agree with most of this sentiment - those of us who DIDN'T take hand-outs, but have run small business and employed other people don't dare call a rally and speak up - as people did on the weekend - without getting bashed up, spat upon, shouted down, and bullied and pushed around by Socialist Leftist thugs (one returned soldier got his medals ripped off his chest!).
but hey, with people (any people - old young or indffierent) would STOP referring to this benefit, condescendingly, and patronisingly,as the "OLD AGE" pension. 60's the new 40. Inference is - anyone getting this pensions is staggering around on a walking stick, or in wheelchair - non compus, no teeth, nil intellect. Hands out for a hand out. Fair suck of the sav.
Worst thing is - some of the most deserving - those who DID build up (often) pioneering businesses, employing a few, or many, fellow Aussies over decades, never had the advantage of living through the years when Superannuation was even implemented, let alone obsessed about as it is now, unendingly. Seems the greedy can never have enough super - which very often they never live long enough to enjoy.
Putting their homes on the line - many of this unsuperannuated older generation who provided so many smplpyment of many varieties are now family home "rich" - but totally cash poor.
Not everyone gets inhertances - big, or small - due to family break-ups, or the all too prevalent family feuds and terminal family break-ups happening over deceased estates - divorces, separations, etc.
I know two instances where calculating strangers (casual women houskeepers, born overseas) - totally unknwon to family members - ingratiated themselves into the favor of elderly people they did housework for, people with degrees of dementia These women planned and plotted to th extent they ended up mis-representing themselves to medical staff, etc. as the daughters of these people, whom meanwhile they'd alienated from their own families. They ensured wills were changed to their favor - and each ended up inheriting the whole estate - the actual families getting nothing. These instances of fraudlent deceit and manipulations actually happened within one family's network, believe it or not. As they we cpmfrtable off - they didn'tursue legal action. But how many times are deserving families cut out of wills through no fault of their 0wn? Truth is often stranger than fiction.
It is NOT the "OLD Age" Pension, for heavens sake. 60 is NOT old! It is the benefit one gets at a certain stipulated legislated age - what is it now - mid 60's? (not OLD!) - when one is deemed to be unable to be able to generate one's own wage through full time emplpyment, and/or due to circumstances not always avoidable. Having no back up resources. yet at this age these days many a person is still comparatively young - at least in mind - I know people in their 90's who are bright, and always young at heart - whilst some people seem conditioned to be whiningly "old" - act it - talk like it - when in their forties or fifties. Attitudes are very often all in the mind.
But no man - or woman - working in a physically hard job - can go on working for ever. The lack of energy and lethargy which kicks in gradually, as one ages, is something young people can never comprehend. Yet very often the uoung, though well meaning, are the ones doing the legislating, and don't comrehend these subtleties.
Yes - Centrelink benefits are going to thousands of the underserving. Bleeding hearts and Wigs ensure that they do - with ease. If we query why - we are racists, bigots, and red necks. These total RORTS need to be nipped in the bud. Many come here - hand out for our benefits - yet detest us, and our ways. Undermine us - from their pulpits. Our money's good, though.
Work hard all your life - employ others - pay heaps of taxes over a business and/or hard working lifetime - loyal to our country and it's laws- and our older people are sneered at and begrudged. Of course there are anomolies - some very rich (big bank balances - big share portfolios and investments - huge supers - luxurious holiday homes - lots of overseas travel) - getting part pensions they do NOT deserve. These are the areas which need to be re-evaluated and re-examined.
Such complex issues ~ needing the wisdom of Solomon. (Not a current political candidate, last time I looked).
