From to a “Fair Gone”Is the Age of Entitlement Really Over?

Joffre BalceDelivered at Humanist House,

Sydney21 May 2014

We have a problem & it’s THIS BIG!!!

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0fe00f6e-97b1-11e3-b104-00144feab7de.html#axzz31ySBiKa0

But We Got a PLAN!!!

Here’s the Plan!

I honestly cannot I honestly cannot understand understand

when & why they when & why they cut & splurgecut & splurge

http://www.afr.com/p/national/hockey_to_raise_debt_ceiling_aQmYFEr1XBGVjDX8lAVagN

To Make this

Budget Sustainabl

e

Look at the Look at the Biggest ItemBiggest Item

http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/

BriefingBook44p/AustInPic

WHICH IS …The Commonwealth budget is

about A$375 billion a year. About 30% of that, or $111

billion, is spent via the welfare system – the single biggest

expenditure category

They want to call it “HARD LOVE”

You Gotta You Gotta Earn What Earn What You NeedYou Need

When the Ranks of the Welfare Class Is Growing …

Have you asked your experts?

If , Technically, the Problem Is …If , Technically, the Problem Is …

Matching Sources with Uses of Funds

Georgist SolutionsGeorgist Solutions

120 ++ Taxes AND even more Loopholes

• Land Values: A$6.0 trillion

• A$5.0 trillion (residential)

• A$0.7 trillion (commercial)

• A$0.3 trillion (agricultural)

• GNP: A$ 1.6 trillion

• Income

• Consumption

Menu of Fiscal/Monetary Mix Policies & Budget Strategies

Georgist Wishful ThinkingGeorgist Wishful Thinking

Raise a Budget• Single Land Value Tax (LVT)*:

6.6-7% annualized flat rate

• Asian Dragon Mix:15% flat income tax rate +2.7% LVT*

• Monetary + Tax Hybrid:Infrastructure & civil works via money creation +Lower LVT* (6% as a single tax or 1.9% mixed) +/-15% income tax rates

Budgeting a Common Wealth

• Human Right Priority: A Universal Citizen’s Dividend/ Basic Income to assure everyone of the right to a dignified human existence

• Zero unemployment/Competitive workforce: people will work at where they have a mastery at, a sense of contribution & self-direction/ determination

• Minimalist government: As little government as possible when people do things themselves but as much as necessary to fulfill its basic function

* lower, if commercial real estate were honestly valued

Henry George Agenda

• The great work of the present for every man, and every organization of men, who would improve social conditions, is the work of education — the propagation of ideas. It is only as it aids this that anything else can avail. And in this work every one who can think may aid — first by forming clear ideas himself, and then by endeavoring to arouse the thought of those with whom he comes in contact. (Progress and Poverty)

What happens when we lose a “common

enemy” as we treat our causes in isolation?

Aussies as a people have no common strategic vision of Australia like the

corporatocracy does.

The Agenda Is Discernible when you

question the inconsistencies!

• Calling a crisis a situation for which the rest of the OECD/First World envies Australia for

• Forcing people to work when there isn’t enough jobs created

• Cost Cutting Yet Spending … for what, why & for whom?

Leaners vs. Lifters?Leaners vs. Lifters?

Their Votes Are Counting Less Their Contributions Are Rising

1.68% 1.75% 2.15% 2.91% 3.58% 3.97%

Share of GNP

And It Will Help to Demonise the Poor

It is easier to blame welfare to the bottom 22% than the tax breaks & subsidies to the top 2% when government shifts

the burden of taxes to the middle 76%

$20 B Medical Research Fund$20 B Medical Research Fund

Will the Government Raise It “with” & for Them?

Where Is the Logic of Privatising TAFE

TAFE StudentTaxes

Subsidises

Pays Low

Faculty

Pays Decently

Where Is the Logic of Privatising TAFE

Private StudentTaxes

Lends

Pays High

Faculty

Pays “Competitively”

While the world goes this strategic direction …

The Australian government goes the opposite way

http://theconversation.com/billions-axed-in-clean-energy-renewable-target-is-next-26578

Applying “User Applying “User Pays” Dogma: Pays” Dogma:

“Mining Does Not “Mining Does Not Use Roads”Use Roads”

This Government

plans to spend more to keep it

this way …

Not Aid!Not Aid!

But Trade!But Trade!

Learn Or Earn (Before Learn Or Earn (Before Privatisation)Privatisation)

Government

TAFE Students

Faculty

Pay Decently

Pay Low

Subsidise

Learn Or Earn But Pay the Learn Or Earn But Pay the “Market” Price“Market” Price

Government

TAFE Students

Faculty

Pay Decently

Competitively

Pay Low

Competitively

Private Providers

Lend Lend but but

Repaid Repaid SoonSoon

Subsidise

Weightlifters or Weightgainers?Weightlifters or Weightgainers?

1.68% 1.75% 2.15% 2.91% 3.58% 3.97%

Lifters or Weight Gainers?Lifters or Weight Gainers?

Wages’ Share of Total Factor Incomes

Profits’ Share of Total Factor Incomes

If we are nation of

“lifters” …

Is profitability what raises the nation?

The most profitable

are not the largest job generators.

So why are they So why are they

most most “protected?”“protected?”

A Closer Look at a “Lifter”

http://www.yourdemocracy.net.au/drupal/node?page=15

How Real Estate Is Held

4 Ransom: Fuel Asset

Acquisition, Not

ProductionLook at what

“negative gearing” does

for the budget!!!

Kusher, Cameron. “Negative Gearing and Its Impact on the Housing Market.” 13 December 2012 in Economics, Housing Affordability, National Markets, Rents, Research. http://blog.rpdata.com/2012/12/negative-gearing-and-its-impact-on-the-housing-market/

Commercial Banking Has Never

Had It So Good!

Despite the falling rates of

the RBA

Corporations will “share the burden” when & if they “lose” their tax breaks …

And their corporate tax rates are cut like in the

rest of the world.

Walsh, Katie and Greber, Jacob with Smith, Michael.”Company Tax Cuts Dead on Arrival.” Financial Review. 14 August 2012. http://www.afr.com/p/national/company_tax_cuts_dead_on_arrival_6ITy18jzR7ZN5a0Z4htnqM

“… higher wages, lower government deficits, and weaker foreign

trade could conspire to put stress on corporate

profits in 2014.”Which is why they want government to (1) tax wages/fixed incomes, not

profits;reduce welfare & aid

(2) preserve corporate welfare &/or cut corporate tax rates

(3) pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership to bolster corporate interests

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/corporate-profit-margins-2014-2013-12

(4) By the way, they also want to privatize

profitable government corporations

The Real Strategic The Real Strategic Agenda Is This!Agenda Is This!

Weapons of Mass Distraction: Weapons of Mass Distraction: IdeologyIdeology

• Trickle Down

• Users Pay

• Corporations Do It Better

• Lazy Bums/Dole Bludgers!

• Victims/Bleeding Hearts

• Left/Right Political Thinking

If a Leader Has Big Ears, He If a Leader Has Big Ears, He Should Listen …Should Listen …

Brennan, Frank. “Advancing Human Rights in Australia.” 16 October 2012. http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=33687#.U3dICih2p-s

Well Being

Security of DignityDignity of OthersEnvironment

Access & Movement

Social Justice

FIGHT THE STEREOTYPES!FIGHT THE STEREOTYPES!

Calling the Rich Sinister & Corrupt Is as Bad as Calling the Poor Lazy & Dishonest

And Take the Beam Out of Our And Take the Beam Out of Our Own EyesOwn Eyes

The Biggest Welfare Bludgers & the Corrupt Have No Class

Money Politics is Corruption: The abuse of authority to defend vested interests

contrary to the common good

Survey: 96% of Americans believe it's important

to reduce the role of money in politics, but 91% feel  it would never happen …

Is this true in Australia?

“Larry Lessig completes 185-mile walk across New Hampshire, spreading the word that the U.S. electoral system can be fixed.” TedBlog. Posted by Kate Torgovnik May on 24 January 2014. http://blog.ted.com/2014/01/24/larry-lessig-completes-185-mile-walk-across-new-hampshire/

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/media-unions-political-parties-corrupt-20121105-28u3w.html

Speaking as a Student of Speaking as a Student of GeorgismGeorgism

• As robbers unite to plunder and divide the spoils, the trunk lines of railroads unite to raise rates and pool their earnings. The public is then forced to pay the cost of the whole maneuver, as the vanquished are forced to pay the cost of their own enslavement by a conquering army. (Progress and Poverty)

• I care nothing for creeds. I am not concerned with any one's religious belief. But I would have men think for themselves. If we do not, we can only abandon one superstition to take up another, and it may be a worse one. It is as bad for a man to think that he can know nothing as to think he knows all. (A Perplexed Philosopher)

Coming from the Third World where I witnessed the policy direction first hand, I’ve seen the future

& it sucks!

The Rest Is Really Up to Us …The Rest Is Really Up to Us …