Is this where we are heading.....

[boris1gary]

In the UK, the services of foodbanks are becoming increasingly vital in providing a lifeline to people going hungry. There is extreme pressure on poor families' budgets due to austerity and cuts, with expectations that the situation will worsen when cuts to the welfare safety net begin to bite. Trussel Trust foodbanks fed 128,687 people nationwide in 2011-12 with the figures anticipated to more than double in 2012-13.

from IA

[boris1gary]

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@am*3 wrote:

What is delicious? Meat?  Chocolate is delicious.

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not together i hear.

[bella_again]

In the US they have started to plant fruit trees in some parks so that anyone can access them.  I can't remember where I saw it but I thought it was a wonerful idea.  

[bella_again]

And yes I do think we are heading this way.  I think that unless there are some changes more and more people will slide into poverty.  As it is in this country resources are limited in terms of supporting the poor. Another problem is that may people don't understand issues around homelessness and poverty in this country. We need to create a society that is inclusive, that gets people working and helps them to maintain a lifestyle where they don't have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.

I think it is highly likely recession  will also hit this country in a bigger way than it has in the past.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

It seems more people who believed they were in safe jobs are finding themselves unemployed at ages where no one wants them, but too young to access any private superannuation.

[boris1gary]

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@bella_again wrote:

And yes I do think we are heading this way.  I think that unless there are some changes more and more people will slide into poverty.  As it is in this country resources are limited in terms of supporting the poor. Another problem is that may people don't understand issues around homelessness and poverty in this country. We need to create a society that is inclusive, that gets people working and helps them to maintain a lifestyle where they don't have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.

I think it is highly likely recession  will also hit this country in a bigger way than it has in the past.

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As it is in this country resources are limited in terms of supporting the poor.

Australia could easily support the poor - despite being told there is a "crisis" and the "cupboard is bare:, its simply not true

from IA 

I personally find it offensive that while they are cutting tax for large corporations and rich superannuants they have increased tax on super for low income earners, plan to scrap the Schoolkids Bonus and have defunded Labor's Trades Training Centre program.

They completely fumbled education funding and now it appears even the disabled will be targeted for cuts, with the axe potentially going through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

This is the same government who has the hide to tell The Washington Post that Labor are the "whackos"?

The solution to the budget is easy to see and it doesn't involve hurting the middle class and the least affluent.

The mining industry, for example, receives significant government support and negative gearing is something that should probably be looked at. Just a few examples of sensibles areas to target.

But we'll get none of this. All the cuts will be to the middle and lower stratas of society while Liberal Party mates and donors are well looked after. It's called the trickle down theory — and it has been proven to not work.

[bella_again]

Oh definitely its a real issue and people are finding themselves in dire situations which is concerning.  My bro who owns a part of a business was also saying that if they get two applicants, one out of work 3 months and the other say 6.  They will always prefer the the candidate who has been out of work for less time. So the longer someone is out of work the harder it is to re enter the workforce as the odds seem stacked against them.

Although I was encouraged when I heard on my local news a company taking on a 55 yr old I believe as an apprentice. The employer thought that his maturity and work ethic was worth its weight in gold.

[bella_again]

Boris I totally agree with you and admit perhaps I didn't word that well.  There resources out there but the government are choosing to use them to support higher end business.  It worries me that the mining companies are subsidised so heavily and get give very little back to our country.  I know others will disagree with me there but I feel they should have kept the mining tax.  This government will support the higer end of society while the gap between rich and poor grows dramatically.

I actually don't agree with keeping the education bonus, I think they should have put that bonus into schools.  If they did imagine the difference it would make to education.  If they then made accessing state education free that would bring the best benefits to families.

I don't know much about the NDIS, I have three DD's with disabilities one will do fine in the world the others will need assistance and probably qualify for the scheme.  What annoys me is that two of my DD's already have a useless disability package, that I've tried to give back several times but they don't take back so it sits in the bank doing nothing while it could be helping someone else.  See these schemes are all good and wonderful if they actually work.  I am yet to see one that does.

The bottom line is that we as a society do have a responsibility to those who are less fortunate. To leave them in poverty while politicians continually give themselves pay rises and continually give high end investment lots of tax breaks even though they have millions going off shore is appalling.

Yes we need investment but its about time some of these companies give something more back.

[grandmoon]

Is this where we are heading no. 

Sorry we are already there.

Foodbank has be operating in Australia for over 3 year that I am aware of.  I volunteer at the local branch each week.  At this branch we have an average of 85 familys a week, and we are 1 of 8 branches in the town.

[boris1gary]

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@grandmoon wrote:

Is this where we are heading no. 

Sorry we are already there.

Foodbank has be operating in Australia for over 3 year that I am aware of.  I volunteer at the local branch each week.  At this branch we have an average of 85 family's a week, and we are 1 of 8 branches in the town.

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I didn't know that grandm, i suppose you had better get ready for a lot more - and good on you for volunteering.

[freakiness]

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@bella_again wrote:

In the US they have started to plant fruit trees in some parks so that anyone can access them.  I can't remember where I saw it but I thought it was a wonerful idea.  

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Canberra used to have lots of fruit trees in the streets.