I lived in my first house for 2 years in a rough street. The ice-addicted couple next door would invite me over to watch footy games, as they had foxtel and I didn't. Neither of them had ever worked, yet their house was larger and nicer than mine. They bought a slab of pre-mixed bourbon and coke every day (literally). It was a commission house, but I have no idea how they could afford foxtel, expensive alcohol, and meth habits.
If you know how to play the system, you can achieve a higher standard of living than a couple who work 50 hour weeks, as we were.
Playing the system.
It sounds like you have extrapolated your view of those two to assume a lot on welfare are like that. You dont really know how they funded their lifestyle. Were they selling drugs? Did they have money in the bank, or under the bed?
I have 2 friends who worked for the old Social Security, & now in Centre link. They had lots of stories a bit like the above. They busted a number of them, or the Housing commission did, or the Police did. Usually people they know dob them in. Living the life of Riley makes them a target from people who don't live like that. Its hard for most on Welfare, its annoying for honest people who survive on an ordinary wage. However the vast majority who were 'busted' had just made mistakes on their paperwork, or had mental problems & couldn't understand what they were doing.
They say not many people who 'play the system' get away with it for very long. The hardest to get are those associated with bikey gangs.
Conversely, what about the 'wealthy' who play the 'tax' system'. ? They hide income. They work for cash. They dont pay their fare share of tax.They are more of a drain on society than the Welfare fraudsters.
We have a whole strata of 'professionals' who look to 'play the system' to get rich clients out of paying tax. They like to push the edge of legitimate activity. Geez, we even have a PM who has money in a tax haven overseas. Hows that for fairness & equity in society?
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