Why I rag on Australia

[sysyphus]

On the matter of the 'Little Australia' advocates, who would characterize us as not a power and with no role to play on a wider stage, I heartily disagree. East Timor, Ramsi Assist, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, AMTF, ongoing CT operations in the region, Tsunami and Earthquake relief - we bat out of our league, and do so because it is the right thing to do.

Australia should bat out of its league, as should Canada, there are just more productive ways to do it than running around and shooting things.

Ironically, the 'Little Canada' advocates would have us doing just what Australia is doing now, so that we can remain happily on the laps of Britain and America. Those of us who want better for our country would gladly return to the glory days of Lester Pearson.

Mr. Howard has been a conservative mentor and influence on more than just Mr. Harper; he has demonstrated how to win, stay in office, and carry out the conservative agenda. A great success, which does irk many among the doctor's wives set.

Fair enough, just be ready in a few years when we send our new Prime Minister Ignatieff down to Aus to help return progressive government there.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

1.) Tsk. Kneejerk judgements always end up biting back. What do Tsunami relief in Aceh and Indonesia, Earthquake relief in Pakistan, establishing order and allowing elections in the Solomon Islands, securing Al Muthanna province for reconstruction and development have to do with "running around and shooting things" (sic) ?
How are these unproductive?
What other steps should have been taken in such situations to assuage the needs of people in dire straits whilst avoiding that awful, awful step of working with and having anything to do with our closest allies and blood kin?

Such a reductionist approach is not at all productive, and simply demonstrates a lack of a grasp of the issues under discussion.

2.) Quips are irrelevant. Howard is in, and has been in for 10 years, and will remain in as long as he wishes. He has actually achieved victories, and led a country. That is why people emulate him, and that is why the Left here (I will not suffer to call them 'progressive') is facing a generational defeat of the likes of the Menzies era - torn by internal strife, unable to capture the public attention, let alone imagination, and so in love with its own shadow and pushing lunatic leaders and policies that they are unelectable.
Their symbol, the Tree of Knowledge, under the branches of which the Labor movement began, was recently poisoned, and now is a folorn symbol for a Party and ideology without hope. May they rot.

Therefore, no attempted parallels with some ignominious blow-in,who isn't even head of his own miserable party yet, can be made. We are in power (what a lovely word!) and will remain so.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

So, enough of the prosaic words to the vassals of common simplicity, Simon!

Let us all in on when your coup d'État is to happen...!

Surely the genetic labs in Ayers Rock have been busy...Cloning an army grown from the DNA of
Otto Skorenzy for the masterplan of 'Nea-so-Thule' - Or have we moved to the 'other' plan?

All is at hand, and soon the lizardmen and flying saucers will rise from Shambhala and the moon base. Vorwarts fur die Schwarze Sonne und Gott straffe Rotland!

Here's looking at you from Aldebaran, from all the lads in the Ahnenerbe!

 

[CurtSibling]

Indeed!

The Vril Gesellschafts are ready to act on your command...!

Soon all beings from Canberra to the Taurus Constellation will sing the 'Sigrun Darkshade Lied'...!

 

[Oerdin]

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.

I wonder how the Australian Broadcasting Corp can use ABC when the American Broadcasting Corp already uses the ABC monicker and has been since the very earliest days of radio. When TV came out ABC was one of the first broadcasters in that media as well.

 

[Simon Darkshade]

Perhaps it is because they have the same initials, and have been going on for a very long time also, broadcasting since 1932, some 11 years before the American station went into action... Dear me.

In the end, no one seems to get them confused, as Australia doesn't beam Auntie into America, and the other one isn't one down here.

 

[sanabas]

I mean you don't use first past the post anymore.

We started using preferential voting in 1918. That explains why I didn't notice the reform.

 

[sysyphus]

We started using preferential voting in 1918. That explains why I didn't notice the reform.

Oh wow, I had no idea it went back that far! So nice, we're only 88 years behind you.

 

[Mongoloid Cow]

Oh wow, I had no idea it went back that far! So nice, we're only 88 years behind you.

You are more than that behind in most other aspects

 

[Desmond Hawkins]

Australia is way better in football.

But they just can't seem to get a handle on ice hockey for some reason.

 

[azzaman333]

But they just can't seem to get a handle on ice hockey for some reason.

Possibly because there is very little snow in Australia...

 

[Meleager]

Possibly because there is very little snow in Australia...

It is said we have more sky resorts then Switzerland.

 

[classical_hero]

But they are only open during winter when in Switzerland, they are open all year round.