AUSTRALIA v REST OF THE WORLD

GrumpyOne · Senior Member

AUSTRALIA v REST OF THE WORLD

Happywanderer · The Master

I have seen that before, Its worth thinking about isn't it. Some of the figures are wrong or outdated now but is still a bit of a shock.

Dougie · Veteran Member

Out of date or not, the facts are still pertinent & should be in the hands of Kerry O'Brien at ABC for discussion.

countryroad · Senior Member

It's a sad situation when I feel I have to say...

What good will that do !

I work with a lady who doesn't listen to the news/watch the news and she said to me

"why are you watching that and getting annoyed, concerned, better not to know and be content."

When I first started working with her I thought she was foolish in not knowing, I'm beginning to feel

maybe she's right, so I stopped listening to 873 aka 2GB in Sydney and I don't stress abt what is

happening, leave it to the young ones it's their turn and their country too.

My values seem to have gone, been chucked out, not relevent, so I want to see aus...every

country road, and around every cnr and over evry hill...could be greener, and spend less time in

cities where their god is to go

shopping on credit cards and it seems to be all abt ME

Dougie · Veteran Member

One shouldn't adopt a defeatist attitude Robyn just because you may consider you are over the hill or around the bend. We are all entitled, & indeed required to vote irrespective of whether we are young or old, & this is how we voice our opinions in a democracy. It's not a question of leaving it to the "young ones", we all have a responsibility.

straycat · Veteran Member

H-ay Dougie It's not a defeatist attitude;; It's the way it is, I dont listern to talk back shows,, they are there to get you steard up ,These nothing you can do about it,, AS for TV I haven't owned one in 8 years ,, Chances are 8 years & nothing has changed ,the pollies are still bitching,,Gazzer strip ,,there still killing each other,,& USA still thinks they are gods right hand ,,Whats changed?? I still go to work ,,I still pay my taxes,,I still pay rates,,& I still have 4 mth off a year,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,& all that has nothing to do with a defeatist attitude,

I'm on your side Countryroad, I'll have a cup of tea,,

countryroad · Senior Member

I didn't mean to sound defeatist Dougie, I'll be casting my vote early Saturday, but the things I feel important don't seem to be important to the younger generations, and I guess that's how it's always been.
As a young teenager I remember my Dad saying, " If I'd known what was going to happen in the world I wouldn't have had children "..............and I said "what's wrong with the world Dad"
I was a teenager and thought I knew it all...
But there still is good in the world...the sun shone this morning, went out for dinner with my daughters and we had a great time tonight, and I'm still looking for a van...all good stuff but this world sure has changed and not all to the good.
Happy to share a cuppa straycat.

Dougie · Veteran Member

As i said people, it's a democracy, & we're all entitled to our own opinions. I guess we can think ourselves fortunate that we don't live in some of the countries mentioned in the article.
Maybe it was our fore-fathers & their sacrifices & responsibilities that had something to do with it!! (The way we choose to spend our retirement that is.)
I have forwarded the article to ABC, Chanel 7 & Barnaby Joyce as I consider it is my responsibility to put the matter before the other 99.99% of the community to consider.
If the article is genuine, then the author has put his professional reputation on the line publishing it, & the least we can do as responsible senior citizens is to ensure that it is debated as intended, & in the public domain.
Maybe I should seek a response from Julian Burnside QC, the Barrister who represents the illegal immigrants pro bono, & always has plenty to say on the subject, but doesn't seem to want to sponsor any of them, but expects the poor old Aust. taxpayers to keep footing the multi-million dollar bills (probably billions by now).

-- Edited by Dougie on Sunday 15th of August 2010 12:05:08 PM

-- Edited by Dougie on Sunday 15th of August 2010 01:25:04 PM

-- Edited by Dougie on Sunday 15th of August 2010 02:57:04 PM

-- Edited by Dougie on Sunday 15th of August 2010 03:26:10 PM

capt cream bun · Senior Member

Quoting facts from the Australian Bureau of Statistics the population growth in Australia for the calendar year of 2009 was 451,000.

To put this in perspective the population of Tasmania in 2009 was 502,600 ( Wiki ).

So Australia grew by almost the entire population of Tassie in one Year!

Big business loves that rate of growth and it certainly is helping the G.D.P. of our nation, but tell me as individuals is the quality of life also improving? I think not.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

We are currently volunteering in Fiji.
Fiji is a place where many Australians would like to visit or even retire to.
We went out to dinner last week at a 3 star hotel for our wedding anniversary. We had a bottle of white wine. Nothing very flash. That dinner cost more than the whole weeks wages of the waitress who served us and she has a good job here, much better than most.

We in Australia are amongst the 1% most privelidged people in the world and all we can do is grizzle.
Look around, get a life, and get some proper facts.

Cheers,
Peter

Ole Grizzly · Senior Member

Heck Peter...you had both barrels loaded with that lot.

Love Fiji and found most of the population were happy and quite content with their life style, but were so somewhat amazed to how extravagant & rude the tourists can be.

I had a beaut time there, and had several invitations to join families for meals etc as I hiked around and over the island, and a bed & shelter always offered to a total stranger...fantastic experience.

On a sadder note,the only common complaint I heard from the Fijians was how the Indian population has taken over the larger coastal regions.

But, nothing better than "Fiji Time"

coyotte · Veteran Member

Wish i knew that when up the top end, last year
Would have got hold of a row boat and floated around untill they picked be up as a "illegal boat refuge"

cheers

Coyotte

Dougie · Veteran Member

Can you be more specific please P & M in your reference - "Look around, get a life and get some proper facts".
I for one would like your wisdom about this comment.
I don't recall that Fiji has anything to do with the illegal immigrant problem, maybe you have some more info on the original topic posted here.

-- Edited by Dougie on Wednesday 18th of August 2010 08:15:37 AM

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Dougie, in context, I also said "We in Australia are amongst the 1% most privelidged people in the world and all we can do is grizzle." The Fiji story was purely an example. Almost anywhere in the world would provide a similar comparison.
And you grizzle about helping a few people?
What is the source of your figures?
# I don't know anyone who paid taxes for 60 years unless they had substantial investments or business interests.
# Defence people don't voluntarily endure hardship. It is their job. They chose that job. they are well paid to performit and they perform it well.
# The farmer never reaches out for a hand? Everyone in this country gets a helping hand if they need it, farmers included.
# How many "illegals" really get what you quote?
# How many pensioners get what you quote?

It is so easy to quote some garbage email that has been doing the rounds without checking any of the facts first.
I won't debate this with you or anyone else by PM and nor do I owe you an apology.

Cheers,
Peter

Webmaster · Guru

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for all your views on this subject. As we come up to the election, it's probably the right time to leave this to the 'experts' ... Julia and Tony ... to sort out. I guess we'll all get to have our say where it really matters on Saturday!