The state of the economy at the street level

[wayneL]

As opposed to a corrupt bunch of external consultants ?

Haha, yes them too for sure

 

[qldfrog]

As opposed to a corrupt bunch of external consultants ?

As much as they want as long as in a private business I do not pay for.
Real issue is waste of public money on expenses and projects we do not need.
The higher the government involvement, the higher the rot.
At the extreme , cccp or current socialist Europe.

 

[moXJO]

Restaurants going quiet over lunchtimes (people skipping meals or bringing lunch?).

At a big factory for gym equipment I visited have been flat out the last week or two.
I'm guessing there will be an early Christmas rush this year to get discounts.

 

[wayneL]

Restaurants going quiet over lunchtimes (people skipping meals or bringing lunch?).

At a big factory for gym equipment I visited have been flat out the last week or two.
I'm guessing there will be an early Christmas rush this year to get discounts.

My mrs is trying to single handedly prop up the economy

 

[moXJO]

My mrs is trying to single handedly prop up the economy

I've been a bit loose with my money lately as well.

 

[Smurf1976]

As opposed to a corrupt bunch of external consultants ?

From first hand observation, the real problem with consultants isn't the fees they charge, high though they are.

The real problem is they're the justification for doing idiotic things which cost a fortune and are hard if not impossible to undo.

Here's the required conclusion now how much do we need to pay you to write a report that finds it? That's the business they're in.

That's referring to certain management consultants. It's very different if we're talking about technical experts and so on, they generally have a reputation to protect, since most of their clients actually want honest advice, so won't go along with nonsense.

 

[Belli]

Blowed if I know much about the economy at street level. For my economy however, the question is do I top up the debit cards or will the funds last for the next couple of weeks i.e. to what extent am I a tightwad?

 

[Belli]

From first hand observation, the real problem with consultants isn't the fees they charge, high though they are.

The real problem is they're the justification for doing idiotic things which cost a fortune and are hard if not impossible to undo.

Here's the required conclusion now how much do we need to pay you to write a report that finds it? That's the business they're in.

That's referring to certain management consultants. It's very different if we're talking about technical experts and so on, they generally have a reputation to protect, since most of their clients actually want honest advice, so won't go along with nonsense.

Aww, what about the increase in the unemployed and the small businesses? Now the Guvmnt is bringing back consultants in-house, those SME business models which placed many consultants are kaput and they are laying off staff due to a downturn in their business.

Following that we now need to complain about all those useless public servants, who used to be contracted consultants, sitting around sipping cups of tea and munching on biscuits which we pay for! Yes, I do pay tax despite being retired so it's my birth right to voice such complaints.

 

[sptrawler]

Aww, what about the increase in the unemployed and the small businesses? Now the Govmnt is bringing back consultants in-house, those SME business models which placed many consultants are kaput and they are laying off staff due to a downturn in their business.

Following that we now need to complain about all those useless public servants, who used to be contracted consultants, sitting around sipping cups of tea and munching on biscuits which we pay for! Yes, I do pay tax despite being retired so it's my birth right to voice such complaints.

Having worked for both large private and large Govt businesses, the major difference is IMO, crappy Govt public servants are difficult to remove, not so in the private sector.

Also the problem in the Govt, excellent public servants especially technical people, are bundled up with the useless ones and are all paid the same and usually the useless ones are just given less to do.

Whereas in the private sector excellence can be rewarded, to retain that excellence.
It is also a major factor IMO, why public schools struggle and no matter what the cost, parents who can find the money to get their kids in a private schools, do so.
I'm not saying all public servants are useless, not at all, some of the people I worked with were best in their field. But a lot of good people were also lost and a lot who weren't lost should have been.

 

[moXJO]

My cousins husband was a public servant. We gave him a fair bit of stick for it. He'd routinely get the shts and defend public servants as being "hard workers". That brought on more laughter.

Couple years later he started his own business. He now gives public servants sht for being useless.

I know there are some really hard workers in there. But damn if there isn't a lot that do Jack all.

 

[sptrawler]

My cousins husband was a public servant. We gave him a fair bit of stick for it. He'd routinely get the shts and defend public servants as being "hard workers". That brought on more laughter.

Couple years later he started his own business. He now gives public servants sht for being useless.

I know there are some really hard workers in there. But damn if there isn't a lot that do Jack all.

That's very true, but it is probably in a section that is very heavily involved in non critical infrastructure, where most of the difficulty is finding someone to accept making a decision.
There are sectors of Government that actually are responsible for critical infrastructure, well in the industry I was involved in and I can really only comment on critical infrastructure. I never worked in anything else e.g building industry, manufacturing, education etc.
As I said, it is very difficult to remove non performing people, in the public sector. Just the way it is.
What I mean by non critical infrastructure, is something that isn't dynamic, so it isn't happening in real time, it is something that takes time to go through various checks. That would be a breeding place for navel gazers.

 

[farmerge]

That's very true, but it is probably in a section that is very heavily involved in non critical infrastructure, where most of the difficulty is finding someone to accept making a decision.
There are sectors of Government that actually are responsible for critical infrastructure, well in the industry I was involved in and I can really only comment on critical infrastructure. I never worked in anything else e.g building industry, manufacturing, education etc.
As I said, it is very difficult to remove non performing people, in the public sector. Just the way it is.
What I mean by non critical infrastructure, is something that isn't dynamic, so it isn't happening in real time, it is something that takes time to go through various checks. That would be a breeding place for navel gazers.

Thought when I was was injued some time ago She was recceiving a carer's allowance, not a great deal but covered running me to and from medical appointmnts on a weekly basis. When I was reasonably recovered and i wanted to resume working, I went into Centrelink and explained to a very approachable bloke the situation. He could not believe we wanted out of getting the payment. Long story short, He said because of your honesty I will keep the payment going till the end of month. This renewed our faith in that their are some public servants who can and do make decisions on thir own. Well done to him.

 

[moXJO]

Thought when I was was injued some time ago She was recceiving a carer's allowance, not a great deal but covered running me to and from medical appointmnts on a weekly basis. When I was reasonably recovered and i wanted to resume working, I went into Centrelink and explained to a very approachable bloke the situation. He could not believe we wanted out of getting the payment. Long story short, He said because of your honesty I will keep the payment going till the end of month. This renewed our faith in that their are some public servants who can and do make decisions on thir own. Well done to him.

I think there are some fresh faces that are a lot better than some of those entrenched ones that have been around for decades.

Had a lot more positive experiences lately with various agencies. Local councils are still full of slugs though.

 

[farmerge]

I think there are some fresh faces that are a lot better than some of those entrenched ones that have been around for decades.

Had a lot more positive experiences lately with various agencies. Local councils are still full of slugs though.

In the past 3 years we have had the need to deal with Centrelink. On both occasions the people we dealt with were extremely helpful and couldn't do enough to get us out of the joint in record time. Would have to say it was service with a mighty plus.
On the other jand when waiting to be served just look at some of the deadbeats they have to deal with.

 

[SirRumpole]

In the past 3 years we have had the need to deal with Centrelink. On both occasions the people we dealt with were extremely helpful and couldn't do enough to get us out of the joint in record time. Would have to say it was service with a mighty plus.
On the other jand when waiting to be served just look at some of the deadbeats they have to deal with.

I think they should split it into 3 bits.

Lowerlink - for the real deadbeats like single mothers on their 5th child and those who haven't worked for decades.

Centrelink - for those normal people who may have lost a job in the last month or so and need a bit of a leg up until their next gig.

Upperlink - for those hard working socialite type people who have blown all their super on overseas cruises and now want to live in luxury on a pension.

Much more convenient for the more sophisticated welfare dependents who don't like mixing with the great unwashed.

 

[divs4ever]

I think they should split it into 3 bits.

Lowerlink - for the real deadbeats like single mothers on their 5th child and those who haven't worked for decades.

Centrelink - for those normal people who may have lost a job in the last month or so and need a bit of a leg up until their next gig.

Upperlink - for those hard working socialite type people who have blown all their super on overseas cruises and now want to live in luxury on a pension.

Much more convenient for the more sophisticated welfare dependents who don't like mixing with the great unwashed.

i thought that was the whole idea , having to mix with the great unwashed kept the refined gravy-train passengers from entering the government facility

now the pension is OK for me because i have been a tightwad all my life ( call it the culmination of a career )

 

[macca]

i thought that was the whole idea , having to mix with the great unwashed kept the refined gravy-train passengers from entering the government facility

now the pension is OK for me because i have been a tightwad all my life ( call it the culmination of a career )

I knew people, when younger, who's goal in life was to get a houso and then live on the dole.

About 20 years ago one of the dolies wives set up a stall at a market to sell some stuff she made, she sold the lot in a few hours and made a hundred bucks !

She then insisted that he get off his arse every Sunday and work the markets with her, he asked me what could he sell and I suggested he go to the clearance auctions and look for lots he could afford with a number of small things eg: mis-mixed paints.

That's how he started and 20 years later he does pop up shops in vacant shops of shopping centres, 3 weeks here, 2 weeks there etc selling auction stuff.

He once said I never thought I would get off the dole and have my own business but I bet he has it all tucked away and will apply for the aged pension asap

 

[divs4ever]

I knew people, when younger, who's goal in life was to get a houso and then live on the dole.

some still do

rent a house and share it 3 or 4 ways , although the substances abused may have changed over the last 50 years

 

[SirRumpole]

I think they should split it into 3 bits.

Lowerlink - for the real deadbeats like single mothers on their 5th child and those who haven't worked for decades.

Centrelink - for those normal people who may have lost a job in the last month or so and need a bit of a leg up until their next gig.

Upperlink - for those hard working socialite type people who have blown all their super on overseas cruises and now want to live in luxury on a pension.

Much more convenient for the more sophisticated welfare dependents who don't like mixing with the great unwashed.

Upperlink would include membership of the Minister's Lounge of course.

 

[frugal.rock]

I know there are some really hard workers in there. But damn if there isn't a lot that do Jack all.

Complaint received from Jack.
Please refrain from using Jack in this context.

In keeping with modern inclusive times, please use "Jill".
EG;

I know there are some really hard workers in there. But damn if there isn't a lot that do Jill all.