Aussies, lots of commentary with the federal election approaching ~ did you see this article?

Question

This journalist seems to capture something very essential about Australian society and culture, especially as it has been in the last three or four decades.

It's also interesting the guy who wrote it is an immigrant ~ from the US, nice cultural comparison stuff ...

What do you think?

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/10/26/1192941334002.html

Thanks all for your great comments!

Answer 1

Well he hit the nail right on the head didn't he and he is so right we don't want become the 51st US state.
Our country and those that have lived and died for it deserve better than Howardism which is to sell out to the highest bidder.

Answer 2

Wonderful sentiments, pity it has been posted as a political endorsement of an opposition in an election campaign.
As the writer states himself, RUDD basically matched the governments commitment on tax cuts - so tell me how can anyone can claim that the ALP still holds the moral high ground.
All RUDD is doing is "me too" politics, no new or fresh idea's.
And as for the garbage about a Liberal government "eroding Australian values", and other comments about mateship and a fair go being deminished under Howard and Costello' leadership - dont forget people, since Federation this country has been governed for the greater majority of the time by Liberal governments under one name or another. The great Australian mateship and fair go ethos was developed and fostered predominantly under Liberal governments.
It also seems that the blinkers are well and truly on just about anyone remotely supporting a change of government - because if you actually look past the rhetoric continually espoused by the ALP and people like surfa101, and look the facts - there has been far greater investments in our countries future position by this government than any in the past - dont forget that they have completely paid off the previous Labour governments huge public foreign debt that messers Keating and Hawke left us with, they have set up and continue to put money into the "Future Fund" which will provide large amounts of money for social welfare programs well into the coming years, they got rid of so many insidious "hidden taxes" such as the multi tiered wholesale sales tax (anywhere from 8 - 17.5%) and introduced the GST. Now on the GST, have a look at the bucket loads of cash the State Governments are rolling in due to the success of the GST, Victoria alone will have a budget surplus this financial year in the vicinity of 1.4 Billion dollars - Am i mistaken, or is it not the State Governments who are actually responsible for the funding and running of the Public Hospitals and the STATE school system? The question on why our Public hospitals are not receiving the funding they need should be pointed directly at each State Premier, similarly if you want better public education, get stuck into those responsible for it, the State Premiers, oh thats right, you wont do that cause there all Labour governments arent they, no Liberals to bash there.

Answer 3

Very powerful message indeed. Now lets watch the Liberal voters rip it apart for self gain, they won't see the message at all and godforbid change their views. They don't look at the whole picture, only the financial one. Hopefully this country doesn't go down the American path, but use it to improve our own. We can stop the decay of great Australian attitudes and beliefs on Nov 24th 07. I would love to hear one liberal voter saying they have had enough of this government, are voting Labor this election and will return to the Liberal next time. This would restore my faith in Australia.

chris j...you forgot to mention that they didn't abolish the excise on petrol which the GST was supposed to replace. I have lived under this government and worked in many industry's and watch these values erode. The future fund was set up selling back to us what we already owned...Telstra! We got 32 Billion for it. Yet it will make that back in 10 years if we had held onto it. So in 20 years it would have made 60 billion based on current profits all for the government. So again your short sighted, financial view of the world confirms why you vote Liberal. What Hawke/Keating did, allowed for foreign investment into this country and removing tarrifs opened up world markets to our country. Remove the resources boom from our current economic climate and see what you are left with. Not much!

Do you only see dollar signs?

Chris j.....Furthermore I use to be a Liberal voter, saying all the same things that you say, presenting the argument you do. Then I went to University and studied politics, got an excellent understanding of why each party does what they do, there idealogical underpinning, what they believe. I came out a strong Labor supporter, for 2 main reasons, their belief that not all people are/will be financially able to get health, education, employment etc and may need varying degrees of support, plus there protection of workers rights, rights to a safe workplace, fair pay and conditions.
I didn't feel Liberal 'user pays system' and individualism ideology suited what I felt was important to me and my family. I might being doing really well, but one of my kids may not and I hope there is some support for them and anyone who needs it. I don't feel that we should have to pay thousands of dollars for healthcare and education. Why should someones bank account determine there right to see a doctor or go to school. This only reinforced the poverty cycle and doesn't address it and allow the person to be a productive part in our society. Hows a person supposed to get a job if they are sick, can't read or write. Its my opinion formed through education and experience, and your comments only help to reinforce that its the correct one. Cheers

Answer 4

I agree in total with what was written by him , and by concept about the wolf, the mountains, and the deer, but man is so far by being a crafty man like John Howard, who will not see all those things ,because he has been looking at Australia through rose colroured glasses. All these promises of Big tax cuts, will never happen, even the big money spent to buy the grey vote they will never see it straight away, it will take years before anyone actually benifits from any tax cut, so you get a tax cut, now and look at a intrest rise , so where is the tax cut for ?, up in smoke, and at the same time he gives a tax cut so the price of petrol rises, again where is the tax cut , you never see it, with the cost of everything going up, where is there any value for the people of Australia. All the big tax cuts that Howard has mentioned should have gone to where it is most needed , Health, Education,Enviorment, Roads,but no he did nothing like that, only what he wants do,just to get back in to power anyway he can. $20.00, what can you actually buy, Price of petrol ,hovering around $ 1.30 -$ 1.45 and that depends on where you live in Austarlia, and on the top of everthing , ADD THE GST of everthing we buy .So $20.00 extra in the pay packet per week has already been taken by the GST so there are no tax cuts for anyone after all.

Answer 5

Yes, blew my socks off. Are you sure he wasn't born in Aussie? He may be American but writes like an Australian, His words are pertinent to our Society today. I asked a question last night along a similar vain. Asking if our old sense of Mateship had vanished under John Bon and Co. Surely next year we all have a chance to start getting it back together under Kev Rudd. I just think Howard has 'Socially' desecrated this wonderful Country.
Chris J. Please do me a favour. Get Real. What you know about the Liberal and Labor Parties could be written on the back of a postage stamp. Do some research old Son. Nice try though.

Answer 6

Hi! The article made for very interesting reading. It did hit home. The sad thing is that as a swinging voter, I feel we are going to get 'six of one and half a dozen with the other' in the long term.

Probably just as well to vote the coalition out this time-at least the Labor Party will then be out to impress and maybe make up for some of their past sins. At least Kev has some charisma too!

Answer 7

Scary for an American he made sense I don't think I'm ready for a concept like that

Answer 8

No I havent, I havent even kept up with our election over here.

Answer 9

i agree, that more money should be invested in the future instead of being waisted on more money for pensioners and tax cuts.

Answer 10

nope.
I sure did not see it.
Know what, I wanna make you GOD.
yes!
you and mariah carey are GODS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!