I find it obscene that 85 people own almost half of the worlds wealth.

[margomeoz]

No wonder I like the idea of socialism that is disgusting, especially when Abbott is now going to see what he can pry from aged pensioners.

The other 50% of people deserve a share in this wealth they helped earn it for the 85 people.

[polksaladallie]

---

@tall_bearded wrote:

Did your math include living cost expenses at the time?  That is a pair of shoes cost about as much as the average weekly wage whereas today you can buy a pair for a few dollars at any discount outlet.

Did you include in your assessment the cost of housing in the absence of rent relief?

Did you include in your assessment the cost the medical insurance because before the mid 70’s there was no Medicare?

No I think not.

---

What part of  "I was there" do you not understand?

[margomeoz]

My mother got a widows pension in 1957 my father dies when I was 11 and he had 3000 pounds super he said to my mum on his death bed buy this house with my pension because a realative owned it she was able to get it for the 3000 pounds.

It was in Bondi she lived in it till she died at 93 in 2003.

But to keep that miserable pension that actually kept us in nothing she did every miserable job you could think of off the books.

she would work a 40 hour week for 5 pounds.

This turned me off pensions for life.

I know they are not supposed to keep you in luxery but they could at least be enough to keep you.

[polksaladallie]

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@the_hawk* wrote:

---

 

and I dont believe there was a deserted wifes pension till 1973 only a widows pension that didnt cover abanded wifes

---

Whether you believe it or not, it was there from the late 1950s, for widows, deserted wives, and divorced women.  I received it.

[tall_bearded]

So was my wife.  And her recollection of what she went through to feed, house and educate her children, seems to be  at odds with what you say was your experience.  Or are you saying that a single mum in the 70"s, aside from the widows pension was also entitlted to rent relief, the baby bonus and lets add a new one Family SA bill paying benidits, all of which would have been in addition to the widows pension.  And then let not forget legal aid to force dad to pay his bit.

You see, I see this debate from a unique perspective.  My wife was a single mum in the early seventies.  My step daughter was a single mum in the late 80's.  Now when you compare the benifits my step dauther was entitled to she was getting far more than my wife ever did.  In fact she was getting almost as much in benifits as I was  earnig for a 40 hour week.

Therefore if you've travelled the same road and found it easier, then good for you. 

In any event the boat is fued the tide is rising and I'm off to catch dinner

[polksaladallie]

---

@tall_bearded wrote:

So was my wife.  And her recollection of what she went through to feed, house and educate her children, seems to be  at odds with what you say was your experience.  Or are you saying that a single mum in the 70"s, aside from the widows pension was also entitlted to rent relief, the baby bonus and lets add a new one Family SA bill paying benidits, all of which would have been in addition to the widows pension.  And then let not forget legal aid to force dad to pay his bit.

You see, I see this debate from a unique perspective.  My wife was a single mum in the early seventies.  My step daughter was a single mum in the late 80's.  Now when you compare the benifits my step dauther was entitled to she was getting far more than my wife ever did.  In fact she was getting almost as much in benifits as I was  earnig for a 40 hour week.

Therefore if you've travelled the same road and found it easier, then good for you. 

In any event the boat is fued the tide is rising and I'm off to catch dinner

---

I did not say it was easier.  If anything, it was harder, for reasons I will not detail here. I had two babies in the early sixties.

If you check back, I was simply stating the facts as they were then.

[the_hawk*]

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@polksaladallie wrote:

---

@the_hawk* wrote:

---

 

and I dont believe there was a deserted wifes pension till 1973 only a widows pension that didnt cover abanded wifes

---

Whether you believe it or not, it was there from the late 1950s, for widows, deserted wives, and divorced women.  I received it.

---

please provide a link that says there was a deserted wives pension prior to 1973 not a widows pension

[polksaladallie]

---

@the_hawk* wrote:

---

@polksaladallie wrote:

---

@the_hawk* wrote:

---

 

and I dont believe there was a deserted wifes pension till 1973 only a widows pension that didnt cover abanded wifes

---

Whether you believe it or not, it was there from the late 1950s, for widows, deserted wives, and divorced women.  I received it.

---

please provide a link that says there was a deserted wives pension prior to 1973 not a widows pension

---

I will repeat it again. It was called the widow's pension.  It was available to widows, deserted wives, and divorced women.  I received it as a separated woman with children and then as a divorced woman with children. 

It is you choice as to whether or not you believe it.

We can thank the Whitlam government for including never-married women with children in a benefit.

[***super_nova***]

---

@tall_bearded wrote:

You see, I see this debate from a unique perspective.  My wife was a single mum in the early seventies.  My step daughter was a single mum in the late 80's.  Now when you compare the benifits my step dauther was entitled to she was getting far more than my wife ever did.  In fact she was getting almost as much in benifits as I was  earnig for a 40 hour week.

---

There were benefits before the 1970s for divorced, deserted and widowed women, but they were pretty poor.  Whitlam included single mums in the "widow pension", which later became supporting parents' benefit.  From what I know, the pensions are definitely much better now than ever before, but not the benefits = unemployment, which now includes single parent with kids over 10 years old.

It is difficult to compare total cost of living; yes consumer goods, clothing, were much more expensive:  white goods, TVs and other items were luxuries costing many weeks of wages, but they were made so well that they lasted for ever.  They could be repaired.  Now everything lasts just past the warranty period and tradesmen charge so much for call out you may as well not bother and get new one.

But buying all this stuff keeps the economy going ........ for better or worse. 

[polksaladallie]

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@***super_nova*** wrote:

---

There were benefits before the 1970s for divorced, deserted and widowed women, but they were pretty poor.  Whitlam included single mums in the "widow pension", which later became supporting parents' benefit.  From what I know, the pensions are definitely much better now than ever before, but not the benefits = unemployment, which now includes single parent with kids over 10 years old.

It is difficult to compare total cost of living; yes consumer goods, clothing, were much more expensive:  white goods, TVs and other items were luxuries costing many weeks of wages, but they were made so well that they lasted for ever.  They could be repaired.  Now everything lasts just past the warranty period and tradesmen charge so much for call out you may as well not bother and get new one.

But buying all this stuff keeps the economy going ........ for better or worse. 

---

Thank you, Supernova, I have been outside looking for a brick wall.

The pension back then was poor.  Conservative government was brutal.  You are right, it is completely impossible to compare any decade with another, the changes are huge.  The basic pension was equivalent to today's benefit, but there so many add ons now that makes it easier.