2011 Aussie Census

[MostFamousDane]

I study Adam Smith, but I don't pretend to speak for him. I try to project his theories into the modern world. I would not write him off just yet! --George Hay

Well Adam Smiths main points as far as I remember is mainly the division of labor and free trade both of which can still occur when there are high income taxes.

[George Hay]

Sune, Adam Smith was for frugality in personal, business, and government expenses. He very much reminds me of Benjamin Franklin. The debate on the economy could turn into a debate about Adam Smith, and sometimes does! Just trying to project Adam Smith's theories, I would have to say he would be for lower taxes in general in the modern world. Of course, I run the risk of projecting my own opinion on Adam Smith! Anyway, I sometimes click on this link from my favorites for some good reading. I've got it on the Wiswell Proverbs page, but I click "HOME" for the latest opinions on current events:

http://www.dailyspeculations.com/Letter/wiswell.htm

[JohnAcker]

Sune, as you point out, one's interpretation of economic theories is based partly on ideology. Your ideology assumes that an increasingly expanding government (necessary for socialism) is positive and indeed necessary, and that expanding government is a legitimate way to improve the economy. Mine assumes instead that private industry, private liberties, and private innovation are the best paths to economic prosperity-- and that government in fact gets in the way of the free market more often than not. So you can cheer all you like for socialism, but in a truly free (i.e. capitalist) society, bloating the Fed is not the same as saving the world.

[MostFamousDane]

Sune, as you point out, one's interpretation of economic theories is based partly on ideology. Your ideology assumes that an increasingly expanding government (necessary for socialism) is positive and indeed necessary, and that expanding government is a legitimate way to improve the economy. Mine assumes instead that private industry, private liberties, and private innovation are the best paths to economic prosperity-- and that government in fact gets in the way of the free market more often than not. So you can cheer all you like for socialism, but in a truly free (i.e. capitalist) society, bloating the Fed is not the same as saving the world.

Well I will continue to do so . I think it is important though to evaluate ones theories in the context of reality - I think you would agree with me that it would be silly to argue that a planned economy for producing goods is more effective than a capitalistic economy since reality has proven the opposite to be true. In the same way I find it equally silly that people keep holding on to the idea that high taxes are bad for the economy when reality has so thoroughly disproven that theory.

P.S. I don't believe the government should be ever expanding - it doesn't matter to me whether the government shrinks or expands what matters is that government should do the tasks that it does better than the private sector eg. basic infrastructure, healthcare and education. The private sector should do the tasks that it does better eg. produce goods.

[jaguar72]

Mine assumes instead that private industry, private liberties, and private innovation are the best paths to economic prosperity-- and that government in fact gets in the way of the free market more often than not. So you can cheer all you like for socialism, but in a truly free (i.e. capitalist) society, bloating the Fed is not the same as saving the world.

Oh-oh.

"JohnAcker" is actually John Galt's screen name.

Who knew?

(Well, at least we know who John Galt really is...that's been bothering me since '57).

V/R,

Gary Jenkins/Jaguar72

[MostFamousDane]

Mine assumes instead that private industry, private liberties, and private innovation are the best paths to economic prosperity-- and that government in fact gets in the way of the free market more often than not. So you can cheer all you like for socialism, but in a truly free (i.e. capitalist) society, bloating the Fed is not the same as saving the world.

Oh-oh.

"JohnAcker" is actually John Galt's screen name.

Who knew?

(Well, at least we know who John Galt really is...that's been bothering me since '57).

V/R,

Gary Jenkins/Jaguar72

lol

[George Hay]

Adam Smith would have predicted the GFC! In this classic essay from 1976, Milton Friedman criticizes Adam Smith on a "minor case." It is point #7., although the entire essay is spirited and informative. --George Hay

Adam Smith's Relevance for 1976 by Milton Friedman:
http://www.chicagobooth.edu/faculty/sel ... /sp50b.pdf

[JohnAcker]

Blech, Ayn Rand. No thanks.

(I'm a conservative, not a libertarian.)

[jaguar72]

Blech, Ayn Rand. No thanks.

(I'm a conservative, not a libertarian.)

Got it, John. Right. Sorry. Mea culpa.

Acker Shrugged, so to speak.

(I really crack myself up sometimes...).

V/R (sincerely),

Gary Jenkins/Jaguar72

[Danny_Alvarez]

Sune .... scandinavian countries have been on top of the "world's most livable countries" consistently.... the only other country that has done that consistently is Australia .... (we always seem to end up 2nd or 3rd to one of the scandinavians )

while i am not in favour of higher taxes , i have to admit that it does work very well for Scandinavia...
i have been favoured by their system of paying university students to study overseas...
when i was younger and single there has always been lots and lots of university students with whom to ... recreate and exchange ideas here in australia

what i think your system does and i like is almost everything.... it takes care of its people and the services are top notch .... what i dislike is it probably encourages everyone to not earn too much money.... why bother when you will pay 60% on tax . I am neither a conservative, nor a socialist.... i think the truth lies somewhere in between, having said that it is so difficult to fault your system when the standard of living over there is so high.

cheers
Danny Alvarez

[MostFamousDane]

i have been favoured by their system of paying university students to study overseas...
when i was younger and single there has always been lots and lots of university students with whom to ... recreate and exchange ideas here in australia

Ah that explains a lot - all the good ones have left the country .

[charles clodfelter]

On your census form. Did they by chance leave you enough space to write the word "Occasionally" next to the word Sex____ ?

[Danny_Alvarez]

Charles .... they did not ask... but I am afraid that since i am married
the answer would have been not nearly as much as i would like
cheers
Danny

[Danny_Alvarez]

ladies and jellybeans , boys and gorillas.... the results are in....

the wonderful land of oz has 22.5 million people living in it (yes i know compared to most countries that is a measly figure) and we have had 1.5 per cent growth in the last year or so..... most of them through immigrants choosing our shores..... then again i was reading in the news that next month there will be a spike of 45% more childbirths in queensland than for any regular october..... the reason.... WAIT FOR IT ... it's a good one..... the cyclone and the floods left lots and lots of people without electricity (tv + internet) and .... welll you know the rest....

maybe they should cut the electricity off on the panda bears at the zoo

cheers
Danny Alvarez

[Palomino]

NO WAY!