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Gee your lo0t of grumpy old buggers, just think how lucky we are that we are not Seppo's. I pay medicare levy, I pay to have my suits drycleaned, I pay for my tools for work.......yet if i owned my own business or if i was a tradesman (those people put on a pedastal by the tax office) I could claim all of this, my 4 wheel drive, my saws, my overalls cleaned yet still only pay 30 cents in the dollar tax......
What's fair Now??????
I actually did a bit of research into the apricot kernel thing (when I say 'research' I did a bit of Googling) for my old man.
Being of good Celtic stock, he has been regularly having bits burnt and cut off for the last few years by way of thanks for his days working out of doors. He'd heard about this apricot kernel thing and wanted to try them out.
Apparently health food shops here are not allowed to sell them. This is part of the conspiracy theory, they have been banned because of pressure from the chemo drug companies. It probably wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that people have died from arsenic poisoning after eating too many of them. But then that's what 'they' want us to think.
It's an interesting story actually. A community of people in some mountains somewhere who have zero cancer - diet consists mainly of apricots which they grow in their orchards - a staple is a paste made from the ground kernels - some bloke hears about them, does tests, claims that the extract cures cancer - tries to get clinical trials - shut down by FDA - results of secret tests leaked, yes it does cure cancer - scientist who worked on the trials speaks out but later changes story - people die - extract is banned.
The old man takes them and he hasn't had a skin cancer since, even says one that was starting to develop has disappeared (still gets regular checkup), read into that what you will. He also reckons he got a friend to give them to his daughter, who was in the last stages of cervical cancer and she is now in remission.
I'm personally a bit skeptical but if Silleopethy works then why not, I say. And what's more you can't claim it on Medicare.
Midge, I think you need so share some of those pills with Silent. The purple ones if you can reach that far under the chemist's bench :D
Richard
Sounds like the story of "Laetrile"Quote:
Originally Posted by silentC
That's the one but there are just as many websites, articles and books claiming it is true. That's what I found anyway. I read the article you posted amongst others. At the end of the day, you have to make up your own mind.
The 'accepted' medical opinion is that it is at best ineffective and at worst life-threatening. Does that mean it doesn't work? Who can say? Like I said, I'm skeptical.
I thought you were SilentC.Quote:
Like I said, I'm skeptical
Guffaw, guffaw
:p
I really don't know either, but it has been around for quite a while now and goes in and out of repute.Quote:
Originally Posted by silentC
I don't hold to any position on Laetrile, but I am generally distrustful of the pharmaceutical industry's reluctance towards research into such things because of their their inability patent on naturally occuring substances.
That's where the real interest lies. Just say the stuff does work. If you were making a killing (sorry) selling chemo drugs and someone came along with something that actually works and that anybody can produce, wouldn't you do everything in your power to supress it?
The point, Jack, is that all members of a society have an obligation to that society.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack E
Everyone is quite welcome to make use of available medical services.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack E
If you aren't ill enough, then you aren't putting in enough effort.:D
I've had my share. And it didn't require much effort.
Can I buy into this discussion too?
I think Medicare works really well for serious injury such as a road crash, or industrial accident. You get taken to hospital and treated immediately. No questions about do you have insurance or anything like that.
Medicare isn't so good for things that aren't life threatening. Even some things that are life threatening it doesn't do well. The reason is because there has to be some limit to supply. Universal access means you get lines or waiting periods before you can have treatment.
It is difficult to change the system too. Remember recently when they wanted to cut back on IVF. Now what they proposed wouldn't save a lot of money because they were only going to say they wouldn't do IVF for women over 40 and for women who had failed 3 times. Basically the ones where there was very little chance of success. The other thing is that IVF is apparantly pretty stressfull so after three times you don't really want to go through it all again. Modest changes to save a little money and a the use of a few beds but the outcry made them change their minds.
Of course try going to outpatients for treatment queus for miles. Many times for flu symptoms either because people don't want to pay a gap fee or because the GP wants to make sure he is covered on the small chance it is something more serious. Have to curtail the legal system making judgement calls on doctors after the fact as much as they are. (not proposing to stop legal comeback on incompetent doctors but doctors shouldn't just be sued for anything esp things they may not have been able to do anything about. The example there being childbirth where a poor decision might be made but in the heat of the moment they had to decide something. Later with much more time to examine all the options you can say the doctor did the wrong thing but at the crucial moment he did the best that could be done, you shouldn't be sued for that)
Pharmacists have a monopoly. If Business was permitted to employ Pharmacists to operate pharmacies either in Woolworths or independent businesses there would be a 500 million saving.
A big problem with the health system is that it is a closed market. There aren't price signals and the government is paying for most things. The government even pays a lot to keep the health insurers operating. If there were some way to introduce market forces we would have a better system that cost less etc etc. I don't know how you could do this just that it would work better.
Part of the problem too is that anyone can have any treatment they want. If the system said we won't treat this because you will die anyway resources could be saved for those you can make better. BUT sometimes people have been told that they would die even with treatment but insisted on being treated and made very good recoveries and lived well for 15 even 20 years.
I am not taking a postion on any of this there are many powerful forces that dictate to our health system and not all of them are interested in finding a better outcome. Some of those in the system don't want it changed as they do very well out of it.
While Medicare has some serious faults it does work at least after a fashion. You could improve it but doing so would prove very difficult.
Stevo
I promise not to be so serious in future
I think a bit of lateral thinking is in order. I think we should have a woodwork tool levy. We all pay an extra 1% tax. If you are a member of this board and wear a foilie, you'll be entitled to get all the woodwork tools you need. Solves Adams problem. I'd be happy.
Grunt,
What a wondertool idea, i have given you a greenie for this (my first)!!!!! I think you should petetion little johnny for it straight away!:D :D :D :D :D
Actually Grunt made me think of something.
A study of people who made it to 100 years of age found nothing similar except they all had something they were doing. They were volunteers had a hobby something that they did that made it worthwhile getting out of bed.
So because we have a hobby something to feel good about contact with a group of like minded people we are going to live longer and better than we would have otherwise.
SO the government should give us a tax break for tools and consumables.
What about allowing home woodworkers to register for GST and send in a BAS each month to get their 9% back?
Stamp duty axed on tools. Pretty sure there are some more taxes they can get rid of to make it easier for us to look after our health.
Stevo
I should really stop reading this when I'm eating, nearly choked from laughter :DQuote:
Originally Posted by bitingmidge
Not a bad idea but it would promote more whining.Quote:
Originally Posted by Studley 2436
Somebody who boght a $100 tool and recieved $9 back would whinge that the rich person who bought a $500 tool got 5 times more than him back :)
Jack
or someone else would whinge that they didn't get 50% back, cause you know they put more into the economy, then they would set up a family trust that recieved all the income and what with the associated negative gearing and depreciation, it paid for all the tools over a 3 year period, but still they were insured for twice the original purchase amount :rolleyes: :) and still they whine......by the way did anyone else see the survey results that was recently done on some Aussie millioniares ?????????:confused:
Nah. We don't need a levy for friggin' tools. We need it for BOAT BUILDING EPOXY. Cripes. I'm putting together a Mouseboat, on the cheap, and the rotten epoxy is going to cost more than the rest of the boat put together. Stich and Poo boys. Don't do it, especially when building boats. Actually, it sounds rather painful if doing it in anyway but the boat building application. Is this making sense? No? Take up boat building. It'll make perfect sense ... even if I don't.
Richard
and they say that you have to be careful about the fumes. I don't believe it myself myself myself myself
If Coles and Woolies operated pharmacies they would probably do what thay have done to all the other small businesses. And they would try to soak up as much of that 500 mil as possible.Quote:
Originally Posted by Studley 2436
They used to be cheap once upon a time .... but theyre not nowadays.
I seem to recall Coles mighta recently been fined for improper trade practises.
Woolies sacked many Dick Smith franchises recently and in at least one instance opened a Dick Smith outlet immediately opposite their former franchisee.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack E
Jack, as a tradesman I thought that you already claimed all the GST back on your workshop equipment. :confused:
Peter.
The thing is that the law at present requires you to be a pharmacist to own a pharmacy. There is also a rule about how close two Pharmacies can be to each other. Get rid of those rules and allow some competition.Quote:
Originally Posted by echnidna
Looking at the profit returns on Woolies and Coles and they are not outrageous. I don't see a problem.
Stevo
I am not self employed so I claim all my "work related" tools as a deduction, not as a GST rebate. This is 100% for tools under $600 I think and tools over that price are depreciated over the years. I have just changed employers and all the tools I need are now provided by them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sturdee
I am more than likely starting my own contracting business in Jan and can't wait to see how much money I can make "disappear" then. Although I do see running ones own business like owning investment property, if you are doing it purely to avoid tax there are better ways.
It might look a bit dodgy if as a Refrigeration Mechanic / Electrician I claim some of the tools I have purchased in the last financial year.
Except as a hobby I can't justify the purchase of two table saws, a jointer, a bench sander, a DC and about 20 hand planes just to name a few :D :D :D
Jack.
Work related education expenses.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack E
You never know when you need to dovetail a busted fridge door
Now wouldn't that look good :) :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Gingermick
Jack
Many do justify it and have it accepted by the ATO as their workshop is used to produce income.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack E
A DJ I know justified his workshop equipment so he could build boxes to house his ever increasing music collection. He is forever practising how to make better boxes. :D
A plumber I also know uses his workshop to build boxing for drainage pits. :D Uses lovely dovetails and all. :D
Peter.
Sturdee,
I would like to try it but I already have a few grand worth of legitimate tool claims.
Couple that with the fact that my place of work is an hours flight from my workshop (work is 250k's north of Mt Isa) and the justification becomes difficult.
Jack