Democracy
Jul 7th 2004, 3:57 pm
#1
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Location: Melbourne
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Democracy
THE CLASSIC VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool, and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The shivering grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.
THE MODERN AUSTRALIAN VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool, and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed
while others less fortunate like him are cold and starving.
The ABC and Channel 9 show up to provide live coverage of the shivering grasshopper, with cuts to a video of the ant in his comfortable warm home with a table filled with food.
Australians are stunned that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so whilst others have plenty.
The Democrats, the Greens and the Coalition Against Poverty demonstrate in front of the ant's house. The ABC, interrupting an Aboriginal cultural festival special from North Queensland with breaking news, broadcasts them singing "We Shall Overcome."
Bob Brown rants in an interview with Jana Wendt that the ant has become rich off the backs of grasshoppers, and calls for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his "fair share." In response to polls, the Liberal Government drafts the Economic Equity and Grasshopper Anti-discrimination Act, retroactive to the beginning of the summer. And the ALP quickly passes it through the Senate. The ant's taxes are reassessed and he is also fined
for failing to hire grasshoppers as helpers. Without enough money to pay both the fine and his newly imposed retroactive taxes, the Government confiscates his home.
The ant moves to Asia, and starts a successful Agribiz company. The TV stations later show the now fat grasshopper finishing up the last of the ant's food, even though Spring is still months away, whilst the Government-owned house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he hasn't maintained it.
Inadequate Government funding is blamed. Kim Beasley is appointed to head a commission of enquiry that will cost $10,000,000.00. The grasshopper is soon dead of a drug overdose.
The Sydney Morning Herald blames it on the obvious failure of
Government to address the root causes of despair arising from social inequity. The abandoned house is taken over by a gang of immigrant spiders, praised by the Government for enriching Australia's multicultural diversity, who promptly terrorise the community.
Who says we don't live in a Democracy?
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool, and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The shivering grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.
THE MODERN AUSTRALIAN VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool, and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed
while others less fortunate like him are cold and starving.
The ABC and Channel 9 show up to provide live coverage of the shivering grasshopper, with cuts to a video of the ant in his comfortable warm home with a table filled with food.
Australians are stunned that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so whilst others have plenty.
The Democrats, the Greens and the Coalition Against Poverty demonstrate in front of the ant's house. The ABC, interrupting an Aboriginal cultural festival special from North Queensland with breaking news, broadcasts them singing "We Shall Overcome."
Bob Brown rants in an interview with Jana Wendt that the ant has become rich off the backs of grasshoppers, and calls for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his "fair share." In response to polls, the Liberal Government drafts the Economic Equity and Grasshopper Anti-discrimination Act, retroactive to the beginning of the summer. And the ALP quickly passes it through the Senate. The ant's taxes are reassessed and he is also fined
for failing to hire grasshoppers as helpers. Without enough money to pay both the fine and his newly imposed retroactive taxes, the Government confiscates his home.
The ant moves to Asia, and starts a successful Agribiz company. The TV stations later show the now fat grasshopper finishing up the last of the ant's food, even though Spring is still months away, whilst the Government-owned house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he hasn't maintained it.
Inadequate Government funding is blamed. Kim Beasley is appointed to head a commission of enquiry that will cost $10,000,000.00. The grasshopper is soon dead of a drug overdose.
The Sydney Morning Herald blames it on the obvious failure of
Government to address the root causes of despair arising from social inequity. The abandoned house is taken over by a gang of immigrant spiders, praised by the Government for enriching Australia's multicultural diversity, who promptly terrorise the community.
Who says we don't live in a Democracy?
Jul 7th 2004, 5:16 pm
#2
o_0
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: Northern Rivers
Posts: 1,642
That's left wing politics for you. 
Jul 7th 2004, 5:56 pm
#3
Banned
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Morayfield - The Posh Part
Posts: 10,138
Thats Class, incidentally is the Ant hiring anyone at the mo, i have a few ideas for candidates 
Jul 7th 2004, 6:00 pm
#4
The Godfather
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: South East Suburbs of Melbourne
Posts: 7,336
Originally posted by Timber Floor Au
Thats Class, incidentally is the Ant hiring anyone at the mo, i have a few ideas for candidates
Thats Class, incidentally is the Ant hiring anyone at the mo, i have a few ideas for candidates
I'm gonna feel really guity putting the ant powder down this summer.
Jul 7th 2004, 6:08 pm
#5
High in the Dandenongs
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Listening to Puffing Billy
Posts: 9,183
are you on drugs Jay?? That took some imagination
Jul 7th 2004, 6:10 pm
#6
The Godfather
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: South East Suburbs of Melbourne
Posts: 7,336
Originally posted by hevs
are you on drugs Jay?? That took some imagination
are you on drugs Jay?? That took some imagination
Its those lemons of hers, now everyone will want some.
Jul 7th 2004, 6:14 pm
#7
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2004
Location: South Australia
Posts: 112
Australia and western style democracy
I think Jayjay's made a great point.
Too bad others don't take the hint!
Too bad others don't take the hint!
Jul 7th 2004, 6:16 pm
#8
Banned
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Morayfield - The Posh Part
Posts: 10,138
Re: Australia and western style democracy
Originally posted by bob and ginnie
I think Jayjay's made a great point.
Too bad others don't take the hint!
I think Jayjay's made a great point.
Too bad others don't take the hint!
pssst like who :?
Jul 7th 2004, 9:17 pm
#9
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Originally posted by hevs
are you on drugs Jay?? That took some imagination
are you on drugs Jay?? That took some imagination
Jul 7th 2004, 9:20 pm
#10
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Originally posted by Bordy
Its those lemons of hers, now everyone will want some.
Its those lemons of hers, now everyone will want some.
Definitely going to have to go out there and pick them off tomorrow or the tree's going to fall over
LEMONS, COME AND GET YOUR LEMONS!!!
Jul 7th 2004, 9:44 pm
#11
High in the Dandenongs
Joined: Apr 2003
Location: Listening to Puffing Billy
Posts: 9,183
Originally posted by Jaykay
Bordy do you know that every time I look outside, I'm sure that bl**dy lemon tree has got more fruit on it!!
Definitely going to have to go out there and pick them off tomorrow or the tree's going to fall over
LEMONS, COME AND GET YOUR LEMONS!!!
Bordy do you know that every time I look outside, I'm sure that bl**dy lemon tree has got more fruit on it!!
Definitely going to have to go out there and pick them off tomorrow or the tree's going to fall over
LEMONS, COME AND GET YOUR LEMONS!!!
