You would not believe it if you listened to our politicians, but household fuel and power bills eat up no more of our wallets than they did six years ago. And petrol eats up less.

The only comprehensive survey of household spending - conducted once every six years by the Bureau of Statistics - finds domestic fuel and power accounted for 2.6 per cent of household spending in 2009-10, 2.6 per cent in 2003-04 and 2.6 per cent two decades earlier in 1988-89.

Petrol, another impost about which we often complain, costs us relatively less, accounting for 3.09 per cent of spending, down from 3.36 per cent.

Household income has climbed 50 per cent since 2003-04, way ahead of prices which have climbed 19 per cent.

We have not spent all the extra income, we have tucked some away. Spending grew 38 per cent.

Most of the staples cited as causes of concern at the last election are easier to buy. During a pre-election debate, Tony Abbott said he was worried about the price of groceries, particularly bread. Bread accounts for less of our spending than it did, sliding from 0.67 per cent to 0.57 per cent; food has slipped from 17.1 to 16.5 per cent.

The big unavoidable expense that is costing us more is housing, whether paid for by a rent or mortgage. Housing now accounts for 18 per cent of total spending, up from 16 per cent six years ago and a new record high. School fees are also biting harder along with childcare fees.

Other increased spending reflects changed lifestyles. We are spending more of our wallet at cafes and restaurants than six years ago, up from 2.1 per cent to 2.6 per cent. We spend more at hairdressers, and more on pay TV and internet connections.

Lower prices mean we are spending much less on clothes and shoes - down from 4 per cent to 3.6 per cent and also much less on household furnishings.

While alcohol is just as important to us as before - accounting for 2.6 per cent of our budgets, the same proportion as household energy - tobacco is much less important, slipping from 1.3 to 1 per cent of total spending.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/spending-survey-shows-we-are-better-off-than-we-think-20110906-1jw1z.html

"You would not believe it if you listened to our politicians"

OR the partisans on here with a barrow to push.

Please delete wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 9:02am:

The big unavoidable expense that is costing us more is housing, whether paid for by a rent or mortgage. Housing now accounts for 18 per cent of total spending, up from 16 per cent six years ago and a new record high. School fees are also biting harder along with childcare fees.

Both school costs and housing were fuelled by the Howard governments push to private education, and housing boom fuelled by first home owners grants and tax cuts.

Luckily the schools issue is being slowly addressed, and the GFC has stalled house price growth.

Doctor Jolly wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 9:11am:

Please delete wrote on Sep 7th, 2011 at 9:02am: The big unavoidable expense that is costing us more is housing, whether paid for by a rent or mortgage. Housing now accounts for 18 per cent of total spending, up from 16 per cent six years ago and a new record high. School fees are also biting harder along with childcare fees. Both school costs and housing were fuelled by the Howard governments push to private education, and housing boom fuelled by first home owners grants and tax cuts. Luckily the schools issue is being slowly addressed, and the GFC has stalled house price growth.

We want house price growth though don't we?
I have a house in Melbourne still - why would I not want that to increase in value???
Same for anyone else who owns a home.

Doctor Jolly wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 9:11am:

Please delete wrote on Sep 7th, 2011 at 9:02am: The big unavoidable expense that is costing us more is housing, whether paid for by a rent or mortgage. Housing now accounts for 18 per cent of total spending, up from 16 per cent six years ago and a new record high. School fees are also biting harder along with childcare fees. Both school costs and housing were fuelled by the Howard governments push to private education, and housing boom fuelled by first home owners grants and tax cuts. Luckily the schools issue is being slowly addressed, and the GFC has stalled house price growth.

Id love to see you try and justify that rather silly claim.

And the companion piece to this:

Politics of self-interest feeds the inner beast

Barring the start of World War III, we may never hear an Australian politician repeat John Fitzgerald Kennedy's unforgettable line, ''Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country''.

Nobility be hanged. There was a time when our leaders saw it as their job to bring out the best in their followers. These days, they see their best chance as pandering to our dark side - our fears, our weaknesses, our selfishness.

These days, self-centredness not only comes naturally, it's officially encouraged. On what basis should you decide which politician to support? The one that's offering you the best deal, of course.
Why do our leaders have such a low opinion of our motivations? Perhaps for the same reason people who lie a lot always expect other people to be lying. Despite their protestations to the contrary, most politicians seem motivated less by a burning desire to make the world a better place than by ambition for personal advancement. They simply assume we are like they are.

Then there's the influence of economists. The doctrine of economic rationalism not only assumes self-interest to be normal and altruism to be non-existent, it sanctifies self-interest as a civic virtue.

Adam Smith, founder of modern economics, said a lot of noteworthy things, but few are quoted more than this: ''It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our necessities but of their advantages.''

Be as selfish as you like because selfishness is what makes the economy work.

But here's a balancing quote from the great man that's much less often repeated: ''How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it, except the pleasure of seeing it.''

There are two sides to our nature; we do have our ''better angels'' as Abraham Lincoln put it, but at present our lesser selves are in the ascendancy.

Perhaps another influence on the politicians is their resort to the techniques of marketing to further their pursuit of power. Marketers have no hesitation in appealing to our envy, lust or greed.

In their world, use of the word ''indulgence'' is taken to be enticing, not a condemnation. ''You deserve it'' and ''because you're worth it'', advertisers assure us. My favourite is an ad for a cinema candy bar: ''in the dark, no one can see you''. Go ahead, guts yourself.

Marketers use focus groups to test products and make sure they're giving the customers exactly what they want. Politicians use them to make sure they're telling voters exactly what they want to hear.

At least since John Howard's last days, people in focus groups have been complaining about the rising cost of living. Really? That's a new one. When the most people can do is complain about the cost of living it's a sign they've got nothing bigger to worry about. I suspect it's the product of our having gone 20 years without a severe recession. When you're worried about keeping your job, you don't complain about the cost of living.

And yet both sides of politics are perpetually echoing back to the electorate their professed concern about how tough times are. Tony Abbott's remarkably successful scare campaign against the carbon tax - it's actually not half as bad as the goods and services tax, and certainly far less disruptive than the effect of the high dollar on manufacturing and tourism - preys on people's worries about the cost of living.

When Howard was introducing the GST a lot of people's attitude was: ''I don't like the sound of it one bit, but if you're insisting on it I suppose it must be in the best interests of the country.'' Much the same could be said of the carbon tax, yet far fewer people are saying it - nor are they being encouraged to think that way.

As it's understood by scientists, our preoccupation with our own interests usually extends to the protection of our own family. But there seems little sign of concern for the wellbeing of our children and grandchildren in the carbon tax debate. We've been encouraged to focus only on our immediate worries about balancing the household budget.

But for unbridled selfishness there could surely be no more egregious example than the success the licensed clubs have had in stirring their members' opposition to the Gillard government's reluctant championing of compulsory pre-commitment on poker machine use.

If ever there was an action that could be said to be ''un-Australian'', it's profiting from the addiction of gamblers and all the misery caused to them and their families. The killer statistic is this: according to the Productivity Commission, about 15 per cent of regular poker machine users contribute about 40 per cent of all the money put through pokies.

So the whole edifice of the licensed club industry rests heavily on the exploitation of a small minority of their own members. All the cheap meals and shows, all the grants to local sporting groups - much of that money is coming from the pockets of the spouses and children of problem gamblers.

But those fighting to keep their cheap meals mustn't feel guilty. You're only doing what our politicians, economists and advertisers urge you to do: putting your own interests ahead of other people's, including the less fortunate.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/politics-of-selfinterest-feeds-the-inner-beast-20110906-1jvs4.html#ixzz1XDZX5HJg

Dsmithy70 wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 9:30am:

Marketers use focus groups to test products and make sure they're giving the customers exactly what they want. Politicians use them to make sure they're telling voters exactly what they want to hear. At least since John Howard's last days, people in focus groups have been complaining about the rising cost of living. Really? That's a new one. When the most people can do is complain about the cost of living it's a sign they've got nothing bigger to worry about. I suspect it's the product of our having gone 20 years without a severe recession. When you're worried about keeping your job, you don't complain about the cost of living. And yet both sides of politics are perpetually echoing back to the electorate their professed concern about how tough times are. Tony Abbott's remarkably successful scare campaign against the carbon tax - it's actually not half as bad as the goods and services tax, and certainly far less disruptive than the effect of the high dollar on manufacturing and tourism - preys on people's worries about the cost of living. When Howard was introducing the GST a lot of people's attitude was: ''I don't like the sound of it one bit, but if you're insisting on it I suppose it must be in the best interests of the country.'' Much the same could be said of the carbon tax, yet far fewer people are saying it - nor are they being encouraged to think that way. As it's understood by scientists, our preoccupation with our own interests usually extends to the protection of our own family. But there seems little sign of concern for the wellbeing of our children and grandchildren in the carbon tax debate. We've been encouraged to focus only on our immediate worries about balancing the household budget. But for unbridled selfishness there could surely be no more egregious example than the success the licensed clubs have had in stirring their members' opposition to the Gillard government's reluctant championing of compulsory pre-commitment on poker machine use. If ever there was an action that could be said to be ''un-Australian'', it's profiting from the addiction of gamblers and all the misery caused to them and their families. The killer statistic is this: according to the Productivity Commission, about 15 per cent of regular poker machine users contribute about 40 per cent of all the money put through pokies. So the whole edifice of the licensed club industry rests heavily on the exploitation of a small minority of their own members. All the cheap meals and shows, all the grants to local sporting groups - much of that money is coming from the pockets of the spouses and children of problem gamblers. But those fighting to keep their cheap meals mustn't feel guilty. You're only doing what our politicians, economists and advertisers urge you to do: putting your own interests ahead of other people's, including the less fortunate. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/politics-of-selfinterest-feeds-the-inner-beast-20110906-1jvs4.html#ixzz1XDZX5HJg

i dont think you used enough colours and fonts. it is still readable.

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 9:51am:

Dsmithy70 wrote on Sep 7th, 2011 at 9:30am: Marketers use focus groups to test products and make sure they're giving the customers exactly what they want. Politicians use them to make sure they're telling voters exactly what they want to hear. At least since John Howard's last days, people in focus groups have been complaining about the rising cost of living. Really? That's a new one. When the most people can do is complain about the cost of living it's a sign they've got nothing bigger to worry about. I suspect it's the product of our having gone 20 years without a severe recession. When you're worried about keeping your job, you don't complain about the cost of living. And yet both sides of politics are perpetually echoing back to the electorate their professed concern about how tough times are. Tony Abbott's remarkably successful scare campaign against the carbon tax - it's actually not half as bad as the goods and services tax, and certainly far less disruptive than the effect of the high dollar on manufacturing and tourism - preys on people's worries about the cost of living. When Howard was introducing the GST a lot of people's attitude was: ''I don't like the sound of it one bit, but if you're insisting on it I suppose it must be in the best interests of the country.'' Much the same could be said of the carbon tax, yet far fewer people are saying it - nor are they being encouraged to think that way. As it's understood by scientists, our preoccupation with our own interests usually extends to the protection of our own family. But there seems little sign of concern for the wellbeing of our children and grandchildren in the carbon tax debate. We've been encouraged to focus only on our immediate worries about balancing the household budget. But for unbridled selfishness there could surely be no more egregious example than the success the licensed clubs have had in stirring their members' opposition to the Gillard government's reluctant championing of compulsory pre-commitment on poker machine use. If ever there was an action that could be said to be ''un-Australian'', it's profiting from the addiction of gamblers and all the misery caused to them and their families. The killer statistic is this: according to the Productivity Commission, about 15 per cent of regular poker machine users contribute about 40 per cent of all the money put through pokies. So the whole edifice of the licensed club industry rests heavily on the exploitation of a small minority of their own members. All the cheap meals and shows, all the grants to local sporting groups - much of that money is coming from the pockets of the spouses and children of problem gamblers. But those fighting to keep their cheap meals mustn't feel guilty. You're only doing what our politicians, economists and advertisers urge you to do: putting your own interests ahead of other people's, including the less fortunate. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/politics-of-selfinterest-feeds-the-inner-beast-20110906-1jvs4.html#ixzz1XDZX5HJg i dont think you used enough colours and fonts. it is still readable.

As I tell my daughter & wife Mr Weekend
COLOUR IS YOUR FRIEND

COLOR

Anyway, I'll state again - why would we want our house prices to not go up in value?

Who actually sits in their home and thinks "Gee, I hope house prices stay down"??

Someone in an asylum?

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 11:25am:

COLOR Anyway, I'll state again - why would we want our house prices to not go up in value? Who actually sits in their home and thinks "Gee, I hope house prices stay down"?? Someone in an asylum?

LOL, piss off yank  ;D ;D

Dsmithy70 wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 11:34am:

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Sep 7th, 2011 at 11:25am: COLOR Anyway, I'll state again - why would we want our house prices to not go up in value? Who actually sits in their home and thinks "Gee, I hope house prices stay down"?? Someone in an asylum? LOL, piss off yank  ;D ;D

I successfully p*ssed off both the Americans and an Aussie fella in a meeting last week.

I was asked if I would become an American citizen, I said no "because I didn't see the point"

The Aussie guy asked about re-taking the AU citizenship, I said "Yeah but mate that was for tax reasons anyway, I couldn't really give that much of a stuff about that one either"

Mr Hicks - the diplomat's diplomat.  ;D

JUST IN ...






Economy returns to growth in June quarter
Chris Zappone
September 7, 2011 - 11:30AM

The Australian economy grew surprisingly strongly in the June quarter, rebounding from a rare contraction in the previous three months when floods hit much of the eastern seaboard.

Gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 1.2 per cent in the June quarter after a downwardly revised 0.9 per cent fall in the March quarter. Economists had tipped a 1 per cent increase for the April-June period.

The Australian dollar climbed on the news of quicker-than-expected expansion, jumping from $US1.0539 to $US1.058, as investors bet the growth spurt reduces the chance of an early interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank.

The quarterly increase came mostly from a jump in inventories, which added 0.8 percentage points to the growth tally. Consumption also rose, adding 0.7 percentage points and helping to counter the half-percentage point cut delivered by Australia's weaker-than-expected trade performance for the quarter.

The year-on-year increase for the quarter came in at 1.4 per cent, accelerating from the 1 per cent pace in the March quarter and also doubling economists' estimates of a 0.7 per cent expansion.

For the whole of the 2010-2011 financial year, the economy grew 1.8 per cent, the ABS said. That pace will affect the federal budget, falling short of the 2.25 per cent forecast by Treasury. The expansion was also less than the previous year's 2.3 per cent.

Read more:http://www.theage.com.au/business/economy-returns-to-growth-in-june-quarter-20110907-1jwtd.html#ixzz1XEJ9nKem

Can we expect a huge surge in the Labor Party to 30% popularity???


I have to say Buzz, this Labor Government experiment is a bag of shite isn't it?

Told you back in 2008 it would be a failure.

Some are born to lead, some are born to follow.

~  ''Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country''.

Nobility be hanged. There was a time when our leaders saw it as their job to bring out the best in their followers. These days, they see their best chance as pandering to our dark side - our fears, our weaknesses, our selfishness. ~

And you have to ask why is that, and where will it go?

Abbott and his right wing agenda is doing just that , continuation of Howards playing on peoples fears. Seems Abbott is winning as indicated by polling. So he will get us so worried and scared with his deranged     language  and use any issue to do so, that we, the scaried ' little people,' will be honoured to work for  nothing and  learn never to question profits  or intent of the wealthy - as the wealthy control us and our lifestyles  more and more.

No.

I put into the country.

What will the country give back to me.

That is my motto. Why should I put in and get nothing back whilst a load of crap people get something for nothing.

Nope, not in my house.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 12:57pm:

I have to say Buzz, this Labor Government experiment is a bag of shite isn't it?

Not in MY opinion


It said "sorry"
It ratified Kyoto
Acted on climate change, by pricing carbon
Delivering the NBN
Introducing a fairer minerals tax
The biggest pension increases in history
Delivering the best economy in the WORLD - including the lowest unemployment rates - in light of the GFC

That was pretty much my "wish list"


My MAIN disappointments have been ...
A failure to have a target on the emergency NT intervention
... and it's lack of courage and "knee-jerk" populist reaction on refugees

buzzanddidj wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 1:36pm:

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Sep 7th, 2011 at 12:57pm: I have to say Buzz, this Labor Government experiment is a bag of shite isn't it? Not in MY opinion It said "sorry" It ratified Kyoto Acted on climate change, by pricing carbon Delivering the NBN Introducing a fairer minerals tax The biggest pension increases in history Delivering the best economy in the WOLRD - including the lowest unemployment rates - in light of the GFC That was pretty much my "wish list" My MAIN disappointments have been ... A failure to have a target on the emergency NT intervention ... and it's lack of courage and "knee-jerk" populist reaction on refugees

How do any of those affect you personally?

You made the comment two days ago you aren't bothered by anything that doesn't affect or concern you.

A position with which I can find agreement.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 1:38pm:

buzzanddidj wrote on Sep 7th, 2011 at 1:36pm: Andrei.Hicks wrote on Sep 7th, 2011 at 12:57pm: I have to say Buzz, this Labor Government experiment is a bag of shite isn't it? Not in MY opinion It said "sorry" It ratified Kyoto Acted on climate change, by pricing carbon Delivering the NBN Introducing a fairer minerals tax The biggest pension increases in history Delivering the best economy in the WOLRD - including the lowest unemployment rates - in light of the GFC That was pretty much my "wish list" My MAIN disappointments have been ... A failure to have a target on the emergency NT intervention ... and it's lack of courage and "knee-jerk" populist reaction on refugees How do any of those affect you personally?

Some DO
Some DON'T


... but that's where we DIFFER

I don't vote on " ... what's in it for ME, ME, ME
I have 21 million other Australians to consider



If THAT makes me a "socialist" - so be it

Quote:

If THAT makes me a "socialist" - so be it

psst Buzz, I do believe that is a bad word.

Deborahmac09 wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 1:49pm:

Quote: If THAT makes me a "socialist" - so be it psst Buzz, I do believe that is a bad word.

Nobody in their right mind in this day and age calls themselves a Socialist.

Quite frankly I dont know what all the whining is about..everyone I know are doing very well and now the stats are proof most Aussies are in the same boat.

adelcrow wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 2:54pm:

Quite frankly I dont know what all the whining is about..everyone I know are doing very well and now the stats are proof most Aussies are in the same boat.

We can always do better.
You can't ever say you are doing well enough, you can always strive to get more.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 2:58pm:

adelcrow wrote on Sep 7th, 2011 at 2:54pm: Quite frankly I dont know what all the whining is about..everyone I know are doing very well and now the stats are proof most Aussies are in the same boat. We can always do better. You can't ever say you are doing well enough, you can always strive to get more.

Which one is it Andrei?


We can always do better.- could be interpreted as striving for the betterment of community/town/city/nation/world.
Almost SOCIALIST in it's context

you can always strive to get more.- That's more like you big fella

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 11:25am:

COLOR Anyway, I'll state again - why would we want our house prices to not go up in value? Who actually sits in their home and thinks "Gee, I hope house prices stay down"?? Someone in an asylum?

Send all first home buyers straight to the asylum.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 1:51pm:

Deborahmac09 wrote on Sep 7th, 2011 at 1:49pm: Quote: If THAT makes me a "socialist" - so be it psst Buzz, I do believe that is a bad word. Nobody in their right mind in this day and age calls themselves a Socialist.

Are you qualified to tell someone they are not in their right mind, just because you don't agree?

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 2:58pm:

adelcrow wrote on Sep 7th, 2011 at 2:54pm: Quite frankly I dont know what all the whining is about..everyone I know are doing very well and now the stats are proof most Aussies are in the same boat. We can always do better. You can't ever say you are doing well enough, you can always strive to get more.

Quote:

Homer: You know, Mr Burns, you're the richest guy I know. Way richer than Lenny. Mr. Burns: Yes, but I'd trade it all for a little more.

buzzanddidj wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 1:36pm:

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Sep 7th, 2011 at 12:57pm: I have to say Buzz, this Labor Government experiment is a bag of shite isn't it? Not in MY opinion It said "sorry" It ratified Kyoto Acted on climate change, by pricing carbon Delivering the NBN Introducing a fairer minerals tax The biggest pension increases in history Delivering the best economy in the WORLD - including the lowest unemployment rates - in light of the GFC That was pretty much my "wish list" My MAIN disappointments have been ... A failure to have a target on the emergency NT intervention ... and it's lack of courage and "knee-jerk" populist reaction on refugees

i think the 73% that think labor are crap can find a few more reasons!!!

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 7^th, 2011 at 7:49pm:

buzzanddidj wrote on Sep 7th, 2011 at 1:36pm: Andrei.Hicks wrote on Sep 7th, 2011 at 12:57pm: I have to say Buzz, this Labor Government experiment is a bag of shite isn't it? Not in MY opinion It said "sorry" It ratified Kyoto Acted on climate change, by pricing carbon Delivering the NBN Introducing a fairer minerals tax The biggest pension increases in history Delivering the best economy in the WORLD - including the lowest unemployment rates - in light of the GFC That was pretty much my "wish list" My MAIN disappointments have been ... A failure to have a target on the emergency NT intervention ... and it's lack of courage and "knee-jerk" populist reaction on refugees i think the 73% that think labor are crap can find a few more reasons!!!

No doubt.

Here are just a few.....



1 Continuing with the Howard Govt's filthy 'intervention' policy.

2 Welfare quarantining.

3 Internet censorship/data retention.

4 No raise in the No-Start 'benefit'.

5 STILL no decent training for the unemployed.

6 Blatantly lied about job-creation targets.

7 Have done nothing to pull big-business
and banks down to size.


8 Not forcing Coles/Woolworths to divest themselves of ALL
their 'side' businesses, and not limiting media ownership.

9 Haven't legislated that businesses MUST employ
out-of-work Aussies BEFORE recruiting overseas.

10 Pandering to foreign Govts and corporations
at the expense of Aussies (ACTA etc).

11 Not restricting foreign ownership of ANY Aus
businesses OR LAND to a MAXIMUM of 49%.


They have FAILED on ALL the above points.