Racist Australian Regime Obliterated

On Nov 24th -- the 'buffoon in Canberra' (Howie) is done.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22632505-5013922,00.html

The Kid Rasta 8)

 

Just out of interest, Kid Rasta, where abouts are you from?

 

Connecticut, USA. But, I'm a 'globetrotter' -- straight up.

The Kid Rasta 8)

 

Nice....ah to be a Globetrotter! the ultimate dream!
Anyway, it's nice that anyone notices what's going on down here! Too many people forget we exist!

I visited the states a few years ago and was talking to some people my age (early 20's) who were uni students (supposedly educated people) and they didn't even know Australia was in the southern hemisphere. I was amazed, horrified and very concerned!

This email did the rounds a few years ago...let's just say we were all a little worried It still makes me giggle (nervously).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJuNgBkloFE

Yeah, yeah - I know...it's just a video and it's probably been edited well and it's just a small group of people, and I'm sure most of our population wouldn't be much better (although, I hope they would)...but still...

Cheers.

 

EDIT:
text removed.

 

How is things in Oz? As you noticed I wonder where are the other oz members in WW/BM? I know they may know more on this election.

 

Soulthinker,

Things are excellent, as always. After all - this IS the best country on earth haha.
I doubt I'd know more on the election. It's easier to have a balanced view when you've got the info, but no emotional involvement.

Election-wise, this is a big year. Unlike the USA, we do not have a maximum number of terms that a party and Prime Minister can be in power for. (The party selects the Prime Minister prior to the election - the Opposition Leader). We have a two party preferred system and the Liberals have been in power since 1996, with John Howard as PM. This wouldn't be a problem, other than the Labor party has not been a viable opposition for this entire time. A government is only ever as good as its opposition forces it to be. To make that worse, Liberal gained a majority in the Senate several years ago, through a bi-election in a couple of electorates. That, to me, is a little scary.

So, Kevin Rudd (Labor's Leader) is the most useful leader they've had since 1996 and is offering a real opposition for once. In fact, current polling is suggesting a huge swing towards Labor in the lower house and a continued Liberal majority in the Senate.

In summary - this is the biggest election in 11 years, and probably the biggest in 20 years...However, I'm not really old enough to know much beyond the Howard government. :?

Anyway, Australians are actually quite conservative in their political choices and, although we're not highly engaged, most people make a little effort to find out what's going on. Voting is compulsory for everyone over 18 and Howard has made some major decisions which have been very unpopular over the last 11 years. Most notably, the choice to go to war.

I think the current polling will come true at the election.
It's exciting times for us Hopefully Kevin Rudd won't embarrass us by following around George Bush like a lost puppy as Howard has done. I think most Australians are annoyed at Howard for getting into bed with Bush so much. Leave them to it, and we'll just cruise along doing our own thing

That's my take on it.

 

For those of you who are interested....
John Howard and the Liberal Party lost the federal election

Kevin Rudd is our new prime minister and labor had a massive landslide victory. Here's to a new chapter in Australia's history.

Cheers.!

 

Yeah i saw it on CNN. The man lost because of a backlash over high unemployment, Iraq War and general economic instability.

 

I'm dayum glad that the folks in Australia woke up and finally kicked that NAZI OUT!

 

HUH??? :shock:
Ok...CNN has TOTALLY got the wrong information...OMG...
I hate US news.... :x

Our country has the lowest unemployment in about 30 years (4.5%)
We have the strongest and most stable economy in probably 20 years. Things seriously haven't been this good in a LONG time. The government is giving $4000 to every woman who has a baby...they're reducing taxes, they're offering money to first home-buyers....
In the past 11 years, they've paid back our goverment debt and we have a massive surplus...
Have you not checked out our dollar, it's at US92c. This is also the highest in years, since maybe the early 80's...

The war - maybe, I don't think it was a massive decision point...people see it generally as illegal and that we have absolutely no purpose in being there, but it's not in our faces all the time.

Short Australian politics lesson
The Liberal party is conservative and has a general intention to promote free enterprise, reduce government involvement, strengthen the economy, etc, etc...

The Labor Party has a track record of destabilising the economy and creating rececessions. They are strongly influenced by the unions and generally focus on expenditure on social infrastructure and services.

He is generally thought to have lost the election because of the following:
* "workchoices" legislation - removing the power of the unions and collective enterprise bargaining agreements in order to free up employment contracts which can now be done on a case by case basis. (Note: Australia has a history of industrial action and the newly appointed labor party is closely aligned with the union movements)
* The war - hmm, maybe...we have less than 1000 defense personnel in the war. People are more annoyed that he continually kissed george bush's butt, when we have nothing to do with it, and should have not alignment with the US. Australians have a healthy dislike of the USA.
* The labor party has, for the past 11 years, not really been an adequate opposition party and due to several poor leadership choices, were never a real contender. Kevin Rudd has been the most likely opposition leader in all that time, and i think people jumped on it.
* Lack of affirmative action on climate change, or perhaps a "too little too late" scenario
* John Howard announced that would be retiring and his deputy and federal treasurer, peter costello, is not a popular man
* there have been other things over the years which have happened. No government is going to be able to spend 11 years in power and not have some stuff ups. Those things add up in people's minds
* We do have a very tight immigration policy, but I think most people support that.

I honestly don't know where you got the Nazi reference from...I mean, really...please think about what you're actually saying... If you understand Australian politics, then you will know that we are a conservative country with a generally conservative government. There is minimal difference between the two major parties (we have a two party preferred system).

John Howard was a man of principles and who wouldn't bend to suit public pressure. You might not always agree with him, but I admire him for that. I don't know whether Kevin Rudd will be the same, I fear he will play to the media a lot more, which isn't a good thing. How good would it be if Newscorp went bust!

And before you all start making comments about me...No, I didn't vote Liberal...and I didn't vote Labor....

 

I would say that most Europeans dont consider U.S. T.V. reports terribly accurate in their analysis of other countries.

 

Oz politics was interesting and sadly not too many people know about who's Prime Minister over there. It would be shocking if the Americans think it was Paul Hogan.

 

FEHG,

I think you're that 'buffoon in Canberra' who just got kicked to the curb.

The Kid Rasta :x

 

FEHG, I know you are not like the clowns of Queensland like the late Joh Bjelke-Petersen or Pauline Henson since you don't like their attitudes and policies. Some think however that you support some of Howard's policies. The Murdoch and right wing media are mourning the loss of the Howard regime. Getting off the subject had you seen the documentary Black Soldier Blues? It is about African-American troops in Oz during WWII.

 

Kid Rasta,
Ok, What is your problem? Because I can appreciate and overall job well done, and acknowledge that someone wasn't all bad means I'm a "baffoon"? Did you not read my last sentence - I didn't vote for the guy. Enough said. Nothing in life is 100% great all the time, but things are good here, and I'm entitled to my opinion, which I think is quite balanced and relatively educated. I'm simply trying to give an "insiders" look at what's going on, because your media obviously has no idea if that's what they're reporting.
Australian politics means very little to anyone outside Australia, I would suggest, but out of respect for my country I would appreciate it if people at least got some facts right.

Soulthinker,

Thank you for your more reasonable and well thought response. Well, I was hardly even born when Sir Joh was in power, but I live with his legacy everyday up here in the Sunshine State! And Pauline Hanson was and is an absolute nut job. I don't know enough about Sir Joh or his policies, but I don't support corruption, and I don't support heavy handed government intervention, so that's enough for me to bag the guy. Pauline doesn't even warrant a response.

What does it matter if I do support some of John Howard's policies? Im sure there are plenty of Americans who support some of George Bush's policies, without voting for the guy.
The single biggest factor in why I didn't vote liberal, is because there is a majority liberal in the senate, and I don't like the way John Howard was in George Bush's pocket. We don't need to follow anyone. It is embarrassing to me. Anyway, I don't have to justify my thoughts or opinions to anyone. (Solthinker, this isn't aimed at you, just general comments).

IMO, Murdoch is a discrace to our country and I'm glad he gave up his citizenship.

No, I haven't seen that movie...I haven't even heard of it. There were a lot of US troops in Australia during WWII. And the ladies sure loved them! But I haven't heard much about AA troops. Is it true that the platoons were racially seperated? I guess there were some here, but to be honest, I've never really seen or heard much about it. I do know that naval ships come into town quite often, and you'll see all the boys out in the city in their uniform in "packs" with swarms of girls.....haha. very funny!

 

Yes they were segregated and of course the US Navy and Army loved the policy in Oz. I read from a issue in Ebony magazine dated in 1967 that the Queenslanders had their back against the white US soldiers during that war. When I find that article I let you know as well as the other documentary.

 

Which policy? The White Australia Policy??
I would be surprised if Australia was any more open/relaxed, racially, during WWII than the US.
I'm sorry, I'm not following you 100% - a little slow today :lol:
I don't know much about the US here during the war, other than that they were here and plenty of the men nabbed our lovely ladies.
Queenslander's have a reputation of 'doing things differently'.
Thanks very much for passing on the knowledge, I appreciate it!

 

The US Military which was segregated loved the White Australian Policy. It was thought the Aussies are like the Southerners of the US and they would carry out the segregation culture.

 

Oh, yeah...
fair enough, well - that makes sense.
I hope we're still not seen as rednecks! haha.
Luckily we have got rid of that now! Or else, my current relationship would be problematic...(I can only imagine what my late grandfather would have said!!!)

I have the distinct feeling I have already asked you this, and that you've already responded, soulthinker...but have you been here? If not, you should definately come, because you know a lot more about the place than the vast majority of Australians.
If you have been here, which parts have you been to?