The poor issue is interesting.
While I think Australia is one of the luckiest country's in the world with oppertunity for all, I do think the comment that there is 'no excuse' for being poor a little simplistic.
Now most people could better themselves if they knew how to or applied themselves - HOWEVER there are IMHO exceptions to this.
From personal experience, I come from a family that barely survived below the poverty line, for a portion of my childhood. My parents had six kids, all of us under 12yrs (I was 10) - so mum had to stay home and look after us. My father lost his job and spent the next 6 months trying to get a new one - he was willing to do anything, and did take whatever job was available. He was 'overqualified' for most things and had a university education. We didn't even have enough money to move to another town where he might possibly get employment. Our family was for a time supported by charities, and I remember my mother crying herself to sleep at night, and the neighbours giving us bread and milk because my parents couldn't afford to buy any. The only reason we had a roof over our heads was because the government was able to put us in a housing commision house. My parents didn't stay poor (they certainly aren't now
). BUT they certainly were poor through no fault of there own.
Another circumstance, my uncle done the most incredibly stupid thing EVER - he drove home drunk from the pub one night - only he had an accident on the way (thank god no-one else was involved). He was in a coma for months before he woke up. He needed 24hr round the clock care. My aunty was a SAHM with 4 kids under 4, no job, no propects of a job (tiny country town in rural QLD) and as a result had to rely on local charity. She was poor, again through no fault of her own. When her kids got older she was able to get back on her feet.
It is all good for those in the city to say 'get a job or move where there is work', but in reality some people live in communities where there is no work and do not have enough money to afford even the petrol to get them to a place where work is an option, or may physically / mentally not be able to hold down a paying job.
While I think Australia is one of the luckiest country's in the world with oppertunity for all, I do think the comment that there is 'no excuse' for being poor a little simplistic.
Now most people could better themselves if they knew how to or applied themselves - HOWEVER there are IMHO exceptions to this.
From personal experience, I come from a family that barely survived below the poverty line, for a portion of my childhood. My parents had six kids, all of us under 12yrs (I was 10) - so mum had to stay home and look after us. My father lost his job and spent the next 6 months trying to get a new one - he was willing to do anything, and did take whatever job was available. He was 'overqualified' for most things and had a university education. We didn't even have enough money to move to another town where he might possibly get employment. Our family was for a time supported by charities, and I remember my mother crying herself to sleep at night, and the neighbours giving us bread and milk because my parents couldn't afford to buy any. The only reason we had a roof over our heads was because the government was able to put us in a housing commision house. My parents didn't stay poor (they certainly aren't now
). BUT they certainly were poor through no fault of there own. Another circumstance, my uncle done the most incredibly stupid thing EVER - he drove home drunk from the pub one night - only he had an accident on the way (thank god no-one else was involved). He was in a coma for months before he woke up. He needed 24hr round the clock care. My aunty was a SAHM with 4 kids under 4, no job, no propects of a job (tiny country town in rural QLD) and as a result had to rely on local charity. She was poor, again through no fault of her own. When her kids got older she was able to get back on her feet.
It is all good for those in the city to say 'get a job or move where there is work', but in reality some people live in communities where there is no work and do not have enough money to afford even the petrol to get them to a place where work is an option, or may physically / mentally not be able to hold down a paying job.
