dave wrote on Mar 15
th, 2014 at 1:07pm:
The Green Light, this has always been a thorn in my side as well and, as you rightly pointed out, there are many who did waste their money, OS holidays every year, new cars, boats, often while their kids struggled through the public school system.
I have long though about a system that rewards effort, that being one that pays you a pension, based on the amount of taxes you contibuted throughout your working life and, if you managed to save well, then that would be a bonus.
Instead, we frown at people like you, and
have pity for those who didn't save well.
Of cause, i have also had to deal with the tall poppies along the way.
In fact, i have a saying, that is, we are all presented with an equal opportunity to fail, its just that some of us choose not to, and to be punished is simply bizzar.
My sympathies are with you as although i am about ten years your youth, i too have worked hard, invested all my life, provided rental houses that would simply not have been available without incentives, while providing an A class education for our two now adult children.
To think we went without so much, only to be slugged even further is plain wrong.
I can remember hearing the saying back in 76 when i commenced work, work hard and strive to be well off and you will be rewarded. Well, nothing could be farther from the truth.
There are two causes in my view, one, poor management from our governments, and two, too many hand outs.
There are too many middle class handouts and tax loopholes for the wealthy - that's for certain, but as far as the rest of your post goes, why would you want government handouts when you don't need them?
In regard to all the properties you own for such magnanimous reasons - did you take advantage of negative gearing? If you did - then you got some very healthy handouts.
Welfare was originally introduced for a reason - that was to help those people who had little, either through misfortune or mismanagement of their life.
Would you prefer those who need an aged pension be thrown into the streets instead to beg for food and shelter?