Doc, you really need to bone up on Aussie culture, politics, etc.

Sure Australia has had some racial issues, but these days Australia is one of the most racially tolerant nations on Earth and embraces anyone who migrates here, swears their allegiance and becomes an Australian Citizen.  Australia is one of the most, if not the most racially and culturally diverse nations in the World... and yeah (see above), we do sing with one voice, irrespective of politics, because I am, we are Australian.

What Kitty said is far from being racist... she was applauding/congratulating the choice.

As for not having an Aboriginal PM...YET, we have had Aboriginal Senators (eg: Sen Neville Bonner) and MP's, serving and elected by both the Aboriginal and white community.  Furthermore, we have politicians at both State and Federal levels who are of Asian Heritage, Italian and Greek Heritage, etc, etc. Yeah, everyone who is an Australian Citizen has the opportunity to represent their State/country... not just those who were born and bred here.

Sure Australia has its problems and it's far from being perfect, but it really pisses me off when someone attacks/accuses it of racism when they've never so much as put a toenail on its soil to see for themselves if it's true or false.  And when you accuse Kitty (someone you've never met) of "Aussie racism" for her innocent, non-racist "cool" comment regarding Barack Obama, it's going too far.  I DO know Kitty, and believe me, I can 100% guarantee that she is NOT racist, so an apology IS in order.

Easy my friend,  this thread is getting needlessly ugly.  I think the point being made was that all countries have or have had their struggles with racism.  Certainly the USA is a s diverse as Australia with all races participating in the government at various levels, yet we always hear from the outside world that we are a racist society.  The election contradicts that point of view.  No need for any of us to get personal with this discussion.

I have spent a good amount of time in your fine country.

Absolutely... I'm a true Queenslander when it comes to knocking off the blues... hehe... 3 series wins in a row now...the 4th Maroon clean sweep next year.

Yeah, I wondered if you were related to Shane... I watched Scott a fair bit when he ran around with the Brisbane Broncos. Oh, and my daughter went to school with Johnny Thurston at Sunnybank High

The missus and I get pretty rowdy watching the Broncs (I once worked with Allan Langer and know several Broncs back to the days of King Wally) and the Cowboys....they're our fave NRL sides.  Gold Coast Titans as well now, my step-grandson plays in their junior ranks.

Yup, miss you too... and will do, Shaunna will love that.

Just to show you how the media can really stretch the truth, we have all heard what an amazing turn out this election was going to have, the greatest turnout in history, etc.  Well that too was not the case.  Just more media hype.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/06/report-08-turnout-same-or-only-slightly-higher-than-04/

Yea, we heard those excuses here for a long time as well.  Seems that perhaps they dont have the opportunity since they were cut out of the loop.

Words are empty.  Deeds speak volumes.  I think the proof is in the pudding.  America not only talks the talk, it walks the walk.  Australia is just talk now.  And you are going to lecture to us?

it was almost 20 years ago that  the capital of the old confederacy elected a black governor.  We have been walking the walk.  Seems others just know how to talk the talk.

I think that is what a lot of you have been doing to a lot of Americans in this election. I accuse no one, I merely made an observation.  When I start hearing appologies for the demonization of Americans - both candidates and voters, I will re-evaluate my observation of the facts at hand.

Ken, right now, from where I'm sitting, it's your greatest weakness... a divided and fragmented nation bickering over politics, the elelection and result thereof.

And that's been my point throughout... why I can't understand this political fragmentation of a nation (I ain't supporting Obama) when its guts up in trouble over banks belly-up, wars and people losing their homes and jobs, largely as a result of Banks/Wall Street/corporate greed 

Irrespective of politics, we in Australia are as one and don't need to rally around to get it together when tragedy strikes.  We're always together as one, as a nation,  and the support is instant no matter what.... regardless of ones political beliefs/affiliations.  That is our strength, and one the US could learn from...being as one.

It's not forgotten... couldn't be and never will be.  But as with any war, there are victors but everyone still loses, something.

Were you all together and as one under John Howard?  Not from what I have read.

Perhaps you exaggerate the political fragmentation in this country because the media attention to it is so constant.  It would be a mistake to think that everyone here spends all their time pickering over politics.

Neville Bonner, Australia's first Aboriginal Senator,  was first elected in 1972....36 years ago, not almost 20

Anyhow, there's no point you and I discussing this any further... you read what you wanted to and saw shit between the lines, and now I'm beginning to taste the sour grapes as well....

.....so I'm out of this and the other political threads, heading to Joke Central/Blank of Borg, etc.

I guess the personal attacks and shit are ok if it's Republicans are doing it.

*sigh*

Thread needs to be closed. Election is done , and making this the 'Conservative' corner of the 'Liberal' Internet won't change the fact that the Internet is , welll ...  a series of tubes.

Yep, the media always tells us it is another Great Depression.  Of course that is quite far from the truth.  Our horrible unemployment is 6.5% which is a whopping 1.5 percent over what is usually consider full employment. The government thinks this could go up to 7.5%.  In the GReat Depression it was 32%.

Do we face serious challenges to get back on the track of growth etc?  Certainly.  IN fact, I would imagine that many in the middle class will not be able to buy that third iPod this year!  I am not trying to minimize the struggling that is going on over the morttgage crisis etc, but rather put in a bit of perspective.   We will fix it up and move forward.  4.5% have defaulted on mortgages.  The flip side of that is that 95.5 % our paying their mortgages on time. We have only had 2 quarters of negative growth and much of the rest of the world could wish that was their case.

The elections have dramatized everything to a fever pitch as politicians always do.  I doubt that spending $700B on a bailout afe=ter a one week deliberation would happen in a non election year.  Just my opinion.  I am not in denial about the serious issues facing us, but I am also do not think it is the end of the world and we must all think as one to save a sinking ship.  If we all thought as one, it would not be the USA.

They are not OK ever!

That's a pretty ignorant thing to say, though in this thread it's not out of the ordinary.

Starkers, Keep in mind that as an outsider you choose to immerse yourself in the positive or negative aspects of the US. From what I have seen, you lean towards the negative. There is nothing wrong with that but just keep it in mind, my friend. 

Edward Brooke, the first black post reconstruction senator was elected back in 66.  Since then we have had lots of senators, representatives (and before 1966 for those). And now a few governors who are black.  Still just talking the talk.  BTW - Brooke was republican.

Personal attacks?  Might want to point them out.  Or are you referring to the attacks on Palin whose only crime was to be a conservative running for a high office?