[jim]

Maybe I could cut to the bottom line, One thing is certain, Politics does not attract the right kind of people anymore. it doesnt matter which side they are on. It seems to be a game now where as once it was service to the nation. (albeit while making a few bucks for the retirement fund). That is the same situation for both the US and the UK. Too many schoolboys playing at being grown up. Where are all the Statesmen these days? As you chaps say, thats my 2 cents worth.

[DADoser]

Originally Posted by jim

Maybe I could cut to the bottom line, One thing is for certain, Politics does not attract the right kind of people anymore. It seems to be a game now where as once it was service to the nation. (albeit while making a few bucks for the retirement fund). That is the same situation for both the US and the UK. Too many schoolboys playing at being grown up. Where are all the Statesmen these days? As you chaps say, thats my 2 cents worth.

I'll "Amen" that! (Total agreement from me.)

[Aircrafty]

Originally Posted by jim

Maybe I could cut to the bottom line, One thing is certain, Politics does not attract the right kind of people anymore. it doesnt matter which side they are on. It seems to be a game now where as once it was service to the nation. (albeit while making a few bucks for the retirement fund). That is the same situation for both the US and the UK. Too many schoolboys playing at being grown up. Where are all the Statesmen these days? As you chaps say, thats my 2 cents worth.

This is why John Howard has been so succesful as a politician. He has come up thru the ranks having been in politics for over 40 years. People have got to know him to be a person that places Australia ahead of his own interests or beliefs. You only have to look at the guy to notice that we Aussies aren't so stupid that we elect someone purely on looks and how well they speak. Howard is a short guy with glasses and a speach impediment because of childhood deafness. But he loves his country and he's got heaps of guts, and that's why he keep being re-elected.

It has become the fashion in most countries to elect people based on their appearance rather than their substance. That said, I'm becoming a bit wary of religion becoming a focus for politicians in Australia. I feel it carries no recommendation of the indivuals honesty or integrity, and their sanity may also be a bit suss imo. Religious people with guns have always frightened me

[DADoser]

Originally Posted by Aircrafty

...Religious people with guns have always frightened me

Agreed! And I'll up that definition to include ALL FANATICS with guns - be they Religious, Fascist, Communist, etc. - those who would threaten individual liberty/the pursuit of happiness.

(I think that "fear" - of government/fanatical oppression - was the basis for the U.S. 2nd ammendment - but, that has almost become a "fanatical religion- of-the-Gun" in and of itself. Not very practical with the weapon's of today's governments - "Arsenal of Democracy". But that's another discussion... )

- Spoken as a Christian who thinks his God is big enough to protect him and his family (no gun needed), but owns a gun because he simply enjoys shooting. (Its NOT loaded and accesible for "home defense." - hey, I also have kids in the house. ) I always thought Christianity was about changing behavior by changing hearts vs. legislating morality from the barrel of a gun, point of a spear, edge of a sword, etc.

[Aircrafty]

DADoser, true that. I'm not saying religion is bad, it's just that most leaders seem to use religion to make their 'fight right' and promote fanatics.

Stalin decided to promote religion again when it looked like Russia was loosing, and from early in his rise Hitler was well aware of the uses of religion. I was talking on another forum some time ago to some American guy that reckoned the Germans lost in WWII because they had turned their back on God.

I reminded him that German WWII belt buckles had the Deutsche words 'Gott Mit Uns' (God Is With Us) inscribed on a crest that included the German eagle and Nazi swastika.

Would you have terrorists blowing themselves up on an almost daily basis if they didn't believe they were going to a better place? I don't think so.

If Australia has a better way of coping with social problems, I'd say it's more likely because we have few fanatics living here and don't want anymore.

[swoop]

I totally abhor the word redneck. Those who utter it have a moral superority about them. Australians like many other western countries did not give politicans Cartre Blanche and the wherewithall to destroy their societies,but they do it anyway at the behest of their fellow citizens. I don't have time for Muslims, their total disregard for life and the democratic process will always be foreign to me. I've lived through the darkest hours of WWII as a boy. I've seen mothers lose sons and fathers who never returned to their families. What they fought and died for has been lost to political correctness. Do I have a country?. I don't quite know. I do know however, There are many countries where we wouldn't be welcome. I guess this world is a oneway street to some. Fair Dinkum to the Aussies. Swoop.

[Aircrafty]

When it comes down to it, it makes little difference if a country is technically socialist, a democracy, a monarchy, or controlled by a dictator, religious leader etc. It all depends upon the personality and motivations of the person(s) in charge and how power hungry they are.