Posts by Gareth Ward
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Anyone know what publication had the "behind the scenes on election day with the Obama's" reporters? Embedded journalism that I'd quite like to see, stage managed as it may be.
Time perhaps? -
What should be happening, right now, is an agreement to slowly lift the pension age to say, 70. Promise those over, say,45 or 50, they will still get super at 65, but send a message to all those under that age to plan on the pension at 70.
Oh,and absolutely to this - super is such a difficult political beast because you're dealing with impacts 20 years down the track. It really needs non-partisan agreement and continuity. Hardly vote getters at the moment unfortunately.
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So its quite wrong to attribute any strong Australian fiscal position to this.
I certainly wasn't directly attributing fiscal strength to this. Just general economic strength - although there is a pretty strong argument that gets you (lagged, indirect) fiscal strength.
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One of the major reasons Australia is in an outstanding fiscal position is that they have 9% mandatory contributions. Yes, 9%.
All of which is directly from the employer - there is no delineation like here. And it is then taxed at 15%, making it extraordinarily tax positive.
National goes on and on about Australia. There success is largely down to two things:
1. Extraordinary mineral wealth that we can do nothing to match
2. The compulsory savings rate that not only means the Govt can reduce their own spend for supperannuation, but also gives an amazing warchest for investment, driving business growth outside of the mineral commodities.It ain't tax John.
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National are opening up lower band option for KiwiSaver, makes it a affordable to a larger number of people. More people saving the better it is, longterm or shortterm.
2+2 scheme already exists, has been in play for a while so they haven't opened up anything. At best they have extended a temporary scheme.
So that negates the "more people saving bit". As does the huge uptake already.
And even if it should lead to a "more people saving" bit, that doesn't necessarily make it better. There is value in the total size of savings, and that's not necessarily increased by having more people in it. Based on National's other reductions to the scheme it looks like it almost certainly wouldn't. -
Any comment on the Washington State approved proposition for Doctor Assisted Suicide?
Will it really become practice there? Or are there federal forces arrayed against it? -
"This is President-elect Barrack Hussein Obama. Faaaaarrk you! Peace out."
I'd quite like him to end his Inauguration speech with "And now my brothers, SEIZE THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION!
Jokes, I jokes..."Obama also eats doughnuts. Made of *babies*.
That's what the Rachel Ray Dunkin Donuts ad was selling don't ya know...
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I'm just in awe that a President-elect of the USA QUOTED SAM COOKE IN HIS SPEECH.
It's been a long time coming, but a change has come.Damn. Love it.
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Joshua - barackobama.com is doing live stream but that may get hit pretty hard.
Craig - LOL. There's NO WAY I'm watching that debate tonight. No freakin way.
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Wall Street rallies at the news.
I hope they DO, but Wall Street's closed - they rallied because the campaign was going to be over.