Australian / USA $ assistance

[daveandton]

I know I'm getting older but I can still see the funny side of things. Just checking to re invest  some of the money to Kiva and noticed that the richest country in the world is on the list for loans. Not wishing to say anything bad about Americans ( got that out of my system 46 years ago fighting with them ). Great people I found but I can't believe that some poor citizens have got to ask for micro loans from Kiva. Seems very wierd to me but hey what do I know. What's everybody's thoughts.
Dave
PS I put in more money by the way

[Dingo]

Living in Australia and now living part ime here in the USA I see the big difference between the countries.  In Aust you are looked after if you do not have a job or get sick or are disabled in some way and can live on the Government provided welfare.  Unemployment is available to all no matter how you became unemployed. Medical is provided free of charge if you need it for the basics to keep you alive and well.  There is of course a flip side to this in that the taxes are higher and the cost of living is higher because of the high wages.  

In the USA many people fall between the cracks and have no income, and the welfare is not enough to live on or get meals etc institutions like the Salvation army Much more than in Australia.  Unemployment benefits are not granted to everyone, you need to qualify, and not just saying you left your last job like in Australia, and it is just for a limited time based on how long you worked if you qualify.

So I can see why the USA has people that are loaning money from Kiva.  Remember it is a loan not a handout.

[daveandton]

Thanks Dingo. I understand but I'd much rather be living here if I was sick or injured.
Dave

[Mike Mitchell]

Thanks Dingo. I understand but I'd much rather be living here if I was sick or injured.
Dave

Or unemployed or working or needing education or  ....  biggrin 

[Mysteron347]

 Unemployment is available to all no matter how you became unemployed.

Ba-lo-ney. You've been listening to the government propaganda machine again.

My parents, like most BOINC@AUSTRALIA members' (I imagine) were brought up during the depression and had a fear of unemployment. They saw a degree as a passport to always having a job, so I was pushed to obtain one.

Since I could not afford to go to uni full-time, I worked during the day (and obtained an "Electronics & Communications Certificate"; ie. I'm a qualified electronics technician.) and attended uni part-time. Eventually, I qualified with a Bsc(Comp Sci).

The longest time I was unemployed from Dec 6^th 1971 to May, 1977 was a few months during the IT downturn of 1992 after I'd been made redundant. The rest of the time, I saved my income, mainly as a protection against the inevtable "rainy day." I didn't splash out on the latest Hot Holden or O/S holdiays or attend every overpriced concert given by any third-rate "artist" who could be enticed to tour. Saved and invested.

When I moved to  WA in 1997, I thought my qualifications would be useful. After 18 months of rejections reading something like "Wait 'till we advertise positions and then approach through an agent, upstart" I admitted defeat and went on the dole for about 3 months before finally landing a contract.

A week after September 11, I threw in the contract because I could no longer tolerate the corruption. Well, there was so much IT work that Australia was importing people from third-world countries on 345  visas to fill the "shortfall". I had thirty years' experience, a degree, can read and write English and have a knowledge of local law and custom.

I was told by the agents not to waste their time and mine. They complained to me about the qualifications of their overseas recruits being worthless and they had to send them to "skills tests" before peddling their services. They're not interested in me because they get paid nothing for placing me as I'm not on the dole. I'm not on the dole because I saved too hard and have assets which exclude me due to the "assets test."

But all those years of frugality has taught me how to survive on income from a few odd jobs from time to time. I've had to sell down my assets to survive. This financial year, I sold a property. Sure, I made a handsome profit - and the government will get its "fair share" (for doing nothing - taking no risk) so even if I was to get a job tomorrow, because of the way CGT works, I'd be paying 40% tax from the very first dollar of income.

And still no support. No dole. Because of no dole, no interest from "Job Network Agents." And employers are only interested in job placements through agents. I've tried jobs outside of IT and get the inevitable "but you've got no experience, and as soon as an IT job comes up, you'll leave and we'll have to star recruiting again."

Angry? Extremely. And frustrated.

Especially with this "the government takes care of everyone" myth. The government takes care of the idle and brainless - the ones the pollies can rely on for re-election to their own cushy positions.

[Mike Mitchell]

 Unemployment is available to all no matter how you became unemployed.

Ba-lo-ney. You've been listening to the government propaganda machine again.

If you're on a low or no income you can get assistance. Wont waste your time with my own story but they've helped me even though I used to be a high IT earner. I'll admit their attitude toward for high income earners is prejudicial and somewhat "gloatish" but they come though in the end.

They wont, though, make payments to someone who earns more than about $1,000 a week.

[Mysteron347]

 Unemployment is available to all no matter how you became unemployed.

Ba-lo-ney. You've been listening to the government propaganda machine again.

If you're on a low or no income you can get assistance. Wont waste your time with my own story but they've helped me even though I used to be a high IT earner. I'll admit their attitude toward for high income earners is prejudicial and somewhat "gloatish" but they come though in the end.

They wont, though, make payments to someone who earns more than about $1,000 a week.

Oh go ahead and bore me. I've got the time. I've been consistently told over the past thirteen years that because my assets exceed the asset-limit, I can't get any assistance whatever.

Now if that was lies, I'll start suing.

[Mike Mitchell]

there's a basic explanation here . This would suggest you have your own home and more than $202,000 but have not spoken to the free and independent financial advisors available through Centrelink.

There are a number of way, some suggested on the link above, to protect assets and still receive benefits.

I suggest you try different Centrelink offices and helpdesk people.

I can only wish I had your problems instead of mine.