The baby-boomers have enjoyed some of the best economic times in human history, but as they move into retirement, will their children be left holding the baby? Lifting the retirement age and ‘work til you drop’ is one solution, but there must be others… right?
In my last post I noted how Hockey was looking at putting increases to the retirement age back on the political agenda.
As I said, the economics of Australia’s ageing population are clear. If we don’t change course now, we’re looking at massive increases in health and aged-care spending – a burden that will be placed on a relatively smaller and smaller working-aged population.
And it sets the stage for an inter-generational war. Will the boomers accept less generous provision in retirement? Or will working Aussies wear more tax?
And if neither side fell on their sword willingly, who would win if push came to shove?
But it got me wondering if these are really the only options. I’m wary of the way politicians will ‘frame’ a debate to limit the perceived choices available.
A: “It’s the environment or the economy. You can’t have both.”
B: “Then I guess I’ll take the economy.”
A: “Good choice.”
B: “I’m just grateful to live in a free country.”
So I started digging around a little more, and found this little gem. This comes from a group called .id – a bunch of demographers based in Melbourne.
In their report, Three Growth Markets in Australia they make the case that the baby boomers are retiring fast, but they’re not the only story in the population data.
In fact, there are another two ‘bulges’ coming through the population data, following about 30 and 60 years behind the baby boomers.
This chart, which shows you which age-cohorts will grow most over the next 20 years, gives you the idea.
As you can see, there’s the baby boomers moving into their 70s and 80s. But there’s also solid growth around the 35-45 brackets, as well as another bulge coming through in primary school aged children.
But as .id note, this is not just ‘generational echoes’ – the children and grandchildren of the baby boomers, but reflects trend changes we’ve seen in birth rates and immigration in recent years.
Fertility
The first thing .id note is that there was a sustained long-run trend decline in fertility in Australia between 1976 and 2001. That’s the black line in this chart here:
Around the turn of the millennium, it was assumed that the fertility rate would keep on falling (dashed line).
But for some reason, we started turning it around, and the fertility rate started increasing. Today, we’re not all that far below a replacement rate – the birth rate required to keep the population stable.
It’s interesting to wonder about what caused this change. Family friendly policies and baby bonuses might have helped. But the fact is, that in a number of countries around the world at that time – from America to Europe and even Japan, fertility rates stabilised and started increasing.
Wow. What’s going on here? The whole world just caught a baby bug?
At any rate the pick up in Australian fertility led to increased Australia’s annual production of babies by about 50,000 a year. In just six years, we’ve found ourselves with 300,000 more Aussies than we thought we’d have.
Immigration
As .id note, net immigration tends to track the business cycles. When economic times are good, we open the door to more immigrants. With 20+ years without recession, we’ve seen pretty solid immigration levels from 1995 on.
But what really jumps out is the spike in migration that coincided with the GFC. In 2008 migration surged, topping out at 300,000 persons in 2009 – a figure double the previous peaks. With the Australian economy the ‘envy of the world’ through the GFC, Australia became an attractive destination for foreigners, and many Australians living overseas repatriated.
It hasn’t unwound yet either. It’s still up above that 200,000 mark.
Balancing the Baby Boomer Bulge
So .id argue that these two factors – the pick up in fertility rates, and a change in immigration levels have changed the shape of Australia’s population profile. And they’re partly responsible for the post-boomer bulges we see in the population profile.
And the pick up in fertility and migration have meant that our dependency ratios are not as bad as they otherwise would have been, and have helped us prepare for the retirement and ageing of the baby-boomers.
So what do we take from this?
Well, these gives us two alternative strategies for dealing with an ageing population – alternatives that is to retiring later or working til you drop.
But how workable are they?
Immigration is always going to be a contentious issue. However if the boomers realise it means they don’t have to give up their benefits, and the rest of the country realise it might mean they don’t have to pay as much tax, then we might suddenly find there’s a political willingness to ‘import’ the labour we need.
Apart from the moral squeamishness I get about letting such selfish concerns dictate immigration policy, it’s not a long run solution anyway. Unless, we’re importing foreigners with higher fertility rates than ours (which would also be an odd selection criteria for a visa), then we’re just kicking the can down the road, and deferring the problem onto future generations.
(Though I guess it seems some people don’t have a problem with that.)
The only thing that’s going to fully deal with the problem is a pick up in fertility rates. But that’s a bit of social engineering I don’t think anyone’s got a handle on. The baby-bonus was one attempt, and it may have had some success, but a few thousand dollars seems neither here nor there in planning the kind of family you want to have to me.
We’re talking about the deep social and cultural factors that support families and children. Cash just doesn’t cut it.
So it looks like we’re back to dealing with the retirement age / tax trade off again. There just doesn’t seem to be anyway around it.
I’ve got a few ideas about changing the culture of work, and shifting our work life balances… but you’ll have to wait for my book to come out.
Sometime this century, I swear.
Rudolf Ruyter says
Hi Jon
Unfortunately there is no single simple solution the problem, I wish there was.
I am a baby boomer, born ’47
Personally I am disgusted at the feeble efforts all sides of politics have exerted on the problem, and am really worried about the debris & debts we are leaving our future generations.
The basic problem is that we have destroyed our employment base by imports and wage costs, to a degree that future generations will not be able the be fully employed to enjoy their own “boom”, re-pay our debts, clean up our mess, and pay for the retiring generations.
Our plan “A” (the mining boom) is fading, and our plan “B” and “C”……….hang on… there are none.
I guess that is the result of political short term vision………The last decent “Australia building” infrastructure was the Snowy River Scheme decades ago.
We used to ride on the back of the sheep, then on the back of agriculture, and now on the slowly dying back of mining…….Always only plan “A”.
We have one of the worlds largest “food Bowls” (currently starving of water), and what do we do????
we build broadband…..as if we can eat megabytes, and sell the farms to foreign interests.
By 2020 the world could need 40% more food, but do we put measures in place for drought proofing our food bowl??? Don’t be silly…..that would blow a politician’s mind.
We need to start building our QLD to Adelaide water supply, from dam to dam, right down the great divide, and flow some of the unimaginable amount of water up north inland into the food bowl.
It may take decades to build that infrastructure, but lets get started.
It would provide employment with its building, eventually provide bulk cheaper hydro power for secondary industries (we can then export eg. railway sleepers & allumimium instead of just the ore), supply water to our farmers, new leisure industries on the dams, export for our produce, etc. etc. etc….
and then we would need immigration to fulfill all the jobs created………
Then where is the problem??????? We would have growth, growth and more growth.
This would then truly be the lucky country.
The answer….Invest in & build “Empire building” infrastructures, and the world will beat a path to our door.
Regards
Rudolf
Glen says
I agree, and so it seems did Tony Abbott during the election campaign when he suggested building a number of dams across the country. Labor heavily criticised the plan, but didn’t put up another in it’s place. We have an efficient primary production industry, whom we will need to feed our population, so why not help them….and the rest of us in one go? That way we also won’t have to eat GM food or Chinese produced food sprayed with chemicals our govts banned years ago. …..I wonder what an inventive country like Switzerland would do in the same situation?
Rudolf Ruyter says
Hi Glen
I was always under the impression that when we clearly vote in a government, they rule the roost.
Why would Tony need labour approval for such an important project.
Any party which starts such forward thinking projects for the benefit of all Australians (old &/or new) will probably rule the roost for years to come.
Any party which opposes such “Australia building” projects will probably be thrown out with the rest of the rubbish.
Let the political parties hear that we want “future Building” projects, not just insignificant squabbling between the parties.
I for one am sick and tired of the constant political insignificant infighting and kinder garden battles in parliament.
Everyone votes for their choice, expecting them to advance Australia,
but what do we get…………idiots, who are more interested in themselves than in Australia.
If we had started such project back in the ’90s (when it was already obviously needed) they would already be providing economic benefits to farmers and Australia.
Get such projects started before it is too late…………as it is there is very little time left to stop our slide into a welfare state.
Regards
Rudolf
Peter J Kneen says
I totally agree lets get started.we need vision not a government that looks no further then the next election.
Think about it a Liberal/National government have never started any major infrastructure. It has always has been started by a Labor government this includes major social reforms like Medi Bank now Medi Care and Superannuation only to be dismantled as much as possible when the Lib/Nats are returned.
If either side are not seen to deliver.Lets get rid of them.
There has been too many years wasted. Yes! Lets get started for our kids future.
Rudolf Ruyter says
Hi Peter
All sides of government are and have been reactionary, instead of actionary (if there is such a word).
I applaud what (little) both sides have done, but none of it has been forward thinking employment & wealth creating “Australia Building”.
There are many worthwhile employment & wealth “Australia Building” projects proposed that would result in the need for more employment, (and thus more tax payers) but they have all been shelved by all political sides as too long term, and of no political benefit to the their short term vision/power struggle.
We now need some forward thinking statesmen & women to bring Australia into a prosperous future, instead of the current slide into an Australian welfare economy.
Build infrastructure to encourage & support Agriculture, Manufacturing, Mining etc etc, ……..
Level the playing field so we can compete against unfair imports (maybe a cost equalization levy on some imports)…..
Supply Australia first (at a fair local price) , and then export what is left over,…..
and private enterprise will do the rest.
When small & large business flourishes, ….so does the whole population.
Overtaxing a declining work force, and not helping our employers, is a one way street to economic disaster.
Regards
Rudolf
Rubin Miler says
Well said. I think that we are all tired of politicians trotting out the same banalities instead of some real plans
Andrew says
Aren’t their plans the problem… I think we need to stop seeing politicians as the solution and rather they and their policies are the problem.
Each new policy confess with unintended consequences, generally making getting on with creating wealth and supplying services harder.
All governments can do is tax and spend, and when they spend they spend it less wisely than the people they got it from…. You and I.
How can they possibly think that they can know the best way to manipulate markets to create wealth…. They don’t, but they like to pretend they do so we’ll keep paying.
Justin says
Spot on Rudoft, we need a country ran engineers not lawyers . Divert the water, use immigrants labour, like we did with the snowy, this is a win win idea that no politician is brave enought to touch
Myra says
Hello Gentlemen,
I agree with you both to some extent.
My family emigrated here in Melbourne Australia in 1987.
I am now 41yrs of age. I never looked back from where I came from and only know Australia as being my home.
I have 3 young children all under 16yrs old.
Only this year, how rapid it has been for many companies to closed down, declare future closure and down sizing. Seem to be happening on a daily bases. This is a big concern to me and all other parents out there.
My number of working days are about to be cut down very soon and eventually to none. I worry about not being able to support my children, let alone pay my rent in the near future… And how about their generation how are they to support themselves who will more likely need to support me when my time comes as part of the aging population. Mind you I intend to work till I drop.
Jon, a lot of parents do and would like to have more children if only money and employment is not an issue. Everything is so expensive these days it’s dificult to budget.
Rudolf I admire your thoughts for our generation and I totally agree.
As I see it the population and economic growth of Australia work both hand in hand… Equally important without both we cannot simply claim Australia being the “lucky country”
I do support the notion where “there’s a will there’s a way” we just need the politicians to take the steps, listen to the people of Australia and lead well.
Regards
Myra
christina says
Hi Myra 🙂 You should start your own part time internet business from home, like Jon teaches us, then you can keep all the profit, do it part time in your spare time, and then you won’t have to work till you drop 🙂
Ken. says
I think it was the Bradford or Bradfield Scheme that was put up many years ago. Joh thought it was a good idea also. I remember thinking about this as a brilliant idea and only after talking to others, I realized it had already been discussed and abandoned. Also somebody a while back, I think it might have been Bob Katter, went into great detail about joining natural rivers together by pipes and thus bringing water from far north Queensland, all the way to the Murray / Darling Rivers. The same could be done in Western Australia, for the wasted Kimberleys water. So, go on everyone, Just Google The Bradfield or Bradford Scheme. Which ever party brings this in will be in for life. Maybe a whole heap of Independents would be the way to go. Or even get on board with Clive Palmer. He seems to have what the others haven’t got, (COMMON SENSE) Similar to Bob, every time they say anything that makes sense, they all laugh at him. We, the people are the only ones that can do this, by lobbying those two. The other major parties are a spent force. Cheers.
Rudolf Ruyter says
Hi Ken and others.
No, I was not considering the Bradfield Scheme as that was to divert water inland towards Lake Eyre, our biggest inland salt pan system while providing some irrigation along the way. Sending clean water into a salt bowl is not my concept of being smart.
I am recommending many large dams & reservoirs along the spine of the Great Divide, at high levels, (using nature’s own water power to lift some river water to higher levels so it can it can be made to flow to both sides of the divide, for irrigation and to supply Hydro power to both sides of the divide, all the way from north to south of the east coast.
Yes, plan them well for joining & developing them into a national water & power grid, with seasonal bulk water supply from the northern areas diverted south into such reservoirs. And the same for the Kimberly regions. This would create many regional power & water
supplies instead of Huge centralized supplies.
Yes, like the Trans American railways, it will open up our great nation and create jobs in all industries for all Australians
Regards
Rudolf
Ken. says
Hi Rudolf, I was thinking of the Bradfield Scheme, but to divert water to the murray Darling. Lake Eyre is 10 feet below sea level and I was wondering, if flooded from South Australia by gravity, would it create in land storms. But think of the water sport and tourism it could create.
GERARD Harrison says
True,except every time labour has governed,we have had recession,and they think the only good jobs are government jobs pfft
Cliff Robinson says
Cliff says:
The problem we have is too much government (i.e. 3 levels to control a mere 22 million people). Also the major decisions are never made because each party works on staying in power for as long as possible and that requires being safe and not causing too much pain. We need a bipartisan committee from all sides of politics made up of academics, business leaders and representatives of small business that happens to employ the vast majority of Australians to make the critical decisions based on long term planning for the overall good of all Australians, both baby boomers and new babies alike.
That way a much smaller government would be required to look after the everyday running of the country and leave the difficult decisions to people that have no vested interest in staying in power for the money and their egoes.
Clara G. says
So true Rudolf (and everyone else)… the politics and politicians are killing our country. They are stopping the progress any way they can, just to keep the safe seats. Every good project that would benefit the whole population – now and in the future, was rejected or abandoned, never finished – after spending heavy millions of the nation’s money.
Have to tell you a story:
A few years ago I met a lady, Russian engineer/scientist. She came to Australia to sell some inventions, like water desalination, water redirection, light roads and building constructions materials, mass fire extinctions, etc.
All the methods were very cheap to build. The scientists in Russia are being paid peanuts, so they are working on projects privately and trying to sell it abroad. All they wanted was for someone (the government or private entrepreneurs) to fund their trip to Australia, cover their living expenses for about 3 months and provide them with a factory space to build the equipment. It could be tested then and they would teach the local professionals how to continue the production. Only then they would be paid for the invention an agreed amount (which was not high).
She met here a lot of government officials, but none of them seemed to be interested even to check it out.
Sorry for the long story, I am still sad about it. It could have saved lives, property (in bush fires) and provide a lot of people with employment. There is so much money spent on nothing, somebody should have given these projects a chance.
So here I agree, the only way for improvement is for business people and various professionals to take part in the decision making.
Benjamin Taheny says
A paraphrased quote from R Buckminster Fuller – encouraging people not to fight the ‘system’ but to walk away and build something better that makes the old obsolete. [Joseph Schumpeter’s ‘creative destruction’ for those that have an interest in economics]
We are told that the deserts are getting larger and that the sea-level is rising. So I propose that we pump seawater inland.
I see this as having enormous commercial potential, and I am working towards making it happen.
But I consider it to be part of humanity’s learning curve for the process of colonising the Solar System and beyond with terraforming (which I define as: “Creating Beautiful Gardens. On Other Worlds”)
Andrew says
The fertility rate has risen in conjunction with the migration rate because its the migrants having the babies. They can afford to because of the genrous handouts and support provided by the government. A pity the same support is not offered to our own population which would see us have to rely less on migtration.
Mary says
My family (myself, husband and 2 children)migrated from the UK in 2007. I would like to point out that we were not given any ‘handouts or financial assistance’. We had to pay for everything. We had to have all our savings etc transfered to Australia….no outside investments etc. We came on a business visa….had to be at least 50kms from a major city. We had certain employment requirements…at least 2 australians. Due to the down turn in retail spending due to the GFC our business declined, but wage bill stayed the same because of the requirements, and we have had to sell it at a huge loss. We are in deep debt, our health has suffered and we are struggling to keep our heads above water. Jobs are not easy to find being so far out of the city, and therefore I have to travel approx 1.5hrs in to work and home again in the evening. My husband is still trying to get work and yet he is highly qualified but these qualifications are not recognised here. He will have to pay to take a course and then an exam to try and get work….no help with these fees!! So if you think it is easy for all migrants, it isn’t. The government does not give us hand outs…..it wants us to bring our money into the country and keep it here. We didn’t realise that we wouldn’t be given any support to get back on our feet if things went wrong. I am currently trying to tidy up our home to try and sell it…..obviously also at a loss….so that we might be able to pay off the debts. So please don’t say that all migrants get handouts….we bought money to the Australia, employed two Australians (they got their wages whilst we went without), paid our taxes and bills, but this has bled us dry, so now we don’t have anything….except we are classed as permanent residents.
Sorry for the rant, but it makes me cross when I see the comment ‘ migrants get handouts’!
Rudolf Ruyter says
Hi Mary
I am also a migrant, arrived in Dec. 1956 as a 9 year old. (we had 21 suit cases and 49 pound for a family of 7)
Dad had to travel weekly from Albury to Melbourne to work as we were placed into the Bonagilla Migrant Hostel.
So I can “feel” for your situation.
Keep your chin up as there are always silver linings.
Personally I do not care how much or little new migrants are subsidized as long as they & family become gainfully employed and help grow Australia.
Those that see Australia as a welfare state are welcome to go back home.
The unfair restrictions politicians put on “Business Migrants” is just pathetic and should be re-worked to attract more people like you.
Regards
Rudolf
Suzanne Baty says
Dear All
I agree with Rudolf, as well as Peter. We need to start preparing today for our children’s children future…other wise not only this country but the world will cave in.
Yes we all live on the same ‘rock’ but the rock may not sustain us if politicians around the world only think of their egos and bank balance.
Australia can be a leader in showing the world that we can be creative in sustaining our country, for employment; providing enough food; and dealing with the climate changes that are occuring, by organizing projects in bringing the excess water from the North to the South
We need a strong leader, not someone who panders to other ‘multi million’ companies who love to line their own pockets. We don’t need our forests cleared.
Please google ‘Story of Stuff’ which explains it well.
Susan says
I think that it is important for everyone to contribute to society in their prime years. I think their should always be support for people to be provided with food and shelter but those people need to contribute to society not just accept a handout, I believe this applies to Australian born and migrants
Dean says
Some great Ideas proposed above. Sadly the systems in place…right from the second by second tickers of the stock markets and forex markets, the internationalisation of capital, as well as the increasing movements towards multinationalisation of corporations all underpin the short sighted, selfish behaviors of investors, and thus make it much harder for politicians and governments to implement long term strategic investments, whom also have short run cycles / terms of office thru which they are forced to view policy implementation.
This is exacerbated by the fact that Governments and basically humans themselves seemingly are unable to move forward beyond a responding to Chaos theory of life. Look at Victorias desalination plant projects for example. By the time the political will is in place to expend the significant infrastructure capital, weather patterns change!
The many very good on paper theories above are like telling us all to give up booze, start to jog, dont smoke, dont stay up late and to eat vegetarian To read more , speak less, respect your elders, participate in democracy, save for your retirement, meditate, do yoga, avoid road rage, and vexatious people. We all know these are good, well grounded, sensible and the right things to do..but somehow, life , and the chaos it represents, just gets in the way!
Sadly…actually, very sadly, we live in a dog eat dog world where a lot of our energies are squandered pursuing “capital integrity”..(for ourselves), and oft at the costs of others and society in general. We justify this in various guises, but the end result is sadly the same. The fact that we all subscribe to Jons fiscally oriented ramblings is a good example. Economics reigns supreme in this paradigm…but try feeding that to ya grand kids.
Rudolf Ruyter says
Hi Dean,
Fortunately some of us do not have such a pessimistic view of the human race (although I guess sometimes such a view is well deserved).
When we vote in politicians, I expect them to be far better than the “normal” and with all the public servant departments advise available to them there is no reason for expecting any less from them.
Many people do all you theorize about and do benefit from such efforts.
Unfortunately it is a “dog eat dog” world out there, and on the world stage Australia is only a pimple.
However, none of the above excuses our parliamentarians from STARTING some major “Australia building” projects to advance our industries and improve our employment base.
Not to do such things, is, in my opinion, pure political incompetence.
Regards
Rudolf
Dean says
Hey Rudolf, sadly my pessimism is grounded in pretty deserved company!
I do not know why you expect politicians to be tarred with altruistic leanings, but i think whatever of those that potentially existed get rubbed out and or distorted when exposed to the skulduggery and outright machinations that modern models of democracy engender.
The merging of the political landscape has come at the cost of true visionary perspectives, and this merging has come about due to populist politics coupled with the short turn about of government. As Winston Churchill rightly pointed out “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.”
Most people are ill equipped to understand the nuances of ecological, economic, nation building needs, and quickly vote against the govt that dares to tackle the hard issues, especially if it impinges upon their perceived personal freedoms or taxes or double dare it, the corporate bottom line. The recent carbon tax being a classic example.
Tell the average australian that they have been a gross polluter of the world thru their reliance upon fossil fuels and that we need to start paying back and see what it gets ya! Then, tell that to the corporations that mine these goodies for a living or use them to supply you with well overpriced power for your computer! Ho hum. Even with rational and well researched data and the “altruistic” element there…such policies are sadly doomed.
Humans , and thus therefore corporations, ARE basically ;selfish, arrogant and ignorant, to name but a few of our credentials and if you think that those in the “lucky country” are willing to forgo their artificially sustained quality of life for the grandiose programmes you and others have rightfully, (albeit naively) put forward, you are definitely reinforcing the fact that you are hmmm…ignorant of the realities out there.
Until there is a political will to educate the masses properly..to activate the population into participation rather than just readin writin countin clones set up for factory and mortgage fodder; until the nation dares itself to inbuild critics and activate intellectual integrity , and provides avenues for those keys to disharmony to be heard, understanding that conflict is natural and actually to be encouraged not suppressed and ignored….until then we are destined to follow the ill defined narrow and wrong paths the nation state, and in fact the world, is on now.
Much easier to crack a beer and say, she’ll be right mate!
Dean says
Just found this wonderful quote…thought quite apt to this discussion:
“Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.”
― H.L. Mencken
Brian French says
Hi Jon and others suggesting good ideas for the future.
I am a migrant baby boomer arriving in Brisbane in 1988,just caught the EXPO.
I was amazed at that time as to the huge waste in water that was happening in Brisbane and surrounds, ie sprinklers running when it’s raining +many other instances also in business establishments, literally just leaving the tap on until the next person needs to use it . Having studied the meteorology for the area prior to migrating I could see that there would be times of wet and dry.
I have experience of other such countries as a temporary resident namely Hong Kong and Cyprus.
where water was precious and although the wet was really wet as it is in north Qld, water was
used carefully for the times when there was none. it too occurred to me that there should be a QLD and National water grid. Yes it would take years to build ,but it would eventually come about even if it
was in stages. I went to my local poli’s at the time,both sides and put it to them to bring it forth to the
State and Federal houses,but was fobbed off as TOO hard and TOO expensive to do. I didn’t push further and now I wish I had. By now, bit by bit, it would have happened and our farmers of whichever
type would not be struggling also townies and businesses would also have surety of water.
Yes the project would take many billions of dollars ,But what is becoming the COST without it.
In addition, as a migrant , I had absolutely NO handouts back then to assist me, even what was the dole office didn’t want to know and told me I was on my own to get a job.
At that time I could also see that a tenure of 3 years for a governing body in either State or Federal house,was insufficient time for a government to get things done for the future, many projects and “changes” take years to organize yet alone to complete.
a tenure of government should be 5 years.
Yes at present all the polies are thinking of is short term measures and to secure their position and pay. The NONSENSE of polies in the house and when on broadcast interviews , to just keep denigrating each other to gain a sort of “one upmanship” is kindergarden stuff.
Back then in 1988 , I said to my brother-in-law who was a migrant from New Zealand , that I could forsee that by the time we were to retire we would have to be self sufficient.that is the case now.
Bringing forth the superannuation scheme was the best thing MR KEATING could have done.
But for the majority of people at present it will not come to realization until present generations
do retire. I had a pension scheme paid for by my employers in the UK but those schemes generally
were not here when I arrived. I set up my own superannuation in 1989 before the Keating national
scheme came about. But alas due to pressures of family financial matters I could not keep it up
as I wished. I have purchased property in the hope that we (family) can benefit that way, but due
to the GFC I had to sell one at the worst time in the market ,to take the capital gain to be able to keep
going. I am self employed and still trying to make ends meet on a daily basis in the hope that what
I have managed to do will see us through our latter years.
To wind this up, surely by now JON you have contacts and may be able to get through to someone
as to what needs doing for the long term,especially the water,WE as a nation need to be able to feed
ourselves and not rely on imports. There are long term implications if we do rely on imports.
bfn brian
Rudolf Ruyter says
Hi Jon.
I do not normally make comments without expecting a reaction and action.
So far reaction has been excellent, but no action.
I guess we can rant & rave as much as we like to each other, without anything being achieved.
All the above replies & comments seem to have been from intelligent people who are fed up with the political incompetence, and probably represent the thoughts of many Australians.
We need forward action to control the economic slide.
Some one need to put such thoughts & opinions to our politicians,
and, Jon, I believe YOU currently hold the “Mars Bar”,
Please advise us of your intentions.
Regards
Rudolf
Rob Del Bianco says
Hi Jon.
Just increasing the fertility rate is not enough. If it results in unloved/unwanted babies – you get a crime wave 15 – 20 years down the track, not a better country (GDP?). Something identified in the USA by Steve Levitt – his book Freakonomics is a fun read.
To Rudolf, Dean & other posters – Thanks for some interesting ideas and viewpoints.
Stay passionate – & remember to have fun!
Rob
richard osborne says
bit late into the dicussion however here goes.innovate or stagnate. remember what they did to poor old C Y Oconnor and his pipeline to kalgoorlie.W,hen the americans built their national railroads,the govt offered private companies incentives to construct them.Yes some people made millions however the rail was built and subsequently the country was opened up and continued to expand at a great rate for decades and many millions bennefited.remember a dollar today will be worth more than a dollar tomorrow
Carol says
Rudolf for PM
first decent ideas I’ve heard for a long time!