Why I rag on Australia

[Alpine Trooper]

I have a concrete history of bad-mouthing Australia whenever I can. Don't take it the wrong way, I have much intentions of moving there one day and possibly getting citizenship.

What is my biggest problem with Australia? John Howard. Why? Because he is America's ultimate lap-dog in my opinion, far surpasing Tony Blair or any other willing ally in America's misadventures abroad.

John Howard is the sole absolute reason why Steven Harper was elected in Canada. Steven Harper and John Howard are very good friends, and Steven believes Howard is his mentor. In fact, he mimicked Howard's conservative campaign to get elected.

Howard and Steven frequently meet in person or talk on the phone, to frequently discuss their theories, ideologies, and strategies.

Sure Steven was helped along in the election by an ailing Liberal caucus. But the neo-con support he had flowing from the United States and Australia was insane.

I hope this clears up my hate for John Howard. I can understand why most Aussies elect him, but I won't get into that because I'll get called a racist or something. But you can get where I am coming from.

 

[warmonger]

Most Aussies hate John Howard too but they vote for him because all alternatives are worse. Fortunately, I have never lived under his rule; I escaped before he won his first election.

 

[Shaihulud]

Theres many reason for a Canadian to hate Australia, not the least is that it has better weather I won't say that John Howard is such a bad leader, Australia seems to be thriving under him.

 

[warmonger]

I won't say that John Howard is such a bad leader, Australia seems to be thriving under him.

Australian were thriving before him too. That's what we do - thrive - no matter who's in charge or where we're put.

 

[sysyphus]

Other than the weather and the accent, Australia is the country most similar to Canada in many ways. Seems to me we really should foster closer relations between our two countries, even if we are at polar opposite ends of the earth.

Howard and Harper are both a couple of ****s, but I'm glad to see that these two are drawing our countries closer together. Then we can get rid of them both and elect some more progressive leaders, and rid our selves of our common foreign monarch.

 

[Der Sensenmann]

Not sure I'd actually say we're "thriving" under Mr. Howard, considering the litany of things he's done to damage Australia in so many ways. The Australian economy is currently strong mainly because of the enormous demand from China and India for its minerals. This would have been the case regardless of who was PM. When this boom collapses, the Australian people at large will suffer from the recent demolition of workers' and unions' rights.

sysyphus: You're right about Canada and Australia being potential best friends, but first we'd have to vote these ***** out. Unlikely in our case, quite possible in yours from what I've seen of Canadian politics.

AT: Just watch you don't get sent to a "detention centre" for "un-Australian" sentiment.

No kidding, these are the sort of things Aussie politicians say (and mean!).

 

[Meleager]

You should have seen the other guy. I tell you, if he had been elected, we would be at war with the US and the rest of the world by now.

 

[azzaman333]

If Kim Beazley ever becomes PM, you know there is such thing as miracles.

 

[Meleager]

I didn't know about the John Howard - Steven Harper relationship. I don't suppose you can provide links to satisfy my curiosity.

If Kim Beazley ever becomes PM, you know there is such thing as miracles.

What's with labor re-electing a 2 (or 3?) time loser as their party leader anyway? Maybe they hope he will lose by less.

 

[Mongoloid Cow]

If Kim Beazley champions the anti-Workplace Agreements, he is in with a chance (about the only chance he has). But I think they only made him leader since there wasn't anyone else. If they lose the next election, Julia Gillard (?) will probably be the next leader and she is popular enough to win.

 

[willemvanoranje]

Other than the weather and the accent, Australia is the country most similar to Canada in many ways. Seems to me we really should foster closer relations between our two countries, even if we are at polar opposite ends of the earth.

Australia is way better in football.

 

[classical_hero]

Australia is way better in football.

Australia is way better at Canada at just about everything.

 

[sysyphus]

Australia is way better at Canada at just about everything.

Until the temperature drops below 20 degrees...

 

[sysyphus]

I didn't know about the John Howard - Steven Harper relationship. I don't suppose you can provide links to satisfy my curiosity.

Try this.

It has the usual CBC slant of course, so take some of the bias with a grain of salt, but does give a few good details.

Just out of curiosity, what sort of bias is ABC known for?

 

[Mongoloid Cow]

Just out of curiosity, what sort of bias is ABC known for?

Very little, actually. It's just that because they point out the bad things John Howard does, he slashes its budget. But the ABC still reports in an relatively unbiased manner, so he's now decided to get rid of the people who run it and replace them with lackeys.

 

[Meleager]

I'm not a big ABC fan. But some people use it exclusively. From what I've seen it's the less biased then other Australian media. People who watch it / read it more may be able to answer the question better. Because it's goverment funded it doesn't need to compete for ratings.

Thanks for the link.

Edit: x-post

 

[classical_hero]

Until the temperature drops below 20 degrees...

That just proves Australia is better.

This coming from a guy that is used to heat. We sometimes get over 40 in summer.

 

[Meleager]

That just proves Australia is better.

This coming from a guy that is used to heat. We sometimes get over 40 in summer.

You just keep telling yourself that when it reaches 2 degrees in Perth tonight

How much do you guys hear about Australian politics in Canada? We don't hear anything here. I wouldn't have been able to tell you your prime minister's name.

 

[classical_hero]

You just keep telling yourself that when it reaches 2 degrees in Perth tonight

That will be warmer than last night. -0.7 I did not feel that cold when I was watching the games last night/this morning.

 

[Ultima Dragoon]

It's probably gunna hit close to 0 here, and I'm in Newcastle. My whole family really dislikes John Howard; My mum wore one of those "stop Work Relations agreements" or whatever they were to her work when he visited. I wish I was there, I woulda have egged him.