I was inspired to write this by another post that suggested that young people should get off the dole and get a job and I didn't want to hijack that thread..
Not long after the first convicts arrived in Sydney Newcastle became an important industrial hub lasting almost 200 years, in the last 20 or 30 years we have lost most of our industries including steelmaking and shipbuilding mainly because of political decisions. The next to go will no doubt be aluminium smelting due to rising power costs and eventually the coal industry again both due to political decisions. I only hope that we never get into another war because if we need to fire up our industrial production to defend ourselves there is not going to be any industry or skilled people to do it. I feel real empathy towards those who are currently losing their jobs in the car industry the power station closures and the completion of government shipbuilding contracts but all I can say is welcome to the club.
People wonder why Trump and the pro Brexit people who pushed this radical idea of "worrying about your own country first" got so much support. How is it possible for the world's biggest exporter of LNG to be running out of domestic gas supply, how is it possible for the worlds biggest exporter of coal to go from having the cheapest power to the costliest ? I believe in reducing emissions and in free trade but let's do both sensibly so as not to destroy our own economy in the process. This is not really meant to be a comment about either side of politics (basically they have the same policies anyhow) it's more about thinking carefully where we are heading as a nation. The decisions we are currently making have a big impact on young people now and in the future on the opportunities they are going to have to earn their living. Glad I was born a baby boomer the direction I was heading seemed so much clearer 47 years ago when I entered the work force as an apprentice....
Cheers
BB
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Tuesday 14th of March 2017 09:57:29 AM
pomme said
10:49 AM Mar 14, 2017
When i arrived in this country in the early seventies, after travelling and working in a lot of other country's i thought this was the best country to get ahead for a job and raise a family,
so much going for it.
But over the years so many work places have closed and i worry for my children now, and i'm inclined to think as "Belmont Bear" does where will it all end.
(ex) "Pomme"
daffyfrancis said
11:18 AM Mar 14, 2017
Hi,
I feel for the young of today to as when I left schooling almost 50 years ago it wasn't can I get a job but what job do I want to do. All my class mates got jobs & I had my first job organised before leaving school provided I achieved the results they required & I then asked to have a 2 week holiday break before starting - cannot imagine that happening today lol. In all my working life I never begrudged any of my taxes going to help pensioners or genuinely unemployed & I now find it amusing when some people write commenting on the appearances of others they see when they visit the welfare agency - have a look in a mirror & remember you are both there to obtain a taxpayer provided benefit. They may well believe that if they had the same opportunities as us they would have made a better fist of it & not need welfare as we do in later life.
David
Gaylehere said
11:23 AM Mar 14, 2017
I also worry about our lack of industries. When I left school, in the cities, there were factories for young people to get jobs in, either as an apprentice or a factory hand. If you were not an overly academic person you still could get a job. Now it is hard for these people to find work whatever age. In the country the family farm could support parents and their adult children and families. This is not the case anymore. A lot of farmers are struggling. Any manufacturing has a hard time competing with imports that can be produced at half of the cost. It is a vicious circle. We all like to buy Australian made but when you are to struggling it is hard to justify buying the dearer Australian made product. When it comes to living standards are we all too materialistic. We only had a three bedroom house, one bathroom, living area. No 4th bedroom, no family room, no en suite and no need for both parents to work and no need for two cars. Life did seem simpler back then.
Husband worked for 47 years in PMG/Australia post. Son is 26 and in his 4th job through no fault of his own. Lots to ponder.
macka17 said
12:04 PM Mar 14, 2017
Similar.
I came here in '73. From Pom. Reason being. prospects for my 3 kids I was financially VERY well of for a working class fella. Construction Machinery and mechanic. Worked on building the Motorways. Gas Pipelines, and modern (then) factory's.
But there wasn't much prospects there for them in future.
Fortunately my kids are like me. Established. and their kids mainly. Couple In school still, But the others all working mainly in the mines. Financially pretty good and secure. (Not working for contractors.)
This country. Like all Financial western worlds. Have to get rid of this Political system. And start Looking after our own first.
ALL minerals fluids, gases, under the ground belong to the COUNTRY. NOT individuals.
They should be paid a %age for the removal of anything UNDER their land.
and all moneys coming from. Should be going to the Country's coffers.
Get ourselves straight first. Hospitals. Education. Labors debts etc (THAT's a bloody killer.)
THEN. If any left. spread some about.
You don't get your wages. Give most to some body else (strangers) first. then manage as you can on what's left. Do you?.
That's that these governments are doing.
We have to stop it. People should learn to wait till they have. NOT borrow everything. I haven't even got a credit rating. nor credit card Haven't borrowed since a $10k loan once. back in '74. Paid off in 6 months. Mum always said to me."If you haven't got the money for it. You can't afford it. Wait till you can" We moved into a new council house back in '55. mum self and young brother. one wooden box 3 cushions and one mattress. She worked in Steelworks on shift work, alternate shifts.(6am t o 2 pm. 2 till 10 pm. 10 pm till 6 am 7 days a week) I never hardly saw her. Just Brought up my kid brother. and she slowly built up a nice home for us.
But. Living through that taught me the value of independance and savings. I swore my kids would never go through the no dad, no home. no money, life.
I took note, and taught my kids the same. They all own everything they have. at whatever financial level they at. One a millionaire plus. The world would be a much better place if others did likewise.
Once you borrow. YOU always behind the 8 ball. Having to pay it. AND it's interest rates back. Real dumb actually.
And YES. I lived in a caravan and bred kids\saved monies in it. Till We could buy a house for cash. Working 16\18 hr days non stop for near10 yrs. took 8ish yrs to get house money together. (2.694 pounds.) New. 3 bed Semi in rural area midlands.
Like I said. No problems looking after our own. We. The old folks gave these younger ones the Australia they have now.
Funny how they conveniently forget that and don't like parting with some money for oldies,
while giving everything away to strangers. THAT. I can NOT understand.
THEY. are giving it away and inviting every terrorist they can find here to live.
Sorry. Not my idea of a secure homeland anymore. Thank god we won't be here to see too much of the consequences. OLD AGE Soon becoming dust. But I feel for our grandkids and theirs. If it isn't reversed soon.
Do something about it soon Pleeeez.
And that's my little whinge for the day. as he limps off to the kitchen for another fancy pill or two.
5 weeks down. 8 to go. Then I'll be human again hey. Hopefully. Can't find the sweet spot on this inbuilt Bionic man sh-t, till my body finishes it's rejection cycle and I heal around it all.
THEN.. we'll be cooking.
-- Edited by macka17 on Tuesday 14th of March 2017 12:16:29 PM
Tony Bev said
12:08 PM Mar 14, 2017
I do not have the answer without starting a political debate, which I agree should not be on this forum But I would like to say a few things without pushing, or giving preference to any political party, as basically the only politician I know of who thought of the future was Cecil Rhodes It appears that this man planted trees, knowing that he would not live long enough to see them grow to maturity Also a special mention to Winston Churchill, who refused an old pension, as he said that he had enough
I do not use the word dole bludger, as due to there being no employment for all the baby boomers in the summer of 1962, (in England). I found no employment for the first six months of my employment life. I will therefore assume that some people are unemployed through no fault of their own
As far as the next war is concerned I can only say Thank God it will be with the use of nuclear missiles, because we do not have the capacity to build our own defence systems
As far as our lack of future energy, of oil and gas is concerned, and perhaps coal if someone can make a clean coal power station Instead of saying to the owners. "Peace on and you can sell it to the highest bidder from overseas, and do not worry about leaving us in the dark" I would be saying. "Peace off, that is the last boatload that is leaving for a while, as we are running low, so do not forget to take your furniture as you leave"
As far looking after our disadvantaged folk (old, medically unfit, unemployed), is concerned If we are not willing to look after others, not as fortunate as ourselves, and we become a race of the survival of the fittest, then we are no longer human beings
A bit of food for thought is the song from utube in the link below It is about Canadians, but it could relate to us
Hi Everyone, Thanks for your input on this. Although this is an interesting discussion, I feel that politics does come into it and we are keen to avoid political discussions on our forum. In our experience, political threads inevitably lead to bad feelings so I am closing this now. Thanks for your understanding.
I was inspired to write this by another post that suggested that young people should get off the dole and get a job and I didn't want to hijack that thread..
Not long after the first convicts arrived in Sydney Newcastle became an important industrial hub lasting almost 200 years, in the last 20 or 30 years we have lost most of our industries including steelmaking and shipbuilding mainly because of political decisions. The next to go will no doubt be aluminium smelting due to rising power costs and eventually the coal industry again both due to political decisions. I only hope that we never get into another war because if we need to fire up our industrial production to defend ourselves there is not going to be any industry or skilled people to do it. I feel real empathy towards those who are currently losing their jobs in the car industry the power station closures and the completion of government shipbuilding contracts but all I can say is welcome to the club.
People wonder why Trump and the pro Brexit people who pushed this radical idea of "worrying about your own country first" got so much support. How is it possible for the world's biggest exporter of LNG to be running out of domestic gas supply, how is it possible for the worlds biggest exporter of coal to go from having the cheapest power to the costliest ? I believe in reducing emissions and in free trade but let's do both sensibly so as not to destroy our own economy in the process. This is not really meant to be a comment about either side of politics (basically they have the same policies anyhow) it's more about thinking carefully where we are heading as a nation. The decisions we are currently making have a big impact on young people now and in the future on the opportunities they are going to have to earn their living. Glad I was born a baby boomer the direction I was heading seemed so much clearer 47 years ago when I entered the work force as an apprentice....
Cheers
BB
-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Tuesday 14th of March 2017 09:57:29 AM
so much going for it.
But over the years so many work places have closed and i worry for my children now, and i'm inclined to think as "Belmont Bear" does where will it all end.
(ex) "Pomme"
Hi,
I feel for the young of today to as when I left schooling almost 50 years ago it wasn't can I get a job but what job do I want to do. All my class mates got jobs & I had my first job organised before leaving school provided I achieved the results they required & I then asked to have a 2 week holiday break before starting - cannot imagine that happening today lol. In all my working life I never begrudged any of my taxes going to help pensioners or genuinely unemployed & I now find it amusing when some people write commenting on the appearances of others they see when they visit the welfare agency - have a look in a mirror & remember you are both there to obtain a taxpayer provided benefit. They may well believe that if they had the same opportunities as us they would have made a better fist of it & not need welfare as we do in later life.
David
Husband worked for 47 years in PMG/Australia post. Son is 26 and in his 4th job through no fault of his own. Lots to ponder.
Similar.
I came here in '73. From Pom.
Reason being.
prospects for my 3 kids I was financially VERY well of for a working class fella.
Construction Machinery and mechanic.
Worked on building the Motorways. Gas Pipelines, and modern (then) factory's.
But there wasn't much prospects there for them in future.
Fortunately my kids are like me. Established. and their kids mainly.
Couple In school still, But the others all working mainly in the mines.
Financially pretty good and secure. (Not working for contractors.)
This country. Like all Financial western worlds. Have to get rid of this Political system.
And start Looking after our own first.
ALL minerals fluids, gases, under the ground belong to the COUNTRY.
NOT individuals.
They should be paid a %age for the removal of anything UNDER their land.
and all moneys coming from. Should be going to the Country's coffers.
Get ourselves straight first. Hospitals. Education. Labors debts etc
(THAT's a bloody killer.)
THEN. If any left.
spread some about.
You don't get your wages. Give most to some body else (strangers) first.
then manage as you can on what's left.
Do you?.
That's that these governments are doing.
We have to stop it.
People should learn to wait till they have. NOT borrow everything.
I haven't even got a credit rating. nor credit card
Haven't borrowed since a $10k loan once. back in '74.
Paid off in 6 months.
Mum always said to me."If you haven't got the money for it. You can't afford it.
Wait till you can"
We moved into a new council house back in '55. mum self and young brother.
one wooden box 3 cushions and one mattress.
She worked in Steelworks on shift work, alternate shifts.(6am t o 2 pm. 2 till 10 pm. 10 pm till 6 am 7 days a week)
I never hardly saw her. Just Brought up my kid brother.
and she slowly built up a nice home for us.
But. Living through that taught me the value of independance and savings.
I swore my kids would never go through the no dad, no home. no money, life.
I took note, and taught my kids the same.
They all own everything they have. at whatever financial level they at.
One a millionaire plus.
The world would be a much better place if others did likewise.
Once you borrow. YOU always behind the 8 ball.
Having to pay it. AND it's interest rates back.
Real dumb actually.
And YES.
I lived in a caravan and bred kids\saved monies in it.
Till We could buy a house for cash. Working 16\18 hr days non stop for near10 yrs.
took 8ish yrs to get house money together. (2.694 pounds.)
New. 3 bed Semi in rural area midlands.
Like I said.
No problems looking after our own.
We. The old folks gave these younger ones the Australia they have now.
Funny how they conveniently forget that and don't like parting with some money for oldies,
while giving everything away to strangers. THAT. I can NOT understand.
THEY. are giving it away and inviting every terrorist they can find here to live.
Sorry.
Not my idea of a secure homeland anymore.
Thank god we won't be here to see too much of the consequences. OLD AGE
Soon becoming dust.
But I feel for our grandkids and theirs.
If it isn't reversed soon.
Do something about it soon Pleeeez.
And that's my little whinge for the day.
as he limps off to the kitchen for another fancy pill or two.
5 weeks down. 8 to go. Then I'll be human again hey. Hopefully.
Can't find the sweet spot on this inbuilt Bionic man sh-t,
till my body finishes it's rejection cycle and I heal around it all.
THEN.. we'll be cooking.
-- Edited by macka17 on Tuesday 14th of March 2017 12:16:29 PM
I do not have the answer without starting a political debate, which I agree should not be on this forum
But I would like to say a few things without pushing, or giving preference to any political party, as basically the only politician I know of who thought of the future was Cecil Rhodes
It appears that this man planted trees, knowing that he would not live long enough to see them grow to maturity
Also a special mention to Winston Churchill, who refused an old pension, as he said that he had enough
I found no employment for the first six months of my employment life.
I will therefore assume that some people are unemployed through no fault of their own
Thank God it will be with the use of nuclear missiles, because we do not have the capacity to build our own defence systems
Instead of saying to the owners. "Peace on and you can sell it to the highest bidder from overseas, and do not worry about leaving us in the dark"
I would be saying. "Peace off, that is the last boatload that is leaving for a while, as we are running low, so do not forget to take your furniture as you leave"
If we are not willing to look after others, not as fortunate as ourselves, and we become a race of the survival of the fittest, then we are no longer human beings
A bit of food for thought is the song from utube in the link below
It is about Canadians, but it could relate to us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNbFLlMIp28
Hi Everyone,
Thanks for your input on this. Although this is an interesting discussion, I feel that politics does come into it and we are keen to avoid political discussions on our forum. In our experience, political threads inevitably lead to bad feelings so I am closing this now. Thanks for your understanding.