Monday, June 06, 2011

taxing the patient

 [edited and updated - 2019 Weds 8 June 2011]


Will, of course, leave it up to the reader to figure out what i actually mean by the title. Perhaps it is meaningless, perhaps means many things.

Also, if the reader is expecting a long and clever post explaining what i mean ... forget it, am just being a smart-arse, or thinking about something i wrote in a previous comment.  No new taxes?  Mmmm, ok, Tony; a very clever "political" ploy. Very effective 'slogan', especially if 'repeated' often. Who wants to be taxed? Not many. Vote for ME, no taxes.

However, what Tony Abbot is 'not' saying, is that without 'taxes' there would be no, or very few "public" services - including politician's salaries. Perhaps Tony Abbot would prefer to become an 'Exec' of BP, BHP, Xtrata .. et al. No hospital care if you are not rich enough to pay for it. Bitumen roads? Forget it. Public transport? Nup, or only if you can afford to pay for a 'private' contractor who WILL need to charge fares commensurate with making a "profit".
(or screw the unwary for every cent they a silly enough give).


National Parks? Nah, ferget it - every inch of this land and resources will be raped and pillaged. Live in Nunjikompita? Bad luck. A taxi fare from there to Adelaide would cost you roughly $3,000-00.
 [an aside. I did have to attend a hospital for a few hours in Lithgow recently. Drove myself there, since can still (almost) afford to operate a motor vehicle. Anasthaetic was involved, so wasn't allowed to drive home for 24 hours afterwards (much to my personal chagrin, and impatience). There is no "publicly supported" transport from there to here. A "taxi" fare quoted was $120.00. Was, fortunately, able to organise friendly 'local' assistance.  All this, of course, sort of refers back to the title. "Public Hospitals". I very much doubt that Tony Abbott's 'grand scheme' would have contemplated that sort of "freebie". But do not mis-understand. There is a 'give and take' concept between me and the 'low income' people. they 'help me out' when i ask, as I do with them. None of us actually "profit" - financially, but hey ..]

"taxes" also pay for the Australian Defence Force (and its fuck-ups. Perhaps the few BILLIONS wasted by the Howard/Costello and yes, "Abbot" administration might have been better spent  - but that's a different, and rather more complicated, discussion)

Would remind Tony Abbot that one of the reasons the "Howard/Costello" 'government' ended up with a "surplus" (aka 'profit') was that there was very little spending on 'basic', internal, infrastructure for the benefit of future - or even 'elder' - generations; which, basically, handed the "Rudd/Swan/Gillard" administration a "poisoned chalice"; a massive headache, how to rebuild the infrastructure - especially when coupled with the "Global Financial Crisis", created, mostly, by the sort of "free market enterprise" that is the base premise of the "special interest" political group that Tony Abbot is trying to re-impose on the Australian populace. Wealth for the few - subservience, serfdom and poverty for the many.

However, I DID make the effort to attend the Getup! rally in the Prince Alfred Park on Sunday (yesterday). Am not quite sure who 'subsidises' "Sydney Rail" - but was astonished.

First surprise, the fare. $2-50 ... Lithgow to Sydney CBD and back (but yep, was able to claim 'pensioner' concession .. even so ..  It's a three hour journey each way. Would have been happy enough to fork out $10 or 20 ). Second surprise - the train ran 'on time'. Third surprise .. the staff were polite and helpful. Fourth surprise, the carriages were remarkably clean and tidy.

(um; the title could also be read as - stretching the patience - of the readers (and mine with computers  or could, perhaps refer back to ancient times when Tycho Brahe had no idea what sort of information he felt compelled to 'collect', and needed the 'imaginational shift' of Johannes Kepler) ..so ..
Lithgow railway station
7.15AM
Prince Alfred park - 11.10AM
damn, wrong sequence



Sydney central railway station

recycle
What actually (mm; word discussion courtesy to Tony - Brooks, elsewhere) interested me about this pic .. is that there is, has been - a 10c recycling 'levy' on plastics and glass in the State of South Australia for quite some many years.

[will just collect and post more pics .. when i can find them or if  bulluggerer lets me post them.]

Will be interesting to see what happens under the 'next' NSW State gummint administration.

23 comments:

Vincent said...

Cheap rail fares, eh? What we have on our news is that British visits to Australia are dwindling because to us everything is now so expensive there, due to the way exchange rate has altered.

Students' working trips are unaffected, though, or even increasing, because the wages seem good by our standards.

Perhaps I'll take a quick online course in sheep-shearing and see you in the outback soon! If I arrive at sundown, I hope you will fulfil the customary obligation and provide me accommodation. In exchange I could give Abbey a poodle-cut, to practise my new-found skill.

Davoh said...

Vincent; at this point am not able to 'comment' on local NSW State politics .. except to say that there has been a recent change .. to Tony Abbot style. The local state premier is Barry O'Farrel .. or something (can't spell his name - not interested.)

Yep, am quite sure that "Sydney Rail" will become 'unsustainable' and am expecting huge increases in fares. Which, by the way, has nothing whatsoever to do with 'taxes on carbon pollution' .. but may well be twisted that way.

Davoh said...

.. on the other hand .. Coal mining execs do not often travel by railway lines ..

Davoh said...

Vincent .. there is always the "slow boat to China" .. heh.

Davoh said...

Vincent, have no control whatsoever on 'exchange rates'. will do some mathematics. perhaps i could send YOU some 'aussie dollars' .. heh.

you would be most welcome in my house. and have been told that i make an 'awesome cupputea' .. but that is only 'hearsay'.

Vincent said...

I’m touched by the offer of an Aussie dollar. Airmail would be the safest and cheapest. You remind me of my real father. After my mother refused to marry him and took me with her from Fremantle to Tilbury, he read in the papers about the postwar rationing in England, and sent a food parcel. She was touched by the openhandedness of Aussie ways. As am I, today, by this.

R.H. said...

Hey, what's with the h in Davo? In with the latte set now are we? Big step up to carrot cake from possum stew I guess. Intoxicating.

heh.

Davoh said...

Latte set, RH? Nup, there are too many "Davo's" on gurrgle, and the most interesting conversation that i had during the entire journey was while waiting the 2 hours to get home at Sydney central railway station - with some old bloke holding a 'longneck' in a paper bag.
(and no, RH; wasn't 'talking to myself' .. heh)

Davoh said...

RH, might also mention that there are a couple of 'wandering goats' in the locality which - if nobody 'claims them' - might end up in a cookpot.

Do you have any 'good recipes' for goat stew?

Davoh said...

schiess; what happened just then? I write and try to 'compose' this rubbish. I click 'send' ..oops - somewhere, elsewhere - there is "eitorial" control.

Vest said...

We may appear equable but beneath the same cloth hides well nutured leaders and the lessor hoipoloi.

N S W; Country link rail services are a cut above those of urban rail services which have inherited the Sydney 'Red Rattler' syndrome.

Goat rustling, Davo the goat Duffer.

Read in fav N/P today of sheep stealing in Northern NSW, and how easily it is carried out.(No instructions)
Also read, Singo's the butcher in Morriset and Gosford, Have not to be repeated Half priced legs of Lamb for sale.

Vincent said...

Sheep-rustlers were once transported to Australia. Perhaps it is in your blood Davo.

Vest said...

Remember eating goat meat (Unrationed)Own Goats. during WW2.

Billie goat ok up to nine months after that dog meat.
Nannies ok up to 18 months don't have that billy goat whiff which permeates the flesh.
Cook as Venison or Lamb.

Goat leg, Wash and pat dry. Smear Mustard over complete joint, sprinkle Chopped rosemary and basil and spread in mustard with flat spatula,
Roast on rack in tin or foil tray covered, add around sides , par boiled spuds, onions and pumpkin.
Cook at 200C 30 mins per 500 g's; or 25 mins per lb.

Bon Appetite.

Davoh said...

Vest .. am shocked! how dare you suggest that these .. um 'protected' animals should not be ..um, 'peacefully put to sleep'?

Davoh said...

Sheep-rustlers were once transported to Australia. Perhaps it is in your blood Davo.

um, have to say a 'nup' to that one, Vincent. One of my grandfathers was a well respected, relatively recent, immigrant from New Zealand. Apparently they actually 'cared' for their sheep.

Vincent said...

Now I am pondering the difference between caring for one’s sheep and “actually ‘caring’” for them. Are you implying a bond of affection going beyond the requirements of agriculture? Surely there’s a law against that?

Davoh said...

Vincent .. am "shocked" that you could even "imply" such a thing. how dare you suggest that there should be a "law" against it.

Davoh said...

I love my dog .. are you suggesting that that implies some sort of "carnal intercourse"?

Vincent said...

Carnal intercourse is my favourite kind. But I hope you have a dictionary at hand. I hate being misunderstood.

Vincent said...

Latin for dog is ‘canis’ not ‘carnis’.

Davoh said...

.. and Vestie .. eerm, the wandering, unclaimed ones are becoming a pest. Jump fences, ate my 16 month old acacia decurrens. On the other hand, there are a couple of others (known, with names). The female is about to drop. we are waiting. Hey, ya never know .. might end up with a "kid".

Davoh said...

.. and the latin for 'sheep' is ... ?

Davoh said...

"Believe me my lambs, trust me while i take you to slaughter"