Part One

Yes indeed "poor" does really need to be defined - but really, in whose definition and from where do we start?

As a returning expatriate of some 30 years absence, I classify myself as poor here in Australia, yet should I return to where I have lived and worked, I would be placed well into the upper middle class, as well as having a servant or two to "ease the burden" (so to speak?)

I am now a single parent, and I am now finding it a bit hard compared to my previous lifestyle of an expatriate, quite more than half my income goes on rent, power and essential communications - which really are a "MUST", but I know that there are so many more here in Australia so far worse off than I am - I really try and help where I can, but as anyone else relying on the largesse of the government purse can attest, I can only assist with my own labour, sweat and knowledge ..... many times I am also in dire need.

But when I look back some 20 odd years, when I was earning obscene amounts of remuneration, my best friends were those living in so called squalor - in grass huts with thatched roofs - were running water was a leaking roof, the communal toilet some 20-30 yards away, lighting was either a "tilley" lamp or the glow of a campfire - not so far removed from my own childhood really, except we had a decent roof - the dunney was outside and the "night soil" collected once a week, a hot bath was shared with the rest of the family... but I do believe we were far happier then than now.

BUT – there will come a time, as was noted “luxuries” (sic) like cigarettes and alcohol will be well off the menu, but then again as I neither smoke nor drink I will not miss them – but I know many will for they are a crutch against boredom and despair.

Part two

Life however, has always been a struggle, life as Malcolm said was not meant to be fair – never was and never will be, but having said that life is not going to get any better under any of these so called trade agreements – the Yanks will screw our arses to the floor and one only has to look at the acquiescence of our own grovelling politicians to see that they are not only selling their souls – but also our children into penury far worse than what we now are facing – and we only have ourselves to blame!

As a great herd, we have listened to the lies, the blatant untruths and like lemmings, we have elected these wastrels, these lying illegitimates, who squander our vast riches away all the while wallowing in the life of luxury, it matters not whether they be Liberal – or Labor – they all lie and we have seen our once prosperous nation, one of two who led the world (the other was Argentina) slowly bend to the will of other and now race to the bottom of the scrapheap of humanity.

Some have resigned in disgrace, some have suffered depression and some have tried (not too hard of course) to commit suicide, but in the end, those of us who are forced to eat cake, because we can no longer afford bread will indeed rise up and bring back the guillotine for those who despise the poor, those who create the terrorists, those who flaunt their disdain of those who are not as avaricious.

Yes indeed, what exactly is poverty? Is it the only lack of material possessions – or has someone pointed out – do we really know what being poor really is? How many people have no water – no shelter …. Not had food for several days – and no funds to purchase them?

That is poverty!

Kekendika, what I got from your article is that you were a globe trotting, very well paid expat who squandered all your money and came back to Australia to enjoy taxpayer largesse and to pontificate to the lesser life forms about poverty. Did you formulate your thesis on poverty using the time you spared having servants? Before I continue on could you explain how you receive a government handout that allows you to cover your rent et. al., and still have upwards of half of it left?

Then you have the hide to announce that “As a great herd, we have listened to the lies, the blatant untruths and like lemmings, we have elected these wastrels, these lying illegitimates, who squander our vast riches away all the while wallowing in the life of luxury…” Who, no doubt, go on to suck at the teat of government…feel familiar?

If you are, as you say, in a position of needing welfare now, then you will get what you are entitled to but the taxpayer does not have to like it. Poverty is indeed a subjective word and you have taken it to levels of decadence and waste that I never thought possible.

Perhaps now you will take a look around your own country and you will see that poor means never having had anything and riches come in the form of basic clean water…without the servants.

I read with great interest this article and the accompanying comments.

However, I would like to take up the issue of absolute and relative poverty. I noticed an assumption in some of the posts that absolute poverty is the only real poverty, but that is not so, as relative poverty tends to lead to social exclusion and in some circumstances 'ghettoisation'.

Once certain goods and services are taken for granted in a community, those unable to afford them are in a WORSE position than they had been previously. For example, I remember during the early 1950s most people did not have a private telephone but there were public phone boxes within walking distance of most homes. When the majority obtained private phones, the public phone boxes started to disappear with the consequence that those poorer people still without phones were worse off. A similar thing happened with the spread of the private car: public transport deteriorated, local shops disappeared or were never even built in new areas, and the previously 'taken-for-granted' system of home delivery vanished. I remember as a teenager during the 1950s happily and safely travelling on public transport to and from the Saturday night dances. It was perfectly safe to do so because very few young people had cars and there was safety in numbers.

I am not trying to glorify the 1950s, only show how the poor can be severely disadvanted in ways that are often not readily apparent.

Kephren

I think many people do not understand the difference between absolute and relative poverty.

Some friends of mine complained last year that they were struggling - they couldn't afford New York for their annual holidays and had to settle for the Gold Coast.

Wish I had their financial problems.

Not that I am making light of poverty - we have both absolute and relative poverty right here in Australia. From the variety experienced by some indigenous people to many of us who never participate in social events because the money required just to attend is needed for food or essential services. Very demoralising on the outside looking in.

The trickle down effect if it ever existed seems to have dried up. Could be due to the 'bottleneck' created by the packages given to executive staff and not passed on to workers. I am sure someone will post that CEOs are worth every single million. They probably believe that Gordon Gecko was right as well.

Shonga don't take this personally, for I don't know you, its more a point I am trying to make. But you seem like an intelligent person, you clearly have computer skills etc. You say that the Govt does not provide enough for people to live on. But Governments don't provide anything, its other hard working taxpayers who do.

Considering your intelligence and your computer skills, is there no way that you can make a contribution to providing for your own well being, rather then relying on other tax payers to do it for you?