Posts by slarty
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Hopefully it will allow the greater elements of ACTs fuckwittedness to be ignored.
I don't know what frightens me more: surpassing the USA in draconian and ineffective "law & order" (vindictiveness) policy, or pursuing 1930's economic policy (did Douglas just stop reading economic textbooks written post-war? Galbraith must be spinning...)
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Thought I'd refresh my memory
2005 Morgan poll just prior to the election
Labour 38.5%
National 37 %Now, how does grand coalition sound? Maybe Helen & John could do an announcement just so we could see the look on the faces of Dunne et al, knowing they have just been made completely irrelevant!
I can dream.
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They mean to DNA test innocent people for the police database
Cool.
Not to hard to arrange for most of parliament to be charged with something a bit vague, but carrying a prison sentence. Tax evasion perhaps.
That should sort out such piffle. Anyone fancy joining me to start a private-prosecution fund?
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With regard to the subsidy, I guess you're either down with it or your not. Subsidise one form of public transport, subsidise them all.
I agree - but I can appreciate the political issues around selling such a particularly nice route.
I've always had a hankering for the "ratepayer discount' type of approach. Stick a nice integrated ticketing smart-card in everyone's ARC rates bill next year with $10 loaded on it. You'd see them on Tradme for $5 the next day, but who cares? Then charge less for top-ups for ratepayers thru a secure web-site (all easy to implement - 90's technology... unless you're ARTA... <sigh>)
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So its quite wrong to attribute any strong Australian fiscal position to this.
Should have been a bit more precise - compulsory saving bolsters the general economic position (thanks Gareth) which (admittedly arguably) assists with the balance sheets of major beneficiaries of that cash floating around - the banking and finance sector.
So I think quite wrong is a bit strong - probably more "indirect"
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Thirded (!?) Rob.
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That's an interesting point Paul - I'm not fully aware of the subsidy thing. Frankly I think I'd struggle to explain to my fellow Auckland ratepayers why they should subsidise me to live on an Island in the gulf :)
Mind you, I use the free buses at both ends, so maybe I get better value?
I guess I take a longer view - fares have gone up 50% in a shade over 10 years (it was $250 when I moved to the Island and had been there for a few years). In index linked terms that's a rise of about 8% - which is still too much.
In the same period the price of wholesale diesel has risen (index linked as at today- i.e. ignoring teh big peaks) about 35%. So I think we need to be fair to Fullers: they are trying to cope with extreme volatility, demand for more reliable boats, over capacity during the day and under-capacity during commuter hours... it's not easy.
I'd love to see some competition: would you pay, say $450 a month for a separate commuter boat with better seats, Wifi and no school kids? Because it's not like theres much space during the peak times!
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And on pensions:
1. We're not paying twice. Our current payments pay for current retirees. Everything else is for the future (it's called savings...)
2. And thank god someone was saving. The only reason we're not in the same boat as Iceland is that Cullen realised we were stupid (like all humans) and did it for us.
For evidence: look at private sector offshore debt. About 40% of high-street bank borrowing is off shore, and the bulk of that on 90 day roll-over. It means cheap credit on the day, but means that (when the NZ$ drops) you are servicing a massive bill.
To put it in perspective, our Public sector debt is around 20% of GDP. As private citizens (mainly to feed house prices that have no productive value) we have borrowed about 30% of GDP off-shore. The RBNZ are trying to tackle this now by the look of it
Thankfully the USA & UK are in even worse positions, so it makes us look good.
If you want to drive productivity, paying interest to Japanese housewives is not the way to do it.
One of the major reasons Australia is in an outstanding fiscal position is that they have 9% mandatory contributions. Yes, 9%.
We have to bite the bullet one day.
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Well so long as you leave after 9 & get there before... ?? You should be OK.
Last ferry to the Island is 11.45pm. Great service. And cheap (not that some of the residents think so - but they can't seem to grasp that we don't pay for our tickets in US$...)
Personally I hate the Gold Card thing (my ferry is full of sodding Zimmer frames now, takes forever to get to the bar :p), but economically it makes great sense.
Public transport has to be regular and networked to be useful. I need to know I can get home at mid-day if I need to, not just during commuter hours.
But it's not busy during the day, so effectively there is "rent free" capacity. This is why public transport needs subsidies.
So why not "rent" that empty space during the day with the subsidies you are handing over anyway? That way we stimulate the economy, effectively for free.
So I think you'll find that the scheme has cost bugger all, but now we have gained more benefit... I know the small businesses on the Island have seen quite an uplift, and the bus drivers actually have someone to talk to...
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Venice brought back memories.
Like my lovely wife commenting:
"Isn't it nice how all these men have brought their daughters to visit this place"