *From:* ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [ > mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com <ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com>] *On > Behalf Of *Tony Wright > *Sent:* Thursday, 5 September 2013 7:52 AM > *To:* 'ozDotNet' > *Subject:* RE: [OT] NBN revisited**** > > ** ** > > Oh I thought the only people ridiculous enough to vote for him were > Queenslanders.**** > > ** ** > > *From:* ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [ > mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com <ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com>] *On > Behalf Of *Scott Barnes > *Sent:* Wednesday, 4 September 2013 10:02 PM > *To:* ozDotNet > *Subject:* Re: [OT] NBN revisited**** > > ** ** > > Is anyone else just a little bit curious to see Clive Palmer in Parliament > House or is that just me..**** > > ** ** > > I mean the comedic value alone is worth it > > On Wednesday, September 4, 2013, wrote:**** > > Well said…I believe Julian Assange would get my vote..i see honesty in > him…mmm..that could bring a change!**** > > **** > > Anthony**** > > Melbourne StuffUps…learn from others, share with others!**** > > http://www.meetup.com/Melbourne-Ideas-Incubator-Stuffups-Failed-Startups/* > *** > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > NOTICE : The information contained in this electronic mail message is > privileged and confidential, and is intended only for use of the addressee. > If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any > disclosure, reproduction, distribution or other use of this communication > is strictly prohibited. > If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender > by reply transmission and delete the message without copying or disclosing > it. (*13POrtC*) > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > **** > > **** > > *From:* ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [mailto: > ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com] *On Behalf Of *Tony Wright > *Sent:* Wednesday, 4 September 2013 6:02 PM > *To:* 'ozDotNet' > *Subject:* RE: [OT] NBN revisited**** > > **** > > **** > > Wow, he didn’t even know what the policies of his party were. I think I > know them better than he does!**** > > **** > > What are the 6 points of the 6 point Stop The Boats plan**** > > “Er, the first one is stop the boats”**** > > What are the other 5 points?**** > > “Er we plan to stop the boats”**** > > No, the other 5 points?**** > > “Er we plan to stop the boats”**** > > **** > > He should have said, well, so it’s a 6 point plan but all 6 points are to > stop the boats.**** > > **** > > What a vacuous bunch of pollie we have.**** > > **** > > Are these people worth $5? That’s how much our first preference vote is > worth together for the upper and lower house. I don’t think they’re worth > it. Mine isn’t going to Liberal or Labor. I’m finding someone closer to > what I believe in and voting for them first and then voting for the party I > want in. Why reward such mediocrity?**** > > **** > > **** > > *From:* ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com [ > mailto:ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com <ozdotnet-boun...@ozdotnet.com>] *On > Behalf Of *anthonyatsmall...@mail.com > *Sent:* Wednesday, 4 September 2013 4:11 PM > *To:* 'ozDotNet' > *Subject:* RE: [OT] NBN revisited**** > > **** > > Full interview of Jaymes Diaz, Liberal Candidate for > Greenway<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrQPXXHUilU> > this is pretty funny and disturbing video!**** > > **** > > This guy is pretty useless..this politick has no idea about anything…its > just a job he is going for…how do these people get into such roles…**** > > > > -- > --- > Regards, > Scott Barnes > http://www.riagenic.com**** > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3222/6636 - Release Date: 09/03/13* > *** > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3222/6636 - Release Date: 09/03/13* > *** > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3222/6639 - Release Date: 09/04/13* > *** > > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3222/6639 - Release Date: 09/04/13* > *** >