It is worth thinking about the fact that countries with low welfare usually have high crime rates.

If someone is on the dole and sleeping in the North Coast sand dunes or living in a commune and spending his/her time surfing then s/he isn't in the city and getting up to mischief.

A win situation at low cost.

If there are more unemployed people than jobs then the first saving ought to be the reduction of Centrelink etc.

Hmmm, Middle East passports with Australian residential visa stamp ?

One area of welfare we are going to have to cut back is medical.

I wondered about a hip replacement in my mother, when she was in her 90s. She never did manage to walk a hundred yards after the operation, which she could before, if only painfully. Perhaps we should just offer more pain relief.

I've had a fantastic life, which means I've worn the body out a bit. I could use one hip, a couple of knees, & definitely a new, or at less used heart. However should I get them, even if available. I can't really see it is the tax payers job to repair what I have worn out. Perhaps these things should only be available to those who have earned the money, & made provision to pay for them.

Perhaps we are going to have to remain useful for much longer if we want to be supported by a diminishing pool of workers. I can not do much physically, but I could still manage a national park, run a road gang, or drive a grader/tractor, if we had something more useful for those workers to do.

Sleeping in the dunes, surfing every day and even living in a commune would probably be a bit different now than back in the seventies. The commune wouldn't be self sufficient, all peace love and harmony, living off the land and appreciating small niceties.:)
These days we are too 'want want' and self indulgent. Gotta get tattoos. Gotta have plenty of grog. Gotta get high, and then smoke a few spliffs later to get back down. Hairdresser for those authentic dreadies, or the hair style and color, and maybe a few piercings.The only resemblance to the old days is the tins of beans, cause there isnt much left.
And no Is Mise I dont mean surfie guys and girls, maybe some, I mean 'legitimate' bludgers, who's parents gave them a good education, and the opportunities were probably there for them (dad found you a job working for his mate) but somewhere along the line the attitude of 'F.. you lot, im not conforming, its my life and I'll do what I want'. Comes into play and there comes the hand. The old reliable dole. And of course mum and dad 'cause they owe ya'.
So in effect, have never done a days work in their life, dont have any possessions except your adornments and a back pack, crash at your mates parents place, who look after you too. One of the mums will wash your clothes when you drop them on their floor. There's always the cash for special occasions from the family to keep your dress standard up to scratch. Not too bad, comfy really.
Job search? none of those crap jobs are good enough for you, and your not sure what you want to do yet anyway.
Now dependent on and taking for granted what others turn to as a necessity in time of need.
A not so exaggerated example of a certain type of welfare recipients.

It will not be all bad news.
People do adapt, and I don't doubt that the retirement age will be
raised probably to 70.
Even if unemployment is very high there are real world examples of
alternative economic opportunities.
Take the town of Totnes in the UK.
It is the town where the Transition movement originated.

www.transitionnetwork.org

Basically, it is a community do it yourself organisation, where it is
not up to individuals to do everything but the community as a group
organises their local economy. The town of Totnes even has its own
currency, the Totnes Pound which has been use for nearly 10 years.
The idea is to keep as much economic activity in the district as possible.

The "chuck it away and buy a new one" economy will be gone and those
with the skills will find themselves in demand.
Anyway read about the Transition towns, there is even one in Brixton
London, and see where it all might go.

jodelie,

and if such useless people are not supported they will turn to crime, they will be unsuccessful criminals and will end up in gaol, where their support will cost the State much more.