Dear BD,

Again, you're living in a vacuum, unnecessarily quoting your subjective version of the Bible, and blahing on ...

Nobody can get through to you ... And I wouldn't bother usually, but as you did ask - try this website:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/treasurer-to-hold-lenders-to-account/200...

It may (or not) help.

Oh, and by the way BD,

I'm not Marie of Rumania!(smile).

You may want to read my little ditty again.

This time you just may get it!

What Arjay said!

*Who these days can save even 5% for a house with two parteners working in 12 mths?*

Oh lots of people, those who grab the opportunities that are
out there, but probably not in low paid manufacturing jobs.
What do you think that a couple can earn, who work in Roxby
Downs or the Pilbara? The problem with this generation is
they want it all and they want it now. They want to live it
up to the max as well have all mods cons tomorrow. It doesen't
work that way.

A young couple today can still bank one salary and live off
the other, if they are just a bit frugal,as we used to be.
But most don't want to be that, ok, so pay the price.

I have no problem with global companies, if they give me
good products at value for money. Ikea, Microsoft, Walmart
etc, became huge because consumers voted with their wallets
and felt they were getting a good deal, so bought their
products. Why should I be against consumers getting value
for their money?

When we had high tarrifs, we got screwed blind by a few
overprotected Sydney/Melbourne companies, who made alot
of shoddy products and hid behind high tariff walls. Hooray
for knocking those walls down!

In today's world, you can buy shares in nearly any
global company that you please. When I got sick of
banks, I started buying bank shares. Thats the best
thing I ever did :)

Arjay....... 'who can save 5%' etc..?

Yep..I'm not exactly 'agin' ya...and not competely with Yabby, but I do agree on one thing.. a well disciplined couple..both on a pretty basic wage.. like $550/week each..can actually save around $25,000 a year. So, in 2 yrs, $50k.... quite possible.. ifffff disciplined and focused.

Perilous! hahah.. good 1...

Strange as it might seem... my brain does actually function in the economic realm as well as the 'whack-a-mozzie' as you so quaintly put it.

FOXY.. you are a darling arn't you :) no..I'm not hitting on ya.. don't panic. But you do indeed 'ooze' warmth in the nicest way.
I'll keep that in mind when my 'sword' is uplifted and I'm about to slice and dice some enemy who was about to molest you, and just knock him senseless rather than take his head clean off.

You seem to have a difficulty relating 'love' to 'context of principle'. You seem to see good where there is none.... and bless you for that, but without a few warriors to protect you, you'd be swallowed up in the mad scramble for territory mate.

Back2theBible now....

LOVE.. (Foxy territory)
8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

PRINCIPLE. (BD territory) (about 2 verses further on than the above)
13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

Yabby
While I don't disagree with everything you said in the post I have to say that removing tariffs has not done much for the price of food even if you account for the drought. The major supermarkets are having a field day removing some of the more popular brands and stocking it with their own imported or OS grown products, while our own farmers suffer. How can using more 'food miles' in transporting food from, say, China be good for us when our own agricultural industry is groaning particularly in the fruit/veg industry.

Locally grown is the way to go - protectionism in some industries is not a bad thing. We also lose control over food safety and health by allowing all manner of foods in - I don't trust the measures that are in place to protect us against pathogens, banned insecticides and insects that might travel into Australia from OS.

I heartily agree with your sentiment that we are becoming victims to consumerism and the young (and others) do expect everything now without adopting some of the frugality of years ago. This is exacerbated by the costs of housing for those new to the market and if a ex-student the exhorbitant HECS debts add to this burden. It will make it much harder to raise a family than it was for us particularly if one parent plans to stay at home (if that is possible at all).