Dear Noogoora,

Actually suzionline was pretty spot on with her notion of what a 'redneck' is and if you really want a good take on it then what better a source than Joe Bageant, a self avowed redneck. 

While there may be a tenuous link to the 16th century Scots, by the period you speak of, the late 1800s, the term was deemed to be closer to what we recognize today. From Wikipedia; "A citation from 1893 provides a definition as "poorer inhabitants of the rural districts...men who work in the field, as a matter of course, generally have their skin stained red and burnt by the sun, and especially is this true of the back of their necks".

Joe is expansive about the 'border Scots' of the Appalachian mountains but not as idealistic as yourself. He recognized they were used as 'mongrel dog's' fighting the empire's battles with the Indians then its wars overseas.

Joe is quite defensive about his kin but fully accepts that religion, ignorance and racism feature strongly in their makeup. Sounds very much like parts of Katter's Queensland to me. I accept that some may want to wear the term 'redneck' with pride but give us and them a break and don't sugarcoat it. 

Regarding murder rates in the Western World.

Isn't South Africa in the West?

All per 100,000 for 2011

South Africa : 36.54
Mexico : 11.59
Bahamas : 22.4
Haiti : 21.6
Columbia : 40.0
Venesuala : 47.21
Brazil : 21.97
Peru : 3,21
New Guinea : 15.1
Russia : 14.18
USA : 5.22
Finland : 2.49
Sweden : 0.89
UK : 1.57
Switzerland : 0.72

http://chartsbin.com/view/1454

Some of the countries with the toughest gun laws have a high murder rate and others with easy access to firearms, like the USA, have a low rate in comparisson.
Just for fun compare Britain and Switzerland, one has tough laws and few legal guns the other has an automatic military rifle in most homes plus ammunition, and lots of the people have pistols, shotguns and hunting rifles.

Knives are the greatest killers in Australia after motor cars.

Did anybody catch Katter on Q&A? Neither sane nor pretty, but highly entertaining.

It's hard to believe anybody takes him seriously.

innocent citizens being killed ,
csteele,
Nobody gets killed by Police when no weapon wielding criminal is threatening someone. So, the reason why innocent bystanders unfortunately become victims is therefore due to the criminal not the police. Police don't just go around with weapons drawn. I don't have any figures but I'd not be surprised that the number of innocent lives saved is far greater because police carried a weapon. What you're saying in your argument is that if police weren't carrying weapons then somehow less lives would be lost ? Crime most certainly would rise greatly if police weren't carrying weapons. No matter which side of the argument you look at things the fact remains that if we don't deal with criminals harshly they simply take over. The evidence is here now. Lt's try it the other way for a year & see what happens.

"Did anybody catch Katter on Q&A? Neither sane nor pretty, but highly entertaining.

It's hard to believe anybody takes him seriously.Posted by morganzola, Tuesday, 14 June 2011 1:44:24 AM"

It would seem that enough people did to elect him to Parliament.

I saw Q&A, did you catch the bald headed guy who who was a lousy singer and who has transfered his lack of talent to politics?

Dear Is Mise,

You said "Just for fun compare Britain and Switzerland, one has tough laws and few legal guns the other has an automatic military rifle in most homes plus ammunition, and lots of the people have pistols, shotguns and hunting rifles."

Whatever anyone else says about you I want you to know I think you are a very kind person. I do not often get such gifts.

From Wikipedia the figures for gun deaths per 100,000 in England/Wales was 0.15 for homicide and 0.20 for suicide. For Switzerland with far more liberal gun laws the figures are 0.58 for homicide and 5.61  for suicide.  

So Switzerland basically has 4 times the homicide rate by gun and an unbelievable 28 times the rate of suicides by gun.

Are we having fun yet?

Why do gun advocates keep putting up Switzerland as a poster child? You will have one of two quite predictable responses to these figures. I am interested to see which one you choose.