for those who still lives in the golden age of our country (1940s to 70s)... i hope this serves as a wake up call

i did a quick search on the web and here is our standing on the world stage in the various fields/sector

a. GNP - we are 12th and falling fast

b. GNP per capita - we are 10th and falling

c. PPP per capita - 17th... even lower than the evil barbaric indons !

d. GFP (Fire power) - we are nowhere listed in the top 10 ! and we talk about sending troops here and fighter planes there... case of serious dillusion?

e. External Trade figures - sit tight...we are not even in the top 20 !

f. Nobel Laureates - 14th... a far cry when we were in the top 10 decades ago... when we still believe that education is important

g. Olympic medal standing - this refers to the total medals won since the modern olympics started. We are not even listed in the top 10 ! Surprise surprise... even in games and sports (which is supposed to be our pride and joy) ... we are now passe....

i do believe we are right at the top for the following

1. laid back lifestyle
2. no emphasis on education
3. no respect or fear for parents/elders/institution/the Divine
4. great emphasis for legal processes
5. absolute belief in individual rights over societal needs
6. always fighting for the under dogs...dont worry about whether he is evil or a murdurer
7. always lopping the heads off tall poppies... we just hate to see others succeed because of their hard work..no..there should be drinking and beaching like all of us

What are you bitching about, we are a huge country with the population of what is in the dunny at any given time in china. I now that we are good knockers but what you are on about is stupid.

579, "we are a huge country"

You need to travel Oz. From Year book Australia,

"Australia's agricultural landscapes support a wide range of soils. Most are ancient, strongly weathered and infertile by world standards, with deficiencies in phosphorus and nitrogen. Those on flood plains are younger and more fertile. Very few are considered good quality soils for agriculture. To offset nutrient deficiencies, superphosphate and nitrogenous fertilisers are widely used, particularly on pasture and cereal crops. Fragile soil structure and a susceptibility to waterlogging are other common features of Australian soils, while large areas are naturally affected by salt or acidity. These soil characteristics restrict particular agricultural activities, sometimes ruling out agricultural activity altogether.

With the exception of Antarctica, Australia is the world's driest continent. More than a third of the continent is effectively desert, and over two-thirds of the continent is classified as arid or semi-arid."

If you believe in global warming as well, you would need to factor that in. In particular, the comments about the very high rate of evaporation in Australia and the fact that any, even minor warming will challenge and likely render unviable, many of the crops developed and presently used in marginal areas.

How to provide the water and power? More irreconcilable problems, especially where the lunar Greens are concerned, and a Labor Party that lets the Greens dictate to them.

Then of course there is the eternal problem that migrants, particularly economic migrants, flock to the large cities and prefer Melbourne and Sydney.

@579
hmmm...looks like there are plenty in this country who lives in the past
we cannot accept the fact that we are no longer relevant on the world stage
we will continue to be left on the side show if we do not wake up to the fact that the rest of the world is marching past us... Bangladesh being one of them... dont we hate it? a white first world country overtaken in economic numbers by a third world indian subcont flood proned country.

@otb
one of my mates asked me if i really believe australia can support 200m?
i said YES, but not under the current parameters...ie the way we think..the way we organise ourselves politically ( for eg, we quibble no end on whether tony abbot should sack one of his staff over a leaked email...sad)... the way we work etc etc

for a start, let us accept the fact we are not that MIGHTY world stage player

we are NOT any more

take away the big brother USA factor and you will realise we do not matter on the world stage.... seriously.

better start working hard together and forget the arty farty poirotism talk

Hey Platy

When you did your quick search and found the stats, such as GNP-12th did your source actually include the words 'and falling fast' or are those your comments? I suspect the latter.

Its obvious your whole post comes from your perspective of what is right or wrong about Australia. What does it really matter where Aus sits on the leader board especially in terms of poets or Olympic metals?

"take away the big brother USA factor and you will realise we do not matter on the world stage.... seriously." So what?

"better start working hard together and forget the arty farty poirotism talk"
Poirotism... LOL; absolutely brilliant, hat's off, you've coined a great new phrase

Why on earth would we want to be a major player on the world stage. Not only is that very expensive, but it makes us a much bigger target. If we had kept off the world stage we may never have attracted boat people.

Much better to be seen as a minor bit player, of no real important. To be seen as someone who is better as an ally, but not expected to really do much.

Yep a minor bit player, too well armed to be worth the cost of attacking, but too small to be a worry either. Now that is where we have been for decades, why change now, just so a few clowns can feel more important than they are.

@hippie

rankings are taken from the web...
you can find them quite easily..mostly from independent sources

you are right, the remarks are purely mine

this rankings were done sometime back as i was having a discussion with one of my mates in this small farming town
he was ranting endlessly about the great australian nation
till i said something like "are we that great anymore?"
30-40 years ago maybe, but not now
he got mad at me and challenged me.. asking for facts

so... i listed some of the broad categories and did a quick scan on the web

a. economic power
b. wealth
c. contribution to the world in science and maths and arts etc
d. military might.. Gross Fire Power
e. sports

of course there will be others
please feel free to add and do your own research
you will come to the same conclusion... we are now passe

we do well in looking at our own shortcomings, work hard and stop preaching to the barbaric and cruel indons

@hasbeen

yes and no

please note my opening post is to highlight the fact that we are NOT a major player at the world stage...so please do not talk as though we are

listening to how the govt talk about sending troops here and there makes me sick
we are so weak as a military power and yet we talk as though we are up there

i doubt boats came this way because we are a major player
it is more like there is this attractive (albeit unsustainable) medicare in place and definitely because this is a beautiful country

we definitely want to be up there for

a. contribution to science...nobel laureates
b. total olympic medals
c. high PPP GNP

dont you agree?