Fat is a type of crazy

3 hours ago, PattayaJames said:

That's the MSM for you, relentless anti Trump propaganda.

Surprised it's taken you 4 years to notice.

Actually I was taking it the other way round. That he is doing these things. Day after day. I just run out of ways to say how bad he is.

23 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

A mask without eye protection INCREASES the risk to yourself. See how many people are adjusting the mask with fingers that could be infected, which means they could introduce the virus into their eye. Not many in public wear eye protection.

I'm far more likely to pick up the virus on my fingers than through the air.

I am not sure if you are saying this, but nearly all scientists say that a mask is better than no mask including those at the CDC.

But Donald says that a mask may be worse than no mask, and he says he knows people who agree, so he's probably right. 

As you say it sounds  like eye protection may be even better though. Not sure about wearing safety goggles to the supermarket.

6 hours ago, oznomad said:

They dont even have to be sneaky about it.

Simply ceasing pension increases, whilst not actually 'taking away' anything will reduce the debt burden on the national purse, as inflation eats away at the relative amount of the payments.

Don't forget where you saw this theory first.

It's a logical step.

 

For what its worth I really doubt this. Being outside Australia you might not see it but I think pensioners have more political clout than you give them credit for. A decision not to increase and A Current Affair and all the radio stations would be on the warpath. If liberals said no increase, and labour said keep the increase for example, I think it would be enough for labour would win.

If they were to limit increases they might use a  method similar to that they used ín 2015 where they changed the index to increase the pension from the higher of the CPI and Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index, and then benchmarked to average weekly earnings, to just the increase in CPI. That was aimed to save $450 million over 5 years.   As it happens wages haven't increased much so CPI increase has probably been pretty much as good. Haven't  got the figures though.

I think they might be more likely to change the age of eligibility which would affect future generations but not those currently getting it or those currently over 55. They might also tinker with the assets and income tests.  

11 minutes ago, oznomad said:

Permission granted.

However, who will be providing the money for the pensions?

 

Did you miss the issue of changing the pension age? That went through without blood in the streets.

 

No reason why they cant keep upping the age, or decrease the amount, or reduce the assets level for cutoff, or include the primary home in the assets, or a bazillion other things.

 

A wise person would make other arrangements, with any future (reduced) pension simply considered a bonus - and much more than most of the world gets.

 

They can find sneaky ways to cut things. The rebate for private health insurance was set at 30 per cent but subsequently  they, I think it was Tony Abbott,  introduced new rules so each year that 30 per cent goes down bit by bit. Each year it's only a small amount and you don't notice it but now its about 25 per for some and a lot less for others.   They might do the same with the pension. It's likely those in the system will be OK. The next generation will cop it.

6 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Not sure I follow the above as you need to be deemed a resident to qualify for the pension, where the ATO comes into this I have no idea, as far as I know there is no tax payable on the pension.

 

The above said, assets are deemed and tax is paid accordingly, but if I keep it under the threshold, should be all and good until I decide to exit and come back to Thailand, that said, I do also know that there is a new ruling that I have heard on the grapevine, i.e. that you have to be in Australia 2 years prior to you being able to qualify if you are a non resident, then once approved, you can have it paid while you are overseas, but you have to let them know you are going abroad for an extended holiday so to speak.

 

No, that's not the new ruling, the new ruling is if you return after qualifying age, wait the two years and then go, and then return, and then go again, they cut you off, suffice to say, once I exit after receiving the OAP, that's it, no ins and outs for me, i.e. unless I return to stay and that won't make a difference because I will receive it. 

I just thought you meant that you have investments now that are only tax free because you are a non-resident but that you would incur tax if you are a resident. The income for those investments may be taxable if you go back to being a resident of Australia to meet Centrelink rules. If you are 60 now I don't think you become eligible for the pension until you are 66 or 67 and  so if you have substantial investment income and go back as a resident now it could mean some tax.

As an aside the Age Pension is taxable and forms part of your taxable income. However there is the Seniors and Pensioners Tax Offset and if the pension will be your main source of income you pay no tax. 

13 hours ago, Nout said:

A speculative asserstion

It was just an observation that the biggest tax revenue in the states comes from democrat leaning places like California, New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, Washington etc. Bigger productive cities in other states such as Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania tend to be democrat.    Big cities in even red states like Texas are more democrat than you think. So it may be an assertion that the people who already tend to be working and have health insurance and benefit from lower taxes might overall lean democrat. There may be exceptions in pockets like Wall street but even there in 2020 they may be leaning democrat.

The strong republican and Trump supporters in states like Kentucky,  Alabama,  the Dakotas etc are a range of people but many are lower income, lesser educated whites on lower income and often do not hail from the big cities. They bring in less tax revenue and might benefit most from Democrat policies.

So it can seem a bit ironic that in practical terms these Trump supporters that you see at rallies,  who probably most need health care and could benefit from higher minimum wages and some income redistribution, vote republican. Seeing Trump argue and win over his supporters at a rally that the estate tax should be reduced or abolished, when few if any of them would benefit, except for large scale farmers, makes the point.

His supporters would argue that a freer, more capitalist low tax economy, gives them better chances of a job, and that issues like gun control, tough immigration etc are of most importance. 

You just get a sense though at a republican rally that the supporters could really benefit in practical terms from the Democrat policies they hate. 

1 hour ago, scorecard said:

So back to the beginning, where did the $25- extra per fortnight originate from?

 Thanks for the reply. I am the humourless one who didn't get the joke. Never mind. Always read twice before posting. The really funny ones you only need to read once. 

I don't even get the pension.

I used to work in the area. There is no $25 bonus. Just the two $750 ones. 

19 hours ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Goats Head Soup ? Really ? Ok. "Angie"  was a winner.

But "Sticky  Fingers" album is  a forever in  my head .'

I found it surprising.  I can't imagine young people saying 'Hmm Goats Head Soup from the early seventies with a few added tracks. This is a must buy.' Maybe it got heaps of the older fans excited. Maybe it resonates in a way I don't get. I still listen to 1973 music but it's more likely to be Trex or the Sweet.  

25 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

Been living here for 5 years and finally not paying taxes for anyone, albeit it I am all for paying pensioners of they have worked and paid their taxes over the years, however the rules are you only have to have lived in Australia to receive the pension, i.e. you never had to work a day in your life and if you lived in Australia for 35 years, you will receive the full pension.

 

As for me, well at 60 now, I will be going back if still alive to collect the pension if it's still available, by then I should be in a position to have shifted enough funds to be elable, you see the way I see it, if they are going to throw money at everyone who hasn't paid a dime in taxes, then I might as well put my hand up because I paid a lot of taxes in my 40 years of working, so I think I am entitled to it over the others. 

 

In the meantime I will sit it out here and collect the tax free dollars on my investments legally as a non resident ????

 

Don't try and fight the system, play it.

 

This has probably been said a thousand times on this site but you need to be careful that in taking steps to be eligible for the pension  you are not then  deemed to be a resident for the ATO. You've probably looked into that already.

28 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

If you have never been there what taxes are you paying there ?

I had thought he meant he had never gone to Centrelink. I worked there for 4 years so am a bit envious of someone who has never had to go there. But he does appear to be saying Australia. 

This was an interesting topic so here's my take on it. I see where Chequered Flag is coming from and I would not feel totally secure in those circumstances.

But having only read the last 2 pages it sounds like FredWiggy is doing good, has health insurance and a nice family so he's got a kind of safety net. The fact he had a wife and 3 kids in the states, if I have that right,  would have hugely affected his ability to save over the years and maybe just stuff happened. Sounds like he's had a full life and 40000 is OK and all power to FredWiggy for enjoying his life.

Don't worry about not leaving an inheritance. If we lived our lives by what would be perfect we'll all be disappointed. Sounds better than the thai lady being alone, with probably less money, and him living alone in lesser circumstances in the states.

I know people who just bleed money and have fun doing it. I know others who live frugally but are genuinely happy ..wouldn't particularly want to go sailing or skiing or play golf or spend a fortune in bars even if they could. Feel like they're showing off in a fancy car and don't see the point. 

I am a bit like that. Spend a bit on thai holidays and take my girl to nice resorts but when I am at home I just take it easy. She's the same pretty much. She's into buddhism a lot and that is not an expensive interest. When I am home I spend next to nothing. Just gym, nice food mainly at home, see friends, a bit of fun, and help my girl a bit. That might sound a bit, or a lot,  boring to others. Maybe I'll fire up if I retire in Thailand.

I'll be fine when I retire but I had no kids and live in a prosperous, and what I consider a fairer, country so it made it easy to build and save.

1 hour ago, steven100 said:

I'm a long way off getting any pension,  so how much would I get on the dole if I were living there as a single   ?   thx

It went up to $1100 per fortnight including Jobseeker but that's reducing to $800 this month and then back to normal after that. Not sure if you get extra for rent assistance etc. Jobkeeper was more than that at $1500 if you had a job you can't do. That is reducing to $1200. 

The lockdown is working .. cases today down to low thirties and country Victoria will have rules relaxed significantly in a couple of days. 

Whether the cure is worse that the disease is a different thing.  I am careful about judging others and their views who have lost so much.

There's a case that they went to far, but there's a good case that it worked well in New Zealand, and the rest of Australia. Victoria just stuffed up the quarantine and the Australian Government seemed to stuff it up with regulating  nursing homes.

A number of the protesters appear to be dingus trying to get attention.  That may be unfair but the ones I have seen interviewed, and one of the leaders, believed in a whole raft of, what seem to me, ridiculous conspiracy theories. Lazy ideas and lazy thinking. Whether that is the majority of the protester's I cannot say.

It would just be good in my opinion if some of those against  the lockdown didn't  resort to bizarre conspiracy theories to make their case. If they just waited a bit longer to see that , for better or worse, lockdown will be over and we can do our thing.

10 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I think Yul Brynner, Telly Savalas and Conleth Hill would disagree with you, and I daresay any of them has made more money from their work than you.

Lots of people with dirty hair. Bald is very easy to keep clean. You have some strange ideas.

I think it depends on the size of your neck how good totally bald can look. Too thin and your head can look like a lightbulb or you can look sick. Too thick and you look like you just got out of prison. 

Parts of human nature seem to like the actions that improve their own lives and that of the majority. Other parts of human nature see a different reality that wants to become solitary or join their mob, discourage and blame others, and enjoy schaudenfraude.. I guess we all have both parts depending on our genes, education, mood, the pain and hurt we've suffered, stage in life etc.

Not sure which parts of human nature are going to win. Will we end up with a Star Trek Utopia or an idiocracy or just struggle on somewhere in the middle. 

There's a lot less poor than before so that's hopeful.

Covids not helping. Climate change isn't helping. Thought the internet would help but some people seem to stay in their silos. Me too sometimes.

Often meet young people and see them on the internet who seem nice and smart so that's hopeful.

23 hours ago, izod10 said:

Ill say....had 5 cleaners in last 4 weeks,banged the lot,plus others who have all got BFs,openly admit it,talk to them on what chat,video on too,me in the background

What is it with the cleaners. Is there a cleaner dating app or do you loiter around shopping centres or hotels. 

How many times has Trump done shockingly appalling stupid things and then the polls just tighten up again. Just him being in the news, good or bad, seems to keep him up in the polls. It seems like some people like Trump's go for it attitude and think there will always be someone sensible to reel him in if necessary. But what if it is 100 per cent yes men around him and there's no one to reel him in. I'll give him one thing - he hasn't started wars. 12 points is one of the highest gaps I've seen. You beauty. 

I think Biden has improved a bit. His gaffes seemed to mainly happen when he was trying to be young and spritely and entertaining . He is best when he accepts he is a bit old and just talks sincerely and straight.  

6 minutes ago, pookondee said:

I hear you there. Your story sounds exactly like my motivation in making the the thread.

 

The question remains though..how long are you happy with parting with these "chunks of money"??

 

If i was heading back at Christmas time, as i did every year, it wouldnt be such a problem.

But with what Faucci is saying, and the stance the Thai army us taking, it could be 3 months, 1 year, 2 years?

 

I myself am not on keen giving "chunks of money" away for years on end,when international travel and entry to the kingdom is forbidden and likely un-jumpable hoops of entry look the norm for the future

 

You can be rich AF, but who wants to keep giving away their retirement money??

 

Especially in Australia, where we up paying tax 4 or more times on our earnings.

I know. I have a pile of Jetstar vouchers ready to go. She is coming up for one year in a 3 year visa for Australia. I am not sure what the answer is. It's a test of the strength of the relationship that's for sure.