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A friend of mine put together an awesome handwritten sign outlining why she's voting for President Obama this year, I think it says almost everything you need to know:Many Americans take it for granted that President Obama has been one of the most effective Presidents since FDR. It's important to remember just how bad things were when he took office and how much he's accomplished since he's been in office.We were hemorrhaging jobs when this President took office and now we've gone from 10% unemployment down to around 8.5%. If the recovery continues on this path, we'll be back to around 5% unemployment by 2016.It's not just about jobs though, President Obama has also worked to restore America's image around the world. When President Bush was in office we were invading countries for no reason, now we've left Iraq and are in the process of leaving Afghanistan.In case you needed a few other examples of what President Obama has accomplished I put together a list below:Extended child tax credits and marriage-penalty fixesCreated an Advanced Manufacturing Fund to invest in peer-reviewed manufacturing processesRequired economic justification for tax changesImplemented "Women Owned Business" contracting programChanged standards for determining broadband accessEstablished a credit card bill of rightsExpanded loan programs for small businessesExtended the Bush tax cuts for lower incomesExtended the 2007 Alternative MinimumTax patchClosed the "doughnut hole" in Medicare prescription drug planExpanded the Senior Corps volunteer programRequired insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditionsGave tax credits to those who need help to pay health premiumsRequired large employers to contribute to a national health planRequired children to have health insurance coverageExpanded eligibility for MedicaidExpanded eligibility for State Children's Health Insurance Fund (SCHIP)Required health plans to disclose how much of the premium goes to patient careEstablished an independent health institute to provide accurate and objective informationIn non-competitive markets, forced insurers to pay out a reasonable share of their premiums for patient careEliminated the higher subsidies to Medicare Advantage plansExpanded funding to train primary care providers and public health practitionersIncreased funding to expand community based prevention programsReinstated executive order to hire an additional 100,000 federal employees with disabilities within five years.Increased the Veterans Administration budget to recruit and retain more mental health professionalsExpanded the Veterans Administration's number of "centers of excellence" in specialty careAppointed a special adviser to the president on violence against womenFully funded the Violence Against Women ActDirected military leaders to end war in IraqBegan removing combat brigades from IraqCreated a military families advisory boardEnded the abuse of supplemental budgets for warMade U.S. military aid to Pakistan conditional on anti-terror effortsOpened "America Houses" in Islamic cities around the globeAllocated Homeland Security funding according to riskCreated a real National Infrastructure Protection PlanIncreased funding for local emergency planningExtended monitoring and verification provisions of the START I TreatyAppointed a White House Coordinator for Nuclear SecurityInitiated a grant and training program for law enforcement to deter cyber crimeImproved relations with Turkey, and its relations with Iraqi KurdsLaunched an international Add Value to Agriculture Initiative (AVTA)Created a rapid response fund for emerging democraciesGranted Americans unrestricted rights to visit family and send money to CubaRestored funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne/JAG) programEstablished an Energy Partnership for the AmericasExpanded the Nurse-Family Partnership to all low-income, first-time mothersRequired new hires to sign a form affirming their hiring was not due to political affiliation or contributions.Provided affordable, high-quality child careRecruited math and science degree graduates to the teaching professionReduced subsidies to private student lenders and protect student borrowersEncouraged water-conservation efforts in the WestIncreased funding for national parks and forestsIncreased funding for the Land and Water Conservation FundEncouraged farmers to use more renewable energy and be more energy efficientExpanded Pell grants for low-income studentsPursued a wildfire management planRemoved more brush, small trees and vegetation that fuel wildfiresExpanded access to places to hunt and fishPushed for enactment of Matthew Shepard Act, which expands hate crime law to include sexual orientation and other factorsRepealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policyRestored funding to the EEOC and the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance ProgramsReformed mandatory minimum sentencesCreated a White House Office on Urban PolicyFully funded the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)Established program to convert manufacturing centers into clean technology leadersEstablished 'Promise Neighborhoods' for areas of concentrated povertyWorked toward deploying a global climate change research and monitoring systemFunded a major expansion of AmeriCorpsCreated a Social Investment Fund NetworkBolstered the military's ability to speak differentlanguagesAppointed the nation's first Chief Technology OfficerProvided grants to early-career researchersWorked to overturn Ledbetter vs. GoodyearCreated a national declassification centerAppointed an American Indian policy adviserCreated new financial regulationsIncreased funding for land-grant collegesBanned lobbyist gifts to executive employeesSigned a "universal" health care billCreated new criminal penalties for mortgage fraudRequired 10 percent renewable energy by 2012Released oil from Strategic Petroleum ReserveRaised fuel economy standardsInvested in all types of alternative energyEnacted tax credit for consumers for plug-in hybrid carsAsked people and businesses to conserve electricityRequired more energy-efficient appliancesCreated a 'Green Vet Initiative' to promote environmental jobs for veteransCreated job training programs for clean technologiesRequired states to provide incentives for utilities to reduce energy consumptionSupported high-speed railSupported airline service in small townsInvested in public transportationEqualized tax breaks for driving and public transitConsidered "smart growth" in transportation fundingShared environmental technology with other countriesDoubled federal spending for research on clean fuelsProvided grants to encourage energy-efficient building codesIncreased funding for the Environmental Protection AgencyRaised the small business investment expensing limit to $250,000 through the end of 2009Extended unemployment insurance benefits andtemporarily suspend taxes on these benefitsSupported network neutrality on the InternetReversed restrictions on stem cell researchKilled Osama bin LadenDoubled funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a program that encourages manufacturing efficiencyIncluded environmental and labor standards in trade agreementsCreated an international tax haven watch listMade permanent the Research & Development tax creditRequired automatic enrollment in 401(k) plansRequired automatic enrollment in IRA plansCreated a consumer-friendly credit card rating systemCreated a $60 billion bank to fund roads and bridgesRequired full disclosure of company pension investments to employeesProvided easy-to-understand comparisons of the Medicare prescription drug plansInvested in electronic health information systemsPhased in requirements for health information technologyRequired that health plans utilize disease management programsRequired providers to report measures of health care costs and qualityHeld hospitals and health plans accountable for disparities in careImplemented and funded proven health intervention programsPrevented drug companies from blocking generic drugsAllowed Medicare to negotiate for cheaper drug pricesWorked with schools to create more healthful environments for childrenImproved recruitment of public health workersMandated insurance coverage of autism treatmentFully funded the Combating Autism Act and Federal Autism Research InitiativesDoubled federal funding for cancer researchIncreased participation in cancer-related clinical trialsFully funded the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)Set a national goal to provide re-screening for all 2-year-olds for developmental disordersCommissioned a study on students with disabilities and their transition to jobs or higher educationSet goals and timetables for implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation ActCreated a best practices list for private businesses in accommodating workers with disabilitiesLaunched educational initiative for employers on tax benefits of hiring employees with disabilitiesReduced the threshhold for the Family and Medical Leave Act from companies with 50 employees to companies with 25 employeesProvided a $1.5 billion fund to help states launch programs for paid family and medical leaveRequired employers to provide seven paid sick days per yearStreamlined the Social Security disability approval processExpanded Veterans Centers in rural areasEstablished standards of care for traumatic brain injury treatmentMade the Veterans Administration a national leader in health reformReduced the Veterans Benefits Administration claims backlogInstituted electronic record-keeping for the Veterans Benefits AdministrationExpanded housing vouchers program for homeless veteransLaunched a supportive services-housing program for veterans to prevent homelessnessExpanded the Family Medical Leave Act to include leave for domestic violence or sexual assaultFully funded debt cancellation for heavily indebted poor countriesCreated a fund for international small and medium enterprises (SME)Launched robust diplomatic effort with Iraq and its neighborsProvided $30 billion over 10 years to IsraelLimited Guard and Reserve deployments to one year for every six yearsEnded the "Stop-Loss" program of forcing troops to stay in service beyond their expected commitmentsFully and properly equipped troopsCreated a Civilian Assistance Corps that would organize private sector professionals to help in times of needIncluded humanitarian international missions in long-term budgetingReviewed weapons programsModernized ships and invested more in small vesselsSet standards for when the government should hire defense contractorsRestored the government's ability to manage contracts by rebuilding our contract officer corpsCreated a system of incentives and penalties for defense contractsEstablish a Global Education FundStrengthened the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) aimed at stopping spread of weapons of mass destructionOrganized successful Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in 2010Expanded federal bioforensics program for tracking biological weaponsDeveloped a comprehensive cyber security and response strategyMandated standards for securing personal dataRequired companies to disclose personal information data breachesWorked to persuade the European Union to end credit guarantees to IranSeek to negotiate a political agreement on CyprusRestructured and streamlined USAIDIncreased the size of the foreign serviceUrged China to stop manipulation of its currency valuePressed China to end its support for regimes in Sudan, Burma, Iran and ZimbabweCreated a public "Contracts and Influence" databaseRequired Cabinet officials to host Internet town hall meetingsConducted regulatory agency business in publicPromoted more pre-school educationExpanded Early Head Start and Head StartReformed No Child Left BehindDoubled funding for Federal Charter School Program and require more accountabilityAddressed the dropout crisis by giving schools incentives for more dropout preventionCreated Teacher Residency Programs that will send teachers to high-need schoolsExpanded teacher mentoring programs and provide incentives for more planning timePromoted innovative ways to reward good teachersSimplified the application process for financial aidIncreased the number of high school students taking college-level coursesCreated incentives for tree planting and promote carbon sequestrationImproved water qualityRegulated pollution from major livestock operationsStrengthened federal environmental justice programsIncreased funding for organic and sustainable agriculturePartnered with landowners to conserve private landsCreated a community college partnership programIncreased funding for progams that conserve lands and habitat for select species such as the Osceola turkeySupported wetlands protectionPromoted economic development in MexicoSupported repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)Vigorously pursued hate crimes and civil rights abusesSigned the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act into lawSupported regional innovation clustersHelped low-income areas get phone and Internet serviceCreated a Homeowner Obligation Made Explicit (HOME) score for mortgage comparisonsIncreased the supply of affordable housing throughout metropolitan regionsInvested in transitional jobs and career pathway programsFully funded the COPS programImproved emergency response plansCapped interest rates on payday loans and improve disclosureExpanded public/private partnerships between schools and arts organizationsImproved climate change data recordsSupported improved weather prediction programOffered prizes for advances in consumer technologyEncouraged contests and programs to interest students in scienceIncreased research opportunities for college studentsStrengthened the levees in New OrleansDirected revenues from offshore oil and gas drilling to increased coastal hurricane protectionShook loose federal money for rebuilding the Gulf Coast

I can list out the Commission of Audit recommendations relevant to the Higher Education and Research sector:7.13 Higher education arrangementsDecrease the amount of CGS and increase the HECs component of domestic feesDeregulating higher education feesLowering HECS repayment threshold and changes to their indexation8.1 Industry assistanceAbolishing many sectoral industry assistance schemes plus schemes such as Small Business Advisory Services, Enterprise Connect and Commercialisation AustraliaAbolishing most of the industry export assistance schemesReducing Tourism Australia8.2 Research and developmentAbolishing many sector specific R&D schemes. Most notably for us that includes ARENA, which is to be folded back in to Dept of IndustryAbolishing CRCs and folding the funding back into ARC linkageAbolishing the proposed precinct programs – Industry Innovation Precincts and Industry Collaboration FundAbolish Collaborative Research Networks (funded Hub and spokes type programs)Consideration for ARC grants to be longer termStreamline ARC and NHMRC grant application processes (but keeping them as separate agencies)Streamline block granting processes (this would suggest to me the amalgamation of the various and diverse ”RQ flowback” schemes to something a little more transparent)Committing to ongoing infrastructure fundingChange of CSIRO to being a Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 body allowing more government oversight (done in New Zealand quite some time ago)A big tick for the R&D tax incentive as being “no distortionary”8.6 Programmes that duplicate State responsibilitiesFederal Government exit from vocational training programs – devolved to States9.1 Principal bodiesAbolish Clean Energy Finance Corp and Climate Change Authority (already under legislation) together with bodies such as Industry Innovation Investments Pty Ltd (the precincts funder) and Low Carbon AustraliaConsolidation of some health bodies including and establishing a National health and Medical Research Institute and a Health productivity and performance commissionMerge TEQSA and ASQA10.5 DataRecommendations around freeing up access to data sets and prioritising several “big data’ projects10.6 e-Government"eGovernment by default” approachConsolidate eGovt effort and create a Chief Digital Officer with a Senior Minister as champion10.7 Cloud ComputingMandatory “cloud first” policy for low risk services10.8 Corporate services and systemsExpand shared services approach for backend corporate systemsSo my feeling is that it is recommending a significant withdrawal of federal government involvement and funding from industry, research and higher education, and introduce further market-lead restructuring. They may be seen as similar in spirit to the series of policy reforms in the 1980s by the New Zealand Labour government known as "Rogernomics.There may be more opportunities for higher education and research sector to take advantage of getting more funding through fee deregulation (charging more from students than what's currently permissible), more federally supported big-data, cloud-computing and e-government projects. At the same time, the sector also faces very real threats from abolition of schemes such as ARENA and the CRCs, as it is not guaranteed that the same funds and support would be available in another form through the ARC. Furthermore, the withdrawal of federal government support in industry-related R&D may hurt the research sector, as it is unlikely that industry would pick up the existing level of R&D without the appropriate incentives.

No, you cannot retire whenever you want.Yes, you can apply your resignation and then if you meet the laid down service conditions of retirement, you would be getting discharged.Now what are the laid down service conditions for retirement. First, let us discuss the case in case of Jawans, Airmen and Sailors of Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy respectively.Counselling by your officer above you and to motivate you to serve further. The officer recommends your application after understanding your grounds for asking for discharge.Number of years of service. These days, the services is not granting permission for discharge iff the individual hasn’t completed minimum service to be eligible for pension. Your officer, will also not recommend your discharge papers till the time you don’t complete the minimum service. Reason: No body wants you to suffer on financial front. A pension at least gives you constant income source so that you can create your career after services in the civil world. Only in highly compassionate cases it has been observed that the discharge had been granted. Even in the compassionate cases, the services supports the indivual and place him in such a place that with his duty he can tackle the situation which is forcing him to take discharge.Waiting List. In one of the answer Mr. Mayur Ambastha (sir, I apologise that I am using Mr in place of rank as not aware of your rank) that the services has to maintain a minimum strength. Because of this, a waiting list forms up. Now, when you apply for discharge, then it will be seen that how many of people ahead of you applied for the same, and how many are senior who belongs to the same regiment, corps or trade as you belongs. A waiting list is formed and the individual is intimated in advance about his tentative discharge date so that he can get his personal documentation updated. The units also pay attention to this list and employ them suitably as per the vision of the unit. Generally, the waiting period on an average after completing minimum pensionable service in case of army enlisted soldiers or jawans is 2 years.In case of commissioned officers.commissioned officers can also put their resignation ahead.That resignation will not be accepted as already there is a crunch of officers. These commissioned officers are liable to serve for the minimum contractual period which they had agreed upon during the time of commissioning.Only in consideration of compassionate ground, the officer can be granted discharge. But the officer needs to pay expenses of the training and the professional courses he had undergone during his career. My personal experience says that this amount comes up to INR 30 LAKHS. The procedure of discharge also takes lot of time on an average of 1 year from time of resignation. A board of officers is formed, recommendation is floated and the officers discharge papers is signed by President of India as he is the one who can discharge a commissioned officer.98 percent of resignation applications of officers were rejected by Army HQ in past 5 years. (source: Military Sectarian branch)