Comments on: Yes We Can. But can we in Australia?

By: Stefan

Stefan — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 22:31:52 +0000

As an American living in Australia, I find the contrasting attitudes on politics very intriguing. It’s a welcomed change here that I don’t necessarily live under the shadow of Bush any longer, but I do wonder if politics are TOO relaxed here. I have appreciated what Rudd has already done for the environment and am excited to see what he’ll do next, but his cabinet needs to be a bit more confident to stand on their own two feet, without relying heavily on the Bush administration. (Or whomever comes next.)

By: Ross Hill

Ross Hill — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:54:28 +0000

Well said Matt, and I agree. Howard isn’t exactly a Bush, probably because Australia isn’t exactly an America. Let’s keep it that way?

By: Matt Moore

Matt Moore — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:36:43 +0000

The problem is that we are not stuffed enough yet*. The Howard-Rudd election was fought under the rallying cry of “we will stuff things up less than the other guy”. Not exactly compelling. Now America is more obviously stuffed than we are at the moment - hence the popularity of charismatic leadership.

*or rather not enough people perceive things as being sufficiently stuffed up to do anything about it.

By: NathanaelB

NathanaelB — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 03:26:58 +0000

Would it be fair to say that in Australia we lack culture, or that ours is more laid back in aspect yet no less rich than the culture of other countries. I don’t want to say no-one in this country cares about anything or gets excited about anything … because there are many people who are very passionate about what they do and about the world and change (or maybe it’s just because I choose to hang around that group of people and while my social circles are saturated with such people) - but collectively as a nation, we’re lethargic. We’re so distanced from the world’s problems across the seas that we believe we’re dissociated from the world community … as long as everything is cruising along nicely on our little rock it’s ok. As long as the Government is screwing us over too badly and keep most of their campaign promises and we still get our annual leave and get to keep our house … then we’re happy.

Is it that life really is good here and that the small niggling problems aren’t worth worrying about?

It’s hard to get perspective when you’re inside the glass jar.