Paul1405,
The concept of a fair go may have started out restricted, but by the time I first came to Australia 200 years later (I'm presuming the concept wasn't of Aboriginal origin since they were excluded early on) it had become universal. Even though there was still a general dislike of some groups, it was recognised that everyone deserved a fair go.

I think the rot set in when politicians started promoting the idea that refugees didn't deserve a fair go.

I have felt this myself but thought it was just me, getting old. I liked Tony Abbott, but never liked Turnbull. Our Rep is Barnaby Joyce, who as you know has been in the news. I won't vote for him again. My son had a permanent job, and he was sacked after 13 years of employment. The new CEO got rid of all the permanent staff and now only young girls etc. Yes casual. Hardly any jobs are permanent in the hospitality sector and pensioners who own their own homes, who pay rates, insurance and maintenance are worse off than those who rent their houses and those that rent themselves.

I have the feeling that those on welfare have an uphill battle, but so do others who work. I sold a house in Cronulla 35 years ago for 85k. They knocked it down and built villas on it, and I would guess those villas now are worth over a million.

I don't like Turnbull, Joyce or the Greens, nor Shorten either. Lots of people are doing the Donkey vote, but I won't. Just remember Barnaby is supported by Labor and the Greens locally. Best of luck mates.

Dear Hassie,

Thanks for bringing us back to reality.

I don't remember the times that you describe.
They sound awful. However from perosnal
experience with my health - and the care that
I've received over the years - I've been
lucky living in this country and not the US.
I've more than been paid in full for my private
hospital health cover. And Than Heaven for
Medicare! I'd hate to think where we'd be if
we lived in the US.

Well Belly I agree with you. Life for those disadvantaged has improved, but if you find yourself on Newstart, it was $550. pf. And you had to apply for 8 jobs, complain, but it might not do any good.

Belly, the world I grew up in in my early working years was one where if you didn't keep up, you got replaced. Unfortunately I have no real issues with that. Of cause the result to the likes of unfair dismissal laws is a casualised workforce. As long as one side gets treated differently, workers/employers you will always have a winner and looser and the looser will find ways around the situation. In this case it is casual and contract employment.

As for retirement at 70, what are you expecting. We start work later in life, work less hours, don't work as hard, and live 40 to 50% longer.

As for the future, there is no real future because we are killing our way of life, supporting far too many people and decreasing our tax revenue dollars. It can only end in tears.

Dear rehctub,

It certainly can all end in tears - if we don't
get the right policies, and the right leaders.