We fancy ourselves as the tough, self-reliant Aussies.

We used to disparagingly refer to English migrants as whinging poms.

Perhaps we need to take a closer look at ourselves and ask who we really are. Australians have turned from being the great self-reliant battlers into people who expect someone to give them a leg up, regardless of need.

Greedy gobblers. Everyone seems to feel good about the Kennedy incantation to "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country". And yet, in practice, they keep expecting their fellow countrymen to do plenty for them. In retirement planning and welfare generally, governments of both persuasions have been too soft.

People used to be proud of the fact that they had been able to live a good life and to provide for their r

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