Socially Acceptable Living Standard

[John Pruden]

have done a lot of construction work for the likes of the national trust and nhs and government jobs you would be surprised at the amount of wasted money through some bureaucrat that comes up with a brain wave that's cost hundreds of thousands more than planed some people are great at spending other peoples money and get away with it? it is sickening to see but nobody seems to oversee thees people? lottery money is just a blank check for some believe me and the best of it is i would not have them hang a picture{if they could} for me? jp

[Captain Kong]

I think Bill Cosby says it all................................
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Cosby's ability to hit the nail on the head when it comes to life issues, is uncanny. His success as a comedian and the success of his books and TV programmes depended on his ability to recognize the comedy in everyday things.......LIKE THIS.....!!


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"I'm 83 and I'm Tired"

I'm 83. Except for brief period in the 50's when I was doing my National Service, I've worked hard since I was 17. Except for some serious health challenges, I put in 50-hour weeks, and didn't call in sick in nearly 40 years. I made a reasonable salary, but I didn't inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, it looks as
though retirement was a bad idea, and I'm tired. Very tired.

I'm tired of being told that I have to "spread the wealth" to people who don't have my work ethic. I'm tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy to earn it.

I'm tired of being told that ***** is a "Religion of Peace," when every day I can read dozens of stories of ****** men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family "honour"; of ******s rioting over some slight offense; of ******s murdering Christian and Jews because they aren't "believers"; of ******s burning schools for girls; of ******s stoning teenage rape victims to death for "adultery"; of ******s mutilating the
genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur'an and Shari'a law tells them to.

I'm tired of being told that out of "tolerance for other cultures" we must let Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries use our oil money to fund mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in Australia , New Zealand , UK , America and Canada , while no one from these countries are allowed to
fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia or any other Arab country to teach love and tolerance..

I'm tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate.

I'm tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses or stick a needle in their arm while they tried to fight it off?

I'm tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of all parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I'm tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.

I'm really tired of people who don't take responsibility for their lives and actions. I'm tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination or big-whatever for their problems.

I'm also tired and fed up with seeing young men and women in their teens and early 20's be-deck them selves in tattoos and face studs, thereby making themselves un-employable and claiming money from the Government.

Yes, I'm damn tired. But I'm also glad to be 83.. Because, mostly, I'm not going to have to see the world these people are making. I'm just sorry for my granddaughter and their children. Thank God I'm on the way out and not on the way in.









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[happy daze john in oz]

The bottom line in all of this is what level of living standard are you happy with? Some are quite happy with a small income if it meets their needs which may be very small. Others wil never be satisfied no matter how much they have. But maybe it is how you quantify what is important. In Indonesia I noticed that even the lowest paid all had an up to date mobile phone, yet they eat only the bare amount required to sustain life. Governments of all persusions will say they are concerned about the well being of the people, the other people in parliament with them that is. A pint on a Friday night is the highlight of the week for some, others it is a plate of caviar. We are either happy or unhappy with our lot, how we cope with that is a personal matter.

[Les Woodard]

Think that could be summed up with one of my old favourites.

Once complained of not having any shoe's until I met a person with no feet.

Have always felt that keeps me grounded.

[Richard Quartermaine]

John - Welcome back - (salamat kambali).

Indonesia is a richly fertile archipelago and practically anything will grow there. For example, Gunung Salak (Mount Salak) between Jakarta and Bogor has such a variety of climates on the way up (and down!) that tropical fruit and veges grow at the lower level up through the the range to temperate climate produce. Even apples grow at high altitudes. Even the most down and out can usually scrape together some food.

In Jakarta in the latter half of the 1970s we didn't have garbage collections but instead out the front of the houses there were 3 sided open concrete walls the all the refuse was dumped into. This was set alight every so often to clean it up. I asked my Indonesian colleague when we were driving through a particularly 'ripe' part of Jakarta why the garbage was so noticeable. He said that when the husband wakes up in the morning he has to crush his brains to find a way to feed his family that day - garbage is well down on the list as priorities go.

Also, necessity is the handmaiden of invention. Most things used by the poorer section of the community are hand made, and you might see a satay seller blowing air on his little portable fire with a fan like a hand turned hair drier made from an Arnott's biscuit tin with the label still on it.

Cheers
Richard Q

[alf corbyn]

just to save any confusion. out of the higher rate of mobility which is paid to some disabled people, you can get a car which you have to pay a minimum of about £50 pw. all you have to then pay for is petrol. tax, mot's, tyres insurance etc is all included in the £50.

[John Cassels]

he's not john i have one new Nissan qashqai+2 under the mobility scheme saves any travel expenses and getting around it saves you being housebound but you have to be disabled and with today's grillings you get of the DWP its trouble free motoring.but it is a need not a luxury.jp

Now I know my leg's being pulled. Not only do I find it difficult to believe that mobility claiments get a new car every 3 years ,
but a Nissan Qashquai ??? , now that's realy pushing the boundaries of credability.
What on earth would one need with a Nissan Q. ?.

Surely this cannot be true ?.

[Tony Morcom]

Anybody who has ever experienced disability will realise that a car needs to be roomy to allow easy access plus have room for wheelchairs and or mobility scooters. As it happens Nissan negotiated a fantastic deal with motability and as a result there are thousands of them on the roads now. We have had one for about 9 months now.

[John Pruden]

JOHN no your legs not getting pulled the seats lay down and there is room for a wheelchair as having spinal condition i sometimes use the chair the car you put a deposit {extra} to the benefit for the 3 years other than that the vehicle would have to be modified i hope this answers your post.JP

[happy daze john in oz]

Looking at the figure quoted to live on of some 38,500 that equates to about $2370 per fortnight. The state pension here in Oz is now about $1170 per fortnight for a married couple. I know of some who own their own unit who claim they can live a comfortable life style on that. We do get other concessions on gas, electric, motor registration, water rates, household rates, and some travel. In total worth about $1500 per year, but it varies from state to state.