If Oz wants to prostitute itself, that's their option.
If there are Aussies who aren't happy having been sold by their pimps to China, well, elect new pimps.
If, like in America, there's no difference between pimps, then exercise your (non-existent) second amendment rights. Do like the Black Panthers did in Sacramento and show up on "capital hill" (or what ever it is called in Oz) with your long guns.
Or "vote blue no matter who" and then wonder why your rear end hurts.
Blaming China for the corruption of your own government is just STUPID.
Prostitute is not the right word. No prostitute with any self-respect would behave the way Australian politicians did towards China from the early 90s until yesterday. And the politicians were not the worst, not by a long shot: higher education, big business, the media, they all abased themselves for financial advantage. And the corruption by China only became an issue when the USA started falling out with Beijing. Corruption is guaranteed because of our libel laws and the widespread belief, unsustained by any hard evidence, that as an Anglo country, we are, by definition, free from corruption.
Once the US gets their own affairs (government) in order then I will grant you the right to give advice to us in Australia. Even perhaps to sneer at us.
Meanwhile, your addiction to guns has done nothing except to escalate the level of violence in your country.
A "might is right" attitude works up to a point, both internationally and domestically. But I think we are fast getting to the point where some more sophisticated problem solving is called for.
That's true. I try to stay out of the gun debate in the US, because the Second Amendment was a hard-won right, and it is a particularly emotive issue for Americans. And yes, heavily manipulated on both sides.
However, I don't like the repeated comments from Americans about "Australia gave up their guns", as though we are living in some sort of inferior status because of not having easy gun ownership.
But I don't want to get into it here, or it will open a whole new can of worms. There are arguments on both sides, good arguments - but let's stick to one highly emotive topic at a time!
There is no way I meant to insinuate that the USA is in any way "better" WRT prostituting itself. If you want to take it as a "sneer" then talk to JuiceMedia.
As far as the adiction to guns is concerned, in theory I agree with you.
Now, give me an alternative that might actually make a difference.
I do not, and never have, own a gun. I was just pointing out that the Black Panthers made a point very effectively.
If you don't like "might makes right" give me the alternative. They seem to get assassinated.
Mind, I agree with most of what you say, but it's one thing to criticise your own country, and another to have someone else do it.
As for the "might is right" issue, there is no easy answer, and maybe there isn't one at all.
Ultimately, power is a universal principle, and if not physical power, than some other level of power: psychological, spiritual, whatever.
I'm no snowflake pacifist - I've spent over 10 years (3 of them in Japan) training in Aikido, which embodies a philosophy of peacefulness in self-defence. I've not ever been in a real physical fight, but I did work for 5 years in the correctional system in this country, as a psychologist, and found that the principle of "extending ki" served me well, in de-escalating conflict situations.
Internationally, it used to be understood that diplomacy was an important part of resolving conflict. But unfortunately we have no statesmen in the West anymore, and the art of diplomacy and conflict resolution seem to be forgotten these days.
If Oz wants to prostitute itself, that's their option.
If there are Aussies who aren't happy having been sold by their pimps to China, well, elect new pimps.
If, like in America, there's no difference between pimps, then exercise your (non-existent) second amendment rights. Do like the Black Panthers did in Sacramento and show up on "capital hill" (or what ever it is called in Oz) with your long guns.
Or "vote blue no matter who" and then wonder why your rear end hurts.
Blaming China for the corruption of your own government is just STUPID.
Prostitute is not the right word. No prostitute with any self-respect would behave the way Australian politicians did towards China from the early 90s until yesterday. And the politicians were not the worst, not by a long shot: higher education, big business, the media, they all abased themselves for financial advantage. And the corruption by China only became an issue when the USA started falling out with Beijing. Corruption is guaranteed because of our libel laws and the widespread belief, unsustained by any hard evidence, that as an Anglo country, we are, by definition, free from corruption.
Once the US gets their own affairs (government) in order then I will grant you the right to give advice to us in Australia. Even perhaps to sneer at us.
Meanwhile, your addiction to guns has done nothing except to escalate the level of violence in your country.
A "might is right" attitude works up to a point, both internationally and domestically. But I think we are fast getting to the point where some more sophisticated problem solving is called for.
I feel "your addiction to guns has done nothing except to escalate the level of violence..." is below belt since the
the whole "gun issue" and violence has been, and for a very long time, heavily manipulated socially and politically.
That's true. I try to stay out of the gun debate in the US, because the Second Amendment was a hard-won right, and it is a particularly emotive issue for Americans. And yes, heavily manipulated on both sides.
However, I don't like the repeated comments from Americans about "Australia gave up their guns", as though we are living in some sort of inferior status because of not having easy gun ownership.
But I don't want to get into it here, or it will open a whole new can of worms. There are arguments on both sides, good arguments - but let's stick to one highly emotive topic at a time!
My apologies.
There is no way I meant to insinuate that the USA is in any way "better" WRT prostituting itself. If you want to take it as a "sneer" then talk to JuiceMedia.
As far as the adiction to guns is concerned, in theory I agree with you.
Now, give me an alternative that might actually make a difference.
I do not, and never have, own a gun. I was just pointing out that the Black Panthers made a point very effectively.
If you don't like "might makes right" give me the alternative. They seem to get assassinated.
Apology accepted!
Mind, I agree with most of what you say, but it's one thing to criticise your own country, and another to have someone else do it.
As for the "might is right" issue, there is no easy answer, and maybe there isn't one at all.
Ultimately, power is a universal principle, and if not physical power, than some other level of power: psychological, spiritual, whatever.
I'm no snowflake pacifist - I've spent over 10 years (3 of them in Japan) training in Aikido, which embodies a philosophy of peacefulness in self-defence. I've not ever been in a real physical fight, but I did work for 5 years in the correctional system in this country, as a psychologist, and found that the principle of "extending ki" served me well, in de-escalating conflict situations.
Internationally, it used to be understood that diplomacy was an important part of resolving conflict. But unfortunately we have no statesmen in the West anymore, and the art of diplomacy and conflict resolution seem to be forgotten these days.