[ingliz]

Maglev is not affordable at this time but I have no objection to a short line to be used for testing the technology as long as it goes somewhere (say the airport from the city centre) before we commit billions of dollars, if we ever do.

[Dave]

Maglev is still very expensive, with capital costs of about $100m/mile. The maintenance costs are lower than high speed steel rail since there is no traction and thus no friction. It requires a large amount of electricity.

If this is too bold, then let's buy the rights to license-build the AGV from Alstom.

As for money, based on the revenue bill ingliz and I have devised that shouldn't be an issue so long as you guys don't blow all the money on social programs.

[ingliz]

It should give us the means to implement our minimum programme without excessive borrowing.

[Donna]

*walks into the room with his pet Pomeranian, takes a seat, sips a brandy*

[Dave]

It should give us the means to implement our minimum programme without excessive borrowing.

I don't think we should be borrowing anything given the banana republic finances of the previous el supremo. You're looking at collecting 35% of GDP IIRC, which is a lot of revenue. It's certainly less than European countries, but with no legacy entitlements it's practically an ocean of money.

[ingliz]

It looks closer to 38% on my figures, I was hoping to spend 8% on infrastructure which should ease our employment problems if we transfer the redundant army personnel into a labour corps under military discipline, private/public partnerships, community work/training schemes, etc, etc.

[Zyx]

Theoretically we already have programmes. The question becomes how costly are these already running programmes?

[Dave]

Theoretically we already have programmes. The question becomes how costly are these already running programmes?

The previous gov't was spending a lot of its tax revenue on debt interest (and we will too) and most of the rest on corruption. Beyond that there's law and order, general gov't, etc. which is not particularly costly.

[ingliz]

The previous gov't was spending a lot of its tax revenue on debt interest (and we will too)

2.5% of GDP - 10% its spend?

I do declare MP ingliz, you should make a separate thread for the debating of Acts.

OK, it has a thread of its own.

[Zyx]

Guys, we have a bill to discuss. http://www.politicsforum.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=89&t=106060

We want to hear your opinions and secure a passage of this bill. If you think that amendments should happen, let us know in that thread.

[Dr House]

2.5% of GDP - 10% its spend?

7.5% of GDP, 31% of its spending.

[Zyx]

So 2.5% of GDP.

What's that amount?

You're saying that the other 69% is already being spent on existing programmes, aye?

[Dr House]

So 2.5% of GDP.

no, 7.5% of GDP.

Total debt is 150% of GDP, treasury bond interest rates are 5%.

[Zyx]

~33% of 7.5% is 2.5%.

Anyway, just tell us how much we can spend. Raw number.

[Dr House]

~33% of 7.5% is 2.5%.

Originally, public spending was 23.5% of GDP.

Currently government revenues are around 38% of GDP ($241 billion), and for simplicity's sake we can just assume the government cracked down on corruption and revenue collection fraud. Public debt interest is 7.5% of GDP ($47.5 billion), and due to our terrible finances we can't run budget deficits. So we have $193.5 billion (30.5% of GDP) a year available.

[ingliz]

A ridiculous number House and if you continue to fuck up our "game" we will start playing by our rules and this game will be taken over by the bolsheviks and not a bunch of cuddly old labour teddy bears .

[Dr House]

A ridiculous number House

I thought you yourself said earlier that 38% of GDP is what current revenues add up to. I had mentioned with a lot of time in advance that the public debt was staggering, and so was the interest payment on it.

if you continue to fuck up our "game" we will start playing by our rules and this game will be taken over by the bolsheviks and not a bunch of cuddly old labour teddy bears .

Then the game dissolves. If the government won't work with us, me, my party and the entire right will leave. I have already shown tremendous good faith by voting in favor of your proposed government and instructing my party to do likewise.

[ingliz]

At this point I couldn't give a flying fuck, reduce your debt interest immediately, otherwise my bloated army rounds up the "fascist" right and puts them against the wall, the government confiscates all major industry, oil, shipbuilding, mining, etc. in the name of the workers and cancels your public debt.

[Dr House]

Fine, but my numbers were drawn up in an official capacity as a member of the GM council. They stand.

[ingliz]

Fine by me