eightyknots

What has often been forgotten is that, Paul Keating, as treasurer ran surpluses (yes! Labor ran surpluses but that is so "last century") and used the surpluses to retire an enormous amount of debt. This gave Howard and Costello a fantastic start ...again, a fact largely forgotten. What a pity that government indebtedness is increasing almost every year since the turn of the century, both under Liberal/National and Labor administrations. I fully agree. Unfortunately, many votes are captured by grubby politics. Sadly a number of voters are influenced by these hollow statements and, the way democracy works, you only need to capture a handful of voters to your side of the fence because there is the constant 'base-load' of National, Liberal and Labor supporters who will always vote the same way, regardless of the issues, the leader or the economy. The question is, how do you prevent this kind of grab for these votes by such misleading, simplistic statements? Could it be better Civics education at school? Could it be better, impartial education of adults via the media? Should there be an independent Truth Commission established who checks all the politicians' statements in the lead-up to the election and then publishes a easy-to-read analysis? There appears to be no easy answer to the problem.

So, on the one hand people are saying that the RSL did not like: (A) Vietnam Veterans. ... and now you are suggesting that the RSL did not like: (B) those who opposed the war in Vietnam (i.e those who did not like group A)? Something doesn't quite add up, so it seems, but I am sure someone can shed some light onto this.

The RSL was established about halfway through World War I ...I think 1916. I wonder if the RSL would have refused entry to, say, recently voted-out Prime Ministers of the day? For instance Chris Watson (ended 1904): [ATTACH]47770._xfImport[/ATTACH] ...or Alfred Deakin (1910): [ATTACH]47771._xfImport[/ATTACH] or, for that matter, Joseph Cook (1914): [ATTACH]47772._xfImport[/ATTACH] A revered institution such as the RSL would not reject someone with (manly) facial hair unless they suspected other reasons why you may not have been "of good character". Why would they change their stance on beards since the 1920s when this was still de rigueur for men? Surely there must be better explanation?

No, I don't remember. Which RSL branch are you talking about? Tenterfield, Toowoomba? Mateship (in time of disaster, adversity or distress) is not nonsense. It is very real. History is straightforward on this: when Australia was first settled by Europeans, it was a harsh place. Survival often depended upon the help of others when a great need arose. From this Mateship was born. It sets Australia apart from other nations.

I fully agree. Australian mateship transcends all religious views (e.g. from Protestant to Catholic to Greek Orthodox) or political leanings (e.g. from Pauline Hansen to Bob Brown). The national "Look After Your Mates" psyche is extremely valuable and I would hate to see this disappear from our culture. Mateship really comes out in times of adversity and trouble. I am concerned that with much of the imported media having a North American bias, that a US-style focus on individual wealth, fame or glory will diminish the unbeatable concept of Mateship that sets our country apart from all others. I just hope that those with Muslim background will also join the Mateship revolution which helps to promote the welfare of our neighbour/friend/fellow citizen.

Yes, I agree. Perhaps one of the many Aboriginal languages could be studied and learned as well? That may improve relationships with the First Inhabitants.

You don't think that is his fishing rod*? * In accordance with the well respected principle: "Give a man a fish and you have fed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you have fed him for life"

Islamic State funding, as I recall, comes from a number of areas: 1. Because some of the "state" is in a fertile region, there is a surplus of food produced; the excess is sold through Turkey for cash. 2. They have many small refineries and they can be moved at short notice. The oil is sold at about half price on the black market. Buyers are falling over themselves to get hold of this at this price. There is quite a long coast line and border with Turkey and that is where it disappears for cash. 3. They have robbed many of the Christians who lived in the IS controlled "state". This has raised quite a few dollars. 4. Artifacts. Many have been sold for large sums to private collectors. 5. When they took over parts of Iraq, IS raided all the banks and netted an estimated 2 billion dollars of US currency and Euros kept in those banks.

The reason why so many Italians, Dutch, Maltese, Greeks and Germans have fitted so well into Australian society is because they have the same Judeo-Christian background. There is an mutually understandable affinity which assists with integration.

The US President announced (at a military base!) that: 1. "climate change poses a serious threat to global security" 2. "an immediate risk to US national security" 3. "this [climate change threat] will have an impact how our [i.e the US] military defends our country [the USA]". This is how the Arab media sees Obama's perceived climate change threat to global security:

Continental drift is slow but sure.

I think it is important not to mix up race and religion. You may have a Christian Syrian and a Muslim Syrian, A Christian Lebanese and a Muslim Lebanese, A Christian Pakistani and a Muslim Pakistani. Both Syrians look the same racially; the same with the two hypothetical Lebanese and ditto the two Pakistani people mentioned in my example. But their religion is different. Please, Australia, do not target people because of their perceived race just because a number of redneck Muslims perpetrate atrocities.

Yes, it appears he certainly did. Here is the proof:

I cannot see the resemblance with anyone. Who is this cartoon meant to represent?

I say: planning to fight in a different war. "The Syrian operative claimed more than 4,000 trained ISIS gunmen have already been smuggled into Europe – hidden among innocent refugees" Read more at: www.wnd.com/2015/09/isis-smuggler-we-will-use-refugee-crisis-to-infiltrate-west/

for silly signs : [ATTACH]48470._xfImport[/ATTACH]

Kiwis do it too. It is $25 for foreigners and $15 for people with a New Zealand passport to gain entry to the Waitangi Treaty grounds: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand/northland-and-the-bay-of-islands/paihia-and-waitangi/sights/historic/waitangi-treaty-grounds

I always have two questions about this: 1 Why did they ask John Howard to wear his helmet at such a strange angle? 2 If John Howard looked around he would have noticed that he was the only one doing it, so why did he do it?

I am not sure if you have followed the around the world thread but in India, the admission price was 5 Rupees for Indians and 100 Rupees for non-Indians. [ATTACH]48469._xfImport[/ATTACH]

At least they are honest: [ATTACH]48464._xfImport[/ATTACH]

Those aliens like a bit of recreational flying too, so it seems!

Is that in Australia?

This may be useful to some patrons: [ATTACH]48461._xfImport[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]48459._xfImport[/ATTACH] Recreational Flying?

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