Is this still a "true" picture of Australians?
Why or why not?
In the "interests of discussion."
Foxy,
No, this picture is of the past. Why, because these characters have been replaced by the Foxies, the Poirots, the Paul1404's et al.
In the interest of discussion I now invite you to 'please explain' why you think the present society is better or worse than the past & why.
Australia had muslim afghans for a very long time why even Bob Katter is apparently a descendent. That generation has integrated so what is the reason for the new generation not wishing to do so ?
The Left has been an extremely strong advocate for multiculturalism over time. Would there be any chance of getting an explanation from them on what they now think of this failure of muslims nowdays to integrate ? What does the left say to this failure which they so strongly defended ?

Nathan,
Well, I for one, do not think Aussies complain enough. We generally are apathetic with a 'she'll be right' attitude.

Not that I don't think we live in one of the best countries on earth, but that has been mostly by good luck and the blood, sweat and tears of our forebears. Our politicians, since 1960, have little to do with it.

Australia faces many future problems and we are doing nothing to minimise them. I see massive problems because of immigration, population growth, ethnic violence, employment and training, cost of housing and traffic congestion to name just a few. That does not include the huge debt the previous government left us with.

We are doing nothing about these matters and we allow our politicians to just carry on regardless.

The only way 'she'll be right' is if we make it right. Left alone problems only escalate.

So, in the interests of those that will come after, we should complain bitterly and demand action on many fronts.

Dear Individual,

Two things - read what I've written recently - on the
"Is there such a thing as a moderate Muslim,..."
site.

And -

Perhaps the following links may help:

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=5971

And -

http://www.teachingdiversity.org.au/Context/context1.php

Not that I don't think we live in one of the best countries on earth, but that has been mostly by good luck and the blood, sweat and tears of our forebears. Our politicians, since 1960, have little to do with it.
Banjo,
Thank you, this is clearest statement on the situation thus far. It was put on a downhill slide by the Goaf. We've been paying for it since & for him as well. The only one out is Howard who did contribute some unlike the others.
The modern Australians too aren't pulling their weight. Blaming the GFC instead of their incompetence & greed is really all they do.

Hear ye, hear ye, Banjo. Not to mention elitism endemic in society.

Australia is a welfare State where the generation that went before has expectations, previously fairly reasonable, of support from the younger generations that follow.

I totally reject the intergenerational jealousy being encouraged by politicians to cast the 'Boomer' generation (an 18yr spread!) as the whipping boy for spendthrift, error-prone politicians who fail to plan and therefore plan to fail.

BUT, and it is very big 'but', the young generations of workers simply cannot afford to pay for anything like the previous support fro the deserving elderly while they also have the considerable burden of the taxpayers $$ being splurged and obviously wasted (no evidence of proved gains) on the victim industry set in train by Gough Whitlam and later capitalised upon by Labor especially, to buy voting margins.

As well, those younger taxpayers cannot afford the crippling costs of necessary infrastructure -in capital cities as well :( for the over-population of over-enthusiastic immigration that rivals the much criticised over-fertility of Third World countries and results in slums and racial strife.

The Foxys and Poirots are only time-wasting automatons repeating the spin from secretive, unaccountable lobbyists with secondary gain in mind (the lobbyists that is, those who repeat the bumpf are gulls, with both meanings being relevant).

Yes, there are too many whingers in Australia and many are professional hired guns (lobbyists) and middle class professionals who are making hay out of the government policy they advise.

Yes, Australians are often too generous by nature, (traditionally) community conscious to a fault, and should be calling for more accountability from governments who think they are the masters (and they serve their own interests!), not the people who put them there