Have you ever had your bag searched at the supermarket? I bet you have. Have you ever refused? A woman in front of me refused today and was told by the check out chick that the supermarket (Aldi's) had a legal right to search people's bags. I was flabbergasted. I don't think the girl was lying, she was just repeating what Aldi's had told her-a blatant lie. If you are in doubt of your rights check out the consumer affairs website.
This raises the question of what else they are lying about. Are they telling their staff they are legally obliged to work free overtime? That if a customer breaks something it comes out of their pay? Where does it end. Truth is the first casualty of war and it seems that Aldi's regard the supermarket business as a war on their employees and customers.
The Sydney Morning Herald posted a funny photo on this topic a few years ago. I wonder when Aldi's will be placing storm troopers at the checkout?
Sunday, August 31, 2008
drugs
Drug laws have been off the radar a little bit lately. There appears to be no debate in the mainstream media about what drugs should be legal/illegal etc.
The main drug in the news these days seems to be ice or crystal methamphetamine. We are told how dangerous it is and how instantly addictive it is. What we are not told is that it's the same drug that is prescribed to children for ADHD. It's also given to military pilots to keep them awake and alert during long missions. If it's so dangerous why is it given to children and people operating dangerous machinery? The answer, of course, is that it's nowhere near as dangerous as the press would have us believe. In large doses it can cause psychosis but this requires a huge dose that no sane person would take. Read more about it on Wikipedia.
So why is it illegal? In Australia even doctors cannot prescribe it unless they are psychiatrists or pediatricians. The answer I suspect is that police forces are given huge budgets for the "war on drugs". If it is not illegal they lose their budget. Therefore it is worth them mounting campaigns to keep it illegal. The major drug companies don't care because the patent ran out years ago. Therefore there is no money in it for them. Meanwhile, the public pays millions of dollars for unnecessary law enforcement, those who use the drug get no meaningful medical treatment and those who could benefit medically from the drug are denied it.
The main drug in the news these days seems to be ice or crystal methamphetamine. We are told how dangerous it is and how instantly addictive it is. What we are not told is that it's the same drug that is prescribed to children for ADHD. It's also given to military pilots to keep them awake and alert during long missions. If it's so dangerous why is it given to children and people operating dangerous machinery? The answer, of course, is that it's nowhere near as dangerous as the press would have us believe. In large doses it can cause psychosis but this requires a huge dose that no sane person would take. Read more about it on Wikipedia.
So why is it illegal? In Australia even doctors cannot prescribe it unless they are psychiatrists or pediatricians. The answer I suspect is that police forces are given huge budgets for the "war on drugs". If it is not illegal they lose their budget. Therefore it is worth them mounting campaigns to keep it illegal. The major drug companies don't care because the patent ran out years ago. Therefore there is no money in it for them. Meanwhile, the public pays millions of dollars for unnecessary law enforcement, those who use the drug get no meaningful medical treatment and those who could benefit medically from the drug are denied it.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Economists
I should have been an economist. I'm sure you have noticed that they never agree with each other but have you noticed that they are never right.
Economists claim that economics is a science. Let's think about that. Physics is a science. Using the laws of physics I can predict the motion of the earth around the sun. If the laws failed to do this we would call physics (or at least that law) a failure. If economics is a science it should be able to do the same thing. It should be able to predict the price of oil tomorrow. Whoops, it can't. It can only predict what has already happened. Is this science? I don't think so-unless gambling is now a science as well.
So, next time an economist starts talking just remember that he actually knows less than your bookie. Both professions making lots of money out of the gamblers.
Economists claim that economics is a science. Let's think about that. Physics is a science. Using the laws of physics I can predict the motion of the earth around the sun. If the laws failed to do this we would call physics (or at least that law) a failure. If economics is a science it should be able to do the same thing. It should be able to predict the price of oil tomorrow. Whoops, it can't. It can only predict what has already happened. Is this science? I don't think so-unless gambling is now a science as well.
So, next time an economist starts talking just remember that he actually knows less than your bookie. Both professions making lots of money out of the gamblers.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Mega Projects
Melbourne's public transport is in the news again. The trains and trams are crowded because of years of neglect by government and penny pinching by connex.
Of course the government are not planning to do anything about it-just talk. To encourage the talk they commissioned Sir Rod Eddington to do some talking. No doubt his "report" cost the taxpayer many millions. His solution? Give massive government subsidies to mega expensive tunnel projects to be built, owned and run by the private sector. No doubt the CEOs of the big building companies are rubbing their hands together in glee.
The problem is that these projects are white elephants. They will not fix the problem and will probably make it worse. They are simply a way to transfer your taxes to the pockets of the rich.
Of course the government are not planning to do anything about it-just talk. To encourage the talk they commissioned Sir Rod Eddington to do some talking. No doubt his "report" cost the taxpayer many millions. His solution? Give massive government subsidies to mega expensive tunnel projects to be built, owned and run by the private sector. No doubt the CEOs of the big building companies are rubbing their hands together in glee.
The problem is that these projects are white elephants. They will not fix the problem and will probably make it worse. They are simply a way to transfer your taxes to the pockets of the rich.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Why is the government so intent on overpopulating the country? Who benefits?
In the short term the government benefits. Immigrants arrive in Australia with assets which they bring to Australia. They have already spent large sums of money to immigrate. For example the application fee for a permanent visa is over $2,000.
When they arrive people need a house. The Federal government collects significant indirect taxes from this transaction. The states collect thousands of dollars in stamp duty. Then the house needs furnishing, the Commonwealth takes 10% of these costs as well.
This is just the start. Can anybody think of more?
In the short term the government benefits. Immigrants arrive in Australia with assets which they bring to Australia. They have already spent large sums of money to immigrate. For example the application fee for a permanent visa is over $2,000.
When they arrive people need a house. The Federal government collects significant indirect taxes from this transaction. The states collect thousands of dollars in stamp duty. Then the house needs furnishing, the Commonwealth takes 10% of these costs as well.
This is just the start. Can anybody think of more?
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