Not for profit businesses call the profit a "surplus" because they don't pay a distribution. Any left over money stays in the business.
I've started thinking about the Federal Government and comparing it to a business.
The Australian Federal Government is a not for profit organisation. That's why it has a "Budget Surplus". However, last time I looked, not everyone had been paid and not all it's services have been performed. I wonder whether the Government can really tell anyone that it has a Surplus (Profit).
Here's a thought - pensioners don't get enough money to live on. We know this because whenever they are asked, Federal Politicians say they could not live on the pension. Pensioners have been saying it for years. So, does the Government have a surplus if pensioners haven't been paid properly?
There's a 17 year gap in the life expectancy between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. http://www.oxfam.org.au/campaigns/indigenous-health/
That means that some Australians born today are expected to life 17 years longer than some other Australians. A pretty dangerous game of lucky dip. Can the Australian Government make a $20billion profit this year and allow this to continue?
Another advantage the Australian Government has is there is no competition. It's not as if one can choose to use a different government this week. That means that when the Government introduces a new tax (alcopops, anyone?) you pretty much have to cop it. I like alcopops. It means that when I go to a BBQ I can take 2 cans of Cougar Zero (to make my pants fit nice) rather than a bottle of bourbon and a bottle of coke and some plastic cups. But I have to pay the tax. Hard to opt out.
I'll push on with this topic later on, but right now I'm thinking I really want to buy shares in the Australian Government.
3 comments:
Bravo Marshall. Sometimes we think so alike it is scary. Invest in people,infrastrucure and structures that allow a healthy, vibrant and caring comunity, Socialism at it's best.
Not so much socialism Cam. True Liberal ideas are fair reward for fair effort, and I think most pensioners have put in fair effort and don't deserve to be on the breadline. I also think it's a disgrace as a Liberal that any person has less opportunity at birth, and that is what is happening now. What the individual makes of the opportunity is up to them.
Just a quick thought - if the government is not for profit, and has a surplus, does that mean that i have paid too much for my services and should be proportionately refunded? its not socialism, after all....
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