Australian triumphalism
Oct 29th 2011, 2:14 am
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Australian triumphalism
For all those doubters and whingers out there, have a read of this:
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/societ...028-1mnzd.html
So Australia gets the gong for the best country in world.
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/societ...028-1mnzd.html
So Australia gets the gong for the best country in world.
Oct 29th 2011, 2:53 am
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Re: Australian triumphalism
For all those doubters and whingers out there, have a read of this:
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/societ...028-1mnzd.html
So Australia gets the gong for the best country in world.
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/societ...028-1mnzd.html
So Australia gets the gong for the best country in world.
All the usual suspects will be along soon to tell you otherwise
Over to you haters..........
Last edited by Amazulu; Oct 29th 2011 at 2:56 am.
Oct 29th 2011, 3:50 am
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Oct 29th 2011, 4:33 am
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Re: Australian triumphalism
For all those doubters and whingers out there, have a read of this:
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/societ...028-1mnzd.html
So Australia gets the gong for the best country in world.
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/societ...028-1mnzd.html
So Australia gets the gong for the best country in world.
I'm not trying to make a point either as a lover or a hater, however this does seem a bit of a long shot - best country based on one person's opinion! It's also from a book with an interesting title - "The Sweet Spot: How Australia Made Its Own Luck - and Could Now Throw It All Away".
Oct 29th 2011, 4:51 am
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Re: Australian triumphalism
How would the opinion of one person (Peter Hartcher in this case) correct the opinion of any doubter?
I'm not trying to make a point either as a lover or a hater, however this does seem a bit of a long shot - best country based on one person's opinion! It's also from a book with an interesting title - "The Sweet Spot: How Australia Made Its Own Luck - and Could Now Throw It All Away".
I'm not trying to make a point either as a lover or a hater, however this does seem a bit of a long shot - best country based on one person's opinion! It's also from a book with an interesting title - "The Sweet Spot: How Australia Made Its Own Luck - and Could Now Throw It All Away".
Oct 29th 2011, 6:26 am
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Oct 29th 2011, 6:31 am
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Re: Australian triumphalism
Oct 29th 2011, 8:07 am
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Re: Australian triumphalism
Oct 29th 2011, 8:31 am
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Oct 29th 2011, 9:59 am
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Re: Australian triumphalism
Oct 29th 2011, 10:56 am
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Re: Australian triumphalism
New member here. Been in Oz since 1988 - bicentennial year and proud citizen of the Country since 1990.
Only thing the book overlooks is the Country makes a living from digging rocks out the ground and exporting them to Asia, who are only too happy to pay good money for it.
Take the minerals out of the equation and we have very little to be conceited about. This Country/Continent of only 22 million people, is a Governments dream to govern. The young, the old and those on disability pensions and there are millions of these. You can even be put on one for being obese. The percentage of the population actually in employment is quite small and the bulk of these are in the service Industries of one sort or another - all made possible by the wealth and taxes generated by the rocks.
With the huge rise of the Aussie dollars value, we've also become a comparatively expensive Country and of course these International studies comparing the living standards of Countries are conducted, by first converting the local currency into US dollars. Hey! Even we feel rich when we travel overseas nowadays. Only eleven years ago, you could buy three Aussie dollars with a pound coin, the Brits came on holiday here and everything was cheaper than chips, not so today, that darn currency it distorts everything. That's not to say we're not enjoying a high standard living, but things haven't changed all that much in a decade - apart from that exchange rate and mining booms 1 & 2.
Then when I hear our PM and her Treasurer bragging about our economy to audiences in the US and Europe who don't have our minerals to population ratio, I find it quite patronising and embarrassing tbh. I'm sure that Merkel and Sarakozy are thinking You wouldn't be half so conceited without your coal and ore exports.
That said and done, I'm very pleased about my choice of home.
Only thing the book overlooks is the Country makes a living from digging rocks out the ground and exporting them to Asia, who are only too happy to pay good money for it.
Take the minerals out of the equation and we have very little to be conceited about. This Country/Continent of only 22 million people, is a Governments dream to govern. The young, the old and those on disability pensions and there are millions of these. You can even be put on one for being obese. The percentage of the population actually in employment is quite small and the bulk of these are in the service Industries of one sort or another - all made possible by the wealth and taxes generated by the rocks.
With the huge rise of the Aussie dollars value, we've also become a comparatively expensive Country and of course these International studies comparing the living standards of Countries are conducted, by first converting the local currency into US dollars. Hey! Even we feel rich when we travel overseas nowadays. Only eleven years ago, you could buy three Aussie dollars with a pound coin, the Brits came on holiday here and everything was cheaper than chips, not so today, that darn currency it distorts everything. That's not to say we're not enjoying a high standard living, but things haven't changed all that much in a decade - apart from that exchange rate and mining booms 1 & 2.
Then when I hear our PM and her Treasurer bragging about our economy to audiences in the US and Europe who don't have our minerals to population ratio, I find it quite patronising and embarrassing tbh. I'm sure that Merkel and Sarakozy are thinking You wouldn't be half so conceited without your coal and ore exports.
That said and done, I'm very pleased about my choice of home.
Last edited by philmerrin; Oct 29th 2011 at 11:33 am.
Oct 29th 2011, 7:38 pm
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Re: Australian triumphalism
New member here. Been in Oz since 1988 - bicentennial year and proud citizen of the Country since 1990.
Only thing the book overlooks is the Country makes a living from digging rocks out the ground and exporting them to Asia, who are only too happy to pay good money for it.
Take the minerals out of the equation and we have very little to be conceited about. This Country/Continent of only 22 million people, is a Governments dream to govern. The young, the old and those on disability pensions and there are millions of these. You can even be put on one for being obese. The percentage of the population actually in employment is quite small and the bulk of these are in the service Industries of one sort or another - all made possible by the wealth and taxes generated by the rocks.
With the huge rise of the Aussie dollars value, we've also become a comparatively expensive Country and of course these International studies comparing the living standards of Countries are conducted, by first converting the local currency into US dollars. Hey! Even we feel rich when we travel overseas nowadays. Only eleven years ago, you could buy three Aussie dollars with a pound coin, the Brits came on holiday here and everything was cheaper than chips, not so today, that darn currency it distorts everything. That's not to say we're not enjoying a high standard living, but things haven't changed all that much in a decade - apart from that exchange rate and mining booms 1 & 2.
Then when I hear our PM and her Treasurer bragging about our economy to audiences in the US and Europe who don't have our minerals to population ratio, I find it quite patronising and embarrassing tbh. I'm sure that Merkel and Sarakozy are thinking You wouldn't be half so conceited without your coal and ore exports.
That said and done, I'm very pleased about my choice of home.
Only thing the book overlooks is the Country makes a living from digging rocks out the ground and exporting them to Asia, who are only too happy to pay good money for it.
Take the minerals out of the equation and we have very little to be conceited about. This Country/Continent of only 22 million people, is a Governments dream to govern. The young, the old and those on disability pensions and there are millions of these. You can even be put on one for being obese. The percentage of the population actually in employment is quite small and the bulk of these are in the service Industries of one sort or another - all made possible by the wealth and taxes generated by the rocks.
With the huge rise of the Aussie dollars value, we've also become a comparatively expensive Country and of course these International studies comparing the living standards of Countries are conducted, by first converting the local currency into US dollars. Hey! Even we feel rich when we travel overseas nowadays. Only eleven years ago, you could buy three Aussie dollars with a pound coin, the Brits came on holiday here and everything was cheaper than chips, not so today, that darn currency it distorts everything. That's not to say we're not enjoying a high standard living, but things haven't changed all that much in a decade - apart from that exchange rate and mining booms 1 & 2.
Then when I hear our PM and her Treasurer bragging about our economy to audiences in the US and Europe who don't have our minerals to population ratio, I find it quite patronising and embarrassing tbh. I'm sure that Merkel and Sarakozy are thinking You wouldn't be half so conceited without your coal and ore exports.
That said and done, I'm very pleased about my choice of home.
What you've written I'd say is a fair assessment of Australia's circumstances. It is indeed a lucky country and us it's lucky people.
Lets not squander it 
Meantime, Teakosy and Berkel, etc must be very green monster about this fine and new country of ours.
Oct 29th 2011, 8:25 pm
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Re: Australian triumphalism
Peter Hartcher is just an aussie journalist - Patriotic piece. But it makes a lovely read if your looking for that warm fuzzy /smug/ or I did the right thing feeling.
Wasn't he the journalist once accused ( in jest I assume ) of ironing Rudds Underpants?
IMO, if you live here, the article has some glaring holes. Unemployment 5% - yeah if you count anyone who works over 2 hours a week
.
And articles about the mighty strength of the aussie dollar could have fish and chips wrapped in them by Tuesday, if there is a rate cut.
Wasn't he the journalist once accused ( in jest I assume ) of ironing Rudds Underpants?
IMO, if you live here, the article has some glaring holes. Unemployment 5% - yeah if you count anyone who works over 2 hours a week
. And articles about the mighty strength of the aussie dollar could have fish and chips wrapped in them by Tuesday, if there is a rate cut.