The Great Power Rip off.

[renormalised (Carl)]

Originally Posted by Barrykgerdes

Marc is right. The percentage of us people who know what is wrong with the system is not big enough to influence the general public at election time when the pollies dangle those great carrots in front of the donkeys to get their vote.

Barry

Well then, it's up to us who do know what's wrong to make it known to everyone else and do something about it ourselves.

In any case, it's not that most people don't know what's wrong, they either don't want to do anything about it (for a variety of reasons) and/or they'd rather someone else fix the problems for them, than put themselves out to do so.

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by renormalised

It would be nice...and it would work if people weren't so apathetic. Just needs one person to start the ball rolling, but it would be nice to have more people involved first up.

Carl... it doesn't work. The other end of the spectrum (full power to the people is not pretty either). I originally come from France, the country of unions and "coordinated strikes"

Here's how it works. Around Xmas the post office goes on strike so it impacts that time of the year where the most traffic is likely to happen. Well into January, then comes february let's say the nurses will go on strike while the post office resumes work. Then comes summer/spring holidays. Yay! How about a SNCF strike so there's no trains for the summer holidays period between June an August? Oh wait...they still can use the freeways network... quick, Truckies strike, 3 in a row across the 4 lanes driving at 40kph. That's ll do.
So people have the power to "freeze" the system until they get what they want. Result, the system is screwed, less competitive and they pay for it in the end.

The real problem is accountability. The pollies need to be responsible and liable for the decisions they make, like any head of a business should be, because governement are big businesses with our tax money. I also think there is a massive waste of money in governement department especially when they need to "use" all of their budget to make sure they get the same the following year.

But these things are not likely to change hey?

[renormalised (Carl)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

Carl... it doesn't work. The other end of the spectrum (full power to the people is not pretty either). I originally come from France, the country of unions and "coordinated strikes"

Here's how it works. Around Xmas the post office goes on strike so it impacts that time of the year where the most traffic is likely to happen. Well into January, then comes february let's say the nurses will go on strike while the post office resumes work. Then comes summer/spring holidays. Yay! How about a SNCF strike so there's no trains for the summer holidays period between June an August? Oh wait...they still can use the freeways network... quick, Truckies strike, 3 in a row across the 4 lanes driving at 40kph. That's ll do.
So people have the power to "freeze" the system until they get what they want. Result, the system is screwed, less competitive and they pay for it in the end.

The real problem is accountability. The pollies need to be responsible and liable for the decisions they make, like any head of a business should be, because governement are big businesses with our tax money. I also think there is a massive waste of money in governement department especially when they need to "use" all of their budget to make sure they get the same the following year.

But these things are not likely to change hey?

I know how it works, Marc. I was in politics myself. I got out because the people whom I thought I could trust and work with weren't interested in the greater good. They were more interested in themselves. The whole system need changing, and that will take time. Yes, there needs to be more accountability, but when the system itself is shot full of holes, then you need to repair or replace it, otherwise all the accountability in the world won't help anything or make things better.

Things won't change if those that can change it, or are willing to try, do nothing

[multiweb (Marc)]

Originally Posted by renormalised

I know how it works, Marc. I was in politics myself. I got out because the people whom I thought I could trust and work with weren't interested in the greater good. They were more interested in themselves. The whole system need changing, and that will take time. Yes, there needs to be more accountability, but when the system itself is shot full of holes, then you need to repair or replace it, otherwise all the accountability in the world won't help anything or make things better.

Things won't change if those that can change it, or are willing to try, do nothing

That's a big task mate. Where do you start? You've got my vote

[renormalised (Carl)]

Originally Posted by multiweb

That's a big task mate. Where do you start? You've got my vote

It starts by education...informing not only the general populace, but also teaching the youngsters still in school. At present, we can clamp down on the pollies and big businesses by making it known to them, in no uncertain terms, that things need to change and they need to respect the people. Not use and abuse them as they do now. That means accountability etc etc etc. However, the real change will come slower than this. It will probably take a number of generations to sort everything out. It won't be utopia....I think that is a false hope, but we need to get things running a lot better than what they are now. If we keep going the way things are being run, then I think the next century or so is not going to be very pretty. Stupidity, greed, lust for power (on the part of the politicians and mega businesses), and the apathy of the general populace is going to drive us, eventually, into the ground. Then we end up slipping back into another dark age. Who wants that??!!!

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

I agree with you all whole heartedly.... but.... im going to give you an example and while im still young so this is in my definate lifetime.

a pie (Mrs Macs) and coke (500ml) at my school cost about $2.20.
a pie (Mrs Macs) and coke (600ml) at my uni now costs $6.45 (with guild discount.!

if you made 20 bucks a hour while i was at school you where on a good wicket.

now if you made 20 bucks your banging down the door or walking out!

What am i getting at here?

Well if you go back and have a look at what you where paid back then and the costs they are all equivelent! are you really paying more for it or are you just paying a adjusted amount? or look at it this way.

I buy a pie and coke here it costs me $6.45 AUD
I buy the same pie and coke but in say Europe it costs me 6 EURO.

now if i pay with my money ive just been stung close on 12 bucks for what i pay here 6 bucks but if i buy it with money i earnt then its comparable and you don't think of it that way.

Sure the bias between inflation of prices and what you earn never pan out its just the way things go. If you don't like it go to another country? People do forget sometimes that we live in a really nice place, one where the roads are smooth, one where we actually have electricity, one where the streets arnt filled with rubbish. Do we pay a premium for it YES. do we have the money to pay that premium well sometimes we have to skint but YES to the most part of it.

As for the first part of this thread. I hope you win because thats just sheet.! I hate it when you get ripped off.

As for everybody else complaining just think of it from a different point of view and if you don't like it try your luck somewhere else in the world.

thats my 2c worth

[hotspur (Chris)]

Yes,its not very good here in Australia,I see it mentioned in the thread what domestic rate is in U.S,really we are being badly ripped off.PeterM is quite correct,here in QLD its perfect on day-unaffordable the next.

The rego for the old 4 cylinder Hilux was $700 this year,I am sure thats at least $120 more than last year-HOW DO THEY JUSTIFY THAT!.

Thanks to the poor management by the government here in QLD,our power bill look set to rise.

On (hopefully) a brighter note,our solar panel system is up and running,it took a year to go through the hoops etc,and we had to pay $3000.We have a one and a half kilowatt sytem,the best day so far is 6 and a half Kilowatts,In Summer I hope it might make 9 on a good day.Apparently it is supposed to reduce or power bills by 30%,but with power set to rise the same amount,Talk about going around in circles! Thanks Anna!,these politicians have a "grand ol life",I wonder what it would be like not to have to worry about the aspects of life that have been bought up on this thread?

Chris