The Federal budget, it wasn't all bad

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

and now you (and a few others) hate my guts Mike

I still love my fellow man, even if he has differing views to my mine. And even if he is wrong.

I love a spirited debate, but I never walk away with a grudge, and if they do, then it ain't my problem, but theirs.

The world would be a dull place if we all shared the same view. Or would be rather interseting, depending on your point of view!

Cheers Peter

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Retrograde

It's easy to diss something and spread fear and doom but when you examine them almost none of the criticisms aimed at the government from the coalition are based on reality. Sound and fury signifying nothing.

I of course agree with you on the technical notes you have mentioned (one could go on and really ram the truth home but it is largely a waste of time in this thread since the only examples being touted is the download of porn and movies ) but it is this last bit you have said that is so true and so disappointing especially when it comes to scientific based issues, once politicians and their supporters start to expound scientifically misleading and baseless information things are getting bad . I don't want to live in a society that puts narrow minded politics before scientific rigour.

Mike

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Sorry Mike, I was going around in circles kind of on purpose ...so I'll stop

And so what if we are going round and round in circles, someone will eventually get dizzy and fall over.

My preferred method of falling over over is........ One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, Floor, hic.

[LewisM]

Just to clear the air here a little - Strongman Mike (as distinct from that icy one), I still loves ya man. I could care less if you were Julia Gillard's hairdresser

Nah, seriously, I don't judge people by what political affiliation they are. Take my life as a weird example: my wife is COMMUNIST (SHOCK, HORROR!). Her Mum still runs as local Communist Party rep back in Russia. Having said that, my wife, like MOST Russians DESPISE Socialism (has to do with a certain little German with half a moustache!). So, there is a snowflakes chance is Hades she'll ever vote Labor.

As to your images getting few comments Mike, it's because you whine about the wind all the time Ask Julia for a National Windbreak Scheme There's some pertinent vision for you

This whole thread is much ado about bugger all, but it's still interesting to throw ideas, ideals, and thoughts back at each other. Be a very boring place if we all agreed on everything (save Peter, who is sitting on the fence )

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by LewisM

As to your images getting few comments Mike, it's because you whine about the wind all the time Ask Julia for a National Windbreak Scheme There's some pertinent vision for you

Ah yes but not for much longer YAY!

...not sure Julia would be able to accommodate my request though, as the opposition would certainly block it

Mike

[Paul Haese]

Originally Posted by Stardrifter_WA

We are still at 2.75%, much better than most other countries. US and Japan, two of the major economies are at or near zero percent. So, on that basis, we are still doing better than others. If you really want to know why the reserve banks drops interest rates, read the minutes. Mind you, it is very dry reading, so if you have insomnia, this might help

It isn't as cut and dried as you suggest, there are global factors in play also.

Agreed Peter, it is very complicated indeed, we have been heading downward for some time though and that says they are trying to get some drive back into the economy. Savings rates of individuals are higher than they have been for years. That says a lot about confidence. It is a tough equation, the Chinese mineral resources was a major underpinning on spending but it should not have been relied on so heavily. It could not be sustained when other economies were not buying as many products that were made in China. I saw that in early 2009 as every country was trying to avoid a depression by pouring billions and trillions into the domestic economies. As for the US and Japan; well both have had massive debt levels for years. The piper must be paid at some point. Time will tell.....

Mike, dropping or rapid rising interest rates are not as good as stable interest rates. Having high rates stems growth and is designed to do that. The recession we had to have caused a lot of pain but many years of growth too, the longest in our history. Dropping interest rates likewise are design to encouraging spending. That has been happening for the last 3 years. The mistake I think was raising interest rates at the start of the GFC. These small increases put the brakes on very quickly and then it became apparent we needed to drop the rates again. Far too late really. So this is not about a political point of view at all. Spending lots of money necessitated in the board's opinion for raised interest rates and that a readjustment would quickly follow. Spending should have slowed sooner and rate stability would have occurred sooner. It is all about how money is distributed in the economy and what flow rate it occurs at. Very complicated and requires a careful hand. Right now Australia needs to stop spending via the government and go for a balance in the money in and money out. Some borrowing is good, but not too much.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by LewisM

(save Peter, who is sitting on the fence )

Hey Lewis, if you are referring to me, I am not a fence sitter, I definitely have my feet firmly planted in one paddock, much to my families disgust, and have done so all my adult life, whether it is right or wrong.

I just don't go around pretending that I actually know something about politics based on useless information or what others say, which is then peddled as fact without any real basis. Scientific minds do like their facts, after all.

Cheers Peter

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Right now Australia needs to stop spending via the government and go for a balance in the money in and money out. Some borrowing is good, but not too much.

Probably a bit too simplified there Paul. Australia has many facets and needs but above all spending was required and plenty of it to prevent loss of jobs and a recession during the GFC, this is not Labor rhetoric and even the coalition agreed, it was just the amount in the end that they decided to draw a difference of opinion on and such is adversarial politics. At the end of the day Australia's debt is quite modest and definitely manageable and has been used largely to very good effect in my opinion (perhaps not yours but such is life)

All good

Mike

[Hagar (Doug)]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Ah Dougie...I thought you had left IIS I did, I have, I sit and usually say very little anymore, for various reasons.

Anyway, I really appreciate your personal derogatory comments, yet again and it is so nice to hear them Like them or not this is the way you come across. It appears no one else has the right of their own opinion. Stooge (comedian), a member of a comedy double act who feeds lines to the other comedian; This fits not derogatory just the way you appear.

Shame, once we were friends (I think?) ah but sigh... then I indictated who I bend toward politically (without name calling and vitriol but mostly exagerated and light hearted humour) and now you (and a few others) hate my guts I doubt any of us hate your guts so to speak but do find your political pounding a bit much, we also have opinions be they right or wrong. You continually refer to humour as an excuse but a few emoticons don't mean everyone else is wrong politely or humourously. Maybe I should have called you a stooge and put a couple of smiley faces and all would have been well.


I noticed comments on my images for example dropped off from a few regulars But hey, I am a big man with a thick skin and do not care one iota. You care or you wouldn't mention it. I don't make comments anymore on anyones images. In fact I haven't bothered with imaging for near on 2 years after my last outburst at which time I did leave IIS with the only real intention in my return to sell some gear. Like you, obviously, I felt my worth on IIS was waining. With that it was time to move on and as you put it at the time, smell the roses. With that idea I have stopped working 60 to 70 hours a week, decided to retire, found a new hobbie or two for daylight hours, bought a caravan and hope to use it. My run in with a funnelweb has slowed things a bit but all up my plans are coming together well. I hope I will unlock the observatory again soon.

Leave the politics alone and everyone will love you for it.


Please try and keep it real and easy going, much better that way.

I still love you, amen Bull....

Mike

:s crewy::sade yes:

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by LewisM

. Doesn't take much vision to see where NDIS, NBN and other specifically targeted scams...err...schemes are aimed at. It's not caring for Australia, its vote buying.

I just reread your post here Lewis and I have to say that comment is really very saddening, to suggest the NDIS is a scam is really sad and simply not fair. It was long over due and almost unanimously supported, why there is a small % who don't support it is beyond me, same as the Aboriginal referendum in the 60's a few percent of people actually voted to keep indigenous people form having voting rights

Mike

[strongmanmike (Michael)]

Originally Posted by Hagar

:s crewy::sade yes:

Did you ever get that video Doug?

[Paul Haese]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

Probably a bit too simplified there Paul. Australia has many facets and needs but above all spending was required and plenty of it to prevent loss of jobs and a recession during the GFC, this is not Labor rhetoric and even the coalition agreed, it was just the amount in the end that they decided to draw a difference of opinion on and such is adversarial politics. At the end of the day Australia's debt is quite modest and definitely manageable and has been used largely to very good effect in my opinion (perhaps not yours but such is life)

All good

Mike

Not to put too fine a point on things here Mike, but I did study economics at Uni as part of my undergraduate degree and got a distinctions for the subjects I took. I know that it is complicated, more so than you might know yourself.

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by strongmanmike

I just reread your post here Lewis and I have to say that comment is really very saddening, to suggest the NDIS is a scam is really sad and simply not fair. It was long over due and almost unanimously supported, why there is a small % who don't support it is beyond me, same as the Aboriginal referendum in the 60's a few percent of people actually voted to keep indigenous people form having voting rights

Mike

Mike, I didn't say I don't support it - I said I can see where the true agenda is with it. Gillard's crying in session was just the icing on the show cake.

I think it has merit -perhaps it could be "rewritten" better (and I don't claim to know HOW).

Politics is more smoke and mirrors than facts and actions.

[LewisM]

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Not to put too fine a point on things here Mike, but I did study economics at Uni as part of my undergraduate degree and got a distinctions for the subjects I took. I know that it is complicated, more so than you might know yourself.

I too had the misfortune of having to do economics (and accounting) for my first degree.

Hence why the wife does the banking and balancing I make it and spend it, she checks and balances.

[Kunama]

Just as well your beautiful wife does the banking Lewis, or you would have a million invested in telescopes but live on the street.

[LewisM]

Just hopefully a street in a dark country town... like Jindabyne...

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Politics is more smoke and mirrors than facts and actions.

Really? Must be nice to have an insight into everything.

[Stardrifter_WA]

I think a quote from Mark Twain sums this thread up best: In religion and politics people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who have not themselves examined the questions at issue but have taken them at second-hand from others.

[LewisM]

Glad I am atheist then

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by Kunama

I think a quote from Mike Salway sums it up better:
Posting Topics
Please avoid topics about global warming, race, politics or religion. These can be very sensitive topics, and people are usually very polarised about these issues; it can be very easy to take things the wrong way, creating arguments. Threads about these topics often end badly - usually being locked, with posts being deleted, or with people being upset.
Threads about these topics may be locked or deleted, especially if they are intended to simply incite a reaction or cause arguments.

Yep, totally agree. I am surprised it has lasted this long. It should be closed.

The problem with threads like this is that people are drawn, like moths to a flame, mostly because of strong held beliefs, or indeed, lack thereof.