I don't know where you've been Ludwig but the language used by shock jocks and the Howard government about the boat people was pretty condemning: Illegals,criminals, invaders, terrorists, diseased, ragheads and plenty I can't even post in this forum. Not just by a minority, Ludwig but by enough people to get governments interested in keeping them on side.

Maybe Jennifer Wilson should give up writing satire and parody for OLO - doesn't look like too many posters get it

Thanks for the comments, Jennifer. While I agreed with the sentiment of your article, I had thought the language was a little over the top - and yes, you've parodied the haters well. I've noticed that irony doesn't work too well at OLO.

If Ludwig claims to be unaware of the fear and loathing hyperbole that is routinely deployed when the topic of asylum seekers is discussed here (not to mention at some of the MSM sites) then he's either being disingenuous or is totally blinded by his own obsession with 'border control'.

The wisdom from the dark side :)

"they appeal to the bigotry of the minority to stay in power".. err...

I wonder if anyone else see's the rather glaring self contradiction there ?

Since when to politicians appeal to 'minorities' to stay in power?

Oh.. I guess they all live in marginal seats :) let's hope so anyway.

Oh wait.. GREENS do that.. but their minorities are assylum shysters/country shoppers.

50,000 VISA OVERSTAYERS... is a figure which needs to be examined more closely.

1/ Very very smalllll numbers of these ever end up remaining.
2/ Most by far are found..and given the short shift out via a detention centre if needed.
3/ Rarely do they seek 'refugee' status.

Well.. at least that seems to be the message from the Dept of Imig.

*What does interest me is that nobody throws in the "fairness" card when we're talking about all the Australians who walk around with aching and rotten teeth, for example, because they don't have the money for treatment. That's not fair.*

Now there is a thought Jennifer. If we didn't have to spend a
billion bucks a year, fighting off boats with sticks, we could
spend that money on fixing poor peoples teeth!

Its high time that the UN Convention was updated, so that
these little costly jokes end and money is more effectively
spent. The Brits have spent a fortune on all this. Now they
are in the poo as the Govt is running out of borrowing power,
so they are sacking public servants to make ends meet.

Well said Yabby.. *amen*

RACISM ? with echo's of Crod Dundee II.. "You call 'that' ...racism?"

THIS...is racism.

Occasion... a festival where lot's of people gathered.

"
I hate black people.. I hate every last one of them.. I hate every iota of them.
Do you want freedom?- WHITE power!.. I said.. WHITE power!... hey white brother.. what are you doing with that black whore hanging on your shoulder ? Don't you know they are scum? WHITE power!... brothers.. if you want real power, you're gonna have to KILL some coons.. kill their babies!"

Now..before anyone leaps for the 'delete' button.. you need (yes.. you do) to see this... and realize just how vile such speech is...no matter WHICH skin color utters it.

Hate speech is hate speech.. it does not become 'not' hate speech or 'not' incitement to murder depending on the color of skin of the person who utters it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVcfymOvoUo

Black attourney General... "suddenly" proceedings against the vile creature in that video are 'dropped'.

Now 'that'.....is real racism.

So now Julia Gillard,barely a month in office is expected to clear the 50,000 illegals cluttering up the immigration services. Multiply &80,000 by 50,000 gives you the bill racked up by past governments.It's not as though you can sheet the entire problem to her. Be fair and give her a chance. It's a hell of a huge assignment. None of you d...heads would even comprehend the enormity of it. She may in part have been responsible for some but she is on the move and cant you see that she is trying.

socratease