There will be those who, on seeing the ugly face of aspirational selfishness as personified by the Sciberras family in The Age this morning, will seek to mock them for their apparent narrow-mindedness. But I say - who can blame a comfortably-off person for, after considering all the challenges facing the nation, the underfunded public services, the clear gaps in necessary infrastructure, the worsening plight of the poor and sick, looking at the Federal Budget with one question in mind - where's my handout?

Those other cynics to whom I refer, might sigh theatrically at the mean-spirited approach of this humble Mill Park family, on more than $150,000 a year, apparently two and a half times the average wage, whose reported first reaction to the budget was to check to see what was in it for them; followed by a complaint that all they were getting was a significant tax cut:

Yesterday morning, the couple scanned the budget coverage in the newspapers and did the sums. They worked out their only gain was a stake in the Government's tax cuts.

Some might, sarcastically, ask what they expected. What else did they think they deserved? Taxpayers' money being redistributed from the many people on two and a half times less, back up to them? Apparently even on twice the average wage you're still getting benefits:

Once a family's income exceeds $150,000, they will no longer get the previously non-means-tested baby bonus and family tax benefit B.

So at $95,000 more than the average of $50,000, you're still getting a cash windfall paid for by other taxpayers just for having a kid.

Revered conservative leader Brendoc is horrified! Not by there being a baby bonus at all, but by there being any limit on it at all:

"If you earn a dollar more than $75,000 in the six months after you've had a baby Mr Rudd is saying you should not and are not worthy of getting a baby bonus," he said.

So, even at two and a half times the average wage (don't you love the way he turned $150k/year into $75k/6 months to make it sound harsher?), Brendan thinks you should be getting a lump sum from the Government just for, as Ant crudely put it, "a f*ck that worked".

Anyway, the Sciberrases would like some kind of taxpayer largesse, because they've "earned it".

The Sciberrases are not planning on any more babies and would not be eligible for the family tax benefit because they are both working. But they would not mind a little help when it comes to education. Their two sons attend Catholic schools, which charge several thousand dollars each year.

"There doesn't seem to be any reward for people who have put the hard effort in," Mr Sciberras said.

Other than all the extra money you've got over the average person, some might sarcastically note.

But not me. I think they're heroes. It takes real courage to stand up before your peers, in a mainstream (if increasingly unpopular) newspaper and declare "What about me? What's in it for me? Me? Me? Me? (PS: fuck the poor.)" To proudly revel in your lack of empathy for people less fortunate than you. Good on them for their bravery.