I do not want Australia to stagnate or go backwards
Paul1405,
Not consciously perhaps !

Australians do not complain enough.

Example: Had more people complained when Sydney's excellent tramways were shut down, then people wouldn't be faced with the disruption to be caused when the tracks go back in George St.

People didn't complain enough when the Liberal Government of the day sold off the railway Right of Way for the Eastern Suburbs Railway, to build it now would mean a very costly underground system or resumption of the right of way.

If more people complained we would not have the ridiculously low speed limits that frustrate, waste fuel and lead to driver fatigue and accidents.

Shortsighted complacency is the Australian way.

Dear Individual,

Seeing as you're so keen to give advice to
others here's a few pointers for you.
No need to Thank me. ;-)

The art of reasoned, intelligent argument is a
skill not easily acquired. The first point is to
always argue in a logical manner. Sound reasoning
will conquer unreasonable generalisations every
time. For instance when arguing over feminism -
don't say "All feminists hate men." That makes
you appear to be arguing on an emotional level -
not a mature intelligent one. A more effective
approach would be a subtle hint that some feminists
appear to be very strident against the opposite sex.

There's much more that can be said - but suffice
to add that its always best to think before you post.
No one likes, or supports an abusive, illogical or
weak debater.

The fact that there are worse places to be is irrelevant, or it implies we should reduce Oz to Third World conditions as the current Government is attempting to do, obviously unacceptable.
Any one person's experience with the medical system is similarly irrelevant, it's the whole system that matters and it is failing, also largely due to the current Gov but Labor must bear part of that blame too.
Australia was and has been a wonderful democratic country but is now losing all that made us a great place to be and live, largely thanks to the Noe-conservatives, a fancy name for a New Feudalism.
I believe that Australians should be doing far more than complaining, we should be acting on those complaints, we should be protesting the Government's attacks on the poor and disadvantaged, we should be resisting this current Ideology that wealth confers greater rights and that the victims of societies failings are to blame for their own problems, as in punishing the unemployed even though there are far from enough jobs to go around.
Try telling the homeless that Oz is wonderful, try persuading those in the bush, or the Indigenous, or the disabled, or the pensioners without a home they own, or the young unemployed who are ripped off and abused at every turn, even by those who are supposed to be looking out for them, their Government.
Yes, a lot of people are "doing OK", but that won't last, the divide between the rich and poor is widening and the middle-class are shrinking, soon enough those comfortable know-alls will find themselves getting the short end if nothing is done to stop the degradation of this once egalitarian society.

G'dayBruce,
Good to read your words, it's uplifting to see after so much head-banging against the lefties do-gooder, rose-coloured glasses brigade.
A liitle practical pride such as not abusing negative gearing etc. rather than simply I'm proud to be Australian cries would go a long way towards staving off your predictions.
cheers

Indi, Are you still pushing your harebrained and un-costed scheme for the "Gomer Pyle Memorial Boot Camp" for 19 to 21 year old's. You wanted to set up in the Deep Deep North some time back! I remember you were BIG on that one, however you have gone a bit quite on it lately. With the type of government now in Canberra you wanted, have you been furiously writing letters, pushing the grand scheme? If not, why not, what is your latest brain wave to improve Australia?