The Federal Financiers

Recently, I wrote a comment to a blog I read on a newspaper website. Essentially, my comment discussed the way that taxpayers money is spent by the government and as I have my own blog hey why don't I delve a little deeper.

It seems to me that you can ask any punter on the street about how the government is spending money and you will get a snort of derision at the way the public purse is spent. Better roads, more hospital beds, bigger pensions, bigger baby bonuses, less warplanes, more school teachers, and the list goes on...and on....and on. The thing is, no two people will ever be in total agreement on all the programs that should be financially supported from public monies, and this is because we live different lives with different priorities.

You will rarely hear me defend the government of Australia, but you will today. The fact is, the public funding pie is only so large. You can slice it into as many pieces as you like, but the government can only do just so much with it. I agree that the way they use OUR money must be closely scrutinised, but eventually a decision has to be made and we must live with it. We have entrusted our elected officials with the peoples funds, those who are unhappy with how it is being spent will have an opportunity to express this at the next election. Until then, the money will be spent and we must make the best of it.

Ofcourse, I can't bear to leave my blog without taking a potshot at the current government. For goodness sake, they are not fixing any problems by putting cold hard cash into people's pockets. I refer to baby bonuses, paid parental leave, one-off payments as part of the economic stimulus package etc. By doing this they are losing control of what the funds are supposed to achieve. How can we be sure that the cash is going to be spent wisely? It is a short term feel good action by the current government. Don't give me the $1000, spend it on something that everyone can benefit from. Example from history, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, built during the depression years this structure was referred to as "The Iron Lung" as it was one of the few projects that the many unemployed could earn an income from and that income breathed life into Sydney during some dark times. The project helped develop useful skills (metalworks, rivetting, workforce management, financial management etc) and to this day provides us with a valuable infrastructure asset. I really think the Rudd government missed an opportunity to invest the finances for the long term. Perhaps they are only interested in the next two to three years ?

Todays shout out goes to the Epping to Chatswood rail link. Costly, behind schedule and heavily criticised, it will be a valuable transportation passage for many years to come.

Todays shout down goes to people who spend the governments one-off payment on a new television or overseas trip. Think about what your doing with it, please spend it wisely.

"Fools Gold", by Dan the VespaMan.

As our leaders disperse,
the riches of the public purse,
I wonder when,
The good times will end.

I feel so rich,
with palms that itch,
One thousand smackers,
Our leaders are crackers!