Posts by Rich of Observationz
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Ok, here are some numbers:
(ANZ, 2006 - AUD3.6bln profits on AUD49bln market value = 7.3%
Woolworths, 2006 - AUD1.0bln profits on AUD22bln market value = 4.5%
Apple, 2007 - USD3.5bln profits on USD105bln market value = 3.3%)ANZ made about 50% more than Woolworths - but the stock price tanked (supermarkets are pretty recession proof).
Apple made only half as much, but they've got much more growth potential.
I don't believe buying bank shares is the route to riches.
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I think a lot of bollox is talked about banks. Sure, they make a lot of profit, but so do (equally foreign owned) supermarkets, telcos and breweries.
If you look at returns, bank profits aren't out of line with other businesses. Assuming that one accepts capitalism in general, why should banks be singled out?
If we don't accept capitalism, we should get essentials like food and housing under community or cooperative ownership as well as banking, IMHO.
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That's certainly how the Nazis did it
What, the actual, German, Nazis? I thought that their methods for dealing with recalcitrant party factions were a bit more agressive than stacking meetings?
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Can you suggest a better system?
One member, one vote?
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Average wage or median wage?
Mean I guess.
(Ideally, i'd support a completely open border. However, in the present world, it's likely that employers would import cheap workers if we had no form of wage/skill floor. Also, it's not in the best interests of migrants to encourage them to come here when we haven't got good jobs for them).
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So the Labour process is that:
- the head office choose a candidate, with overridable input from the local party
- the elected candidates (who become MPs) choose the leader
- the leader appoints the head officeThat right?
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I used an adviser, largely because I needed advice on what was expected in terms of the many things I needed to prove to NZIS to get residence. Much the same as you have an accountant to tell you what IRD will and won't accept as deductions. Mine did a reasonable job.
However, a simplified system would remove this - the current system seems to be mostly about trying to second guess employers as to who is and isn't employable here.
I'd suggest a better approach:
- anyone who meets criminality, health and English standards can get a year's trial visa, like a working holiday visa but for any age group.
- any permanent job that pays above average wages or is in an obvious shortage area like nursing or teaching (where average wages should be paid, but aren't) qualifies one for a work permit and residence after a year.That would remove much of the need for advisers.
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I get the impression that there's a much bigger element of chance in soccer than rugby, so a usually weak team is more likely to beat a quality side.
Besides, I think the FA Cup is played strictly on sufference by the Premier League clubs, and often by a 'B' team. If they could dump it, many of them would.
It's all about money, you know.
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Steve, I think you're mistaking the Herald for a source of information.
From the Immigration Advisers Licensing Act:
In this Act, immigration advice—
(a) means using, or purporting to use, knowledge of or experience in immigration to advise, direct, assist, or represent another person in regard to an immigration matter relating to New Zealand, whether directly or indirectly and whether or not for gain or reward; but
(b) does not include—
(i) providing information that is publicly available, or that is prepared or made available by the Department; or
(ii) directing a person to the Minister or the Department, or to an immigration officer, a visa officer, or a refugee status officer (within the meaning of the Immigration Act 1987), or to a list of licensed immigration advisers; or
(iii) carrying out clerical work, translation or interpreting services, or settlement services.and also
The following persons are exempt from the requirement to be licensed:
....
(a) persons who provide immigration advice in an informal or family context only, so long as the advice is not provided systematically or for a fee:
...
(g) persons employed by or working as volunteers for citizens advice bureaux:Remember, the newspapers are for amusement only. Any congruence of their content with truth is coincidental.
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there, etc.