Thread: The rich get richer.... Poor get...

This is NOT a religious stance, it is merely to point out that people from even this long ago had problems with freeloading and shirkers, and tax was a big thing in Roman times...

2 Thessalonians 3
The Message (MSG)
Those Who Are Lazy

3 1-3 One more thing, friends: Pray for us. Pray that the Master’s Word will simply take off and race through the country to a groundswell of response, just as it did among you. And pray that we’ll be rescued from these scoundrels who are trying to do us in. I’m finding that not all “believers” are believers. But the Master never lets us down. He’ll stick by you and protect you from evil.

4-5 Because of the Master, we have great confidence in you. We know you’re doing everything we told you and will continue doing it. May the Master take you by the hand and lead you along the path of God’s love and Christ’s endurance.

6-9 Our orders—backed up by the Master, Jesus—are to refuse to have anything to do with those among you who are lazy and refuse to work the way we taught you. Don’t permit them to freeload on the rest. We showed you how to pull your weight when we were with you, so get on with it. We didn’t sit around on our hands expecting others to take care of us. In fact, we worked our fingers to the bone, up half the night moonlighting so you wouldn’t be burdened with taking care of us. And it wasn’t because we didn’t have a right to your support; we did. We simply wanted to provide an example of diligence, hoping it would prove contagious.

10-13 Don’t you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? “If you don’t work, you don’t eat.” And now we’re getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately—no excuses, no arguments—and earn their own keep. Friends, don’t slack off in doing your duty.

14-15 If anyone refuses to obey our clear command written in this letter, don’t let him get by with it. Point out such a person and refuse to subsidize his freeloading. Maybe then he’ll think twice. But don’t treat him as an enemy. Sit him down and talk about the problem as someone who cares.

16 May the Master of Peace himself give you the gift of getting along with each other at all times, in all ways. May the Master be truly among you!

17 I, Paul, bid you good-bye in my own handwriting. I do this in all my letters, so examine my signature as proof that the letter is genuine.

18 The incredible grace of our Master, Jesus Christ, be with all of you!

So even long ago there was the same arguments, about the same problems in society. Those who work hard to support those who don't or won't.

there is some good advice there in 6-9, 10-13, 14-15

JC

They were interesting words spoken by the late Mr.Packer,shortly after that statement it was revealed that his previous year's tax payment amounted to 8c-----------now that was what I call "creative accounting"



But I have made do with what we have since I(we) was put on an invalid(supporting)pension in 1982,to keep myself occupied I took up school bus driving,the pay rate was inside the maximum allowed while on the pension,live in a private long term rental,and bought outright my ageing Landrovers

Originally Posted by UncleHo

They were interesting words spoken by the late Mr.Packer,shortly after that statement it was revealed that his previous year's tax payment amounted to 8c-----------now that was what I call "creative accounting"

And If I recall, all totally legal.

i do agree that the "The rich get richer.... Poor get..." line is an excuse

however compared to the last 20-50 years, getting a first house in a lot lot harder. back in the day the average wage to average house price was 3:1
now its closer to 8:1 with a combine wage!

im not saying its impossible, its out of reach for many of the younger generation.
i have an above average wage and i wont be buying a house by myself as its unaffordable.

Originally Posted by Eevo

however compared to the last 20-50 years, getting a first house in a lot lot harder. back in the day the average wage to average house price was 3:1 now its closer to 8:1 with a combine wage!

im not saying its impossible, its out of reach for many of the younger generation.

20 - 25 years ago you had interest rates of ~15% or more. Young people then still managed it. We (wife + me) were one of them.

Interest rates today are very low even if house prices compared to wage earnings are higher, so the situation is maybe not much different.

Originally Posted by Eevo

i do agree that the "The rich get richer.... Poor get..." line is an excuse

however compared to the last 20-50 years, getting a first house in a lot lot harder. back in the day the average wage to average house price was 3:1
now its closer to 8:1 with a combine wage!

im not saying its impossible, its out of reach for many of the younger generation.
i have an above average wage and i wont be buying a house by myself as its unaffordable.

My first wages in Oz was $43 per week and we paid $23 a week rent.
It was nice to have a full shopping trolley for $6.00
Back then a two bedroom unit in Hillsdale cost $9000.
Now it will be impossible for a fitter to start from $0 and purchase the first home in East Sydney

Originally Posted by Ferret

20 - 25 years ago you had interest rates of ~15% or more. Young people then still managed it. We (wife + me) were one of them.

Interest rates today are very low even if house prices compared to wage earnings are higher, so the situation is maybe not much different.

over the life of a homeloan, 15% for 5 years is quite minimal.

and it doesnt change the price of the house.

15% interest rate lets say increases the repayments costs by a factor of 2 (compared to the average wage and 7.5% rates).

today, the repayments have increased by a factor of 4 (compared to the average wage and interest rates are lower!!

give me house prices of 20-25 years ago and i'll gladly accept 15%, no, 20% rates.

I agree Justin,

Although my posts may not show it, I also have a big problem with the third generation unemployed collecting benefits while the rest of us pay for it... or some that are "employed" in the government sector are able to do no work and be untouchable at the same time.

I do however see the third generation unemployed collecting the dole as a failure of policy rather than "they're too lazy to do anything about it". The existing welfare system is partly to blame - it encourages some people (or rather most people in certain situations) to do nothing and just collect benefits. It's a trap you can get caught in from a young age and never get out of - I've seen too many school friends go down that road.

Lack of opportunity / role models is another, and I don't think that the "we'll only help those who help themselves" attitude espoused by the right is the answer either. Truth is. neither side of politics is willing to do anything about it. Those that have tried got hammered by the likes of Rupert, Gina & Co.

Isuzurover started a good Soapbox thread about "what you'd do if you were in government"... where I posted in detail everything I thought was wrong and what I thought ought to be done about it, but can't seem to find it now.