Yes and using the language of Birrell et al, those nasty 'global cosmopolitan elites' ... language not understood by most Australians, but another nasty stereotype, like apparently how Chinese are buying up the nation's real estate.

I have neither interest in attacking people personally on this forum, neither should they attack or smear others personally.

For those interested in keeping to objective reporting, much from the centre left of US politics, here are a few articles about SPA's fellow travellers Numbers USA;

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/06/07/739587/-The-charming-racism-of-NumbersUSA#

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2013/02/21/us-news-ignores-racist-ties-and-history-of-nati/192755

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/you-dont-say-republicans-admit-anti-immigrant-movement-driven-racism

http://www.splcenter.org/publications/the-nativist-lobby-three-faces-of-intolerance/numbersusa-the-grassroots-organizer

Like people are free to follow the Scientologists, I have no issue with personal choices, but if one wants to be informed, especially the Greens, I would ask wtf are you doing?

It's one thing to suspend rational analysis and clear thinking, but getting into bed with this lot is not a good look, and leaves the Greens ethically and morally vulnerable.

Andras,

Sometimes there is some truth in stereotypes. Canada is scrapping a scheme that accelerated visas for wealthy investor immigrants (see p. 22 of today's Sydney Morning Herald) because it inflated housing costs without providing the expected stimulus to the economy, since the migrants largely continued to invest at home rather than in Canada. The article refers to the work of Prof. David Ley (Geography, University of British Columbia).

"Professor Ley said his research demonstrated a high correlation between immigration and high property prices, although he said it was impossible to quantify by how much. ... Professor Ley said the debate over the impact of Chinese investment had been difficult, as those who raise this issue are sometimes accused of racism. 'It is a very effective way of stopping the conversation', he said."

See also

http://mbc.metropolis.net/assets/uploads/files/wp/1999/WP99-09.pdf

If you doubt that globalisation siphons wealth up to the top, see these graphs from the State of Working America:

Most men are receiving lower real wages now than in 1979.

http://stateofworkingamerica.org/chart/swa-wages-figure-4c-change-real-hourly-wages/

Wages went up with productivity until 1972. Now, productivity is up by 240.9% since 1948, but real wages are only up on average by 107.8%.

http://stateofworkingamerica.org/chart/swa-wages-figure-4u-change-total-economy/

The CEO to worker compensation ratio has gone from 20 in 1965 to 231 in 2011, coming down from a high of 411 in 2000.

http://www.stateofworkingamerica.org/chart/swa-wages-figure-4-ceo-worker-compensation/

Nasty stereotype of the "globalist cosmopolitan elite" or the truth?

Your Southern Poverty Law Center is hardly a credible source. Here is an account of them from the Left:

“I feel that the Law Center is essentially a fraud and that it has a habit of casually labeling organizations as “hate groups.” (Which doesn’t mean that some of the groups it criticizes aren’t reprehensible.) In doing so, the SPLC shuts down debate, stifles free speech, and most of all, raises a pile of money, very little of which is used on behalf of poor people.”

http://harpers.org/blog/2010/03/hate-immigration-and-the-southern-poverty-law-center/

Malcolm - you are adding 2+2 and getting 22 when you infer a link between Sustainable Population Australia (SPA), and the Sustainable Population Party (SPP - not sure how you derive an SPA acronym from their title). As a political operative you should check the Electoral Act - only another political party can appeal to the AEC against the name, and as SPA is an NGO and not a political party such action was not open to us. QED.

Sandra Kanck
National Vice-President
Sustainable Population Australia

I fear Sandra you have had trouble with this before.

Sustainable Population Australia (SPA) is a political party and is affiliated with the Sustainable Population Party (SPA). Your Facebook page today carries a 'How To Vote' card for the SPP WA party candidate and is a direct propaganda channel for the SPP. You even have dual membership.

Personally, I'm not greatly concerned by the SPA's breach of tax regulations by also being a registered charity. 20 beards sitting around a table on a Friday night scoffing tofu and plotting revolution constitutes a public service rather than a threat.