The Area News poll on Tuesday afternoon asked readers, should supposed ‘poor people’ have fewer children?
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An overwhelming majority voted ‘yes’, which had many in the office asking who exactly falls into the category of ‘poor’, and whether ‘poor’ people actually contributed to the yes vote.
Ultimately, it doesn’t matter, because the term is a label representing everything the Griffith and Australian middle class is growing impatient with.
‘Poor’ people are the scapegoats for a broken welfare system, and in this instance, they’re the parents relying on Centrelink payments.
Dean of medicine at Bond University Peter Jones recently suggested creating public policies to limit the size of families among disadvantaged communities was controversial, but “essential” given the large number of children in care away from their parents.
Linking Communities Network’s Deb Longhurst said she was ‘appalled’ by Mr Jones’ comments.
The poll results on Tuesday afternoon was not an attack on ‘poor’ people, or an insinuation poor people shouldn’t have kids.
The attack was at the sorry state of our welfare system, and the shrinking financial gap between the hardworking and the lazy.
While those rorting the system certainly have a lot to answer for, it’s our political leaders failing to address a problem, putting a broken Centrelink in the ‘too hard basket’.
There’s plenty of quality welfare system templates on offer from around the world if Australian policy makers felt the urge to adopt some long-term vision.
The most generous governments base their welfare systems on socialist beliefs, while balancing a capitalist system for the working class.
The Nordic countries in and around Scandinavia are generally regarded to have some of the best functioning welfare and education systems in the world.
It has seen burgeoning economies flourish since World War II and standard of living sits among the globe’s top tier.
But it’s come at a price – these countries have a lot in common with Australia, topping the global cost of living and federal tax rate charts.
The only difference is our taxes pay for an ineffective welfare system.
Have your say and email – ben.jones@fairfaxmedia.com.au
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