Howard seems to have spent the past couple of years with his lips firmly trapped by GWBush's sphincter, so this one's probably not really a surprise. Disappointing, and disheartening, but not surprising.
Although that's a disturbing story, the recent incentives to encourage people to have more children and the statements that all couples should have one for her, one for him, and one for the country disturb me much more. (That and reports from lots of people travelling there that it's a hotbed of racism and intolerance, but that's more a matter of anecdotes than data.)
Nobody is likely to take a blind bit of notice of John Howard on this: his other economic decisions mitigate against having a family.
As for racism in Australia, we're supposed to be much less bad than the US, but that would mainly be due to the attitude of the people in the big urban areas, not the bush or Queensland.
The U.S. is pretty bad about racism in many areas, so that may be a sort of half-hearted comparison in some ways, but if so, it does put some perspective on it. I'd been picturing Australia as being worse for that than the U.S. even, from what I'd heard from folks travelling there. I'd still like to go someday myself, although I don't get to travel abroad as often as I'd like, so it's unlikely to happen soon.
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(no subject)
Date: 2004-05-26 11:01 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-05-27 02:55 am (UTC)It looks like that bunch of wishy-washy yellow craphounds, the Labor Party, is going to support it.
*I'm* going down to thump on the desk of my local member tomorrow.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-05-26 11:26 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-05-27 02:59 am (UTC)As for racism in Australia, we're supposed to be much less bad than the US, but that would mainly be due to the attitude of the people in the big urban areas, not the bush or Queensland.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-05-27 04:32 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-05-27 04:39 am (UTC)That said, I've heard and read non-pallid visitors saying it's less bad than the US.
You're very welcome to visit of course, and I'm in Melbourne, which is likely the least icky city race-wise.
Quuensland is like Alabama, without the excuse of poverty. I won't go there, either.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-05-27 02:43 am (UTC)b) New Zealand's so much cooler, anyway.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-05-27 02:52 am (UTC)b) not as cool as Canada!