“A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting its boots on”. This aphorism (spuriously attributed, as usual, to Mark Twain), is equally applicable to the contrast between superficial political commentary and serious political analysis.
We’ve seen a striking example in the media coverage of the government’s recently announced plans to limit tax concessions for those with superannuation benefits in excess of $3m, representing about 0.5% of the population. The estimated budget saving from this measure is about $2bn a year, when it comes into effect after the next election. This assumes, of course, that Labor will be re-elected.
