david f - Quote "A positively delightful rant. I am happy we don't have rant control"

This thread was put up so people could say anything that annoyed them regarding the election, to you it might be a "rant" to some but to the other person it is something they are concerned about and it is better to get issues out rather than suppress them.

pelican, well said. I'd add some stuff in about how partisan much of the commentary is but the bit's of that which bother me most seem to be very partisan.

In regard to your comments on tax, I would like to see a cap on the number of work ours wage earners can be taxed for. I don't know to do that for the self employed and investors but for wage earners it should be easy to set a cap on their financial responsibility to society based on hours worked.

I get your point about middle class welfare but their are an awful lot of other inequities in the system which don't seem to draw the same angst.

R0bert

I agree RObert. There are many issues and not enough room or time to do them justice on a forum.

Your idea about tax paid to a cap related to hours worked reminded me of a bit of conversation gleaned from the radio about the idea of putting a cap on the number of hours actually worked. Statistics show many people are working longer hours to get their work done while some people remain unemployed. Maybe instead of expecting more from fewer employees the 'right' amount of people can be employed. I understand that some jobs will always mean longer hours and are usually compensated in some way (but not always). A little different from your suggestion but a related topic.

I like the idea of cutting red tape on GST but it doesn't go far enough. IMO the GST should be eradicated but this will be difficult now given the States will get a say. The act of making business responsible for tax collection really irks me. It is an unfair burden on business, much more than some of the other more furphy topics that come up about business (like tax on super profits).

I thought the big payday policy from the Coalition where by millionaires would be paid $75,000 so they could maintain their lifestyle after bubs came along, something like the second car for mum can still be a new range rover to ferry the new bub around town. I seen that as a reward for Liberal supporters at the expense of the poor.
However the Coalition have now trumped themselves with an even dumber policy. Buy Boats from Indonesian fishermen so they can't sell them to people smugglers.
Mr Abbott rejected suggestions that his boat buyback scheme could stimulate Indonesia's boat-building industry, saying it was ''much more sensible to spend a few thousand dollars in Indonesia'' than to spend millions processing asylum seekers once they arrive in Australia. A few thousand Mr Abbott, Indonesia has some 750,000 such boats and in many cases they provide the livelihood for villages, is he going to buy the lot with a few beads and trinkets?
Immigration Minister Tony Burke described the Coalition's boat buyback scheme as ''simply crazy policy''.
''We are talking about a buy back scheme in a market of three quarters of a million boats,'' he said.
''Of all the mad ideas I have heard in immigration I think the boat buy back wins.''
I agree, simply a lunatic of an idea. What are these people going to be like in government, when this is their kind of policy?

Paul,

Hey, hey a boat buy back.....

Here's a blast from the past - http://www.aysii.com/img/dodgey-bros-large.jpg

"Have we got a deal for you!"

pelican, "Statistics show many people are working longer hours to get their work done while some people remain unemployed"

While some might support those sentiments, I also deal with contractors who are exasperated that they cannot recruit workers, especially for apprenticeships.

Honestly, ask anyone who owns or develops property how hard it is to get trades and what they are obliged to fork out for the pleasure of their attendance.

I am not just talking about unskilled labor, but skilled as well. For instance I am presently looking through quotes for a small kitchen made of chipboard, cupboards only, none on walls or higher than hip, and plain vanilla unexciting finishes. The cheapest quote so far is $11,000! Most wouldn't even visit to quote. A simple job, but the skills for even simple cabinet making are not available.

Where are all of those women who say they want $$? Even a pathetic job of laying cheap vinyl tiles on the small area of floor not covered by kitchen cabinets was quoted at $7,500. Are they joking? $75 a square metre supply and lay should deliver good profit. BUT, the workers are NOT available.

Again, where are all of those women who say they want good money? Because easy, brainless lino laying will deliver them more $$ and less stress than those clerical 'management' jobs their feckless school teachers and 'mentors' in the media encourage them to 'aspire' to. They get paid to learn too. There is NO 'glass ceiling'. A frustrated contractor would add that there would be no labour available to install one either.