Arjay, I agree with you, we have a merging society who have little resapect for anyone or anything.

And Belly, I totally disagree as I am of the opinion that we are going down the gurgler.

Most Gen Y's and beyond have nothing, have no intentions of ever having anything just so long as they have enough to fund thier social lives.

They will simply leave their following generations with little more than a plasma on an interest free deal.

Remember, many of our retirees are in their current position because they were willed something, and that will come to an end, then what?

The fact is we have less people paying positive taxes and, combine this with an aging population and a dwindling workforce (tax payers), the only way ahead is to go backwards.

I agree with Arjay. I believe that most of them are doing a John Galt and I don't blame them!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Galt

It fills me with joy to say gentlemen I do not agree with arjay, rechtub, sorry bloke but you are a man who must rarely be happy.

StG and Wybong - I'm very sorry to learn of your plight. What a rotten biz. I hope that 2010 brings a change for the better.

Rehctub, Don't you grasp how unfair and demoralizing it would be for unemployed people to be picking up rubbish left by party goers? What would it be like if your circumstances changed (like, everyone became a vego or all meat was brought in packaged from overseas) or your health went or something and you were unemployed. It can happen to anyone. Talk about a kick in the guts to then be compulsorily deployed to pick up the rubbish left by youngsters with too much money to spare.

What I would like to see is:

1. Executives in City Council and various Public Service organizations tipped out of their comfy chairs and more actual jobs created for front line workers including council workers, garbos and the like.
2. Police with the authority to nab the grubs and give them a choice - pick up their rubbish on the spot or make a court appearance.

I recall not too many years ago where a youth trashed a police station - broke glass doors and graffitied etc. The police caught him red handed but could only charge him so that he appeared in court. He got some insignificant sentence - P & P or something. Meanwhile, other people had to clean up the mess. I think it would have been much more useful for everyone if the young offender had been put to work at once doing clean up.

Pynchme, The problems go back to when the cane was removed from schools and parents had their rights as parents taken away. The good old 'do-gooders', they have much to answer for.

Now as for being unemployed, I have some views here.

There are those who are unemployed and actively seeking work, good luck to them, and those who simply don't wish to work. These are the ones I have no time for.

But remember, unemployed people are being paid the equivilent of around 10 hours per week, bassed on a basic wage. So, what is wrong with them having to earn that?

Now I don't wish to offend anyone, but, as for not being able to find work, well, I find that hard to believe. Unless of cause you are to fussy.

And belly, you are right, I am not very happy lately so, I think I will go back to providing for my family, making sure they are well set for the future and enjoy life. Perhaps I should retire, but I am to young for that.

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story hey!

Boy the truth hurts sometimes!

The fact is, with our aging population, housing crisis, rising unemployment, and now our plans for a 60% population increase, etc, etc. Can we really afford to keep paying people for nothing?

Think about it! Some how, some where, something has to give!