<< You are unable to see that GDP per capita is a perfectly acceptable manner in which to track our increasing prosperity. >>

Pericles, that is a most extraordinary statement. You know full well that GDP and GDP-per-capita are nothing of the sort.

It is accepted across the world, but it is most definitely NOT a good way in which to track our increasing prosperity… especially in Australia’s case where massive population growth contributes enormously to economic growth!

<< The answer to this is that the steady increase of GDP per capita shows conclusively that the impact of immigration on our economy is positive >>

Bollocks!!

I bring you back to the FACT that infrastructure and services are TERRIBLY in need of massive improvement. Even the pro-growth GDP-worshipping Abbott government concurs with this!

The very fact that Abbott is our ‘Infrastructure PM’ says very loudly that something has gone terribly wrong over the last two or three decades that we have had rapidly increasing GDP and very high economic growth!

Why can’t you get this into your head Pericles?

It is so simple – the massive economic growth that we have had, now for many years, has simply NOT done what it is supposed to do… and has left us with a HUGE shortfall in terms of some of the most basic quality-of-life things!

I have to conclude that you can see this perfectly clearly but that you are just never going to admit it… and will do anything other than simply concede that the sort of economic growth and concomitant increasing GDP that we have had has NOT achieved improvements in infrastructure, services, standard of living or quality of life for Australian citizens.

continued

<< That may be your view. But all the statistics that are in common use to measure our prosperity as a nation, say otherwise. >>

No they don’t. But yes GDP certainly does!!

For goodness sake, can’t you look past the stats and bogus indicators and see the real world? Don’t you ever listen to the radio or watch TV or read newspapers or online news? All these media are full of stories about how our basic quality-of-life factors are not only not improving but are becoming steadily worse.

LOOK AT THE REAL WORLD, Pericles!!

I am starting to think that you are arguing simply to save face, Ludwig.

>>You know full well that GDP and GDP-per-capita are nothing of the sort. It is accepted across the world, but it is most definitely NOT a good way in which to track our increasing prosperity… especially in Australia’s case where massive population growth contributes enormously to economic growth!<<

So let us think about that for a moment.

Here's a snapshot on which you might care to ponder:

Our Prime Minister stands up in Parliament and says "Good news, Australia. Our GDP is decreasing! Aren't we great!"

Next to stand up is Smokin' Joe Hockey. "And the even better news, everybody, is that GDP per capita is also declining!".

Across the floor, the Opposition is devastated.

"We can't argue with that, Madam Speaker. Ludwig tells us that this is the very best news that Australia's economy has heard in decades. GDP and GDP per capita have been increasing for so long now, we have all forgotten how wonderful it is to have the economy back performing miracles again."

[Exeunt omnes]

Can you see any problem with this scenario?

I wrote:

<< I have to conclude that you can see this perfectly clearly but that you are just never going to admit it… and will do anything other than simply concede that the sort of economic growth and concomitant increasing GDP that we have had has NOT achieved improvements in infrastructure, services, standard of living or quality of life for Australian citizens. >>

Thankyou Pericles for exquisitely demonstrating this!

So are you ever going to look at the real world?

Are you ever going to directly compare the enormous economic growth that we have had over the last couple of decades, and the enormous increase in GDP that accompanied it (well…. they are just the same thing, aren’t they?), with the enormous LACK of improvements in all the basics that economic growth is supposed to provide?

Are you going to at least comment in some way on the enormous disparity here?

Or are you just going to continue to completely avoid this, which really is the CRUX of this whole issue?

Here’s a scenario for you:

Opposition leader Ludwig puts it to Infrastructure PM Abbott that his worship of economic growth, with its primary indicator GDP, sits right at the heart of all our infrastructure problems, and that the long-term answer to this issue is to slash immigration and head towards a stable population….and that we desperately need a MUCH better economic indicator than GDP – one which is not going to wildly MISLEAD us regarding our economic prosperity.

Abbott and all his cronies gasp in utter disbelief… and once they again manage to speak, they ridicule Ludwig loud and long, and the Speaker of the House is powerless to stop them from just going at it for a very long time!

Then it is in the news the next day…..and lo and behold, there is MASSIVE support for Ludwig’s comments. They get rave reviews from the ordinary people out there and wonderful commendations from most commentators… and condemnation from big business leaders and commentators that are in their pockets.

Ludwig’s party wins in a landslide at the next election, because in addition to his comments, he had laid out a full plan to achieve a sustainable Australian society.

Ludwig is then the most popular PM that this country has ever seen, and wins five consecutive terms before his retirement.

And the country becomes a much much much better place than it would have been if the likes of Abbott had continued with their manic continuous growth doctrine, while taking their cues to do so from the utterly flawed GDP indicator.

Neat sidestep, Ludwig. But utterly unconvincing.

Just for the record, can we agree that a) GDP growth is good for Australia and b) GDP per capita growth is also good for the Australian people.

Or would you endorse the alternative, that c) GDP reduction is good for Australia and d) GDP per capita reduction is good for the Australian people.

Because the success or otherwise of "Ludwig's Party" depends on recognition that only one of these two scenarios can be true.

As a personal recommendation, stick to "birding", whatever that might entail. I suspect that is where your true talent lies.