Your vision for the future
editor | October 3, 2011
What will life in the future be like? If we don’t have a hand in shaping the future, we might end up well behind the rest of the world.
While unknown occurrences and advances are inevitable, there is a lot about the future that can be planned and controlled, if governments and communities come together and share their visions.
Fergus Neilson, co-Founder of The Futures Project (TFP), believes the future is something we need to discuss now.
This month we explore number of key policy and business areas – encompassing the future of book retailing and publishing, communications technology, transportation, energy supply, superannuation, healthcare and security.
If you would like to share your vision of the future and examine what needs to be done now to create a better Australia, please upload your blog or email lhughes@openforum.com.au.
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Merv09
December 15, 2011 at 10:52 pm
It must be a blow to the low
It must be a blow to the low income members of the parties to realise that the political members in Parliament have once again increased their salaries far above any reasonable amount, and far above what they have proved to be their worth. This is similar to what Bob Menzies did in 1957. The newspapers were attacking the government over one of their members retrieving machinery from the war zones, for his own benefit.
Menzies said “We must do something to prevent this odour pervading Parliament”
He announced an increase in the salaries of Parliamentarians, senior Public Servants and Judges, the same as this present government. This was followed by Barristers and others who could as they justly reckoned that they were worth more than the parliamentarians.
Although the parties are raving about the value of the export of our resources, they do not seem to realise that the payment for them is all those imports we have been getting which have been destroying our own manufacturing industries and many of our retail industries.
Most of the people voting at a political election think only of the political party they are voting for, not of the member, which seems to be what these members choose as their “ultimate” choice of government?
When a party is going to register to be allowed to be placed on the ballot paper, they have to present a constitution of the party. That constitution should be used in the recruitment of all members, they should have to sign that they will honour and obey it so there is a definite plan determined so that everybody can rely on what the actions of the party will be, and any person who breaks the rules of that constitution can be taken to court and fined for breach of contract or if it is bad enough, jailed.
The previous governments and parties have been framed over those of the UK, and they all have the same failures, failure to look after the working variety of the country, with drastic affects. In 1946 and later, the tax in the UK was such that if the personal income rose above 8,000 pounds, a tax of 146.1% applied. In the US in 1944-45 the top personal tax was 94% and in 1942-43 it was 88%. It was reduced down to 35% in the US in 2003 and remains there, allowing excessive salaries up to $US 100 million and more, while causing thousands or millions of unemployment and lots and lots of crime, and that is what you will find in all the countries with a low top tax rate, high unemployment and a high crime rate. In every case, when the top tax has been raised, the income at which the tax becomes applicable should have been raised also, but was not.
The recent action where the labor party manipulated such a generous salary rise for members of parliament and the abundance of joy it was received by all the members Liberal, Labor and others should have been a message to the people that politicians just cannot be trusted.
Merv09
December 15, 2011 at 11:57 pm
Why We Lose When We Have Bad Politicians
In Australia, the top personal tax was 66.6% from 1950 to 1970, and provided a good economy and living conditions for our workers. After 1971, the Treasurers decided that the amount of finance collected was more than was required, so started to reduce the top tax, and continued to do that until today. This has allowed the people without control to increase their salaries again similar to before 1940, and the bad economy became evident again, Unfortunately the treasurers could not see or would not see, that the lowering the intake could have been achieved by increasing the level of income before tax became liable. This would have meant 65% or 70% top tax and probably $30,000 income exempt of tax at today’s level of incomes. As it can be seen today, we have Qantas workers striking, the Police force and nurses unhappy with their lot and most of the other wage earners and small business owners feeling the poor economic conditions, as they have all been left out in the cold once again. That change to the tax system would fix that problem, but unfortunately the brains of those “intellectuals”, mostly Lawyers, don’t see it that way, they prefer to see wage earners down in the gutter, scrambling for life.
101magnum007
November 6, 2013 at 6:39 pm
Big Business Union Thugs, want to come together to see who else
Eddie Verdon is a disabled veteran and resident of OrangeVale who has been involved in an interesting situation with Anheuser-Busch, INC., brewers of Budweiser beer..
More than two years ago, Verdon sent several ideas to the company, including drawings of a ferret, for use on the beer steins and in Bud commercials. He got the usual acknowledgment from the company, but no firm commitments. They said, at one point, the marketing director ‘Tm Schoen’ had rejected all his ideas. Then surprise, the 1998 Super Bowl featured a Budweiser commercial (the one with the frogs) and a commando-like ferret. Verdon was a little put out because he thought he deserved some acknowledgement and possibly some financial reimbursement. He wrote the company, noting "I was so upset that my ideas were exploited. I and the ferret will get no compensation for it.” Verdon offered to give half any royalties he received to the black footed ferret. The company wrote back to Eddie Verdon that Busch officials were “not aware that Anheuser-Busch has made any use of or has any further interest in pursuing the ideas Verdon submitted.”
Eddie Verdon got some support from Assemblyman George House whom he met at the Capitol while with the VFW group. House wrote: “I have read your statement relating to the theft of your ideas by Anheuser-Busch, and agree this is too much for mere coincident. It would seem you may have a cause of action…” And suggested Verdon seek legal counsel right away! Verdon also has the support of his fellow Disabled American Veterans. The North highlands chapter newsletter contained the following: “Think before you buy Budweiser, then think again, and ask yourself is this ‘Bud’ really for you? Eddie Verdon has been a life member of the DAV and the VFW since 1990,”
It certainly makes you stop and think! Sincerely, Eddie Verdon, says don’t forget about him…