Willem posted:

Who am I going to fight, Mike?

No use fighting with the lass behind the counter. She doesn't make the rules. The people who make the decisions to tax us are faceless. The politicians are the ones who sign the legislation.

I would only fight one way, but that is un-Australian.

Paid $1.13 litre for diesel today. I want to go somewhere so have to pay the price. If I want to go to the desert then I have to pay the price of the Desert Pass.

Such is life.(repeat)

Mike Harding posted:

And if next year they make it $250 or $1000 or...?

What was it you said to me a few weeks ago... "Keep your head down, it makes for a quieter life" or similar?

I don't think so - apathy is exactly the reason we already have so much bad legislation and a myriad of petty rules in Oz.

If you think the increase is unfair Willem then fight it - that's how things are changed - doing nothing won't change it.

Mike Harding

Nudenut posted:

Willem,
Your very good at putting pen to paper...i read your article hahaha

write a letter to the editor of the Advertiser expressing your views and dont forget to mention how and why its pointless complaining about faceless pollies on this issue etc etc etc.

i await to the to read the letter

Willem posted:

Mike you have a point there.

Not sure what I said to you some time ago but I do recall you weren't happy with the response :o)

Frankly I don't have the energy or inclination at my time of life on this planet to go on a crusade. That was for when I was much younger. Very recently I resolved the last unresolved agitation in my life and now I am opting for a quieter time.

I guess I have seen quite a bit of the country and am apathetic about about the changes. I have tended to skirt around the edges to get to where I wanted to be.

I was for one(in the distant past), not for asking permission but just going in to remote country on remote stations but I have changed my ways of thinking and have opted for the more conciliary approach and have found it works much better for me. Steady as she goes. Ask permission, get the permits(crap) and go along my way.

Willem posted:

Hey Nudie

I have given up writing to magazines, newspapers and the like. Recently I wrote a long article to the RAA with reference to their acceptance of the ideas of Random Roadside Testing of vehicles(vested intrest as I normally drive old bombs). They kindly replied to me and stated that they would publish it in their following SAMotor magazine. It never appeared because I was detracting from what their perception of the issue was.

I have become very cynical over the years to newspaper reports, TV reports and the like. I wrote for 4x4 Aust Mag for 10 years but they too started to edit out stuff that they didn't like(and there was nothing rude or derogatory in the articles) because of my opinions. So I gave that up as well. I have recently given up contributing to a website because I do not need hassles. I will however keep on writing for the 4x4 E-mag as that is a bit of fun.

Sorry to disappoint you.

Patrol22 (Queanbeyan posted:

That's how they fund the BBC - we used to pay a tax (oops a licence fee) for radio and TV in this country prior to the 1970s - it was used to fund the ABC but now that just comes out of general revenue. But you are right governments have got to get money from somewhere and the only place to get it is form those who work (wages, salaries, small business, modicum of corporate taxes but the really big boys don't pay) except for GST and FBT of course. Bugger they tax almost everything now don't they?

Willem posted:

My sentiments too. I use the Passes to the max. Twice in the Simpson last year and into other parks as well

Member - Beatit (QLD) posted:

G'day warthog,

What we buy is the ability for our politicians to pork barrel in a marginal electorate we care nothing about and finance a project that serves no purpose to the greater community.

Kind regards

Footloose posted:

Once upon a time we also paid tax so that we'd have a pension when we retired. Now we just pay and pay and pay. Self funded retirees may now be offocially referred to as "self funded fools".
But I can see a change in this country. Thirty years ago we just accepted eveything Australian as the best in the world. Now we can discuss things openly without being told its not the Australian way.
I wonder how long it will be before we demand accountability and observeable measureable positive outcomes before the pollies go for a pay rise ? Why not make a politicians job casual employment ? It seems pretty casual to me :)
I need to get out more ....