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sydneycynic

Listed below are comments made by sydneycynic between Friday, 4th September 2009 and Saturday, 14th November 2009.

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Tiger down under 07:32am on 14 Nov 2009 Baa Humbug. Australians are not besotted by someone just because they're from overseas. In fact, our distorted obsession with some of our own "sportsmen", is what I have a problem understanding. Case in point, Greg Norman. That choker seems to get headlines no matter what he does. All he ever did was choke but people and the media think he is the greatest thing since sliced bread. At least Tiger is good at his "past-time". I don't like to call golf a sport because I think any sport should require the participant to have an elevated heart rate. Also, if someone like John Daly can play golf then it can't be a sport.

If anyone wants an example of Australians not being blinded by overseas celebrities I would put forward the case of Britney Spears. From what I've read people are walking out of her concerts because they're lousy. Also, tickets are being scalped at a dollar a throw. Prior to Britney Spears Pink was over here and she was a huge success. In other words, we're not star struck drones and, with the exception of The Great White Guppy, we respond according to what's on offer.
Seeking asylum by boat or by plane 04:19am on 22 Oct 2009 This blog questions the motives of politicians as they seek to play to people's prejudices. It's almost as bad as the BBC having every second subject devoted to racism. Me thinks it's a case of the pot calling the kettle black.
Is Australia unusually racist? 10:53am on 14 Oct 2009 To all those people abusing Australians. I just say you're all racists.
Is Australia unusually racist? 08:20am on 13 Oct 2009 The question put was "Is Australia unusually racist?". Not only does this question suggest that we are racist but we are worse than most countries around the world. I wish the question was accompanied with a list of countries which compare favourably to that of Australia. Plenty of people have already given plenty of examples of other country's level of intolerance towards outsiders. I find it mind boggling that it could even be suggested that Australia could be ranked at or below countries like Afghanistan, Japan, Zimbabwe,etc,etc,etc. I find it extremely difficult to take this question seriously. I will admit some Australians are racist. There's 22 million of us. How can anyone expect perfection from so many people.

The Hey, Hey sketch wasn't racist. The participants were guilty of an unfunny impersonation of The Jacksons. I'd like somebody to tell me how you do an impersonation of African-Americans without painting yourself black. There was no racist stereotyping i.e. mimicking something straight out of Uncle Tom's Cabin. It appears as though you can impersonate anyone else (with the notable exception of Mohammed the prophet) but black people are a no-go zone. It's fortunate for comedians like those in Little Britain that a similar prohibition doesn't apply when it comes to sending up gays, old people and fat people.

I'd also like to know why people of an Anglo-Saxon/Celt background are regularly labelled as racists compared to people of other backgrounds. When other people stick together they are maintaining their cultural heritage. When whites stick together the common criticism is that such people are a bunch of xenophobic rednecks.

I just found out that Australia has just topped an Indian poll. The poll asked which country Indian students found to be the safest. I don't suppose this will get as much media coverage as when a student is assaulted. A bad story will beat a good story any day of the week.
Why Australia prefers political prose to political poetry 05:59am on 05 Oct 2009 Thecamo should read Paul Keating's "Redfern Speech". It was brilliant. He also did plenty of others i.e. at the opening of the tomb of the unknown soldier. I'd prefer ours to plenty of others you refer to like the "ask what you can do for your country" speech. I think that rings a bit hollow when you consider many Americans believe 45 million of their countrymen don't have a right to see a doctor when they get sick. I agree that Rudd does speak a lot of gobbledygook. Mind you, he'd be proud to use your word, "verbositude".
Why Australia prefers political prose to political poetry 11:29am on 04 Oct 2009 Paulcrossley, why wouldn't anybody else want to be the UK Prime Minister? It could well be the second best job in the world (after PM of Australia of course). Even if it was only up until the next election. I would expect anyone else might at least reduce the electoral backlash i.e.reduce the number of pieces/seats they would have to pick up. If I was a Labour MP in a marginal seat I'd have anyone other than Gordon.

I stand by my statement that Australia wouldn't put up with a Gordon equvalent. Someone would step into the breach no matter how poisoned the chalice might be. Nathan Rees as the Premier of NSW is a case in point. Also, if Anna Bligh doesn't pick up her game, the Queensland Labour caucus will fix her up too.
Why Australia prefers political prose to political poetry 03:43am on 04 Oct 2009 How Paulcrossley can say Gordon Brown has cured Britain of it's presidential type worship of it's leaders is a mystery to me. Brown destroyed the UK's financial system with his "light touch regulatory system" and his remedy involves "quantitative easing" i.e. printing money as in the 1920's Weimar Republic and today's Zimbabwe. Also, his politicians are on the fiddle (expenses claims). The fact that he is still there beggars belief and represents a level of public/party deference which would never be tolerated by the Australian Labor Party or the population at large. If he was an Australian he would be invited to take a swim, ala Harold Holt.
Jorn again 4:56pm on 04 Sep 2009 A one off State holiday should be declared and it should be called, "Blues Point Tower Explosion Day". Anyone who's interested should be given a rocket propelled grenade with the proviso that it be aimed at the Blues Point Tower. It would be a fitting end to something like Sydney's New Years Eve fireworks.
Australian cultural creep, not cringe 4:30pm on 04 Sep 2009 To glenstonbrown I say,"waah, waah, waah, give the baby it's bottle".
Australian cultural creep, not cringe 06:28am on 04 Sep 2009 OK, I'll rise to glenstonbrown's bait. It's seems as though a decision to do something else with my time rather than respond to errant nonsense has been misinterpreted. It should not be meant to mean that I agree with the past comments. If that was the case, I can safely assume glenston agrees with most of my past comments i.e. he/she voted for John Howard and thinks gen Y music just involves car speakers blaring out the same old "doof, doof" beat. Also, I thought the subject was about Australia's cultural development and not about financial engineering.

I note glenston's main "whinge" involved baby boomers putting their money into super and thus avoiding tax. I put in the word whinge because I'll be the first to admit glenston could give any pom a run for their money. I note the majority of people who put $1M into super in the last 18 months have since seen their net worth drop to $700K. Seeing they have incurred a $300K loss I wonder how much tax glenston thinks should be paid out of the remaining $700K. I haven't got a financial degree like glenston claims to have, which I seriously question, but I thought you had to earn something before paying income tax. I would also like to give glenston a little lesson on the reasons for encouraging people to put money into super. The main motivation was to ensure people reaching retirement age did not become dependant on the aged pension. This was of benefit to the generations following as it would reduce the taxes they would have to pay. Glenston also goes on about not having to pay little, or no tax, even when a baby boomer owns four houses. This is wrong but I don't think anyone but glenston would find a discussion on Capital Gains Tax and other tax statutes entertaining.

I would also question whether glenston is familiar with the concept of inheritance. Unless there are death duties that I don't about the next generation will benefit from whatever assets their parents have accumulated. Mind you, they won't notice much of a change because most of them won't have left home by the time their parents drop off the twig.

I'm going now because it's Friday afternoon and I've got better things to do. I think I'll go to the pub and watch some gen Y-ers drive around in cars mummy and daddy bought them and then they'll get drunk using money they allegedly don't have.

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