I think this is a brilliant explanation and explains why I left (I didn't like the authoritarian approach along with the nanny state-ism which it also pioneered). But I'm not clear on why the Voice will give Australia a "blob", unless you mean that at the moment the pollies are still mostly in control and responding to public opinion - a sort of populist authoritarianism?
It's fascinating when people look to other countries for policy ideas how often they assume it's a pick and mix. Take the ideas you want, leave the rest, without realizing they are part of a connected ecosystem. Like when Americans praise Scandinavian social services, but wouldn't want to advocate for the culture that made it possible (stable constitutional monarchy, Protestantism, and social conformity).
I’m disinclined to have opinions on other countries unless we’re 🇺🇸 at war** with them and it’s a war I agree with: you touch on Australia’s founding stock - there’s nothing to be done with your aboriginals just as there’s nothing to be done with ours and never was, biology sorted this over millions of years. The best is to leave them alone, you can’t make them white. Let them find their way.
Sorry.
I’m sure its unjust.
Don’t make it worse.
The American Indian was much better when we killed them or left them alone then for our “help.”
---------
** You have just told me 🇺🇸we’re at war with you 🇦🇺, I recognize our M.O. I don’t agree with it.
So End the 🇺🇸🇦🇺relationship or you’re Doomed. I don’t care what you think, I’ve seen the machine, I’m a cog in it.
Australia is fortunate to be naturally rich in just the things China has needed for the past two decades. I expect a rather large come down for the next couple of decades, based on a real estate bubble founded on loads of increasingly expensive debt. The irrational authoritarianism seen during the Covid plandemic hints at what's to come when things go south economically.
Very interesting and enjoyable read. I think it’s important to remember Australia was set up as a colonial colony and is still a colonial colony. And has always been controlled from outside. Speaking of Australian Rules if we want our Dung Hill back, don’t we just play harder if it’s the Last Quarter.
‘While Australia has an intensely egalitarian culture and commendable social mobility, it is an authoritarian country and its police in particular expect compliance...Australians are both the descendants of convicts and of their gaolers.’
This is the reason I left Australia. In high school in the 1990’s we were discussing policy and social behavio(u)r and I commented about the clear authoritarianism of my (then) culture/government and was vehemently disagreed with by my classmates and teacher. 30 years later during Covid people actually reached out to me and reminded me that I ‘called this’ during high school... perhaps it’s always been obvious to those of us who desire freedom?
Thank you for this piece. I’d dearly love more Native Australian awareness in Australia (the genocide always, always pained me) and though I too attended law school, in Australia, I am ill equipped to make recommendations on a best way forward.
Interestingly, my people were all free-settlers. No convict ancestry. And like my ancestors, I left a place of hardship and a culture of control for distant shores...
"... several Australian innovations: compulsory registration and compulsory voting; voting on Saturdays; an incorruptible system of postal votes; ..."
How do you achieve incorruptible postal votes?
Saturday voting sounds like a great approach. Very viable idea for the US.
What happens if someone fails to register or fails to vote?
Are there waivers for realistic or reasonable incapacities to voting?
Mirroring the compulsory nature of voting, do you have a corresponding social security retirement system based on compulsory investment in an IRA or equivalent? If the US were to go for a compulsory policy element, I can see much to recommend this one [vs. our current Ponzi scheme].
As Megan McArdle in the US has pointed out, whether retirement programs are funded via private investments or taxes, the money (and its stable value) has to come from a prosperous and successful economy over a longish period.
I didn't understand A single word of that.
Sorry... Was it meant to be clever or funny or sarcastic? I'm being sincere.
Yes honest people have worked hard and been allowed to succeed at times but
Australia is a lie, run by liers.
Find a successful Australian and you will find an ignoramus or a mason.
I'm having deja vu allover again. Have I read the bulk of this elswhere before?
I think this is a brilliant explanation and explains why I left (I didn't like the authoritarian approach along with the nanny state-ism which it also pioneered). But I'm not clear on why the Voice will give Australia a "blob", unless you mean that at the moment the pollies are still mostly in control and responding to public opinion - a sort of populist authoritarianism?
It's fascinating when people look to other countries for policy ideas how often they assume it's a pick and mix. Take the ideas you want, leave the rest, without realizing they are part of a connected ecosystem. Like when Americans praise Scandinavian social services, but wouldn't want to advocate for the culture that made it possible (stable constitutional monarchy, Protestantism, and social conformity).
I’m disinclined to have opinions on other countries unless we’re 🇺🇸 at war** with them and it’s a war I agree with: you touch on Australia’s founding stock - there’s nothing to be done with your aboriginals just as there’s nothing to be done with ours and never was, biology sorted this over millions of years. The best is to leave them alone, you can’t make them white. Let them find their way.
Sorry.
I’m sure its unjust.
Don’t make it worse.
The American Indian was much better when we killed them or left them alone then for our “help.”
---------
** You have just told me 🇺🇸we’re at war with you 🇦🇺, I recognize our M.O. I don’t agree with it.
So End the 🇺🇸🇦🇺relationship or you’re Doomed. I don’t care what you think, I’ve seen the machine, I’m a cog in it.
I am now a reserve cog.
I expect to be recalled.
Sorry. You deserve better, so do we.
Many countries want to imitate Australia’s success;
One country to rule them all 🇺🇸 does not tolerate success and casts its baneful eye down under:
If this Aboriginal Proposal had MADE IN USA stamped on it couldn’t be clearer.
This would be the Trojan Horse to open your borders, BTW.
It is better to make Heaven into Hell then be a citizen of a Heaven made by others.
- all the rest of them...
Australia is fortunate to be naturally rich in just the things China has needed for the past two decades. I expect a rather large come down for the next couple of decades, based on a real estate bubble founded on loads of increasingly expensive debt. The irrational authoritarianism seen during the Covid plandemic hints at what's to come when things go south economically.
Very interesting and enjoyable read. I think it’s important to remember Australia was set up as a colonial colony and is still a colonial colony. And has always been controlled from outside. Speaking of Australian Rules if we want our Dung Hill back, don’t we just play harder if it’s the Last Quarter.
‘While Australia has an intensely egalitarian culture and commendable social mobility, it is an authoritarian country and its police in particular expect compliance...Australians are both the descendants of convicts and of their gaolers.’
This is the reason I left Australia. In high school in the 1990’s we were discussing policy and social behavio(u)r and I commented about the clear authoritarianism of my (then) culture/government and was vehemently disagreed with by my classmates and teacher. 30 years later during Covid people actually reached out to me and reminded me that I ‘called this’ during high school... perhaps it’s always been obvious to those of us who desire freedom?
Thank you for this piece. I’d dearly love more Native Australian awareness in Australia (the genocide always, always pained me) and though I too attended law school, in Australia, I am ill equipped to make recommendations on a best way forward.
Interestingly, my people were all free-settlers. No convict ancestry. And like my ancestors, I left a place of hardship and a culture of control for distant shores...
[Hope this comment is not too late]
"... several Australian innovations: compulsory registration and compulsory voting; voting on Saturdays; an incorruptible system of postal votes; ..."
How do you achieve incorruptible postal votes?
Saturday voting sounds like a great approach. Very viable idea for the US.
What happens if someone fails to register or fails to vote?
Are there waivers for realistic or reasonable incapacities to voting?
Mirroring the compulsory nature of voting, do you have a corresponding social security retirement system based on compulsory investment in an IRA or equivalent? If the US were to go for a compulsory policy element, I can see much to recommend this one [vs. our current Ponzi scheme].
As Megan McArdle in the US has pointed out, whether retirement programs are funded via private investments or taxes, the money (and its stable value) has to come from a prosperous and successful economy over a longish period.