2011 Aussie Census

[Danny_Alvarez]

I was sitting at a friend's couch discussing politics + world economy + USA's possible default on tuesday (august 2 , 2011) in other word's we were fixing the world from the comfort of his couch... when the census papers arrived... he started filling it and he put JEDI as his religion i started laughing but he told me that 60 thousand other idiots had done the same at the previous census....
i found some of the questions too "big brotherish" for my liking.... are they going to demand to know how much fibre i consume and what brand of toothpaste i use????
i guess i am sensitive to this issue since they are going to install 100 thousand face recognition cameras in my city.... i got nothing to hide but at the same time i think it is intrusive.... then again the crime rate has gotten a little bit out of hand in the last 12 months ( we are used to negligible numbers here in oz)

cheers
Danny
PS how often do they do census in america and does anyone answer those questions???

[liam stephens]

You'll wonder where the yellow went,
When you brush your teeth with Pepsodent !!!

[George Hay]

Danny, just to compare notes, I think the census in the USA is much too intrusive! It should be a head count every ten years, that is all that is authorized in the U.S. Constitution. My home state of Michigan was the only state of the 50 United States to loose population in the last decade. But with a new business friendly governor and state legislator, hope springs eternal!
In honor of the former governor of Michigan, Jennifer Granholm, I came up with the Granholm Effect:
Raise Taxes, and Jobs Disappear! --George Hay

P.S. The Census is every ten years. The questions must be answered. Most people get a short form, but some people get a long form that is even more intrusive.

[George Hay]

Danny, I am pleasantly surprised to find out the 2010 USA Census did not have a long form! That is an improvement.
It still asks about race and ethnicity, and that is intrusive in my opinion.
--George "should have checked before I posted" Hay

[George Hay]

"Jennifer" is spelled with two n's, that is the reason for my above edit. (Stupid spell checker!)

[Danny_Alvarez]

was Jennifer the state Governor before or after Jesse Ventura ??
I am a big fan of Jesse

cheers
Danny

PS Liam i haven't seen Pepsodent in a while , but that jingle is sure catchy

[George Hay]

Jennifer Granholm was after Jesse Ventura, but in a different Great Lakes State. Ventura was governor of Minnesota from 8 JAN 1999 to 6 JAN 2003, Granholm was governor of Michigan from 1 JAN 2003 to 1 JAN 2011. I am also a fan of Jesse Ventura, he has his own unique perspective, agree or disagree! --George Hay

[MostFamousDane]

In honor of the former governor of Michigan, Jennifer Granholm, I came up with the Granholm Effect:
Raise Taxes, and Jobs Disappear! --George Hay

Yes and the earth is flat and as long as your 4 humors are in balance you are healthy, any other discredited theories you would like to share

[Danny_Alvarez]

Jennifer Granholm was after Jesse Ventura, but in a different Great Lakes State. Ventura was governor of Minnesota from 8 JAN 1999 to 6 JAN 2003, Granholm was governor of Michigan from 1 JAN 2003 to 1 JAN 2011. I am also a fan of Jesse Ventura, he has his own unique perspective, agree or disagree! --George Hay

Sorry George i had to look up google maps.... i am hopeless confusing Michigan and Minnesota

Jesse is unique and i find him funny and passionate.... (a bit like i see myself, this doesn't mean this is how i am ) maybe that's why i like him despite my difference of opinion.

cheers

[George Hay]

Sune, yes, the Laffer Curve, it will make a comback! --George Hay

[MostFamousDane]

Sune, yes, the Laffer Curve, it will make a comback! --George Hay

I don't think there is any one disputing the existence of the laffer curve the question is just whether the breaking point 92 %, 95 % or 99 %

http://thoughtstate.blogspot.com/2011/0 ... rowth.html

Sune

[George Hay]

Sune, thank you for the link, the article and comments are very interesting. I almost thought I was back on the ACF forum. This is cut and paste from the link (lol): Alex, my main point was(...) --George Hay

[MostFamousDane]

And when exactly have higher taxes resulted in more jobs? Aside from government jobs, of course.

Hi John

In science we have these things:

1. Theories
2. Empirical evidence

You form theories - the value of these theories depend on whether one can predict the future using ones theories not whether they are common sense or just fit ones world view. If having high taxes were bad for the economy then the countries with high tax rates would be poor and the countries with low tax rates would be rich. Exactly the opposite is the case the richest countries have the highest tax rates one can therefore immediately dismiss the theory that having high tax rates is bad for the economy.

The only two possibilities left is that higher taxes actually make countries richer or that the tax rate is not a relevant factor in determining whether a country is rich. One explanation for this could be that normally there is a connection between the amount of taxes and the amount of money the government can spend. The republicans have historically have difficulty in understanding this but seem to finally have understood it (at the worst time possible). If we have high taxes then the government can use more money on things that makes the country richer eg. free education which means that the people will earn more money and the country will be richer.

Anyway to answer your question normally it is a pretty bad idea to raise taxes in a recession and it is also a pretty bad idea to cut spending since both will increase unemployment. What you need to do is raise taxes when there is a boom and use the money to 1. pay of your debt so you can borrow money in the next recession, 2. invest in things that will make you richer in the long run e.g. education. That is what we have typically done in the scandinavian countries and the reason why here in Denmark we had no debt when the recession hit, why our minimal wages are 3-4 times higher than in the US. and why we have half the unemployment rates that the US have. Socialism rocks

[George Hay]

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

[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.