Freedom for those who can afford it, slavery for those who cannot.

Nice work coots, keep it up.

Ah, the same old question rears its ugly head once again. (When our children leave school, where are they going to go?....a very good question don’t you think. Work for dole only takes up their spare time, it’s doesn’t do their self worth any good at all. $20 a fortnight for the work you all have gave examples for is just pathetic. I say give them $100 per 14 days or $5.70 per hour, at least they’ll still feel like humans more than the slaves that their IQ,s may or may not be their faults. Technology and population blowouts have contributed a large factor to this equation, and more and more highly skilled people use Centrelink and yet still have to pay the bills.

Planet3

Yes SM, you may be on to something there.

Don't we think a better approach would be to first fix the leaks, before simply throwing more money at the problem, because if you dont, a fair percentage of the increase will end up down the drain as well.

While running my butcher shops, when times became tough, as they often did, the first thing I always did was identified and cut down on waste.

It stands to reason that if 5% of the new start budget is wasted, then if this waste is stopped, then this in it's self is an increase in new start spending, in areas as intended.

As I say, fix the holes before throwing more money in the bucket.

Poirot, perhaps you could run for a position in the labor government, as this thinking, that people WHO DONT WORK deserve to live a decent lifestyle is little more than a joke.

Besides, with unemployment at just 5% (apparently) simply go and get a job, and don't just sit there expecting someone else to pick up the tab, because after all, the tax payers are already providing for many of these people's kids.

Rechtub, right on!
Every word.
I say we set up booths to kill the poor no way we should share our good fortune.
That is what you are saying is it not.
Now pause, think, then answer, what would you want if it turned upside down on you.
Life I refer to.
You again and again pillory me, for something I truly am happy to be, different than you.
I would give every bit of food in my house away, rather than watch an Aussie, anyone in our country, go hungry.

I think we are getting to a point we no longer need to exist.
This part of OLO,
A place occupide by grumpy old right wing heartless, and in some cases clueless folk
How many have truly been hungry?
Welby, a tiny village when I lived there, now I am told a town.
1953 and a familly broken down on the road side miles from any place, and hungry.
I was 8 years old, trucks owned by dads ex brother in law told us about them.
After they, each trip gave what they could.
We walked, no car not much money for miles to give them food.
I saw times we, truly, had spuds and pumpkin for tea and their skins for breakfast.
True.
Any off us, could be no fault of our own, on the dole.
I do not care if you never talk to me again, you insult Aussie mateship!
Are the true poor nothing more than reason to show a clear bigotry about their current position in life?
Do you truly think these infamous thoughts.

Here you go, rehctub,

A glossary of "workhouses" you might like to peruse. Perhaps you can conjure up a good working model for 21st century Australia.

One of them even had sections for "deserving" and "undeserving" poor - they even had separate internal staircases (sounds great, don't cha think?)

http://www.historyextra.com/workhouse

Here are a few more pointers:

http://www.amazon.com/Oliver-Twist-Dover-Thrift-Editions/dp/0486424537

(Got you the "thrift" edition in keeping with your philosophy:)