Originally Posted by
doug3030
I am currently 54 and I suppose I could retire tomorrow if I wanted to.
I will NEVER receive an old-age pension. I have worked hard to establish several income streams that guarantee that I will never pass the means test. I have never received any money for doing nothing. No government handouts, no inheritances. Everything I get is because I have done the work to justify getting it.
Along the way, I have paid my way in the form of taxes. I have created jobs for others, who in their turn, also paid their taxes. Well, actually, I paid them their pay, less taxes and then gave the government their tax money. I also collected GST for the government on every job I did since that tax was introduced. Did the government pay me for all that work i did for them collecting tax on their behalf? Of course not.
I once calculated, based on the dollars of income tax withheld from my workers, GST collected and personal income tax paid, the number of dole bludgers I was supporting for the year. If they all had the courtesy to send me a Christmas card, it would have been quite a display. But guess what, not one christmas card from them or from the government. Not really surprised.
And the lak of thanks and recognition continue. I would bet that EVERY SINGLE DOLE BLUDGER I have financed while I am working will be entitled to some sort of pension, whereas I will not.
I often wonder how much money Centrelink spends verifying means tests for the old aged pension. I actually think it would be cheaper to pay everyone above the retirement age the pension rather than having to prove entitlement. Cost effective or not, surely it would make more sense. then at least the people like myself who have contributed to the public purse would get the same as those who did not.
Will I need the pension when I stop work? No I wont. Would I like it and do I feel I should have it? Yes I do. I have paid more for it than anyone who is getting it. What wold I spend it on? I would probably give most of it to charities, because i probably wont need it. I give money to various charities every week anyway.
However, I do think it is rude that the very people who prop up the economy, create jobs for others nd put money aside for their own retirement are the ones that the government overlooks when they come to the end of their working lives.
Cheers
Doug
PS: Isn't this supposed to be the jokes forum?