Crackcup, I doubt the pension would be reduced, no matter what party is in power.
Has it *ever* been reduced?
Not increasing it is possible though.

If they want to cut, they should cut the ocean of "fluff" (grants and awards to community groups, film production, festivals/events).

Stick to the absolutely essential, and let the private market deal with the rest.

Foxy, maybe selling public assets might be better, considering what poor management skills most governments have.

We only have ourselves to blame for the Tweedles.

Every election we have a plethora of parties/candidates to vote for, from all over the political spectrum.

But most of us number a Tweedle box above the line (which gives them a big fat public funding cheque for first preferences and virtually no possibility of transferred preferences).

Vote for all alternative parties *before* the Tweedles (even those you despise).
Every alternative candidate elected (even one you despise) helps chip away at the Tweedles' domination.
Let's hear some other voices!

It is not only mostly the ill informed electorate that considers the proceeds of consolidated revenue to be a basket to be plundered. Politicians also look upon this money as something to be scattered across as many of the public as possible to secure their position in power.

There is a long list of wasted resources in last week's Weekend Australian conducted under the last government running into billions, mainly caused by total ineptitude. Howard was also guilty in distributing largesse which was not appropriate.

The whole world has been living on a sea of debt and to some extent Australia has also mortgaged the future. Compared to yesteryear, many people do not realise how our standard of living has risen, yet our sense of entitlement continues unabated demanding others always pick up the tab especially in relation to social services. I am not suggesting we go back to the past, but there is a limit to what can be paid for by what comes in and the chickens have come home to roost, as Joe Hockey is trying to warn us. Let's scrap some of these expensive and inadvisable items like first home buyers and government funded maternity leave and live within our means. There are a lot of things It would nice to have the government (us the tax payers) provide depending on individual priorities, but we first have to create the wealth to do so and not borrow.

Americans Say 75 Percent of Politicians Are Corrupted,
SAY..70 Percent Use Political Power to Hurt Enemies
http://reason.com/poll/2014/04/03/americans-say-75-percent-of-politicians

Americans don’t paint a pretty picture of their public servants in the new national Reason-Rupe poll. Americans tell Reason-Rupe that 75 percent of all politicians are “corrupted” by campaign donations and lobbyists. And they say 70 percent of politicians use their political power to help their friends and hurt their enemies.

No wonder just 17 percent approve of the job Congress is doing. Or that President Obama’s approval rating is just 43 percent, with 51 percent disapproving.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10742912/Fort-Hood-gunman-was-on-a-cocktail-of-prescription-drugs.html

http://intellihub.com/alcoholic-court-stenographer-repeatedly-types-hate-job-instead-transcribing-case/

http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/ARTICLE1/overlooked.php

http://orwellwasright.co.uk/2014/04/03/the-us-eu-trans-atlantic-free-trade-agreement-tafta-devastating-social-and-environmental-consequences/
http://investmentwatchblog.com/if-you-do-not-conform-the-thought-nazis-will-get-you/

capitalists controling health is not the way to go
http://www.newsforage.com/2014/04/1000-day-miracle-drug-shocks-us-health.html
http://investmentwatchblog.com/paul-craig-roberts-imf-loans-will-hand-ukraine-over-to-private-banks/
its never ending..but its important that we are learning/something..to do with caring for other..HA HA HA..YEAH RIGHT IM OK..

RT
rENT IS THE BIG KILLER
IF YOU OWN YOUR OWN HOME..IT SHOULD BE EASY
BUT THE BANKERS PLAN..MANY WILL LOOSE THEIR HOMES..AND THAT OUR KIDS NEVER KNOW OWNING..ANYTHING..NOT EVEN THEIR OWN BODSIES NOR KIDS..ETERNALLY SERFS..PAYING FOR EVERYTHING THE SLAVE MASTER BEFORE NEEDED TO SUPPLY FOR FREE...welcome to pay as you go slavery.

2b..ctd

YOU WILL THANK THAT YOU WERE BORN..IN THE GOOD TIMES
CAUSE THE BAD IS GOING TO BE REALLY BAD..AND THOSE WHO COULD CHANGE THINGS..are TOO DISTRACTED..JUST SURVIING..BLAH BL;AH..NO ONE LISTENS..LESS DO ANYTHING TO END THE INSANITY.

NO ONE PARTY CAN BE TRUSTED
WAR CABINETS ARE THE WAY TO GO..
YOU SIT FOR A COURSE..THE BEST GET THE JOB..[PARTY SELECTION]

WE VOTE THE ELECT FROM THE BEST THESUS..[]COURSE RESULTS]..[THINK LIKE AN INTERNSHIP//ON EDUCATION ALLOWENCE..IE[LIKE THOSE WANTING TO GET INTO POLITICS DO A 4 YEAR COURSE..[HINT HINT]..THAT TRAINS THE NEXT GENERATION..VIA THE EDUCATION SYSTEM..

BUT ITS WASTED THOUGHT.

me me me..help me[the squeeky wheel [read lobby]..gets the grease
WE NEED TO TEACH SQUEAKY..NOT SNEAKY..STRAIGHT BAT POLITICS NO POLY TRICKS

SELF FUNDED BY OUR OWN BANK/AND TRANSACTION TAX
ALL OTHER TAXES ABOLISHED..IN TIME WE BUY OFF BIG PHARMA AND PROMOTE CURE..NOT LIFE LONG DEPENDENCE ON 100 DOLLAR PILLS

STOP TAKING THE PILLS YA DIE YA MUGS
THATS WHAT THEY WANT/WORK..WE GIVE YOU YOUR AIDS/OR HEP C DRUG..STOP WORKING WE STOP GIVING YOU A SYMPTOM Suppression..[not cure]..

think.outside/the tank..
IN 30 years we went from one case of autism..in 1800 kids
to one autism..in 68..kids[just via compulsory vaccination..of heavey metal/preservatives..[to maximise profits..EXTEND SHELF LIFE]

WE LET THEM TAKe iodine from our saly
other stuff from our bread/while hued rice causes some other sickness..[berry bury?]..etc etc..govt is about making us pay sickness bills/rent..and sin taxes..carbon tax..fees fines levies.license fees..drop them and you would welcome the pay cut

these taxes and fees are killing us as policy
HIRE IGNORANTs..GIVE EM A TITLE..AND THEY DO AS WE tell them

and that clamidia 'drug.that sloughs off the outer layer of your brain..lowers iq 15 percentile..just so you become the perfect party man[ie docile drunk..but semi skilled enough..with the right motivations

It is wasted on the automatons for Labor and their sidekicks the treacherous Greens who are shameless in defending Rudd and Julia Whatshername's big spends, but others will be interested in this independent report commenting on government wastage. I have quoted the concluding paras for interest.

<The $250bn cost of Kevin Rudd: a tale of waste and spending
HENRY ERGAS AND JUDITH SLOAN, The Australian, August 03, 2013 12:00AM

....Yet the frightening fact is that there is no sign whatsoever that Rudd has learned from the past five years' experience.

Rather, in just 37 days since returning to office, spending commitments have rained like confetti, ranging from greater funding for schools to the PNG Solution, and encompassing everything from a "jobs program" for Tasmania to stadium upgrades in Townsville, a "transformational plan" for the Cairns CBD, a beef industry exhibition in Rockhampton and more money to promote live music performances. Yesterday's economic statement makes the consequences clear: the increase in spending next year is the greatest since Rudd had his hand on the levers in 2008-09.

Tax hikes have proliferated too, including the poorly conceived and even more poorly implemented changes to the fringe benefits tax, the increase in tobacco excise and a levy on bank deposits. But, even so, the budget deficit has blown out and net debt with it: so much for fiscal consolidation, Rudd-style.

That then is Rudd: uninterested in economics, contemptuous of process, the most recent incarnation of "whatever it takes" man in a party tainted by corruption and cronyism. Yes, the Rudd circus may rise to new heights; but the costs it inflicts will only rise with it.>

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/the-250bn-cost-of-kevin-rudd-a-tale-of-waste-and-spending/story-fn59niix-1226690463570#

contd..

The authors of the report,

- Judith Sloan is Contributing Economics Editor at The Australian. She holds degrees from the University of Melbourne and the London School of Economics. She has held a number of government appointments, including Commissioner of the Productivity Commission; Commissioner of the Australian Fair Pay Commission; and Deputy Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

- Henry Ergas is Senior Economic Adviser, Deloitte, and inaugural Professor of Infrastructure Economics at the University of Wollongong’s SMART Infrastructure Facility. He headed the Secretary-General’s Task Force on Structural Adjustment at the OECD. He has taught at the École nationale de la statistique et de l'administration économique in Paris and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. He is a lay member of the New Zealand High Court.