ttbb, I'm happy for you as most self funded, or partially funded pensioners deserve what they have because they have generally worked for it. However, there are a lot our there who don't own a home, not always their fault, and sit there often deciding whether to swelter/freeze or turn the air con/heater on as they can't afford the bill.

Prisoners on the other hand never have to worry about a power bill, where their next meal is coming from so on and so on.

So enjoy your happy retired life, but do spare a thought for those less fortunate, and yes, I know many only have themselves to blame. But surely our own pensioners should not have to worry about where their next meal is going to come from.

Foxy. A change of government wont help because what we need is a complete change of direction. That's not going to happen because we are already seeing self serve everything and soon to be driverless cars, which i'm sure will include busses, trains and cabs at some point.

What then!

Dear rehctub,

I've spent the afternoon in my mother's nursing
home. She's in the dementia wing. We had a
meeting with the new manager. It was a resident's
and family meeting where people voiced their concerns
and shared their stories.

It mad me realise that some of us need to count our
blessings with what others have to put up with in life.
We are so lucky in this country to have the excellent
health-care system that we have. We really don't have
that much to complain about in life if we were totally
honest. Our governments must have been doing something
right over all these years. And I'm sure that we will
survive the latest set of hiccups - as we've always done
thus far.

Pensioners are like everybody else. Some manage better than others. Some have just the pension but still manage OK, and often better than some with private means as well. People who rent, get allowances for rent, so home ownership doesn't figure: in fact home ownership is often a hindrance. There is a tendency for many pensioners to live beyond their means just like anyone else. No extra sympathy needed.

Ok, so pensions come from taxes, and taxes are down and falling no doubt in the future. On top of this we have more bums on seats as the vast majority of immigrants, illegal or otherwise are not working, and if the are, are most likely not earning enough to pay income tax of any real significance, so, moving forward, where is the funding going to come from and how will we ensure our pensioners are better cared for than our prisoners?

Just saying things will turn around will not work. There has to be something to generate more lots more jobs and taxes. What, where, and when?

Mines are under pressure to shut, along with coal fired power stations. The push is on for driverless vehicles, we already have some in mines, and we are seeing more and more automation resulting in less jobs and less taxes. Enlighten me!

rehctub,

Where did you get the idea that the vast majority of immigrants are not working?

As for where the jobs will be, the government doesn't have to pick winners. As long as there's enough money in the economy, there will always be enough profitable opportunities for business to employ them. But because of the deflationary impact of automation, the required amount of money in the economy does have to increase substantially.

Dear rehctub,

The following link might clarify things for you:

http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/6250.0