Nah not too skeptical.
this is a dangerous time for those in the middle in Australia. Unhappily there is always poor people that rely day to day on government handouts. There are always rich people that as long as they don't do anything too stupid they will remain so.
The issues above hit home to people that are between these categories. These changes and these issues are quickly moving that invisible but obvious BREADLINE. Its moving people down into the bottom bracket. They ones that now rely on the government and just simply can't get a foothold up. Its quite scary really.
Most of my friends are solidly in the middle bracket. As am I, but the rate im seeing friends that were only just in that middle bracket slip down is just crazy. Friends who have GOOD jobs. 2 kids, limited vices, non extravagant lifestyle. They rented because the didn't buy a house for work reasons... Now... well... During middle of Covid lockdowns i have 3 of these friends ask on FB for Food handouts because they had nothing. I took over boxes of food. They are now wanting to buy a house, but were priced out months ago. With rising rent and cost of living the chance of this is slipping and slipping while they lose the investment opportunity of owning a house.
That line is a scary one coming to claim people that i never thought it could. I don't know how Australia can fix this. But it better do something drastic as poverty is creeping into places i never thought it could.
Sarah
Yes - people focus on the extremes, so fail to recognize this crush. The difference in wealth between the bottom of the 1 and top of the 1% is far, far greater than the bottom of the 1 and the bottom. The last decade or two have been the fastest move of wealth from poor to rich ever.
It is insanity what is happening in Australia and elsewhere and I think that there are going to be more handouts from friends and family to come - "go fund me" for things that should never need external funding for.
I am not sure if Australia can fix it through legislation - I reckon it is going to come through collapse, violence and pain - unfortunately.
In my opinion, they should be incentivizing earning on the side at all levels and in all places. But, they seem to punish hard work.
Broccoli at $9kilo and capsicum at $12/kg well... they buy a $1bag of cheep mixed veg instead until now that isn't there either due to transport issues.
Yes it is crazy. And yes that crush is real. Hopefully it doesn't come for us!!! But who knows what will happen. The uncertainly is worrying. No doubt the tax man will come for his share of the lovely rewards i earn here today. because.... darn it... i'm sure they deserve it... rolls eyes Its crazy how much they don't like you earning money but are happy to take it away. No doubt the beer i give friends for work helping move furniture should be taxable and i should have to give them the monetary value of the beer payment they received. don't get me started.
anyway you have a nice day. I think the sun has finally come out here.
Sarah
"In my opinion, they should be incentivizing earning on the side at all levels and in all places. But, they seem to punish hard work."
This is happening all around the world and it looks like the governments want the vast majority of the population dependent on them because then they can mandate whatever they want and the people don't have that much power to say no. Using food and housing as a weapon to make people comply has been documented through the ages, they're just doing it in a wolf in sheep's clothing fashion. It's going to mess up economies more and most of the government interventions are like putting band-aids on artery lacerations. Short lived and then the problem is far more difficult to fix afterwards like you say kicking the can down the road.