Dear Critic,

You were born in Australia.

Fortunate for you, but suppose, God forbid, Australia were to come under dictatorship, suppose some of your friends "disappeared" and were tortured and you somehow managed to escape to some safe-haven, say India just for example: wouldn't you want to have your private war with the new Australian regime, just for the rare chance that one day you will be able to return to the place you grew up in and safely rejoin your family there?

So long as it is only a war of words, of course.

A new book for readers: 'When China Attacks', Grant Newman, Google Books, $24.99.

Armchair Critic- I like your musings. It shows the issues.

For me a dislike the idea of land resources falling into the hands of totalitarians who will just use these resources to create misery. Some time ago I read the whitepaper on bitcoin and it talked about the need to have the predominance of computer power in order to create integrity. Perhaps it's the same in global affairs- but some have made themselves poor by trying to be the world's police. Sometimes it's better to wait sometimes not- but it's probably important to create stability- but sometimes good intentions don't mean good results.

Kudos.

Australia is a democracy with free speech.

Chinese are perfectly free to criticise their own governments while here especially since they cannot do so at home.

People are also free to believe what they want and to say so, however, they cannot stop people challenging them or thinking that they are idiots.

https://www.youtube.com/live/XICBnyP-vb8?si=YNPh3m16FQs4DR3j

Just saw a video by well known Commentator Neil McAvoy from the UK on utube. The UK Govt has just bought in new authoritarian control and scrutiny of everyone's posts and messages and photos on the internet. They will fine Platforms a few million dollars for posting a message the Govt doesn't approve of.

The user who posted the unapproved opinion.will get 6months in prison. Everyone will require a digital ID and a fingerprint to be allowed access to the internet.
I bet they will make us use that Digital ID to access our Bank Accts as well, and Lose access to our Bank Accts too, if we upset our new Authoritarian governments.
Australia has the same disinformation bill to censor opinion.on the internet,tabled in Parliament right now.

Thanks Cherful for the information. Sounds like the UK has given up on democracy and free speech in favour of totalitarianism of a Marxist bent. What comes next Gulag's and forced marches- in the "modern" age it probably means 24 hour surveillance and cancelling.