The 1950s also saw the rise and rise of that relic of motoring history and reminder of Nazism,the Volkswagen Kombi, immortalised by hippydom in the 60s and 70s as the vehicle of choice of the flower power movement.In water deprived Australia there was the mechanical advantage of an air cooled engine,which if a transplant was needed took an amateur about half a day-with a minimum of tools a manual and a bit of luck.
There was the preferred ride of the generation of Aussie Surfers the CF Bedford surfmobile -often radically customised to meet the status aims and girl pulling desires of the surfer or surf wannabe owner. Other surfwagons included the long defunct Valiant/Dodge Wayfarer Ford Falcon and Holden Panelvans.
These relics of days gone by were the result of a society with surplus disposable incomes, affordable housing and finanacial security -and governments which governed for and feared the wrath of the voting public. Like these vehicles legendary vehicles governments who cared one scintilla about people are also a relic in the past as at State and Federal Levels people choose between the pro business Coalition and pro business Labor Parties -like selecting which brand of cigarettes to kill yourself with.
Todays Australia is one of Politicians fixated with serving the interests of international economics .A national government allowing corporate exploitation of a hapless and increasingly helpless Australian public drowning under the combined effects of greedy international (and local) banker and industrialist types. A government allowing ripoff merchants masquerading as businessmen carte blanche to exploit people mercilessly. Industrial commercial and financial interests-aided and abetted by anti-worker anti-environmental laws mercilessly and cheaply raping the countrys resources for short term capital gain. In todays Australia we frequently hear the voices of the bush lamenting the lack of labour -but the bush has an earned reputation for underpaying. Not of course according to wageslavery awards, but according to what is fair necessary and equitable for diligent workers to earn to enjoy the fruits of their labour. This bush mindset has successfully permeated its way into the mainstream of Australian Workplace Relations thanks in no small part to the with the attendant negative social consequences as more workers daily fall beneath the ever rising bar which is the real poverty line -that confluence point between wageslavery regulated incomes and unregulated living costs. Inevitably under these circumstances, there is a rise in homelessness and at risk of homelessness.
