ECONOMIC VANDALS
I love the fantasy world in which some of our faithful correspondents to this page live.
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Take the poor example on Wednesday’s about the wonderful economic management of the Howard and Costello gang.
The overall message of our fairy land reporter was that socialists in government are spending and wasting “other people’s money”.
The truth is however that Howard and Costello was this nation’s highest taxing treasurer averaging over twenty three point nine percent tax to GDP.
This, the economic windfall provided by the mining investment boom and the fact they sold off profitable taxpayer owned enterprises like Telstra, National Rail Corporation, Dasfleet and the remainder of the Commonwealth bank to name a few is the only reason they ended up with budget surpluses.
Worst of all though is what they wasted their huge chunk of other people’s money on.
Gave tax cuts and taxpayer funded subsidies to the richest and big business.
Cut spending on hospitals, schools and public infrastructure.
Locked in long term revenue reductions through middle and upper class welfare.
Hugely complicated compliance costs for small business through their dodgy deal with the Democrats on the GST.
All this compounded our current economic woes.
Far from being idealised as economic heroes as some in fairy land believe Howard and Costello should be reviled as the economic vandals they were.
Andrew Sefton, Thirroul
SHARING THE GUILT
So we have the coalition government and the ALP trying to take the glory on the banking royal commission.
Both of these are as guilty as one another.
Time and time again both have protected banking and taxation together.
It goes all the way back to the great depression and how the law protects big business people and bankers.
Twenty-odd year's ago the ATO tried to prosecute Kerry Packer for not paying tax on hidden gold bullion.
He was found guilty but no conviction was recorded as well as the ATO having to pay his legal fees.
Gina Reinhardt paying less personal tax than her cook.
Banks, landlords and insurance companies have always been the biggest robbers.
Legally or not I have never seen any of these jailed or fined.
The coalition blames the ALP but of the last 22 years the ALP have only had six years in government, that doesn't say much for this current a government or our capitalist system.
Matty Ryan, Fairy Meadow
WEB WORDS EXTRA
STATION IN A TINY TOWN GETS LIFT AHEAD OF UNANDERRA
I've said it before and I will say it again, this region is ignored by the political class. A safe labor seat is either taken for granted or ignored.
_ Budman
I am disgusted it is wrong that yet again this government chooses to play politics with people's lives for Easy Access Upgrade at Unanderra train station.
It also does my head in that nobody ever mentions that "Unanderra Train Station" not only services Unanderra it also services many other communities in the area Berkeley, Farmborough Road, Cordeauex Heights, Mount Kembla just to name a few.
Why have a priority list when you continually jump either side of Unanderra Train Station For an Easy Access Upgrade & then always give the same comment "that this station will continue to be considered in the next 12 months"
Nothing but Pure Political Bastardy by this Liberal State Government.
_ Richard