SPQR,
Phil Adams is a perfect example of an intellectual, good talker. Anyone know who's actually giving him money to live for that apart from the (our money our) ABC ?

Dear csteele,

I should have explained the context of the Philip Adams
quote. He was remembering Australia BEFORE
migration when it was indeed - "dull, self-satisfied, and
joylessly conformist." And from some of the posts on
this thread - it would appear that some would prefer
that it would have remained so. I've been watching
the series on the history of "immigration," in this
country - and things like the White Australian Policy,"
was not something that I would consider as being "laid-back,"
thinking or attitude.

But in some respects I guess you could be right.
I've found an article written years ago ...

"The heritage of every Australian: the right to be
exactly the same as everybody else...It's not easy to
win this position in a community like Hurstfield.
From time to time, you feel like speaking out about
things, saying something that's different for a change,
until you realize - sensibly - that it's a lot easier
to make yourself like something you really hate
rather than say you hate it and have everybody go
crooked on you."

Times do change for some, not for others.

"dull, self-satisfied, and joylessly conformist."
Lexi,
Isn't that exactly what's been happening under Labor since big Goaf ? Screwing us to the limit & at the same time telling us what a free democratic society we are ?
It's uncomfortably reminiscient of "ARBEIT MACHT FREI" don't you think ?

Dear Individual,

As far as work's concerned
here's an extract from that period taken
from a letter written to the Sunday Telegraph:

"Guess what's the latest status symbol among
freedom-loving, fair-go young Australians?
Going on the dole, that's what mate. Some young
blokes who have just finished their Higher School
Certificate examinations are making less than token
efforts to get jobs. Then they show a lot more energy
in dashing off to the dole queue. I know one young
bloke, normally industrious enough, who went to work
for a day, sacked himself and told his father he would
be better off on unemployment relief. His reason was
that 10 of his mates had gone on the dole. After stern
words from his father he starts a new job tomorrow,
in a brewery."

Dear Philip Adam's devotee,

There was one thing I should have added to Philip's little epithet *clueless*.

With regard to:
<<I should have explained the context of the Philip Adams quote. He was remembering Australia BEFORE migration >>

As un-PC and shocking, as it will seem to you. Australia has had “migration” for at least 40,000 years.So those “dull, self-satisfied, and joylessly conformist” pre – migrationists could only have been a bunch of diprotodons --and, if they hadn’t been so blasé about our early immigrants perhaps they might not have gone extinct.

With regard to your article about Hurstville this is how it would sound if it was written today:
“The local mosque issued its call to pray at 5am and woke me. There were gang fights in the street last night and the resident of number 11 was gunned down . Some say he was selling coke in another gangs territory . There been threats of retaliation and the mail is being delayed while they search it.Not sure if they are looking for bombs or narcotics the postie couldn’t tell me much ‘cause he can’t speak English.
This is the heritage of multicultural Australian –diversity and tolerance.
From time to time, you feel like speaking out about things, but I fear being called a racist or having my cat strangled and thrown onto the front lawn. Still, it could be worse I could be living in one of bad suburbs!

Yep “Times do change".

Lexi,
I can appreciate that scenario because it is in my face every minute of the day. Then when I remark on it I'm told I'm making inappropriate comment. At the same time others who work confide in me & complain that those who don't do any work at all literally but get the same fortnightly pay.
Thanks to the policies of an idealistic & highly incompetent public service administration the minimum wage is now on par & at times even below social security payments.
Single mothers can afford to put their children into daycare & then spend all day between the pokies & the snooker table.
Coalition Governments also preside over that scenario because the public service is always Labor. Until we change heads of the public service at the same time we change Government unfortunately nothing will change which of course suits those on easy street & those looking for easy street.