13 Feb The Age Of Aquarius (Entitlement) Over…

So the Federal Government is softening up the electorate for spending cuts in the May Federal Budget. For those of you following federal politics this really started back in April 2012 when Joe Hockey made a speech in London saying that the position of a strong government was to say NO (Harmony & Understanding).

We have seen signs of this already with Holdens & SPC Ardmona being denied government assistance (Sympathy & Trust abounding). This is against a backdrop of our national debt ballooning out (projected to grow to > $650 bn) & slowdown in revenues. You only need to go back to my Blog post (When I’m 70 Not 64) & Vlog (Fairies Wear Boots) for more of my thoughts on this topic. Australia unlike some European nations is not broke & could in some quarters be considered “rich” or well off. We do however have issues to face over the next 5 – 10 years as the mining investment boom tails off combined with increases in costs associated with our ageing population (pensions, health, age care, etc. etc.). We are not alone in this as most of the developed world faces similar challenges (No more falsehoods or derisions).

We only need to look across the Tasman to our closest neighbour New Zealand for some inspiration (Golden living dreams of visions). The Kiwis have taken an approach at government level over the past 5 years since the GFC to definitely live within their own means. This has seen whereby any increase in expenditure for new programs has to be offset against reductions in other areas. Their cost of labour & doing business generally is less than Australia & their level of manufacturing has increased for the 16th consecutive month (Mystic Crystal Revelation). We have even seen Australian companies shift their manufacturing operations to New Zealand as a result (HJ Heinz is an example).

For the Federal Government the issue for them is to cut through all the “media noise” & convince the general public that old ways of thinking & doing business don’t cut the mustard in the 21st century (trying to protect corporates, welfare or nanny state, employer/employee relations). As a nation & citizens we need to become more self reliant & encourage a culture of achievement & enterprise. This will enable us to generate the wealth required to look after those who will need genuine help in future (remember Disability Care program & the Gonski Education reforms are yet to be funded).

We are as Australians the lucky populace. Our proximity to China & Asia the growing parts of the world will enable us to provide them with a whole range of products & services in the future – food, energy, services, raw materials/minerals & dare I say it over time niche manufacturing. I am by nature a glass “half full” person & believe that we have the opportunity to make Adelaide & in due course Australia an even better country than it already is. All we have to do is harness our resources & act proactively instead of taking the sad sack approach. Or as the 5th Dimension have put it best: –

Let The Sun Shine, Let The Sun Shine in
The Sun shine in,
Let The Sun Shine, Let the Sun Shine in
The sun shine in