Herman wrote,

"Not only should the taxpayer not be able to hold welfare recipients accountable for irresponsible waste of welfare..."

Well I am a taxpayer, I give happily, I see it as a privilege and believe that welfare-payments are the best thing the government can do with my money. Even if I were able to hold Ivonne accountable, I rather let her do what she wants and erase that Centrelink monster from the face of the earth, and yes - let anyone who asks for that meagre pension receive it, unconditionally and I am more than happy to bear my share of the cost.

Money is not specifically for buying fruit and vegetables - money is for buying one's freedom and dignity in a society that denies freedom and dignity from those who do not have it (I wish it was different, but so long this is the case). Exercising one's freedom may indeed take the form of buying fruit and vegetables, or it may not. Welfare that is given with no strings attached is never wasted because the moment it is given it is already fulfilled - it allows another human to exercise their freedom, and this is what I am gladly paying for. It is none of my business if Ivonne is hungry, nor whether she is responsible or not, but I do care deeply if Ivonne had no choice but to work in slavery conditions because she is hungry.

(P.S. I can only praise the Lord that I was never a centrelink client, nor do I reasonably expect to ever be or receive a pension from the government, not even an age-pension)

Unbelievable! Its easy to pick those people that preach from their ivory city towers. How many of them have seen a 5yo kid in tears at the supermarket checkout because he doesnt have enough 5c coins to buy a single roll of black and gold toilet paper? Thought so. When a child dies because of abuse or neglect, we hear a roaring scream of indignity (which I agree with) that the "system" has failed that child - what are the Govt going to do about it? Well here they have tried to do SOMETHING, but oh no, best not infringe on anyone's rights!

Personally I am a little pissed off about people pissing up on my hard-earned cash, but at the end of the day if they want to drink themselves into an early-grave than thats less time that I'll have to support them for. What REALLY annoys me is when said person has children, who suffer for the faults of the parent (or carer). Fine, dont restrict the spending, but then at least take away the kids so that have a chance at getting a bath most days, and antibiotics when they need it (gee, not to mention a piece of fresh fruit now nad then). The author really shows her city bias - bugger all choice on where to buy "bargains" in most country towns - take what there is and then tough luck.

Yuyutsu,
You're confusing charity with welfare.
One can be as charitable as one likes with one's own money.
Feel free to give of your own money with no strings attached.
However, the dispersion of taxpayer funds should be administered with the utmost accountability.
It's easy to be generous with other people's money.
This is one of the principle appeals of socialism,
a feel-good ideology which calls for the redistribution of the collective wealth with minimal personal impact.
I don't care how generous you want to be, as long as it's not with everybody else's money, including mine.
Charity is a personal decision.
Welfare is a collective decision.

<money is for buying one's freedom and dignity in a society that denies freedom and dignity from those who do not have it>
This is tripe.
You can't buy freedom and dignity with money
and this society isn't denying freedom and dignity from anyone.

<erase that Centrelink monster from the face of the earth>
What are you thinking?
Who would administer welfare?

<let anyone who asks for that meagre pension receive it>
Well that's a good way to blow the budget.
If people who didn't need it received it there would be less available for those who truly need it.

Please come back down to earth.

HermanYutic writes;
,How could he go to job interviews if his tyres were bald?
He was serious and so, I'm afraid, is yvonne.

That's a 'cop out' if ever I head one! try catching a train, or bus.

Yuyutsu, says;
Money is not specifically for buying fruit and vegetables - money is for buying one's freedom and dignity in a society that denies freedom and dignity from those who do not have it

Yes, but when one earns it! Hand outs should be respected for what they are.

I recon you all have rocks in ya head.
If you are entitled to a pension or other payment so be it.
Once you have donated your tax to the govt; It is our govt; that distributes it in a manner they feel is necessary.
For some reason you pick welfare to be accounted for, why not roads, defense, or any thing else that is funded by your tax.
You are not the only generation to pay tax.
So you can sleep at night i suggest you forget about the amount of tax you have donated. When all funded costs are added up what proportion of your tax goes to welfare, and yet you have chosen to attack welfare as if it were the only funded cost your tax covers.

Desmond,Rehctub here.

I don't know if your post was aimed at me but, I think you may be missing the point.

There is not shame in receiving welfare, esspecially if you have worked and paid your taxes. What most people are concerned with is the fact that so much welfare is wasted on grog, cigs and the pokies.

Now on the other hand, if parents receive welfare for their children and, their children are well cared for, then do what you like with what ever money you have left. But don't deprive your kids of the support that is clearly aimed at them, esspecially when they suffer due to their parents inabillity to better manage their situation.

Now as for pensioners receiving welfare. By all means waste your money, but please don't then come whinging about how tough life is as a pensioner.