Random Politics

[Lightspeed]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Was there anything about improving inequality between say the 4th decile (below average) and the 9th/10th decile (above average)?

Originally Posted by StN

Only if the 4th decile offered to be the 10th decile's live-in love slave.

Oh my lolz.

[fixed_truth]

Brian Easton has a good summary of it all - Does Inequality Affect Economic Growth?

[Ab]

Easton glosses over the fact that the working paper's data specifically shows that education makes no difference to economic growth. Then the author of the working paper basically goes "but that obviously makes no sense, just look at these other studies that show education DOES affect economic growth" while ignoring the fact that the articles he's pointing to as being more sensible are articles that conclude inequality doesn't matter.

Nobody is talking about the working paper and what it says. Everyone's arguing about what a news article said a commentator said about a summary of the paper.

[Farmer Joe]

Originally Posted by Ab

Inequality between the fourth decile (slightly-below average) income and the average income has a huge impact on growth. So the biggest thing you can do to improve economic growth is to tax the average earner more and lift the slightly-below-average earners a little bit.

Surly the best thing you could do is tax EVERYONE above the fourth decile a little to help lift the fourth decile?

[Ab]

Well that does seem simple and obvious, but then again I'm not an economist, so for all I know that's retarded.

[Golden Teapot]

Originally Posted by Ab

Inequality between the fourth decile (slightly-below average) income and the average income has a huge impact on growth. So the biggest thing you can do to improve economic growth is to tax the average earner more and lift the slightly-below-average earners a little bit.

That second statement looks like nothing more than a hypothesis to me. Why don't we try the converse and increase tax on deciles one to four by 25% and then see what happens? My bet is that lots of people would discover a way to be more productive so as to avoid having to give up their luxury goods on time payment. The advantage of this alternative is that any hurt caused is directed exclusively at those who need to lift their game.

[Ab]

Originally Posted by Golden Teapot

That second statement looks like nothing more than a hypothesis to me.

Conceded. In my head that second statement of mine really ended with a question mark more than a full stop.

[fixed_truth]

Originally Posted by Ab

while ignoring the fact that the articles he's pointing to as being more sensible are articles that conclude inequality doesn't matter.

I read him as saying that through a meta-analysis these many other studies show that inequality does negatively effect growth. ??

[Lightspeed]

Well, I guess we know JK's agenda, given how quick he was to politicise the actions of a lone crazed gunman.

John Key says the Sydney siege makes it feel like terrorism is coming closer to home

[pxpx]

Originally Posted by Lightspeed

Well, I guess we know JK's agenda, given how quick he was to politicise the actions of a lone crazed gunman.

John Key says the Sydney siege makes it feel like terrorism is coming closer to home

I don't get how it wasn't political to begin with - the guy had written hate mail to families of dead soldiers previously. He demanded an IS flag. He demanded to speak with the australian prime minister. He filmed a propaganda video during the siege. He was well known to police for his ideology.

Sure he was alone, sure he was batshit crazy, doesn't make it non-political though, not in light of the facts.

[Spoon1]

I said to my partner last night "How long before Key tries to shove through more bullshit legislation to appease his US buddies, using this as an excuse?".

So now we wait.

[Lightspeed]

Originally Posted by pxpx

I don't get how it wasn't political to begin with - the guy had written hate mail to families of dead soldiers previously. He demanded an IS flag. He demanded to speak with the australian prime minister. He filmed a propaganda video during the siege. He was well known to police for his ideology.

Sure he was alone, sure he was batshit crazy, doesn't make it non-political though, not in light of the facts.

Well, in a sense you are right. Politicians have created something that will gain a lot of attention with little effort. An easy option for a crazy person looking for attention.

Pretty much all politicians have to do is perpetuate the idea of terrorism, wait for the crazies to come out and then go "Look! Look! Terrorism! We were right after all! We need more power and control!"

[fixed_truth]

Oh dear . . .

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/arti...ectid=11374697

[blynk]

Originally Posted by Ab

Inequality between the ninth and tenth deciles (high earners at the top of the scale) and the average income has no effect whatsoever on growth. Say it with me now, according to this report a huge inequality between the super-rich and the average earner has no impact on economic growth.

So that means we can tax these people more, and drop the tax more for deciles 1-4.

[Ab]

Whatever. My point is that commentary on the commentary - such as that in this thread - has generally taken the form of "OECD says gap between haves and have nots is hurting the economy" and then someone will run around screaming "THE 1% ARE DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY!" when the article says the complete opposite.

[leadinjector]

Originally Posted by fixed_truth

Oh dear . . .

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/arti...ectid=11374697

this siege guy just basically hammered the nail into the coffin in terms of fucking us all over in regards to our privacy. thanks bro. i hope his 99 virgins are all huge sweaty gay bears who dont understand no

[Savage]

Originally Posted by Lightspeed

Well, I guess we know JK's agenda, given how quick he was to politicise the actions of a lone crazed gunman.

John Key says the Sydney siege makes it feel like terrorism is coming closer to home

The guy has been doing this kind of thing for years - this is just the culmination of what appears to be obsessive behaviour. He had a criminal history going back a long time according to reports, sending letters to politicians, posting online rants and tirades against the Aussie govt. As much as you love to demonize JK, it's always been a political thing - JK did not make it so.

[Lightspeed]

I don't understand. Which is it, a crazy obsessed person picking the issue de jour as a vehicle for their rantings, or an organised person with a coherent plan attempting to instigate political change?

[blynk]

Originally Posted by Ab

Whatever. My point is that commentary on the commentary - such as that in this thread - has generally taken the form of "OECD says gap between haves and have nots is hurting the economy" and then someone will run around screaming "THE 1% ARE DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY!" when the article says the complete opposite.

Oh Yes, I understand what your actual points were regarding the report Vs some random article from someone that probably didn't read the report.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by Lightspeed

a crazy obsessed person picking the issue de jour as a vehicle for their rantings

See: "Lightspeed"

[pxpx]

^ lol burn.

Originally Posted by Lightspeed

I don't understand. Which is it, a crazy obsessed person picking the issue de jour as a vehicle for their rantings, or an organised person with a coherent plan attempting to instigate political change?

I like how you phrase your alternatives to be so black and white, when you yourself are so fond of the "it's complicated" defense.

Anyway, I think it's a lot column A, and a little column B. (it's probably complicated )

[Lightspeed]

Originally Posted by Savage

See: "Lightspeed"

Touché.

[Lightspeed]

Originally Posted by pxpx

I like how you phrase your alternatives to be so black and white, when you yourself are so fond of the "it's complicated" defense.

Anyway, I think it's a lot column A, and a little column B. (it's probably complicated )

It is complicated. It's a complicated interaction between a crazy person and our political and media landscape. What it isn't about is terrorism being a problem that we have to act swiftly and strongly in response to.

[pxpx]

Standby. Post written in haste

[Savage]

Originally Posted by Lightspeed

It is complicated. It's a complicated interaction between a crazy person and our political and media landscape. What it isn't about is terrorism being a problem that we have to act swiftly and strongly in response to.

Unfortunately it's very easy for us to say that now, but sucks to be the incumbent govt who haven't prepared or taken any kind of steps to prevent this kind of thing when it happens on our front doorstep. I can only imagine the wailing and gnashing of teeth if this had happened in downtown Auckland or Wellington (more likely given the govt presence there), and govt had not been seen to be "planning for the worst, hoping for the best". I do not like the power this new law has given them, but what else could they have done within the bounds of the law to prepare for, or monitor people like this clown in Sydney?

Either way (and on a slight tangent), I think the Daily Telegraph editorial staff need a stern fucking lesson in human compassion and basic journalistic morals/integrity/ethics etc: https://awkwardtreedstrikesagain.wor...ily-telegraph/

[Ab]

it's the Daily Tele. It's Australia's printed Fox News. Like, literally - it's a Murdoch mouthpiece owned by News Corporation.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by Ab

it's the Daily Tele. It's Australia's printed Fox News. Like, literally - it's a Murdoch mouthpiece owned by News Corporation.

Yep - I've never picked up a copy of the DT before, and I was not aware it was quite that bad. Well aware of Fox being a cesspit, but didn't expect it to be quite so blatant in Aussie. Would be great if the formal complaints make a difference, but not holding my breath.

[Ab]

You kidding? Murdoch owns the Abbott government. Formal complaints will go straight to the bin. How's this for an impartial media:

[Farmer Joe]

^^^ holy shit.

[Savage]

Wow, ok fair point. I can't say I paid much attention to Australia's media or politics before I headed over here.

[Ab]

Every year I get to this weekend and go "oh yeah, Ratana, what the fuck"

[CCS]

Let's see...



National, despite being Satan's own party, is kicking arse. Labour and Green, the Way, the Truth and the Life, are floundering. Why don't the voters realise they're voting wrong?!

United Future? United lol.

[Ab]

Greens co-leader Metiria Turei launched a stinging attack on John Key in his absence at Ratana today, saying his view of New Zealand's history was "warped, outrageous and deeply offensive".

She also said Mr Key was a prime example of the "ignorant, uneducated Pakeha" economist Gareth Morgan had talked about the day before.

[fixed_truth]

When it comes to the history behind NZ's settlemet it appears Key is a bit ignorant. Or, he didn't articulate very well & was actually meaning 'the maaries didn't have it as bad as the abo's'. Which is still a dumb thing for him to say, imo.

[Lightspeed]

Originally Posted by CCS

Why don't the voters realise they're voting wrong?!

When you say wrong, do you mean something like "against their own interests"?

One way would be to put people under resource pressure by increasing costs for those least able to bear them, overwhelm people's capacity to think about larger issues by forcing them to focus on the stark choices needed to be made in day-to-day life, leaving them prone to gross, cynical electioneering.

Maybe? Who can really say.

[crocos]

This is why I really like Winston being elected but not actually being part of the coalition in power. Kicking arse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVhyx-pJUQU

[Lightspeed]

What I don't like about the whole business is IS/ISIS/ISIL is being made a scapegoat when the real problem is the collapse of any semblance of rule of law in the region, a predicted outcome of US forces pulling out before rebuilding all they tore down.

The whole region is rife with gangs and outlaws acting with impunity because there's nothing to stop them.

[pxpx]

Really hope Joyce grows a pair and tells Sky City to get fucked.

[Ab]

Originally Posted by pxpx

Really hope Joyce grows a pair and tells Sky City to get fucked.

[chubby]

^^ lol
'cause that'll happen,right?
or maybe a focus group will let them know that enough of you retards think that to work something sneaky out behind the scenes.
yeah... that sounds more likely.