In this country of ours thee are a few 'Sacred Cows' that no one is allowed criticise, such as:

Old Aged Pensioner The old bloke standing on the corner with a bag of boiled lollies in his hand trying to entice 5 year olds into the bushes, still wetting his pance.

War Window The old tart who was busy on her back with Yank soldiers during WW2 while their men were dieing in New Guina.

Defence Personnel The highly paid bloke busy killing the innocent in some God forsaken corner of some dung heap some where.

Farmer Big profit corperation who wants every cent it can grab, give nothing back, and see themself as some special case in society.

But fair game are.

The unemployed. the once hard working battler who is now a victim of the system.

Public Servents. Those hard working underpaid servents of the people.

Lebanese Our poor displaced brethren who have taken us into their hearts.

Pelican,
I understood that you were remarking on those who are a burden on the rest of us because of being unwilling to pull their weight & exploit the situation hence my remark. I accept that there are people who need our help but I''ll be damned if I do things for lazy, opportunistic parasites.

Understood your intent individual. Just chose to ignore the broad-brush comments about public servants. There are some shirkers and dead wood in the PS and the PS is always an easy target. To state that the whole public service is a burden is ridiculous. Tell that to the next police officer or nurse who are there helping you when you need assistance.

You obviously misunderstood my post. I am saying that most unemployed people are looking for work, only the minority are 'bludging' off the system. And many of them are disabled that want to work if someone would give them a chance. Despite the lip service, most employers see a disability as a potential problem.

Many are also dealing with illness and trying to work but don't meet the disability criteria. One woman was forced by Centrelink to continue to look for work while still in the middle of a chemo course.

Do you think Australia would be better off with more homeless and an increased crime rate if we eradicated unemployment benefits altogether. I should add in case you were wondering I have never been of unemployment benefits but am glad it is there should any of us find ourselves in a bit of bad luck one day.

personally I believe that the atrocious state of unfair economic distribution stems from the insidious tax system. If we had a flat tax than no-one apart of course from the truly unfortunate, would have any excuse/reason not to have a reasonable pension. How many pay income tax for 45 years plus a list of other taxes & at their retirement the get a measly pension. Big business only pays a fraction of what blue collar contributes. You work, you go on a pension and that's it. what's so complicated about that ? The complication arises from heavily subsidised Super in the Public Service and unaffordable Super for the blue collar brigade. In a 20 cent flat tax all your needs & Services are amply covered. just make everyone pay the same.

Rechtub cracks me up Belly with his tunnel visioned its black or white, no grey in between for people working on welfare. YES! Working on welfare. Times changed AFTER Centrelink brought in new regulations a couple of years ago? stating that people MUST work a minimum of 15 or 25 hours per week in order to receive assistance. I informed you of this Rechtub in another thread regarding a similar subject.

In addition to working the 15 or 25 hours per week, people [many mothers or fathers who put their young ones into day care in order to receive some income to feed and clothe their young ones] must report every fortnight to Centrelink and buggerise around thereafter with an employment agency to be pressured into more and more hours, until eventually they land a permanent part time or full time position.

How disgraceful for all of the genuine lower income parents doing it very hard on their own with a baby and children, on one 'NON-PUBLIC SERVICE' lower income, say under $30,000?

One mother I know had a stroke, is permanently disabled on one side of her body, raises three children on her own, however MUST work 25 hours per week for a disability payment which is minimal, raise and pay for her three children. No support from any ex-husband.

There is no such thing as a 'dole bludger' nowadays Rechtub: any person receiving Centrelink assistance must be working within a short period of time, including people with diseases, dying of cancer, and disabled. I strongly disagree with the legislation regarding ill people required to work for assistance. How COLD and heartless!! Many Australians have paid taxes for most of their lives and are struck down with illnesses not their fault AND performed voluntary work over many years, assisting the communities you and I share.

Best log onto the Centrelink website and brush up on their updated legislation.

we are unique
I was unaware of these changes, however, being a hard working, self motorvated person, I don't have much idea on the situation, however, I will go out and celebrate now thanks to your information.

Furthermore, I don't class people with illness (genuine that is) or disabillities, as unemployed. Get that straight.

However, when I see a person not working, as they are a carer for thier partner because they may have a problem were one leg may play up, or a sore back, you're kidding.

I broke my back in the late 90's, I don't need a carer, just a strong will and determination.

Loosers will always be loosers. We simply need to weed out those who fleece the system, but, as always, the government can't get anything right, can they!

And what about the loosers that are always at the pokies or the pub, or both. I see it every day.

I think working for the dole is a great idea, we just need to find a way to exempt the genuine needy.

Another thing you forget to mention is 'family assistance'. Low income earners, with families get paid well FOR NOTHING! Many of them are dead-beats populating our nation with more dead-beats.

Rent assistance, healthcare cards, discounted movies. The list goes on.

As I have always said, if you can't afford kids, don't have them.

One day common sence may prevail and the tax payer can stop paying for other peoples kids. Then they, the tax payer will be able to enjoy a decent retirement after paying their lifetime of taxes, as oppossed to the present system whereby they have to prop up those who over extend themselves and forego a decent, honnorable retirement.

Just remember, the cookie jar is running on empty and there is less and less going in each generation.