On 25/09/2011 2:59 PM, Tim Connors wrote:
On Sun, 25 Sep 2011, Mike Mitchell wrote:
On 25/09/2011 12:01 PM, Jason White wrote: Politics in Australia is weird.
Yes, it is. ;-) However I have a lot of confidence in the joint national political ability.
I honestly don't understand why the Greens dont get more votes.
For me, at least, they are a one trick pony - quick, hug a tree there's an economic depression and enemy bombers are attacking! Hah!
It should be fairly simple. It *should* be common knowledge that more than 90% of "boat people" eventually are found to be refugees.
I didn't think the number was that high. I suppose I should check somewhere.
Also, refuge is a privilege not a right.
What? I'm pretty sure it's in the Geneva conventions or similar.
It will appear far more clear when you look, as I mentioned, at it from the other way around. Imagine it was you looking for refuge overseas. Perhaps after the Bob Brown strategy for dealing with "n economic depression and enemy bombers are attacking". ;-) There is no guarantee you will be accepted by any other nation in your time of refuge just a vague hope.
Ditto on the humane treatment of refugees, but Australia should be selecting who is and who is not a refugee. Until they are deemed to be refugees they are here without visas.
No, that's not how the refugee convention works.
If not, then who is selecting refugees Australia is taking in? And if it is UNHCR why hasn't the USA taken as many Afghan refugees per capita as we have? My reference is a Jenny Brockie story on the subject. The comparison was 36,000 for the USA and 20,000 for Australia. Jenny completely missed the 15:1 population ratio. God she's an idiot at times.
The whole problem of undocumented arrivals is very complex and will take some time to resolve. However, it is the governments job to do as the nation wishes.
I was kinda hoping that we elected leaders to lead. One some difficult issues, they should lead public opinion instead of follow it. Put out education campaigns. It would be nice if they could rely on the media to do the right thing instead of doing the profitable thing.
At least we're not quite as bad as the Italian Berlusconi scenario.
Now that's a mouthful! They need to tread a careful line between leading and doing as they're told. Understanding their mandate etc. I couldn't do it but I'd not put up with a government that ignored the people. As for Berlusconi, hell, I have no idea what passes for politics in Italy let alone what to make of one of their politicians. Cheers, Mike