Gavin Hegney, is often interviewed on ABC Local Radio for his expertise in property investment. He quoted some figures, partly to justify the expensive housing market in Australia, but also showing how lucky we are.
The most wealthy 10 per cent of people in the world have assets of more than $77,000. This compares to average Australian wealth of $225,000 per person. Also, the top 1 per cent of the world has assets of only $798,000 or more.
World-wide, to be middle class, annual income would need to be more than only $3,600.
Of course, this raises the further question of whether this degree of wealth in Australian makes us happier - a much more complex question to be answered.
Wednesday, 22 October 2014
Great quotes from Gough
Some of Gough's great quotes have recently been replayed -
What will you do, if you find out after you die, that God is real and you have to face him?
" I would treat him as an equal, of course".
And -
"People seem to think I act as if I am immortal. Of course I am not, but I am eternal."
In recent years, (is it decades?), Gough has played to his image of an arrogant, self-important person. However one of his achievements was to reform the Labor party before being elected as Prime Minister. To achieve this, he must have been a skilled negotiator, and some of the eulogies support this assumption.
What will you do, if you find out after you die, that God is real and you have to face him?
" I would treat him as an equal, of course".
And -
"People seem to think I act as if I am immortal. Of course I am not, but I am eternal."
In recent years, (is it decades?), Gough has played to his image of an arrogant, self-important person. However one of his achievements was to reform the Labor party before being elected as Prime Minister. To achieve this, he must have been a skilled negotiator, and some of the eulogies support this assumption.
Friday, 3 October 2014
The best Eagle in 2014 ? - depends on how you measure things
Eric Mackenzie was chosen as the Eagles top player for 2014, despite Matt Pridis winning the AFL highest award, the Brownlow.
Different voting systems favour different styles of play, Umpires votes favour spectacle and involvement in the play, with midfielders scoring better. On the other hand, the club voters may know the real contribution to a game plan, for example recognising a defender who has nullified and important opponent.
New coach Adam Simpson and the Eagles match committee slightly modified their voting system this year, Instead of a consensus match committee vote, now each of the five members contributes one, two or three votes - a potential total of 15 votes for a player for each game. This will reward consistency, and recognise defensive play.
Discussion of the merits of different voting systems adds to the interest of the game, and with all the complexities of the game, the system will never be perfect.
In farming, complexity is perhaps even greater, and annual bench-marking of farm data is published which discusses the "fairest and best" - characteristics of the top 25 per cent of businesses. Like judgments about who is the top footballer, such discussion about the most successful farm business needs to be tempered by recognition of what you are trying to measure.
Different voting systems favour different styles of play, Umpires votes favour spectacle and involvement in the play, with midfielders scoring better. On the other hand, the club voters may know the real contribution to a game plan, for example recognising a defender who has nullified and important opponent.
New coach Adam Simpson and the Eagles match committee slightly modified their voting system this year, Instead of a consensus match committee vote, now each of the five members contributes one, two or three votes - a potential total of 15 votes for a player for each game. This will reward consistency, and recognise defensive play.
Discussion of the merits of different voting systems adds to the interest of the game, and with all the complexities of the game, the system will never be perfect.
In farming, complexity is perhaps even greater, and annual bench-marking of farm data is published which discusses the "fairest and best" - characteristics of the top 25 per cent of businesses. Like judgments about who is the top footballer, such discussion about the most successful farm business needs to be tempered by recognition of what you are trying to measure.