Comments on: Saturday Salon http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/ Life, Culture and Politics from BrisVegas Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:56:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Leinad http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214724 Leinad Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:16:35 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214724 I am going to laugh so hard when his book turns out to be completely boring and useless and he subsequently quits politics - never has so much been made of so little by so many. I am going to laugh so hard when his book turns out to be completely boring and useless and he subsequently quits politics – never has so much been made of so little by so many.

]]> By: Bingo Bango Boingo http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214723 Bingo Bango Boingo Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:13:30 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214723 "I’m not scared of Peter Costello at any level, BBB, but I attack him all the time!" Ha ha, I don't believe that for a second! Cheers BBB “I’m not scared of Peter Costello at any level, BBB, but I attack him all the time!”

Ha ha, I don’t believe that for a second!

Cheers
BBB

]]> By: Kim http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214722 Kim Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:52:39 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214722 I'm not scared of Peter Costello at any level, BBB, but I attack him all the time! ;) No, I don't think there's anything in this. There are obvious political gains for Labor in painting the Libs as pandering to wealthier voters and as obstructionists in the Senate. It would be more or less incredible if they weren't attacked. Tanner also does the dry as dust public policy justification, btw. But the "Lamborghini" stuff captures a lot more voters' ears! I’m not scared of Peter Costello at any level, BBB, but I attack him all the time! ;)

No, I don’t think there’s anything in this. There are obvious political gains for Labor in painting the Libs as pandering to wealthier voters and as obstructionists in the Senate. It would be more or less incredible if they weren’t attacked.

Tanner also does the dry as dust public policy justification, btw. But the “Lamborghini” stuff captures a lot more voters’ ears!

]]> By: Bingo Bango Boingo http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214721 Bingo Bango Boingo Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:39:52 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214721 So I'd just put it down to simple, calm, relaxed point-scoring Kim. BBB So I’d just put it down to simple, calm, relaxed point-scoring Kim.

BBB

]]> By: Bingo Bango Boingo http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214720 Bingo Bango Boingo Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:37:38 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214720 Kim, when was the last time you attacked something you weren't scared of at some level? It's not really human nature, is it? That is a sweeping generalisation of course, but it holds to some extent in politics. Irrelevancies are ignored. If the Liberals were less irrelevant, I would call Tanner's shrillness an expression of fear. However the situation being what it is, the idea that Tanner is in fact scared of the Liberals is fanciful. BBB Kim, when was the last time you attacked something you weren’t scared of at some level? It’s not really human nature, is it? That is a sweeping generalisation of course, but it holds to some extent in politics. Irrelevancies are ignored. If the Liberals were less irrelevant, I would call Tanner’s shrillness an expression of fear. However the situation being what it is, the idea that Tanner is in fact scared of the Liberals is fanciful.

BBB

]]> By: Kim http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214719 Kim Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:33:32 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214719 I don't understand this meme that if Labor attacks the Liberals, then they're running scared. They're politicians - of course they attack their principle opponents. And why is it such a shock that politicians attack each other? I don’t understand this meme that if Labor attacks the Liberals, then they’re running scared. They’re politicians – of course they attack their principle opponents. And why is it such a shock that politicians attack each other?

]]> By: Bingo Bango Boingo http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214718 Bingo Bango Boingo Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:30:29 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214718 It's revealing stuff. Faced with a rejection of the tax, Tanner shamelessly invokes the politics of class. He turns it into a debate about the Liberal Party and who it represents, rather than a debate about the desirability of the tax and/or the on-the-ground realities of how the tax will work. He doesn't even try to argue on the merits. Nothing new about that of course (on either side of politics). But if the Liberals weren't so feeble, you'd have to think Tanner was scared of them. BBB It’s revealing stuff. Faced with a rejection of the tax, Tanner shamelessly invokes the politics of class. He turns it into a debate about the Liberal Party and who it represents, rather than a debate about the desirability of the tax and/or the on-the-ground realities of how the tax will work. He doesn’t even try to argue on the merits. Nothing new about that of course (on either side of politics). But if the Liberals weren’t so feeble, you’d have to think Tanner was scared of them.

BBB

]]> By: Nick http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214717 Nick Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:21:42 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214717 Yeah, I think you're right - they would have made a stronger case to the public if they'd highlighted that the Luxury Car Tax on a $60,000 car is only 1%, a $70,000 car is 4.5% and an $80,000 car is 6.5%. BTW, don't stare too hard at those figures...they're wrong and based on the old rate of 25%. That's what I get for rushing ;) BUT...the difference of 8% up to the proposed rate of 33% makes bugger all difference in that $57-80,000 range! Yeah, I think you’re right – they would have made a stronger case to the public if they’d highlighted that the Luxury Car Tax on a $60,000 car is only 1%, a $70,000 car is 4.5% and an $80,000 car is 6.5%.

BTW, don’t stare too hard at those figures…they’re wrong and based on the old rate of 25%. That’s what I get for rushing ;)

BUT…the difference of 8% up to the proposed rate of 33% makes bugger all difference in that $57-80,000 range!

]]> By: Bingo Bango Boingo http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214716 Bingo Bango Boingo Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:13:16 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214716 Nick, yes you are wrong about the import-only point. But I don't really understand the rest of your comment. This is about Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, isn't it? Lindsay Tanner said so... As for the tax actually payable, you are spot on. But like I said, the vast majority of luxury car tax will be paid in respect of the relatively high volume cars that are just above the threshold. While the tax levied on each such car will not be much, in aggregate they represent the bulk of the impost. So clearly this is a tax that is most definitely not about slugging Porsche, Ferrari or Lamborghini owners. They are at the periphery of the exercise. Please understand that I am not claiming that this tax does monumental damage to households, businesses or the economy. It doesn't. I am merely highlighting the ALP's lies on the issue, both implicitly in relation to the tax itself, and explicitly in relation to the Liberal Party's opposition to the tax. It's worth noting when a government resorts to deception like this, don't you agree? BBB Nick, yes you are wrong about the import-only point. But I don’t really understand the rest of your comment. This is about Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, isn’t it? Lindsay Tanner said so…

As for the tax actually payable, you are spot on. But like I said, the vast majority of luxury car tax will be paid in respect of the relatively high volume cars that are just above the threshold. While the tax levied on each such car will not be much, in aggregate they represent the bulk of the impost. So clearly this is a tax that is most definitely not about slugging Porsche, Ferrari or Lamborghini owners. They are at the periphery of the exercise.

Please understand that I am not claiming that this tax does monumental damage to households, businesses or the economy. It doesn’t. I am merely highlighting the ALP’s lies on the issue, both implicitly in relation to the tax itself, and explicitly in relation to the Liberal Party’s opposition to the tax. It’s worth noting when a government resorts to deception like this, don’t you agree?

BBB

]]> By: Nick http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214715 Nick Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:56:38 +0000 http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/09/06/saturday-salon-156/#comment-214715 (I think I might be wrong on that last point...) (I think I might be wrong on that last point…)

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