http://m.ibtimes.com/australia-dislodges-switzerland-as-wealthiest-nation-in-the-world-234393.html We should also have sympathy for our poor cousins
http://www.debtclock.com.au/ Click on the link and see how much debt the LABOR goverment has racked up. When the libs left office they did so with a huge SURPLUS, a SURPLUS that has been squandered by labor failures
Hey Ian I dont know many people that can boast $221,704 per head in their family, is this because its factoring in the 1% that hold all the wealth? Because the other 99% are not even close Again are you talking about average folks or are you talking about bankers, CEO's and the elite. The average wage here in Australia isn't that much better than the average wage in the $US in terms of buying power. Get a grip champ and come down from your cloud into reality.
Unfortunately you appear to have not comprehended the article correctly, it refers to median wealth. The rest of your post just compounds your lack of comprehension.
No wonder we are the prime target for a takeover _______________________________________________ "Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, however, show that despite the fast-paced growth in wealth, the gap between the richest and poorest Australians have widened. The average net worth of the wealthiest 20 per cent of Australians is $2.2 million, while that of the poorest is $32,000. The growing difference is because the wealthy Australians hold two thirds of the country's total household wealth and the poorest only a mere 1 per cent." _______________________________________________ I guess if at least 20% of Aussies have practically nothing, (1%), then there's gonna be some whingers hey? 20% of Aussies have 66% of the wealth. That leaves 60% of Middle Wealth Aussies to squabble over the remaining 33%, (ie. the Rat Race) I think the statistics would also include 6 million "New Australians" in that count, not that it matters, but it would be interesting to see the figures on that group and see how they are faring compared to the "Aussie".
The bottom 20% don't have any money to speak of, the article clearly stated "net worth". Presumably that includes the family pet and all chattels. Is it "insured value" or real value of actual assets? Ok, I might have $32,000 insured value for home and contents insurance, but all my junk might fetch $600 on Saturday morning at my garage sale. The details are not clear on how they made the report, but I very much doubt the Lower 20% people have ever even seen 30k, let alone had that sort of money. You'll also find that a substantial number of this group are pensioners who've hoarded away personal effects of subsistence for themselves, and this too may be included in the 32K estimate, including any vehicles. We are apparently the lucky country, no argument there from me. Some are just luckier than others, and that's the way it is. But to address the Australian people who suffer economic hardship and more or less tell them to stop their whining because they are rich, is callous disregard to their plight, and completely counter-productive towards fixing a huge problem, and it re-inforces negative attitudes towards the poor from the sectors of society who have the ability to help. Poor people cop enough crap as it is without being denigrated by the callousness of the Privaledged classes. I'm sorry, but I'm calling you out on this one.
No Ian, they were honest and reported the growing disparity between rich and poor. You twisted it into a slur onto the under-privaledged and suffering in this country, because they have the audacity to complain of their plight. A cheap shot and you can take responsibility for your post rather than pass the buck this time. So, you scoff at the poor and make fun of them and propagate bad attitudes, you're not alone, big deal - entitled to your opinion. I'm just not gonna let you off the hook unscathed is all Q. What's the difference between a poor man and a rich man once you empty their pockets? A. Nothing - They both become men. Take away the money problem, the attitudes etc, and you are left with humanity.
You can't be blamed entirely, you and your like minded peers are indoctrinated to the point where these attitudes are normal conversation and form your morality. It's open warfare on the poor, why not, they are easy targets and can't defend themselves adequately. They have no power base, advertising budgets or mass media outlet..... .... except for the internet of course, but it's easy to fob them off as lunatics on this faceless medium, is it not? After all, they are used to getting kicked in the guts aren't they? You never know who is likely to be lurking behind a keyboard, it could be one of "them". A poor person with a computer? How is that possible? I build and maintain PC's for the under-privaledged in my life. Yes, some do have them. If that helps deliver them from the despair of poverty and ignorance, even temporarily, so be it. Call them what you want.
Seriously who are these 'poor' people you are referring to? How much do you need to earn before you stop being considered 'poor'? Are you 'poor' if you have a television screen bigger than 40"? Are you 'poor' if you have an iphone? There are very few people in this country that I would consider 'poor'. I think a lot of people in this country have delusional notions of what it means to be poor.
They must have very nice public Gun Ranges & Shooting areas with Paved Parking and genuine Hardwood benchrest stalls with spanish tile roofs and a clubhouse with excelent BAR B Q .
I don't have a 40" flat screen or a mobile phone, does that make me poor by definition - or worse? I better rush out and buy those things now I know that I'm inadequate Beyond that, I find your statement, and many others in these threads here, simply unbelievable, jawdropping on my part. I cannot believe the utter ignorance displayed in these pages by people who have the gift of written language and a modicum of education. Have they been teaching bigotry since I left school? Where do you people get this stuff? Are you even real or are you government minders sent here to 'control' the threads and press out the status quo propaganda ? I'm going with the idiot theory, simply because I don't want to even think about the alternative Byee
While Australia does indeed have poor people, it isn't like other places don't. Their GINI isn't so bad. So, while possible, I'm doubtfull unequal distribution of wealth is the story here. At least in relation to the US. Also I'm not sure if individually held wealth is a great measure, as a lot of personal choice, such as renting vs owning a home, and accounting tricks, such as social security, can greatly distort the picture. However Australias unemployment has stayed low even in these hard times, causing median numbers for wealth and salary to jump up in relation to many other nations. And that low unemployment is a genuine edge they seem to be enjoying. However the question to ask is if there is anything to be learned here. Australia has impressive and not very depleted natural resouces both in minerals and fossile fuels. So even in an economic downturn they've got investment money flooding in, a positive trade balance from exporting those resources, and plenty of good mining/roughneck jobs to go around which in turn fuel many more service jobs. But having a whole lot of land full of natural resources per capita is mostly just luck.
We haven`t got the spanish roof, but at least the booze is free. My pistol work improves out of sight after a dozen or so tripple gins (no ice, no polutants), settles the shakes right down.
I'm going the way they're government minders or maybe very rich dudes that think they are government minders blinded by party poltics. The poor do exist in Australia and they can be seen frequently if you have an eye for detail.
No, actually they left a structural deficit, while the economy was technically in the black when they left, once all their stuff was paid for it was in the red. The government spent a fair bit on my education so I am surprised that I can't get the numbers in the debt clock to add up. Combining debt by state I get $48.6bn, not $136.5bn.. Adding the credit card debt to the debt by state I get $98.7bn, still not $136.5bn. Anyway... And $136.5bn / population of Australia = $6000, not $15651. Australia has a GDP of ~$1.23T, meaning the MASSIVE DEBT = ($0.1365T/$1.23T)*100 = ~11% of GDP. When you buy a house you can borrow up to about 3-400% of your GDP and lots of people still do that without being destroyed, it's an investment... When Labor put us back into surplus before the next election what will you cry about?
There is NO way that is going to happen. Even if they use the scammed carbon tax money they still wont do it. Cant wait to the next election..i have chaff bags ready to send out for EVERY labor party goon and also for the so called "independents". The fiscal MISMANAGEMENT by labor is only one reason of many for their impending doom.
Its not rich, but if you were single and lived alone in a cheap house, you'd be living alright. I'd love to have that much money! Currently I earn around $24,000 a year. I think anyone who earns six figures a year is mega rich, but only because I cannot fathom having that much money.
Labor getting us into surplus? They must be getting Peter Costello for treasurer. I wonder who they`ll get for PM? Robert Menzies?
