WENDELL HUSSEY | Cadet | Contact
An economist from the School of Business Administration at South Betoota Polytechnic University today put forward a groundbreaking proposal to ease the country’s financial pressure.
As more and more people slip below the poverty line every day, Hayek suggested to Milton that the nation should sell one of its public goods.
“Here in Australia, we are happy to sell public property for a pittance and then allow the companies we sold it to to rip off Australians and make horrendous profits every year.”
“So why don’t we actually sell a valuable asset that can’t be used in the future in a monopolistic economy to rip off captive customers?” asked Milton.
“And this is where the child’s painting comes into play,” he laughed.
The painting in question is a work by Jackson Pollock entitled “Blue Poles” or “Number 11”.
The “abstract” splashes of color were purchased by the National Gallery of Australia in 1973 for the controversial sum of $1.3 million.
Prime Minister Gough Whitlam’s seal of approval required government approval and sparked outrage across the country, with many using it as an example of why Labor is bad with money.
However, current estimates put the painting’s value at as much as $500 million, making this one of the few examples of the government actually achieving a return on its investment.
“So we could get half a dollar for a painting that would just sit in the NGA and be sent around the world every few months for the art curators there to share a glass of champagne with,” Milton continued.
“It’s time to cash the check.”
“I’m sure some artsy types won’t like this, but considering we’ve sold pretty much everything else, this one’s a no-brainer.”
More to follow.
