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The Forum > Article Comments > Inequality and growth > Comments

Inequality and growth : Comments

By Matthew Smith, published 31/7/2017

The recent public concerns raised by Bill Shorten, leader of the Labor opposition, and others, about the widening income inequality in Australia is not before time.

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A small minority of people have always had more money that the majority. That's not going to change, and it is stupid to think it should. Who really cares what Mr. Big has as long Joe Blogs has ample to cover his needs and live with dignity. It seems to me that some people just want to be rich for the sake of being rich, even though there is only so much money anyone can use.

If Shorten and his wrecking crew were really interested in the plight of the people they are supposed to be representing, they would be lowering immigration targets from 200,000 to 70,000, what they were prior to John Howard's massive increases designed to control the people who are supposed to be Labor's constituency - the workers. This anti-worker plot has ensured sweet FA in wage increases, and the increase in GPD from more people has to be spread around more people, too.

Shorten has a hell of a cheek talking about inequality when he and his party support anti-worker, high immigration policies.
Posted by ttbn, Monday, 31 July 2017 3:27:21 PM
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yep the socialist think that those who sit home and smoke weed all day, watch porn and refuse to pick fruit should earn the same as those who get up and go to work at 6 each morning.
Posted by runner, Monday, 31 July 2017 4:15:11 PM
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By stubbornly sticking to a 50% RET, Bill Shorten is inflaming inequality of Australian consumers.

The number who will be forced to disconnect from the electricity network because of sky-rocketing electricity prices will keep on growing. Bill ignores the inequality between keeping warm in winter and freezing in the dark.

The viability of businesses will be adversely affected, forcing many to close up shop (or factory or whatever) or to move offshore, with consequent thousands of job losses and lengthening dole queues. Bill ignores the inequality between being employed and being unemployed.

If he becomes PM, Bill would be leading the worst Labor government since Federation.
Posted by Raycom, Monday, 31 July 2017 5:44:08 PM
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Congratulations Raycom for being one of few who understand the economic realities that affect us all! Except say, the carpet bagging, price gouging, tax avoiding, profit repatriation of, debt laden, alleged foreign investors/energy speculators!

And such a change from a completely self centred ultra judgemental Hasbeen, and thousands of Hasbeen clones and just as shallow, uncaring and thoughtless, who to a generic man, just doesn't get, when the great unwashed have less, so does he and the tiny few he genuinely give a rats about!?

Go do something far more productive Raycom, stop wasting rare wisdom and bash your head against a steel reinforced concrete wall!

Rather than cast pearls before risible recalcitrant moribund bacon/deplorable drop kicks?

Who live in a bubble and think we envy them for what they can actually take with them or possess always!

Like mausoleums or ruins with roofs? Adorned with signs that say, here lies the moldering bones of richest most ambitious man in dis yer graveyard!
Alan B.
Posted by Alan B., Monday, 31 July 2017 6:46:04 PM
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runner, can you name any socialists who hold that opinion?
A single example will be sufficient.

But if you can't think of any, please quit your strawmanning.

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Raycom, there's a lot more to electricity prices than the RET.
Both parties have been a dismal failure at keeping electricity prices down. But though many in the older generations prefer to live a parasitic existence, the younger generations are aware of the problems this will create, and realise that the RET is better than nothing.

As for employment v unemployment, the real problem is that the politicians (in all parties, though the Libs are the worst) prefer the illusion of fiscal responsibility to the needs of the economy, hence they're obsessed with trying to get a surplus even though doing so at this stage of the economic cycle is futile, destroys jobs and weakens the economy.

Take note, ttbn: it's economic mismanagement, not the number of immigrants, that has prevented wage increases.

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Hasbeen, how long do the poor have to be excluded from the benefits of greater productivity before you cease to dismiss it as "the politics of envy"?

The decent life you have is now beyond the reach of many.

And your assumption of huge waste in the public sector runs completely contrary to the facts. It was probably true a few decades ago, but we've gone much too far the other way now: the public sector's understaffed, the work's not getting done, or is getting done by consultants, and the government ends up paying far too much.

Consider the School Halls scheme:
WA: the competent public sector carefully scrutinises every deal, delivering excellent value.
Vic and NSW: the public sector no longer has the capability, so it's managed by the private sector - but they do a terrible job, wasting huge amounts of money.

Why is it so hard for you to comprehend this false economy?
Posted by Aidan, Monday, 31 July 2017 6:54:58 PM
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Alan you are becoming a bore. Try thinking for a minute before you run off at the keyboard.

Aidan anyone can do what I did. I came back to Oz in late 1976 after a few years sailing the Pacific with just a few thousand, enough to feed me for about 6 months.

Of course as I don't drink, smoke, gamble, or like clubs or restaurant I was infront of most. I worked in some pretty low paying jobs, a few years on islands, like $136 & keep for a 6 day week. With that I bought some land, & some more land.

I then met a lady, married a raised 3 kids. Neither of us ever earned above the average wage, but by 1988 we owned outright a 31 acre farm. Today with the ridiculous inflation we are worth a fair bit.

Not just me. My 26 year old daughter moved into her new home on an acre, with minimal help from dad at Christmas. It can be done, it does take some discipline but the results are worth the effort.

But yes you are right, I have no sympathy for those who blow their money on booze & gambling, then whinge they are poor.
Posted by Hasbeen, Monday, 31 July 2017 9:24:12 PM
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