Looks like many either don't know or appreciate how good we have it

[izabsmiling]

In the whole scheme of things 

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100768322

Australia Happiest Place to Live for a Third Year: OECD

  Published: Monday, 27 May 2013 | 10:03 PM ETBy: Rajeshni Naidu-Ghelani

For the third year in a row, Australia has taken the top prize for being the happiest place to live in the advanced world, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Better Life Index.

The annual index ranks the world's 34 industrialized economies based on key criteria such as jobs, health, environment, education and income and Australia was the only Asia-Pacific country to find a place in the top 10.

Sydney-based John Horner, forex strategist at Deutsche Bank, said Australia topping the list is worth remembering at a time when there's negativity going around about the country's economic outlook over the past month or so.

how does that compare with ?

Australians: whingers and worriers DateApril 4, 2013

So it’s official: Australians have overtaken the Poms in the whingeing stakes. And not content with being world champion whingers, we’re working up our worrying act as well.

Never mind Australia being an island of great relative prosperity, calm and opportunity in a stormy sea of developed world recession and austerity, the spirit of Hanrahan is strong upon the land.

Despite their higher unemployment rate, greater poverty, miserable weather, inferior food, greater obesity, lousy beaches, lower life expectancy, warm, sudsy beer, bleak economic prospects and Coronation Street still being in production,  Brits on average are more satisfied with their lives, more likely to think said lives are “worthwhile” and considered themselves happier and less anxious than the average Australian. It must be the cricket.

The latest NAB Australian wellbeing index compares the local March quarter findings with a similar survey conducted by the British government statistician last year.  

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/australians-whingers-and-worriers-20130404-2h8gg.html#ixzz2XNLqVYYE

[pct001wine]

Quite right izabsmiling, many Aussies seem to live in this land of fear and loathing when things aren't as bad as they are led to believe ... maybe when the negative influences (media, LNP, et al) bash it into us day after day after day, they start believing it.

Q: How can you tell when a plane-load of Aussies has landed ?

A: The engines have stopped, but the plane's still whining.

[izabsmiling]

I agree with Sydney-based John Horner, forex strategist at Deutsche Bank...with so much negativity around us these things are important to remember.

All the negativity doesn't appear to be good for us...

bad news and gossip sells though apparently ...they say the media gives the public what they want ,what will sell 

[izabsmiling]

Hi Pct, I didn't see your post.Definately fueled by the media and those who use fear and hate tactics imo.

[kilroy_is_here]

yep tell that to the 950 odd businesses going into liquidation each week, they have never been luckier

[lakeland27]

or the 900.000 odd jobs created kilroy, or an economy they have grown by 14 per cent..

unviable small business have always failed, i destroyed at least 2 under John howard 🙂

[*mrgrizz*]

950 each week?

were are you getting that figure from.........that is huge number

if true very worrying.

would like to think if the number was that high it would be more common knowledge.

[lakeland27]

 that figure is dodgy. roughly 2/3 of small businesses fail though.

[purplecarrot-top]

Lots at my local shopping centre today. All with parcels loading up with toys. Cafes doing a roaring trade.

[catsnknots]

or the 900.000 odd jobs created kilroy, or an economy they have grown by 14 per cent..

unviable small business have always failed, i destroyed at least 2 under John howard 🙂

1 hr a week is counted as being employed...