What is poor?

[i-need-a-martini]

There was a really interesting article in todays SMH about how many of us think we are poor which is far from the reality.

I grew up in a migrant household where my dad worked 6 days a week and sometimes 2 jobs to keep us fed and housed. More often than not our food was basic and heating in winter was a luxury. But it never occurred to me that we were poor. I thought we were middle class.

So what is poor? ?:|

The last line of the article sums it up for me: 

Which brings us to the other side effect of our collective crying poor: it makes it easier to look past the struggles of those who are genuinely struggling. When you're declaring social bankruptcy over drinking cleanskin wine instead of $17 cocktails, catching the night bus home instead of a taxi, or having to skip out on your friend's destination wedding – indeed, when this becomes your vision of what “poverty” looks like – there is a little less room in your heart for those for whom poverty means having no choice at all.

http://www.dailylife.com.au/news-and-views/dl-opinion/is-there-such-a-thing-as-the-privileged-poor-2...

(And please don't make this a political thread cause it has nothing to do with the freaking carbon tax)

[purple.cow]

It is usually Charities that support these people that fall through the cracks (including the mentally ill for whom there is not always services available to help them), volunteers  and restaurant/cafes with donated food etc.. they do amazing work... not using precious taxpayers money either.

The self same government systems are in place to support those in such need.

Also as I said before ... they have no good reason for remaining to live within the big cities as they are clearly unemployed/unemployable, so if they truly wanted to get back on their feet, have a roof over their heads, food in their guts, clothes on their backs etc. they could move to somewhere where their living costs would be greatly reduced, but they choose to remain living in the conditions levels they have sunk to.

That means they choose that level of poverty, it's bought on by themselves, and continues to be so by themselves alone.

There are people from other countries who are legally able to work in Australia,  for years & years they support themselves, but if they lose their job (redundancy or any other reason) they are not entitled to any Centrelink benefits.

If they are legal residents of Australia they are ALL eligible for Centrelink benefits, but if they are considered to be undesirable aliens, meaning still living within the country while being outside their original entry visa conditions, they most certainly are NOT eligible and should return from whence they came. That is the law of this land. 

[cherry*135]

If they are legal residents of Australia they are ALL eligible for Centrelink benefits.

WRONG.

[purple.cow]

If they are legal residents of Australia they are ALL eligible for Centrelink benefits.

WRONG.

I'm more than happy to stand corrected, but to do so I would need un-refutable evidence for the reason/s for their exemptions.

The only one that I know of applies, exactly as it did to me when I first came to this country even many years ago, was that I had to agree to support myself fully for the minimum of the first 2 years of my being granted permanent residency without recourse to any government benefits.

Temporary residents of course fall into the same category as those who are only granted visas for a given stay length, so we are only talking about those qualified for PERMANENT residency, who to my knowledge ALL qualify for Centrelink benefits provided they have completed their original term agreements as I did, (If applicable) and Australian citizens.

[cherry*135]

New Zealanders.

[cherry*135]

(who moved to Australia after 26 Feb 2001).

[the_bob_delusion]

Being poor is when you have NO food, and NO roof over your head, and NO hope of making it better.

There is no-one like that in Australia.

No one??:|

I don't even need to check to know they exist. 

[purple.cow]

New Zealanders.

If they are deemed as permanent residents or hold citizenship of Australia they too qualify, otherwise the same laws of this country apply to them too regarding centrelink benefits.

So that's not a good enough example I'm afraid.

If an Aussie were to go over to NZ the very same set of circumstances applies them regarding benefit claims, but I'm given to understand any Aussie would be mad to do so as their benefits are lower than here, but I haven't any proof of that, so I can't say for sure.

So I still await un-refutable exemption examples from you please.

However, I am reliant upon the stored power of the battery system in my caravan this evening (Being parked up in my usual Friday night bush spot) so I will have to leave this discussion for now until I'm sure the solar power system has re-charged the batteries tomorrow.

I'm more than happy to be re-educated by you then if you're able to do so.

Goodnight

[purple.cow]

No one??:|

I don't even need to check to know they exist. 

Example please?

[judyztreasurez]

No one??:|

I don't even need to check to know they exist. 

Absolutely agree Bob. There are many people who have no food, and no place to live...as to no hope of manking it better. Never say never. Where there is life, there is hope

[judyztreasurez]

manking....making