On Fri, Nov 7, 2014 at 3:36 PM, Russell Coker <russell@coker.com.au> wrote:
On Thu, 6 Nov 2014, Michael Scott <luv@inoz.net> wrote:
> Interesting that YOUR opinion is that of "the majority", Russell. I think
> you'll probably find that about 50% of the population probably think that
> government debt is "large".

I don't claim that my opinion is that of the majority.  I merely think that if
you show a set of numbers to a random person they won't look at the second
smallest number and call it large.
 
All I did was say that the government has a large debt. Whatever percentage of GDP or how it compares to other OECD countries does not change that. If it's in the billions of dollars and costs billions in interest, as a percentage of the government's budget, or our taxes, it is large.


When I ran an Internet Cafe some of my customers were on social security.
Some of them legitimately had problems finding work and it was quite
reasonable for dole payments to go towards Internet use (which even then was
almost required to get a job).  Some of the customers of my cafe seemed to
have no interest in ever being employed, but it was still OK to give them dole
payments - it kept them out of crime and the money they spent at my cafe (and
other businesses in the area) allowed us to employ people.

Michael and Slav, have you ever started a business of your own?  It's easy to
spout right-wing talking points when you are employed at a major bank that
won't be allowed to fail even if it's badly run.  It's a very different
experience to start your own business and to work for other small businesses.

I've only ever worked in small businesses and run my own businesses, apart from a year and a half in the consumer finance industry (of which I couldn't wait to leave). 

> We can go on and on with the left-right argument, Russell.... I lean both
> ways depending on the policy.

Please give examples of when you lean to the left.  You only get involved in
political discussions here to defend the extreme right-wing.

I'd vote Green if their policies only related to their green matters. Unfortunately they don't. They are able to come up with unfunded policies which they never have to justify in practice. 

I'd vote Labor if they weren't backed by corrupt unions (and I'm not saying all unions are corrupt).

I'd vote Liberal if they weren't backed by corrupt big business (and I'm not saying all big business is corrupt).

Unfortunately, I've never been in a marginal seat and my vote tends to have little to no affect. This coming state election is the exception. I'd love to see the Napthine government voted out tomorrow, but I dread the alternative. Simply because I cannot stand the absolute lack of regard for the environment. I could say the same for the current federal government.

Is that far enough Left for you, Russell?

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