nomadpete

Except a real mafia has strict rules that don't change on the whim of the boss. In short, mafia (although ruthless and self serving) are more consistent than dictators.

Nev, none of us wish to 'destroy your posts'. Please accept the spirit of debate. We all can learn from trying to see another's opinion. All it is an opinion. Something based upon what somebody else has been thinking about. We value all inputs to the discussion. Please do not lose heart just because somebody might have a different opinion.

A bit dark for me....

Well I'm no soothsayer, but I don't need to be, to agree with that!

Well, back in the 70's UK manufactured early desktop computers, and over here we had two companies manufacturing (and selling) cutting edge semiconductors. These were totally new industries - everyone had to start from scratch to do this at the time. So it started out as a level playing field. Then Globalisation found cheaper ways to make profits so the smaller industries died out. I think we had the R & D but never had the long term investors required to set up a competetive manufacturing base. For instance the japanese planned a generation or two ahead of the west. Short term hardship for longer term benefits.

It occurs to me this well worn axium might not always hold up. How many motor vehicle brands were manufactured in UK back in 1950? And that was in a nation that had a population of only 50 million. Compared with our almost 30 million - not such a big difference!

That sounds to me like plain capitalist globalisation. After all they don't generally buy up a business unless it makes money for the buyer. I have heard it called neo-feudalism. Where a few billionaires are created by a few billion nervous poor workers.

That is a problem, for sure. But a counter argument is the fact that post WW2, Japan didn't start mass motor vehicle manufacturing for their domestic market of the time. Yes, they had help, but in the end it worked out well for them with a nice lil global earner. In our case, we would have to have long term plans, but could it be possible if we started value adding to our coal and iron ore, to manufacture products for overseas markets. Otherwise our services based economy will collapse when other countries find cheaper places to get raw material.

So true. My gripe though, is that we have not sensibly sold off our resources. The profits made by these overseas 'investors' could have provided sufficient funds to pay for our own economic growth. As it is, the continuing system is for enterprising big overseas businesses see a great profit here, and their only motive is to stay until the money runs out. Compare that with Norway's soverign wealth fund. ".....the world's largest single sovereign wealth fund in terms of total assets under management." Achieved by more careful exploitation of natural resources.

But still we are relying on a multinational enterprise ! Banana republic!

Good luck Nev!

Quite so. However it is also not at all complex, engineering wise. It has a proven track record of reliability and safety, worldwide. And although its efficiency may not be perfect, we are only storing surplus energy that cost nothing to make (if the energy is solar). It can be built relatively quickly and has a extendable design expectany of 50 years. I can only speak personally of the SE Qld plant. As I noted before, it works on a low head of about 65mtrs, yet it can match the output of a coal fired power station. There are other options, of course. In my opinion, each state needed a pumped storage many years ago. But dams are always a political hazard for politicians and NIMBYs.

And may 2025 be kind to everyone.

You could build your own pumped storage on your steep block. You already have a running creek and a dam - you are halfways there already! A neat little project to fill in your spare time!

That dog sure knows oligarch eghics!