Australian Politics

[Biggles of 266]

Several other members have expressed an interest in debating Australian politics, so I thought I may as well open up another thread where we can do it without boring/annoying other people on here.

Who's gonna win the next federal election? Will John Howard play the 'redneck paranoia' card again to cruise in? Will Pauline Hanson return, just as scary as before? Did the asylum-seekers throw their children overboard, or did the Navy make it all up to suit the federal government?

Let's hear all your opinions, Jim, DVNC, Shark, Steve, ShiningIce, Travis...

Biggles

 

[qjakal]

Well...

I wasn't named, but lucky you, here I am anyway..lol! Okay, I know nothing about Australian politics and concerns, but when has that ever stopped a true TMF'er from jumping in? There's people throwing babies overboard? A radical swimming lesson or outright murder attempts? You guys have rednecks? I thought that was specific to the south in the US. Do I have to pick a side to debate, or can i just wander back and forth on issues that sound interesting? Help... Q

 

[Biggles of 266]

As much as I hate to say it (just because of how stoopid it sounds) the more the merrier...




The Media's Version:
A bunch of people from middle eastern countries like Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq showed up in leaky boats and asked to be let in and given asylum from their home governments. The government wouldn't pick them up, so they threatened to throw their children into the ocean. Then the boat started to sink, so the navy paddled over and grabbed them all. When they got to Australia, they were locked up in detention camps in the desert, then sent back home.

The government used this version to cruise to victory in an election by telling people that they need to be protected from the foreign hordes. They published pictures of little kids floating alone in the sea, which were used to great effect by the newspapers.

What actually happened:
An independent review and inquiry into the navy found out that the asylum seekers did not threaten to throw their children overboard. The ship started to sink, so everyone jumped out into the water. Navy photographers were covering this, but the government picked out the single photo of the little kids floating by themselves. More photos were later revealed showing the ship sinking, people jumping off etc.

The Navy was made to cover it up by the government, so everyone thought 'well, I don't want people living in this country who would throw their children into the sea'. The Liberals swept into power (again), and the inquiry only started after the government were comfortably untouchable.



I hope that explained it for you. I'm not as eloquent as I'd like to be, so please bear with me! We've got rednecks here, mostly out west in the country. It's hard to generalise, but there ya go.

You don't have to pick a side, just nice to know someone else is interested 🙂

Biggles

 

[amk714]

And I thought MY country was messed up!

That's some sick s___, Biggles. Did this happen before or after 9/11?

 

[Biggles of 266]

I think this was before 11/9, but the federal election was timed perfectly to capitalise on people's fear and confusion after the attacks.

It is sick, but no heads will roll because the Navy was only doing what they were told, and the government is too well protected. Governments all over the world are messed up, but acting like jerks is one area where Australian politicians are world leaders. I know I'm not gonna vote for the Liberals this year.

 

[dvnc]

I'm still impressed that y'all have a political body that deals with arts and musics. Did some work one year for them while out visiting Sydney. Got a free trip t'Canberra in the process.

I'm behind on your country's fun, brother. One o' my groomsmen is Australian, and I'll see him in a few weeks, so askin' me after that will likely illicit more of a response.

That Australia does as every other country does, politically, doesn't surprise me. That's a deal that Australians will correct about the same time as Americans, Canadians, etc...

...right about the same time that we stop depending on middle east petroleum production.

 

[amk714]

From a TIME article...

Saudi Arabia today provides only 8% of the oil consumed by Americans. It accounts for 15% of the U.S.'s crude-oil imports, less than half the amount the U.S. imports from Canada, Mexico, and Venezuela.

--Excerpt from "Do We Still Need the Saudis?" by Romesh Ratnesar in the August 5, 2002 issue of TIME magazine pages 32-33

 

[Biggles of 266]

Where else would it come from? Answer: Alaska (once the govt. gets licence to drill up there).

Once, in the 70s, the Queensland Government (motto: Hey, it's not OUR money!) wanted to drill the Great Barrier Reef for oil. Thankfully, the QLD people realised that this government was insane and voted them out after a leisurely 20 year term in power.

 

[amk714]

I hope my info's correct!

What's funny is that there are conflicting reports on how much oil can be pumped out of ANWAR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge). Supporters claim the amount will last us ten years, but detractors, only six months. Talk about confusing 😕

 

[shark]

The US has the ability to produce far more of its own oil than we do today.ANWR in Alaska is one,more diversion of North Shore oil to the US (most of it goes to Japan),and offshore drilling in the gulf of Mexico are examples.

Recent reports also say that older abandoned oil fields are filling again for some unknown reason.Either the "well" wasn't pumped dry and is seeping,or oil is actually replenishable?

DVNC is right,in my opinion.It's not smart to stay dependent on foreign oil,and probably best to find alternative options as well.

 

[Biggles of 266]

The Australian media are saying that Saddam's plans will likely be to attack Saudi Arabia and blow up their oil wells, plus any other oil fields that he can reach by missile. Then, he blows the crap out of Israel. Of course he'd be defeated pretty damn quick, but he'd get a few shots in at a country that he hates, and he'd screw up the world oil supply.

 

[shark]

Oil fields

I guess that's why oil drilling is referred to as speculation....no guarantees.Another reason to find alternative fuel sources.

Hussein blowing up oil fields? This sounds vaguely familiar..........

 

[amk714]

Alternative options like hybrid cars and electric vehicles? 🙂

 

[Biggles of 266]

Alternative options like hybrid cars and electric vehicles? 🙂

if only they got enough funding for the research which will save the world...

Alternative energy is the way to go, but nobody cares!

 

[amk714]

I do care, but it seems every other American thinks, "Feck it, I just want my SUV!" Now, let's get back on topic, shall we? 😛

 

[dvnc]

My next ride is gonna be a hybrid car, at worst, and an electric vehicle at best. There will still be a need for fossil fuel, and our side of the world can supply to this need just fine.

When other countries are doin' likewise, it'll be a far different story. Suddenly, the "fuck you" perspective from dictators and terrorists from oil-financed regions will have a new tune to sing.

Yeah, Biggles, he'll blow up whomever he wants to screw wit', nearest to him, as he's got shit for long-range weaponry, and can't afford to target anything with defence capabilities.

*grumble* Hate it that we're helpin' fund slime like that.

 

[BigJim]

Who's gonna win the next federal election? Will John Howard play the 'redneck paranoia' card again to cruise in? Will Pauline Hanson return, just as scary as before? Did the asylum-seekers throw their children overboard, or did the Navy make it all up to suit the federal government?

Who's Pauline Hanson and John Howard?😕

 

[Biggles of 266]

John Howard: the prime minister of this country. He has openly said that he bases his policies on a prime minister we had back in the 50s. That means women get no maternity leave, coz they're supposed to be in the kitchen where they belong 🙄.

He kisses up to everyone remotely important who comes here, it's quite sickening to watch him pull his head out of Bush's ass and go back for more.



Pauline Hanson: fish and chip shop owner who ran for government and did fairly well for a while. Her policies were mostly simple. No more immigrants, because Australia is apparently in danger of being swamped by Asians. Nobody explained to her that most of the Asians in this country are tourists who spend a feck-load of money and go home again.

She wanted to replace the 10% GST with a 2% tax on every stage of production. This seems ok until you realise that a car might have 400 stages of production. The solution her party came up with to solve the money problems in this country? Print more money!

 

[amk714]

John Howard sounds like a typical conservative, so for his American equivalent, I'll pick Rush Limbaugh. As for Pauline Hanson, she's got to be the female version of Pat Buchanan. And I thought the politics in this country was fecked up! 😛

 

[kurchatovium]

I'll trade you are Barbara Boxer for your Pauline Hanson. I'll even throw in a Foster's beer.😀

 

[amk714]

Don't do it, Biggles! I don't like Boxer either, , but I don't want another Pat Buchanan in this country! 🙂

 

[kurchatovium]

Ok, Ok I'll make you another deal just so amk714 doesn't freak out. I'll trade you our Diane Fienstein for your John Howard and I'll still throw in the Foster's beer.😀

 

[Biggles of 266]

I have a confession to make...

I've never had a Fosters! I've never even seen them at the bottle shop. Call me un-Australian, but I can't find the buggers.

 

[dvnc]

No worries, man. If it was Toohey's or VB, I'd laugh hard, but we Americans get shown, via commercials on tv, that Fosters "is Australian for Beer". Mind you, many here will laugh when folks deliberately order Budweiser or Coors when good beer is available.

What? No good American beer, you say? Not true. No good STRONG American beers, true, but there's smaller breweries that do stand a good round. You just gotta drink a lot more of it to fall down. 😉

 

[Biggles of 266]

Becks rocks my world 😀