Comments on: Howard govt. costs 34% more than Keating govt.

By: terje (say tay-a)

terje (say tay-a) — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 02:15:34 +0000

The substance of this discussion is now the subject of a major motion picture:-

By: Michael Sutcliffe

Michael Sutcliffe — Tue, 15 May 2007 09:22:16 +0000

David is one of the most hard-core free marketeers I’ve met. The only exception to this might be his views on IP, but not even certain about that as I’m still trying to work out if they’re right or wrong!

By: terje (say tay-a)

terje (say tay-a) — Tue, 15 May 2007 08:21:23 +0000

Jason – you seem to be adopting a needlessly rude position. Move on.

David – I think the Howard IR reforms were valuable. That was my projection before the last election but I discounted them on the basis that the coalition would not win a senate majority. My recollection is that Latham wanted to rip up AWAs but at that time AWAs did not trump awards. The current crop of AWAs over ride awards and as such they are more significant, especially over the long haul. However my recollection of Lathams full position on IR is now hazy.

By: DavidLeyonhjelm

DavidLeyonhjelm — Tue, 15 May 2007 07:50:49 +0000

Jason, if you can’t avoid impugning my motives and misrepresenting me, stay out of the discussion. You look silly.

Terje, I don’t understand why you think IR is a bigger issue for Labor this time compared to the last election. Latham’s IR policies were far worse than Rudd/Gillard’s.

I also think there’s other things that matter besides IR, neither side does what it says and their differences are relatively minor in the big scheme of things anyway. Therefore most times I’d be happy to see a change of government at every election.

By: Jason Soon

Jason Soon — Tue, 15 May 2007 07:26:05 +0000

what’s this ‘will also’? The ALP is already captured by the unions. David has a bee in the bonnet about the Libs because of the Port Arthur guns thing and isn’t taking an objective view of the ALP. On the other hand, he already said on the libertarian sub-groups thread that he thinks economic freedom is merely ‘theoretical’ i.e. he doesn’t really care about economic freedom (which is kind of surprising for a libertarian but there you go) so that he would preference the ALP over some delusion that they would be softer on guns is a foregone conclusion.

By: terje (say tay-a)

terje (say tay-a) — Tue, 15 May 2007 07:06:36 +0000

Okay. Thats how I felt last election. I still do feel that way but at the moment the IR issue is trumping the “it’s time” factor. I do feel like the IR reforms are really important over the long hall and I don’t feel like there will be a second bite at this cherry if the ALP with the current Gillard policy get over the line. Last election the only reason I could see to preference Howard at that election was the prospect of IR reform, but at that time I thought there was no way they would win a senate majority.

Also I’ve never suggested that the coalition is more honest.

By: DavidLeyonhjelm

DavidLeyonhjelm — Tue, 15 May 2007 05:28:02 +0000

Other than the fact that the ALP sometimes says one thing and does another (ie it is dishonest) why do you think we should preference them on this occasion? What will they do that you think is good?

The Coalition is equally dishonest (consider core promises), so I don’t think relative honesty comes into it.

The Coalition has been captured by rent seekers – sugar, ethanol and the wheat single desk amongst others. This post shows it is outspending all previous governments on a per capita basis. Every solution it offers involves the expenditure of large amounts of taxpayers funds. It is not a liberal government and it deserves to be kicked out.

The ALP will also be captured by rent seekers, particularly the unions and environmental movement, but that won’t happen in its first term. The Hawke/Keating government only started to go downhill in its second term. That will time to kick it out as well.

The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time …

By: Blog roundup « The Blog of Fleeced

Blog roundup « The Blog of Fleeced — Tue, 15 May 2007 04:51:47 +0000

[...] May 15, 2007 Posted by Fleeced in Blogging, General. trackback After Terje’s analysis of the tax system reveals Australian’s could have abolished income tax, pommygranate has revealed similar [...]

By: mtlibertyproject

mtlibertyproject — Tue, 15 May 2007 01:57:38 +0000

There too huh. Funny thing about democracy, factions form to lobby the government for “rents,” given the dispersion principle. Small wonder every one knows the saying: “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all others that have been tried.”

By: terje (say tay-a)

terje (say tay-a) — Tue, 15 May 2007 01:27:10 +0000

Pommy – hey thats really cool. Well done.