(07-13-2024, 12:52 AM)Thryleon link Wrote:lods I don't want to diminish it at all.  That's not the point.  It was very different to live in that time and of course no one ever has it easy.  Struggles are always relative, but the struggles need to be relative.  These days the struggles seem to be less surmountable and im starting to hear people complain about the sort of thing that hits everyone but they're from the upper earning parts which is a worry.  They're not worried about the cost of technology, phones, streaming services.  They're cutting those. It's food, energy, housing, petrol, commuting, supermarket shopping, healthcare and in suburbs that are not affluent even though they earn well.  Very alarming signs for society.

I dont think people ever have it easy, but there was a roughly 50 year period where things were easier.  It ended about mid 2000's. 

(07-13-2024, 01:39 AM)Baggers link Wrote:A lot of truth and reality there, 3 Leos.

Up to around the 90s you had in your place of employ a security, as long as you did your job at least adequately, you had a security until retirement or as it was known way back then, the gold watch expectation. Since the 2000s young folk have not really known that security. Employment contracts are now the go. Baby-boomers find themselves at a stage in life where many have a nice nest egg/handsome super. But not all of us, I have a relative -- not Robinson Crusoe -- who lost his small business (and all savings/super) during Covid and now finds himself having to start again... he's into his 7th decade on planet Earth. Many other boomers although passed retirement age are still working, because they have to for a variety of reasons. I am one of those. Retirement for me will likely be falling off the twig.

Point is, and to address your central point, many more folks are doing it harder today for a variety of reasons. Wages have not kept pace with inflation and other cost of living expenses.

As for a revolution? Mm, probably needed, globally, and in some countries it'll happen but Aussies are just not the types. Yep, too easy going. However, there may well be enough immigrants to this country who come from cultures that just don't cop bad leadership and will revolt. I vividly recall my late father (European) saying in the 90s that this country needed a revolution. The US may well be headed in that direction.

(07-13-2024, 01:26 AM)Macca37 link Wrote:Thry, I am of the Silent generation, the generation whose taxes provided free university education for the Baby Boomers.  In the 1950s only the wealthy could afford to attend Melbourne University.  Workers did not receive the adult wage until they reached the age of 21.

Banks required a minimum 25 per cent deposit and a two year history of saving before approving a housing loan.  Their valuation of a property was always under the purchase price, requiring the applicant to take out a personal loan with the bank, usually in the seven to nine per cent range.  I knew engaged couples who put off marriage for years while trying to save for a housing deposit.

Single women in the Australian Public Service had to resign when they married.  In the early 1960s my wife had to say she was single in order to get an office position.  Newly wed women were knocked back because it was expected they would soon become pregnant and would have to leave.

It was almost impossible to get a bank loan for a car.  Cars were expensive -  the purchase price of a 1960 VW Beetle was close to the average yearly salary.  Hire purchase at exorbitant rates, with three years of comprehensive insurance rolled into it, added to the financial burden.

I could go on detailing the high cost of clothing and goods, but I think you get the picture.

The point I wish to make is this:  yes, I get the problems faced by people today struggling to make ends meet.  It is history repeating itself.

(07-13-2024, 12:52 AM)Thryleon link Wrote:lods I don't want to diminish it at all.  That's not the point.  It was very different to live in that time and of course no one ever has it easy.  Struggles are always relative, but the struggles need to be relative.  These days the struggles seem to be less surmountable and im starting to hear people complain about the sort of thing that hits everyone but they're from the upper earning parts which is a worry.  They're not worried about the cost of technology, phones, streaming services.  They're cutting those. It's food, energy, housing, petrol, commuting, supermarket shopping, healthcare and in suburbs that are not affluent even though they earn well.  Very alarming signs for society.

I dont think people ever have it easy, but there was a roughly 50 year period where things were easier.  It ended about mid 2000's.

(07-13-2024, 02:17 AM)DJC link Wrote:Having lived through that period Thry, I have to say that you haven’t got a clue.  It was struggle street for the vast majority.

I could show you my primary school photographs of skinny kids dressed in rags and who were subjected to vicious corporal punishment and worse. 

Australian governments were mired in depression era policies in the 1950s and tried to control all aspects of the economy through tariffs, subsidies, wage fixing, etc. This meant that we missed out on the post-war boom that increased production throughout most of the world.

The optimistic 1960s saw the emergence of prosperous, modern Australia but that was tempered by the stagflation of the 1970s and divisive issues like the Vietnam war, conscription, contraception, abortion, communism, apartheid, Franklin Dam, etc.  It’s no wonder that we were talking about revolution and public demonstrations and civil disobedience were at the highest levels ever experienced.

Regardless of what some members of particular generations may think, our economy, quality of life, wellbeing, etc may experience fluctuations but battlers still battle, the entitled are still entitled, the exploiters still exploit, the profiteers still profit, the bludgers still bludge and families still struggle to make ends meet. The high interest rates of the 1990s certainly made things difficult and it was the worst economic conditions I have experienced as an adult. Things are tough now but nothing like the 1990s.

I could list more Australian politicians who performed ably well after their 50s and who came from all walks of life.  The point is that age is largely irrelevant provided cognitive ability is not impaired.  Younger politicians are harder to find, 28 year old QLD premier Robert Herbert is an exception, but that’s due to lack of opportunity rather than lack of capacity.

(07-13-2024, 03:18 AM)Thryleon link Wrote:were the battlers then earning 80k a year wage (seeing only about 50 in their pocket) spending half of that on rent and the rest buying the basics with minimal hope of saving for a home?

I'm a migrant child.  They fled civil war and lack of opportunity and came with not much.  Often working as taxi drivers, dish washers and yes they struggled but not like the young folk who are 15 years old today are going to.  As far as having no idea I reckon I've got a bit more than you think. There was a better sense of community back then too. 

(07-13-2024, 03:18 AM)Thryleon link Wrote:were the battlers then earning 80k a year wage (seeing only about 50 in their pocket) spending half of that on rent and the rest buying the basics with minimal hope of saving for a home?

I'm a migrant child.  They fled civil war and lack of opportunity and came with not much.  Often working as taxi drivers, dish washers and yes they struggled but not like the young folk who are 15 years old today are going to.  As far as having no idea I reckon I've got a bit more than you think. There was a better sense of community back then too.