Taking Only What You Need: A guide to improving quality of life in Australia

 Matthew R gives his take on how to improve quality of life in Australia:

As an independent young adult who has recently bought a home in Sydney, I was taught from a young age the value of a dollar. I was taught to only take what you can eat at the dinner table, only buy things you can afford and to put some money aside for a rainy day. When my wealthy father made me get a job at age 14 I complained about washing dishes for meagre pay, but am a better man for it.

The trouble in Australia is that we the tax payer have too many people at the tax payer funded dinner table, all eating more than their fair share of food. With Federal, State and Councils all sitting around with their hands out it’s no wonder that everyday Australian’s are struggling with cost of living pressures.

But too much is never enough, like an addict who has already sold their wedding ring and raided the piggy bank, the government is now searching for ways to get some quick cash. This is of course the carbon tax.

This paper will not discuss whether global warming is real or fake. The scientific community is divided on this and it is not my area of expertise. But rather I will suggest that the government more efficiently utilise the billions in tax dollars they already receive and better prepare for the future. What we should be demanding of our politicians is a freeze on new taxes until the existing funds are better managed.

Biting the hand of the resource sector should not be permitted under any circumstances.  This is the hand that puts food on the very table that the entire nation eats from. Bite it too many times and they find another table. Most likely a resource rich third world country, which make up for their lack of stability by offering companies an opportunity to do more or less whatever they please. Add low wage costs to the list of benefits and it’s a wonder they haven’t left already.

A good way to kick start efficiency of our government would be a thorough re-design of the way that it operates. Three tiers of government are too many to be supported by a population of circa 20 million. An idea often floated is to eliminate state government and give councils increased responsibilities. Limit the scope of government to only what is necessary and use the savings to build infrastructure for the future. Or give the savings back to their rightful owner, the tax payer.

Australia is now approaching full employment, mostly due to the economic benefits of the resource sector. But still, there are able bodied people who refuse to work or won’t move to areas with better employment prospects. These people are already paid by the government; why not get something in return. Centre link recipients could pick up litter, plant trees or perform other useful tasks which are of benefit to the community as well as the environment. This may also have the added bonus of getting people off the couch, out meeting people and breaking the cycle of long term unemployment.

Every problem has a solution. It’s hard to believe that just over one hundred years ago major cities were becoming crippled with pollution of a different kind: Horses. Cities like New York City had large amounts of fecal matter covering the streets and there was no solution in sight. Then came the internal combustion engine. While it is not perfect, efficiency and emissions technology has come a long way since then. Even if global warming is real, a re-distribution of income by an inept government isn’t going to help us (think of the complete debacle which was the ceiling insulation scheme). Advances in technology however will make a tangible difference to the quality of life for all. Australia should invest in scientific research, more university places and seek to become a world leader in advanced energy technologies. We already know that we cannot compete in manufacturing any more. Like a young athlete studying for a degree to fall back on when his days on the footy field are over Australia should be readying itself for the day that the quarries run out.

Comments

[David Elson]

1.

hear hear!

[pk]

2.

Can we have a follow up article called;

"Buying Only What You Need: A guide to improving quality of life in Australia"

Where we can discuss people who think it's their god given right to live above their means, and then complain about it and blame "bludgers", "socialists" and big government for the taxes they pay and interest rates they are subjected to.