http://blogs.crikey.com.au/trevorcook/2008/10/14/stimulus-package-discriminates-against-single-workers-again/ Trevor Cook on public relations, social media and politics Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:16:29 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/trevorcook/2008/10/14/stimulus-package-discriminates-against-single-workers-again/comment-page-1/#comment-2558 sooby Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:26:36 +0000 http://blogs.crikey.com.au/trevorcook/?p=4530#comment-2558 I agree: more single and/or childless people are frustrated at seeing their taxes support people wealthier than they are. Most of us would be delighted to support maternity leave schemes and more assistance for those really in need and struggling, but unfortunately greed has led to resentment. The argument that children are expensive (and they are) does not cut it. Nor does the 'taxpayer-of-the-future' stuff. The have-it-all generation wants zero impact from having children and they want other people to pay for it, preferably "the guvment" or the selfish childless folk. The opponents of these handouts are not just young singles and childless people but also the boomers and older Gen-Y who got by without handouts. 40 percent of households now consist of single and childless workers - the group that pays the most tax and receives the least benefits - that's a large proportion of disenfranchised voters for Mr Rudd to think about. The reality of what constitutes a 'family' has changed but policy is still back in the 1960s. I agree: more single and/or childless people are frustrated at seeing their taxes support people wealthier than they are. Most of us would be delighted to support maternity leave schemes and more assistance for those really in need and struggling, but unfortunately greed has led to resentment. The argument that children are expensive (and they are) does not cut it. Nor does the ‘taxpayer-of-the-future’ stuff. The have-it-all generation wants zero impact from having children and they want other people to pay for it, preferably “the guvment” or the selfish childless folk. The opponents of these handouts are not just young singles and childless people but also the boomers and older Gen-Y who got by without handouts. 40 percent of households now consist of single and childless workers – the group that pays the most tax and receives the least benefits – that’s a large proportion of disenfranchised voters for Mr Rudd to think about. The reality of what constitutes a ‘family’ has changed but policy is still back in the 1960s.

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