There is a 'flat tax' now.

Tax dodges (legal) allow the wealthy/crafty to avoid most of it.

Tax havens (legal) are where our New Idea style 'heroes' park their loot.

Corporations contribute very little (legal).

CEOs clearly DO NOT pay tax at the rate of 'the wurkers' on their squillions (legal).

Only the plonkers who cannot easily escape tax actually pay anything, at the 30% + rates.

Only the plonkers who cannot easily escape tax actually pay anything, at the 30% + rates.
The Blue Cross,
yeah, but that only happens in those great Countries where everyone's proud to be.

TBC

You should work for Wayne Swan in the fantasy accounting department. With one quick reclassification you can solve the skills shortages. The unions, tradesmen, engineers etc will suddenly realise that they are not in such demand and no longer ask for inflationary increases.

Individual,

Economists model the economy based on learned experience expressed as maths in order to determine the consequences of fiscal actions taken by the politicians. Preferably so that past errors are not repeated.

Economists contribute to the economy only if their recommendations are acted on. Labor's spendthrift policies ignore basic recommendations and will have consequences that are predictable.

SM, who says I'm not Wayniepoo?

I like this economists-get-out-of-jail-free card:

"Preferably so that past errors are not repeated.

"Economists contribute to the economy only if their recommendations are acted on."

Now, do tell me, who was it that crafted the 1929 Depression, and all subsequent booms and busts, including the still booming global bust of the GFC.

Surely not... no, there weren't.... no economists to be seen in all these dream fiascos?

I wonder?

Paying higher interest rates when you have a job is comparatively easier than paying lower ones while unemployed.

Would have been better to let a bank or two and business confidence collapse due to massive unemployment?

The Liberal solution would likely have been to give bigger tax cuts to the mega-rich in the hope of a trickle-down into the overall economy.

Bail out the billionaires first?

But that is what did happen.

And then they paid themselves bonuses and bigger salaries too.