Looking for an external perspective of Australia

[TGS]

Australia has always struck me as the best ally we never knew we had. For some reason, I don't know why, Australia seems to be disproportionately supportive of the US at both the grassroots and national government level.

Australian troops have always struck me as eminently professional, albeit that seems to be a cultural thing among all Commonwealth troops.

My usual weekly interaction with Australians is through the internet via gaming on Australian servers, and I usually have to quit the server because I can't stop laughing; to the point my stomach is hurting. They always seem to have this drunk redneck sort of personality but with a very advanced sense of humor.

Overall, my impression of Australia is a great country that is a perfect example of why our Bill of Rights are both unique and very important. Truthfully, I'm not well read on the goings on in Australia and would never try to qualify that opinion or share it with anyone if I wasn't first asked to.

I can't really share more without just repeating things I've heard.

[OlongJohnson]

My earlier post was not really serious.

I think for now, the US is in better shape than Australia. I don't know how long we'll hang on.

Since Australia is part of the western world culturally, politically, historically, etc., this is worth a read.

https://www.amazon.com/Suicide-West-...dp/1594037833/

I haven't read the new book of the same title by Jonah Goldberg, at least partly because I'm offended by the blatant ripoff of the exact title for a book delivering the same basic message, as if people are not supposed to have heard of a book that's only 50 years old.

[-ad-]

I take it from the replies so far that people don't look at Australia and think "Abandon ship - any sane person would be fleeing that country and heading to the USA"?

This thought was 2 years old... can't help but wonder if people's perspectives have changed or are still the same?

Too late to flee Australia now. Those in Victoria can't even even leave the state - let alone get out of the country at the moment.... Something I wouldn't have considered possible when I first started this thread. I can't help reflect back on Pre WW2 Germany and wonder how fast it all happened there for the Germans, and whether or not things will reverse here... or whether we're in for a repeat of a similar scenario with freedom's taken away permanently.

[Joe in PNG]

I hope the normal Aussie good sense will eventually prevail... but who knows in these crazy days.

[HCM]

This thought was 2 years old... can't help but wonder if people's perspectives have changed or are still the same?

Too late to flee Australia now. Those in Victoria can't even even leave the state - let alone get out of the country at the moment.... Something I wouldn't have considered possible when I first started this thread. I can't help reflect back on Pre WW2 Germany and wonder how fast it all happened there for the Germans, and whether or not things will reverse here... or whether we're in for a repeat of a similar scenario with freedom's taken away permanently.

On the guns and personal freedoms front I think y'all have a few things working against you.

1)As a Commonwealth country you inherited the UK's authoritarian "if it pleases the crown" mindset of subjects not citizens. As noted, no bill of rights means you have what ever rights the tyranny of the majority feel like granting.
2)Like many other countries you have an increasingly urban population which creates a cultural divide between Urban "progressives" and more rural and traditional ways of life.
3)You have large numbers of immigrants from non western, authoritarian cultures who are not, and are not interested in interested in assimilating.

Socialist PC culture makes all of the above worse.

COVID enforcement here in the US has been mostly voluntary or economic, people being cited and fined, need to wear masks or vaccinate as a condition of employment etc. Very few actual arrests.

If Police and the military here were doing the things I've seen going on in Australia re: COVID, they would be getting shot at.

[JRB]

Being a long-time Japanese car nut, I've corresponded with quite a few Aussie car guys. Honestly I love the 'fuck it, we'll figure it out' approach to builds and just how much enjoyment you guys get from car projects. Some of your racing scene is utterly bonkers in all the right ways. I'm sad to have seen COVID being used as an excuse to further crack down on older or modified cars, and basically prevent any kind of racing events etc from happening at all.

Honestly I've always found Aussies to be good, likeable people, and the current situation in Australia is so depressing because you folks deserve so much better.

[theJanitor]

This thought was 2 years old... can't help but wonder if people's perspectives have changed or are still the same?

Too late to flee Australia now. Those in Victoria can't even even leave the state - let alone get out of the country at the moment.... Something I wouldn't have considered possible when I first started this thread. I can't help reflect back on Pre WW2 Germany and wonder how fast it all happened there for the Germans, and whether or not things will reverse here... or whether we're in for a repeat of a similar scenario with freedom's taken away permanently.

Are the videos I'm seeing on sites like IG true without other context or circumstance (people being arrested by teams of officers for not wearing masks, or homes being raided for family gatherings), true?

[okie john]

I adore the American constitution

If you still feel this way, then please move here. We need all the help defending it that we can get.


Okie John

[BigT]

As a South African you are obviously my sworn enemies. Sorry

😆

[fixer]

The Australian experience with COVID measures has been instructive for all the wrong reasons. It is a wake up call for all of us.

I'm appalled, disgusted, and freaked-the-fuck out over Australia.

Mostly because in a country that has a foundation of western values, there is no conscionable reason to treat the citizenry like dog shit. With no exaggeration you guys have a tyrannical government that must be brought to heel. This is not supposed to happen.

I'm also concerned because I know there is a non trivial portion of our population that would support the measures observed in Australia. And a proportional number our soul-sucking political class is taking notes.

It is time to take stock of ourselves and our convictions.