This is a view from my Mums house
I am now back from New Zealand. I had a great 13 days with my Mother who is 91 and still going strong. My Mum has good genes and I hope I inherit them. I also got to catch up with a few friends and of course my Brothers.
New Zealand is a beautiful country, a little on the cool side the grass is very green and the flower gardens and vegetables flourish.
Most families have their own gardens and that the country on a whole is quite eco aware. I found that most people, especially my family are very, what I call “Coin” concious. You dont see the new cars that you see in the States. The average family buys a used vehicle. I think you will find that the ones that do have a new car are business people who are leasing or retired couples that can afford to splash out for once in their life and buy a new car. That is my observation anyway.
Their tax system and welfare system is another story.
Their welfare system is very generous and I wonder how long a country like NZ can go on supporting the unproductive population. Here is an example. I have a friend that works for a group who take care of the handicaped.
Once a week my friend looks after a intellectually handicaped 13 year old and gets paid $70 for her services. The child has a mother who is a drug addict who gets a pension because she was unable to work. (I believe she has just been able to get a job). Her father is in jail. This young girl is cared for by an Uncle and Aunt. The Aunt is in a wheel chair. She gets a pension for being an invalid. The Uncle gets an allowance for looking after the Aunt. The Uncle will also be getting an allowance for the 13 year old child, probably about $500 a week.
When all this hand out is added up, that family is getting well over $1000 a week. My friend probably only gets about $350 a week for a 5 day week.
I asked my friend if this was a common thing and she said “You have no idea how many there are, probably thousands”. She said she sees this cenerio all the time.
In my opinion New Zealand is a beautiful place to visit but I would not like to live there anymore. The cost of housing is very expensive and it has become a welfare country that I believe cannot afford it. It is not fair to the working man.
It is good to be back in Australia but I am also looking forward to getting back to the States back to my Motorbike.
