Thread: Why Your Power Bill Still Hurts.

BTW anyone been reading the reports of the Energy Price Regulator where they recommend price decreases.

The other interesting thing I noted was that they cited SA and Vic for efficiency improvements . These are the privatized states.

The REAL reason NSW wants to deregulate is that over many years of XXXXX government, the unions have so featherbedded themselves that it is in practical terms not feasible to wind it back.

Even Paul Keating came out today blasting Robertson for fighting against privatization.

So the opponents of privatization should probably note that the XXXX hero is even advocating it.

Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Interesting that you quote these names. They are all families or individuals who do not have to listen to either voters or shareholders. And are generally run down by the press and vocal opponents who follow the Australian tradition of cutting down tall poppies.

John

Not really, it was specifically in reply to this -

Originally Posted by JDNSW

...Again, the real reason is that most Australians are unwilling to make long term investments - we (speaking generally) prefer to make quick gains and encourage our corporations along the same path by making investment decisions based on the latest quarterly report rather than long term plans... John

Keating's Superannuation was good long term planning, he's a tall poppy, but I don't remember anyone cutting him down (except maybe Bob, parliamentary privilege of course).

Ethane Pipeline Fund (EPX) for years made a loss, paid a dividend and director fees, as far as I know it still loses money from a 'quarterly' perspective, but in the long term it will (should) be quite lucrative, but I wouldn't take that example as financial advice - I'm not licensed and don't own the stock...just sayin that it's very simplistic to say only short term profit making decisions are popular with the voters OR Australian investors.

More to the point, I think our political system 'creates' short-termism due to the cycle, encouraging the incumbent party to create an image of superior financial performance. Or the 'opposing' parties to take cheap shots at attempting to discredit the incumbent's abilities - the topics of social policy, infrastructure, environmental, fiscal management, employees/unions, corporations and small business, health, education and defence are mere (mandatory and core) examples of topics where opposing parties slander the others' abilities to make a 'long-term' improvement.

In conclusion, I think it's more the style of our political system (their capitulation of media induced 'hunger' for this 'tit-for-tat' political point-scoring) and the majority of the comatose voting population that absorb this immature behavior. The media circus will need to change, followed by individual maturity of the politicians, before our votes can truly influence long-term policy.

Just my thoughts...but you're probably right

No, I think it is optimistic to blame the 'system' or the politicians (changing these is in comparison simple), I still think the problem is ultimately the voters and the Australian culture, although it is emphasised by laws and policies put up by politicians - but the politicians do this because that is how they expect to get elected.

John