Not just from the $57 billion deficit (ouch!), but from all the figures being thrust at us. While some corners of society get excited about numbers, the majority shy away from the economic rhetoric being bandied about in the media.

What does it all mean? What does it mean to me? Why are some of the bonuses means tested? Is this a “mean” budget? You know what I mean.

The politicians aren’t much help. Some are being coy, and others melodramatic (insert Government and Opposition appropriately).

The News delves into two budget aspects (maternity leave and pension increases) on page 5, with a double page budget overview on pages 12-13 to hopefully cut through the political spin being bowled from both sides of parliament.

A couple of comments stand out from the bureaucratic bulldust coming out of Canberra.

Firstly, the Government is saying that this current financial situation is unlike any other experienced since the Great Depression of the 1930s, yet they will have you believe that Australia will come out of it in much the same way it did from the 1990 “recession we had to have”.

If this recession is abnormal to what we have already experienced, how can we be certain the outcome will be similar?

Secondly, if the Depression is the measure of the world’s worst financial crisis, why haven’t economies been safeguarded from the vicious downturns that seem to occur on a regular basis.

Put another way, why do we still allow the greed of some to dictate the wellbeing of all?

The unequal distribution of wealth sparked the Great Depression and, unfortunately, the powers that be have allowed history to repeat itself, again.