I’m not a greedy person. I’m not materialistic so much that I have created for myself an insurmountable debt for the sake of having the newest and best now. I am lucky in that I own my house and do not need to pay a mortgage or rent. And I own my car and all the little bits and pieces (like furniture and electrical) that make life enjoyable.
But don’t let that fool you. I’m a single mother to two children whose father is allowed to hide on the disability pension even though he has proven capable of earning up to 120 grand a year and therefore pays about $25 a month for the care of his kids. I’m a full-time student with one year to go on my degree and I don’t receive Austudy or the pensioner education supplement. I don’t believe in foisting my kids onto child care centres 12 or more hours a day for the sake of a career. My kids need me and need me more than just as a taxi or cash machine. Even though they are 9 and 11 this year, they still rely on me being there whenever they need me. Even if I had the time in between classes and assessment to work (which I don’t – I work on assessment 20 hours a day for weeks during the semester when necessary), to take that time away from my girls is not an option.
For these reasons, I potter along with my single parent payment and I don’t complain. It’s not much but I am grateful that it exists so even though it only allows us to survive, it allows us to survive together.
And as unbelievable as I am sure most of the population would find it, this single studying mother does not drink, do drugs, gamble, smoke or spend any of the money I’m allotted on partying, going out or anything but the bare essentials for myself. Bare essentials does not include clothes or footwear or hair appointments (which I’ve not had in 5 years) unless I need to wear something other than rags and the ten year old clothing that makes up my closet.
For these reasons, it really narks me the fuck off when I read statements by economists and independents who are under the impression that low and middle income workers and people like me should not be given the one-off bonus cash payments because we’ll just spend it on tobacco and alcohol and gambling. That if the government wants to help us, retail vouchers that regulate our spending would be far more appropriate.
Fuck you. Fuck you and your opinion of my intelligence and integrity and that of the labourers and shit-workers who make this country while you sit in your office and break it. Low wage does not mean low intelligence. It does not mean we need our hands held to help us add or guide our decisions. People in positions of power created the economic mess that is seeing so many in these demographics struggle. You fucked this. You fucked them. You don’t get to look down your noses and condemn our decisions for spending when all we want is to survive, not thrive.
What the opposition has done to struggling families is cruel. Horribly, horribly cruel. They had fresh air and a financial calmative offered to them snatched away just as quickly. Who knows how much stress those payments could offer parents close to losing their homes. How much easier would it be for them to sleep soundly at night instead of tossing and turning wondering how to make ends meet. To maybe be able to stop budgeting down to the very last cent, even if it is only a short while.
How horribly torturous of you. Really, fuck you.
Finally, In recent days, there has been much talk of diverting funds from the stimulus package to the victims of the Victorian Bushfires. This is in addition to the uncapped resources the government has allowed for, the $30 million raised so far by individuals and the $30-odd million donated by governments and corporations. These are awesome amounts and efforts in these hard times and in the face of such a tragic event.
But those caught up in the moment need to stop giving my cash bonus away. I’ve seen and heard through media comments and quotes of people who are donating not only the payments they would be entitled to but everyone else’s as well to the fire appeals.
It’s awesome you want to donate the cash you’d receive if the stimulus package is passed because you’re doing that well. But these payments were formulated for a reason before the fires and that event has not changed the position of struggling families and those who do need it. Don’t say that you’re sure that all of Australia would want to give their entire bonus to the fire appeals. What people want and what they can afford are different things. I’m sure that if passed, people would give what they can afford, but stop assuming that a family needing food or to pay urgent bills are less worthy or in desperate need of the money than fire refugees.
I’m done now.