Month: September 2007

The bigger the lie and the more loudly it is proclaimed, the more people believe it.

We all know who most people think is better at running the economy: the Liberals, by a country mile.

The Libs seem to have persuaded the masses that they are low-taxing, and that only they can “manage” the economy by running surpluses.

But the truth is not so obvious.

In the past Labor has been notorious for running up debt for pet ideological projects and social welfare. The Libs are less notorious but have been equally spent money in favour of mates rather than the economic good – industry welfare, exchange rates and interest rates.
Continue reading “Forum for Saturday 29 September 2007 high tax”

A fine for $810 million sounds like a lot of money. That is what Microsoft was fined for anti-competitive conduct. The fine by the European Commission was upheld this week by the European Court of First Instance.

There have been lots of oohs and aahs, particularly in the US, over the fine, but it is pretty paltry amount compared to the massive and richly undeserved profits Microsoft has made from the misuse of its monopoly position. Microsoft’s profits are about $15 billion a year.

Comparatively, it is the equivalent of an average Australian worker being fined $3000 – little more than a severe traffic fine.
Continue reading “Forum for 22 September 2007 microsoft”

Like horses, computers get viruses. Imagine, then, if something akin to what has happened to the horses happened, not to computers, but to poker machines.

Now, I know that as poker machines are not connected in the way computers are they cannot get viruses. But it is an interesting hypothetical.

What if clubs had to “shut down” their poker-machine rooms, preventing patrons from using them? Would there be such a clamour as has happened with the equine flu? Would there be talk of “an industry” making “losses”?

I suspect not.
Continue reading “Forum for Saturday 8 September 2007 virus and economy”

When John Howard contested the 1996 election he was fortunate enough – as he has so often been – not to have had to offer much in the way of policy.

Nor did he have to agree with any elements of Keating Government policy for fear of being wedged by what the majority of Australians saw as a smelly dead cat.

Upon winning, therefore, Howard had a blank cheque and no statements to come back to haunt him, with perhaps one notable exception – the “never ever” GST.
Continue reading “Forum for Saturday 1 September 2007 promises”