Got sent this the other day. A slightly romantic view, but there is truth in it. If it is by David Mason of CO, he is married to an Australian so does have experience of the differences between here and there that very few have.

AUSTRALIA: AN AMERICAN VIEW...
Interesting set of observations from a visitor from the other side of the Pacific. ‘Value what you have and don't give it away.' There's a lot to admire about Australia, especially if you're a visiting American, says David Mason. More often than you might expect, Australian friends patiently listening to me enthuse about their country have said, ''We need outsiders like you to remind us what we have.'' So here it is - a small presumptuous list of what one foreigner admires in Oz.

1. Health care. I know the controversies, but basic national healthcare is a gift.

• In America, medical expenses are a leading cause of bankruptcy.
• The drug companies dominate politics and advertising.
• You can't turn on the telly without hours of drug advertisements - something I have never yet seen here.
• Obama was crucified for taking halting baby steps towards sanity.
• And your emphasis on prevention - making cigarettes less accessible, for one - is a model.

2. Food. Yes, we have great food in America too, especially in the big cities. But your bread is less sweet, your lamb is cheaper, and your supermarket vegetables and fruits are fresher than ours.

• Too often in my country an apple is a ball of pulp as big as your face. The dainty Pink Lady apples of Oz are the juiciest I've had.
• And don't get me started on coffee. In American small towns it tastes like water flavoured with burnt dirt, but the smallest shop in the smallest town in Oz can make a first-rate latte.
• I love your ubiquitous bakeries, your hot-cross buns. Shall I go on?

3. Language. How do you do it?

• The rhyming slang and Aboriginal place names like magic spells.
• Words that seem vaguely English yet also resemble an argot from another planet.
• I love the way institutional names get turned into diminutives - Vinnie's and Salvos - and absolutely nothing is sacred.
• Everything's an opportunity for word games and everyone's a nickname.
• Lingo makes the world go round.
• It's the spontaneous wit of the people that tickles me most.
• Late one night at a barbie my new mate Suds remarked, ''Nothing's the same since 24-7.'' Amen.

4. Free-to-air TV. In Oz, you buy a TV, plug it in and watch some of the best programming I have ever seen - uncensored.

• In America, you can't get diddly-squat without paying a cable or satellite company heavy fees.
• In Oz a few channels make it hard to choose.
• In America, you've got 400 channels and nothing to watch.

5. Small shops. Outside the big cities in America corporations have nearly erased them.

• Identical malls with identical restaurants serving inferior food.
• Except for geography, it's hard to tell one American town from another.
• The ''take-away'' culture here is wonderful.
• Human encounters are real - stirring happens, stories get told.
• The curries are to die for. And you don't have to tip!

6. Free camping. We used to have this too, and I guess it's still free when you backpack miles away from the roads.
But I love the fact that in Oz everyone owns the shore and in many places you can pull up a camper van and stare at the sea for weeks.
I love the ''primitive'' and independent campgrounds, the life outdoors.
The few idiots who leave their stubbies and rubbish behind in these pristine places ought to be transported in chains.

7. Religion. In America, it's everywhere - especially where it's not supposed to be, like politics.
I imagine you have your Pharisees too, making a big public show of devotion, but I have yet to meet one here.

8. Roads. Peak hour aside, I've found travel on your roads pure heaven.
My country's ''freeways'' are crowded, crumbling, insanely knotted with looping overpasses - it's like racing homicidal maniacs on fraying spaghetti.
I've taken the Hume without stress, and I love the Princes Highway when it's two lanes.
Ninety minutes south of Bateman's Bay I was sorry to see one billboard for a McDonald's. It's blocking a lovely paddock view. Someone should remove it.

9. Real multiculturalism. I know there are tensions, just like anywhere else, but I love the distinctiveness of your communities and the way you publicly acknowledge the Aboriginal past.
Recently, too, I spent quality time with Melbourne Greeks, and was gratified both by their devotion to their own great language and culture and their openness to an Afghan lunch.

10. Fewer guns. You had Port Arthur in 1996 and got real in response. America replicates such massacres several times a year and nothing changes.
Why?

• Our religion of individual rights makes the good of the community an impossible dream.
• Instead of mateship we have ''It's mine and nobody else's'.
• We talk a great game about freedom, but too often live in fear.

There's more to say - your kaleidoscopic birds, your perfumed bush in springtime, your vast beaches.

These are just a few blessings that make Australia a rarity.

Of course, it's not paradise - nowhere is - but I love it here.

No need to wave flags like Americans and add to the world's windiness.

Just value what you have and don't give it away.



David Mason is a US writer and professor, and poet laureate of Colorado
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Mason_(writer)

Sounds like you live in the perfect place....for you.

Well, seems Socialism generally sounds pretty good on paper, but those type regimes never trust the people. They can't afford to have an armed populace. Sheep don't bite. Govt is by the people or it rules the people. When govt fears the populace, you have freedom. When the populace fears the govt, you have tyranny.

Color me skeptical. There's always a price to pay for free stuff. You can't see the Wizard of OZ behind the curtain. Don't think that's an accident do ya?

Capitalism has its warts, but beats whatever is number two. Too bad the USA is drifting that way. It's coming here soon enough without me going there. And, I have some great Australian friends.

DF

The US is drfiting the same way? fella, the US constitution fell in about 24 hours like everyone elses when non elected officials told you you all had to go indoors for covid. Your country is now a patchwork of work/vax mandates like everyone elses. You have lost free speech, cant say the N word anymore, and your cops incarcerate people 5x more often than any other country in the world.

Australia just had a protest with 500,000 people,(population % wise that would be like 7 million americans) Europe is convoying across 20 countries to protest, Canada has the largest blockade in western history going, and you yanks more worried about Biden pooping his pants with the Pope.

We Yanks are cheering the Canucks on to victory, as they fight for their freedom. Looks like they may have the upper hand, Libs are getting desperate. I think Trudeau has cooked his political goose, shown people what he's really like.

I salute those who fight the same fight in OZ.

Freedom loving people everywhere need to stand together. When one loses, we all lose. Socialists regimes need to go.

DF

If all the socialists moved to a country there’s a few questions:
1. Who’s going to get a job?
2. How fast can the government print money to keep up with inflation?
3. Where’s all the goods and services coming from?
4. What’s going to happen when the other guy’s money runs out?

I know they’ll get the money from rich corporations.

Our healthcare has never been so screwed up here in the US. Our premiums triple and my deductible went from zero to 10000. Please keep your healthcare I can’t afford it. Canadians close to the border take out supplemental insurance and then come here for treatment.
Think Mayo Clinic for the best of the best. You it’s in the USA. Edk

The US is drfiting the same way? fella, the US constitution fell in about 24 hours like everyone elses when non elected officials told you you all had to go indoors for covid. Your country is now a patchwork of work/vax mandates like everyone elses. You have lost free speech, cant say the N word anymore, and your cops incarcerate people 5x more often than any other country in the world.


Actually not true. Some states yes but in many no that did not happen. And that consititution is working for us right now and in the right direction. As for saying the "N" word there is no fine for doing so.


Australia just had a protest with 500,000 people,(population % wise that would be like 7 million americans) Europe is convoying across 20 countries to protest, Canada has the largest blockade in western history going, and you yanks more worried about Biden pooping his pants with the Pope.


We were not worried about Biden pooping his pants we thought it was emblemic of the leftist progressive party. In fact the real problems in this country are inflation and immigration issues caused by the Biden presidency. These are why we should park in DC not Covid policies.

Thats why I said a patchwork Rick.

No fine, nice one. Just job loss, being torn apart by the media, socially ostracized.

The real problem is you have a president on one side that allowed all this stuff to occur at exactly the same time every other world leader did , got himself vaccinated and is pro vaccine. The other is Joe Biden.

My boss I had when I worked at a mine was from Canada. He hated the Canadian health care system. There’s a politically appointed committee that has to approve your operation before you are allowed to have it.
Many people are forced to go the the USA and pay for their needed operation or wait. Sometimes they die before the committee decides it’s ok.
You think our health care system is ducked up. Wait until you have some politically appointed committee deciding whether or not you are worthy of getting an operation. If you’re old, you have a much lower chance of getting approval. Let the old duckers die.

Ever heard the phrase “death panels?” Didn’t it come up during an election a while back?” 🤬

Every time someone bloviates about “free” healthcare in another country, I encourage them to compare tax burdens. I can buy a lot of healthcare and college with the difference.

Free healthcare. I have no idea what the answers is but how many Americans truly go bankrupt over healthcare and healthcare alone? Most people with even halfway decent jobs are covered through their employer for all but $3,500 tops per year out of pocket if not significantly less. The poor are covered through the government. The worse case scenario if someone did file bankruptcy on it in most cases it would be a complete write off for them without losing anything and their credit could be back in decent shape within a year or two.

I want my guns and my God given freedoms.

I’ll pass on multiculturalism. All decent people and cultures deserve respect but that doesn’t mean that I want to live with them all. I like neighbors with somewhat similar worldviews, family, moral, work, and lifestyle views to my own and even a similar age. I have a young family with kids which is why I live in a subdivision full of younger married couples with kids and not a college town or a retirement community. Most people tend to “self segregate” for the same reasons.

Free cable TV. I don’t own a TV

Free camping. We have way more free camping and hunting land in the US by far than what Australia does. If you want RV style camping with sewer and electric hookups then you’ll have to pay.

The author seems to really like free stuff while being lukewarm at best towards God, individual freedom, and guns.

The notion of the community good over individual freedom is one of the greatest evils. At face value it can sound good but it’s the 50.1 majority popular group being able to run roughshod over the God given rights of everyone else. Most of the time the majority is little more than the uniformed sheeple being lead by a charismatic politician and his propaganda wing or are voting for the candidate that will give them “free stuff.”

Edit to add that none of this is meant to be anti Australia but anti the American that wrote the article.

Health care expenses are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy.

Our healthcare system is far from perfect and is inefficient in many ways mostly due to government. Overall it’s pretty dang good if you’re sick. Even if you’re someone that falls through the cracks so to speak as far as coverage. To my understanding American bankruptcy laws are especially easy on medical bills. As in it’s 100% wrote off under chapter 7 bankruptcy with zero out of pocket cost in nearly all cases and credit is rehabbed within about 12 months.
Which isn’t to say that it’s ideal because it isn’t. But you’re not going bankrupt in the sense of losing your property, having to pay it back and your credit is relatively quickly restored if you were otherwise responsible. And all while paying much lower taxes and for most of us being insured through an employer with fairly low annual premiums and Dr. care on demand.

i just had a neighbor move to Australia glad they left America for good , they were a family always looking for freebies , they were lazy and all for Liberal politics , they will be a good fit down under .

Still, most bankruptcies filed are the result of medical costs. Most of us aren't insured through employers; only 49% are insured in some measure by employers. High deductibles and co-pays clobber the low wage workers, and many are forced to seek bankruptcy to keep the wolves away. The cost of medication is one major factor. Look at what's happened to the price of Insulin for example. Few if any health plans cover Diabetic supplies, and woe be the folks who need the really expensive drugs to stay alive, the ones the insurers won't cover.

Did they just move or did he have a job waiting? Australia doesn't usually let people show up and stay, even before Covid. You have to be useful to them.

I had thought that, not having paid much attention between the two countries as Death and Taxes are inescapable no matter where I'm working.

The numbers don't stack up as you think...

Income Tax (residents)
Australians are taxed at a tiered individual income tax rate that ranges from 0% to 45%.

Americans are taxed at a tiered individual rates between 10% and 37%. Unlike Australia there is no initial tax free threshold.
Additionally, most American states also impose a personal income tax which varies between states. Typically the state tax rates are under 10%.

American Income taxes are generally (but not always) higher for ordinary and low income people. High income tends to work out much the same.


Social Security Tax Rate
Australians are not taxed separately for Social Security.
Americans have additional social security taxes, which is payable by both the individual (6.2%) and their employer (6.2%). There is a cap on the maximum wage that is subject to this tax each year.

Americans pay a tax that Australians don't.

Income Tax Summary
Generally, the US offers much lower income tax rates, when you add up the various taxes on income there may be a small margin in favour of America for high income earners, but for ordinary or low income earners there is usually a disadvantage.


Government Provided Health
Australians are taxed for a medicare levy on all of their income, unless they are under low income rate thresholds.
The medicare levy rate is currently 2% of taxable income.
High income earners are also charged a medicare levy surcharge, unless they have appropriate private health care coverage. The rate of medicare levy surcharge is between 1 and 1.5% depending on the individual’s taxable income level.
In Australia many medical services and public hospital services are provided free for all Australians under the medicare system. This is what the medicare levy and medicare levy surcharge tax levies pays for.
Military don't pay Medicare for themselves (part of the job package) but do pay for spouse and dependants.

America also charges a medicare tax on all individual income.
The rate is currently 1.45%, plus employers are required to withhold an extra 0.9% medicare tax when an individual’s wage exceeds $200,000 in a year.
Unlike Australia, the US does not provide universal health care for its citizens. In the US each individual is responsible for funding their own health care. This means that instead of the medicare taxes going towards a general public funding pool for universal healthcare, they go towards your Medicare Hospital Insurance for when you are a senior. Medicaid is available to help support low income earners.

Again, slight advantage to American high income earners.
No advantage, and usually real disadvantage to ordinary or low income earners in America.
Depending on where you are in the salary stakes, advantage to Australia.


Health Insurance
Australians can choose to pay for private health insurance, which covers private health care as well as services (elective, non-life threatening) that aren’t covered by medicare. High income earners will be exempt from the additional medicare levy surcharge if they take out private health insurance with adequate hospital coverage.

Americans are individually responsible for health insurance (most employers do provide health insurance coverage) in order to get their health care services covered, or partially covered, by their insurance provider.
Medicaid is available to assist low income earners to access free or reduced cost health care.

Advantage Australia.


Sales Tax
Australians pay the same sales tax (Goods and Services Tax - GST) across the country, and it is in the asking price of an item. GST is a federal tax charged at 10% on most goods and services. Basic essentials are exempt.
American sales taxes apply on most goods and services, and these are levied by the various state governments. These taxes range from 0 to 13.5%.

In low tax states, advantage to Americans, most other states the advantage goes to Australians.



Income from your retirement fund - terminology Superannuation = 401(k)
Australians are taxed on superannuation income streams and lump sums is taxed differently depending on whether you have reached the preservation age (60 years old), and the type of super income stream that is paid.
Australians over preservation age (60yo) a retirement benefit from your superannuation fund is tax free, and there is a 15% income tax deduction.
The Australian Old Age Pension forms part of taxable income, however if you have no other income then your pension won’t exceed the tax free threshold.

Americans with income stream from any 401(k) plan, social security or pension are taxed depending on your income sources and overall level of income. There is no preservation age so no real (Federal) tax breaks.

Advantage to Australians.

Australians do not spend as much on military and welfare, thus their taxes may be lower. We have welfare, section 8 housing, food stamps, etc. We also help a lot of countries around the world. Thus we run deficits and have to borrow money from many sources to pay the difference. We also have a very inefficient bureaucratic system of government agencies. We also have more freedoms that are constantly under attack. Australia has a worse problem with liberals controlling the country vs Americans. They took their semi-automatics away. Don't know about handguns. Parliments suck because the ruling party also controls the leadership of the country. We have more checks and balances with our Republic. House, Senate, President, and the Supreme court are all supposed to be separate. This creates in theory more compromise and not forcing one group to accept what the other group wants.

Each country has it's own set of issues.

While Americas issues may be different from Australia's and Australia's different from Canada's etc, etc all have issues.

It is what it is and for the most part we're all brothers when it comes to .gov intrusions.

Many of those supporting mechanisms are needed in America because favouring shareholder dividends over investing in the company (product development and employees) makes for exploitative industrial relations. It's not slavery, but appears pretty third world when you look with a dispassionate eye.

Military spending in the US is big business, as it is in European countries too. Administration of this is as efficient as it can be, but often does not appear efficient when looking from the outside without understanding the constraints officials work within. Advanced systems like F22, JSF, B21, Seawolves and Columbias don't come cheap but their value plays out when you need to use them.

More freedoms is contentious and depends how you measure freedom. To be honest living in the US does not feel as free as Australia or NZ, and if you are not white it probably feels even worse.
Australia has it's own problems, similar but different. Personal security in Australia and New Zealand is far better than that in the US so the 'need' for guns to protect yourself does not exist.

Australia's government at the moment is a conservative (Republican aligned) party (as it was when the semi-auto rifles were banned). Like most democracies other than America, their version of liberal democracy looks a little more leftist and some call them "socialist" which says more about the lack of worldly experience and basic ignorance of those making the claims.

Australia, England, New Zealand and much of Europe have stronger separation of powers than America. Probably the largest difference is the executive role in government - aka President, Chancellor, Monarch, Governor General.

FWIW I have worked in both Australia and the US, although I prefer NZ as a place to live!

Nowhere is problem free, but some problems can be deal breakers.

That is because the people are stupid. Listen to Dave Ramsey on bankruptcy. I disregard most of his advice on things. But his advice on debt settlement is xcellent. There are ways of protecting assets from these things.

Sounds like he's still in the honeymoon phase with his wife's country. Give him a few years.
Plus, he's a writer so he needs something to write about and nothing sells like flattery from a foreigner.

I class large parts of the US as more free than Australia. Personally I dont care about personal security. I have no problem with a society where you arrange it yourself. I worked for a while in the US, New England area and even those states felt more free to me. Folks werent wearing wearing bike helmets where I was(almost a jailable offence in Australia these days not to), I saw jacked up cars, fat tires, guns in pickups, all big no-nos here. I did an EMT course when I was there, took the NREMT(national) exam , got state registration even as a non citizen- no one minded at all. The local ambulance were delighted to have me ride along. I remember asking if it was legal and they sort of looked at me strange and laughed. I started my EMT-P course( full paramedic course) by distance through a group in Texas, they bent over backwards to let me enrol, do clinicals etc even being an Australian. I remember visiting my first walmart, bought a half dozen things, I recall a few shirts, shoes, shaving gear etc, had $50 ready to handoever at the checkout and nearly fell over when the chick said something like " $18". Hit me how high the price of living back home is. I only visited Boston and flew into Atlanta as far as larger cities go.Im sure there are a lot of areas in a country that size I would NOT like but there does appear to be some bastions of freedoms I still would

Cost of living.

https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/Australia/United-States/Cost-of-living

He's also a professor, so you have all of the programming that comes with being a high level academic in the USA.

Comparing tax burdens:

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/29/aus...han-americans-but-they-get-more-too.html

In the USA, we have a lot of fantastic non-urban living options. That's something that matters to many of us here on the fire. Australia is at the other end of that spectrum.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urbanization_in_Australia

What I took from it.
Most likely an America hater, ANTIFA lover

If Australia's so great, why aren't all those illiterate wetbacks from places like Honduras and Jamaica going there instead of crossing the Rio Grande?

A bit far to swim?

Yep.

Gee, a writer in Denver who doesn't like guns. Now I've seen everything.

BTW, Canadian healthcare sucks.

The studies I've seen assumed that if someone went bankrupt and had > $1000 in healthcare debt, then the healthcare debt caused the bankruptcy. I'd call that very questionable logic. I'd say the studies were designed to reach that conclusion and are not accurate.

What about the thousands of US citizens going across the border for Canadian health care? Oh that’s right it’s the other way around. Our system here. Might suck but it sucks less than other countries. Edk

I don't know about Australian health care, but find ours , where I am just excellent.
I have also used private, for profit Healthcare in the US and Canada. All are equivalent, imo.
Canada's system is costly to operate but some where I had read there is more money put into the US system per capita and many fall through the cracks.
The only way " Healthcare " will improve is if the user takes personal responsibility for there own.
Increasingly, we are more fat, less fit and more miserable.... and less faithful to Our Maker.
There must be a connection. God Bless you all.

The fact that Australia is highly urbanised doesn't mean there aren't a lot of fantastic non-urban living options. Quite the reverse in fact, as there's lots of smaller cities and towns, and vast areas where you can be a long way from your neighbours. Lately, especially with people more and more often working from home, there are more and more looking to move out of the big centres.

A lot of Australians also have holiday homes, to get away to when on leave - and we usually have more paid leave than you get in the US too, what with a minimum 4 weeks annual holiday, various public holiday long weekends, long service leave and, for many, rostered days off.

Apart from the obvious geographic reason, our borders aren't porous, and our government doesn't have a policy of letting them in.

And yet, I can't get more than about 115miles from a McDonalds in the lower 48.

In Australia the same distance is about 480 miles. More than 300mi covers a big hunk of the country.

As said by Rodney King.. "Can't we all just get along?"

Every state like every country... some are better than others... but wherever ya go, you can't get away from government, and compared to 50 years ago, its a lot more intrusive in people's every day lives now, than it use to be... and government is a lot more bigger controlling every part of our lives in minute detail, that they can get away with...

I get along fine with Canucks, and Ozzies, and that includes New Zealanders, and Limeys.. worked in Canada and lives for 3 years in Britain in my youth.

at times when overseas I have been embarrassed to be an American, by the way my fellow countrymen act like they are special and look down on the local populations as if they are somehow inferior... yet I never loose pride in the nation of my birth.. in fact recently I've discovered that I am a direct descendent of the first 300 or so people who immigrated here from England.. both Jamestowne and Plymouth Rock...

I am ashamed to be an American at times, because of what idiots we have in the White House and Controlling the Senate, but it doesn't mean losing pride in my nation or citizenship. I am ashamed we just can't throw the bums out of office and believe they never won the last election legitimately...

Being an American means to me that I am a guest in other peoples countries... I don't show them disrespect either from here or when I am a guest within their borders...

I don't understand while someone needs to show someone else disrespect, to receive more respect from others.. their actions don't impress anyone....

I tend to show respect toward others until they think they have a reason to disrespect me or my nation... then my reaction to them is going to mirror the actions they do toward me... like some of the drug dealing Mexican cartel people I run into around my town, who are here growing dope, since the leftist liberals had to legalize it in pursuit of my votes. aka DemocRats.

The young people of Oceania used to have a wonderful work ethic.


Its slipping.....but they can still save it I hope.

It's definitely slipped. I remember about 15 years ago about six vacancies as mill hands on shift work came up at the local paper mill. These jobs were offered to close relatives of senior employees. Starting rate was $75,000 per annum (about $60K US at that time). 15 years ago a buck was worth a lot more than it is now. One youngster arrived late the first day and was told, "you're meant to be here at 8.00 a.m. for training or earlier, not 9:00 a.m.". He was late every day for a week because he couldn't get out of bed on time. He was fired. I don't think any of the six lasted more than the one month trial period.

Yep.

I was amazed at the young people on the shearing crews and in the dairy sheds. Getting to be more and more Philippinos apparently.


Although even with a 22 dollar minimum....you still struggle to buy anything

Yes, a lot of Philipino's. They work hard, don't complain, don't have girlfriend or drug issues and are reliable. The young kiwi farm boys are generally good, strong, hard workers too. However, unlike the Philipino's they want a new pickup 4x4 or a hot car like most young guys these days. They want higher wages than the $22 per hour farm workers get so farmers have trouble retaining them.

Funny...I know bugger all about America and try to learn when I get the chance. The resident clowns know almost as much about Australia but insist on telling me all about it.

I note that US foreign policy works the same way.

US foreign policy seems to be taxing US citizens and sending the money to foreign lands trying to buy your love. And if it works we try to tell you how to run your business so as to funnel back payola to our politicians.

Yes, I'm cynical.

See...YOU get it...why can't the rest of them?

Too many democrats...they don't understand anything but...oh well, I can stop there. They don't understand anything.....

I will admit that is something we Australians don't have, the absolute 'side' thing that Americans have. Australians of all persuasions tend to despise politicians of all stripes and don't really go in for the the us and them rhetoric.

We generally think that someone has to shovel the shit, so it is probably best it is left to one of those sort.

I come to the Australia forum for insight on a far-away land that I'll more than likely never see in person.
Always seems to be full of Americans telling y'all how foiked up Australia is.......ironic.

I wouldn't mind seeing your southern states, but have absolutely no interest in any of your cities...not a single skerrick of interest.

Not so good for the Philipinos who go sailing with the dairy cows!



My brother in law has Philipinos working for him. Good workers as you say.


Thats the trouble with minimum wage.

Try going to a religion thread! They are full of Australian atheists!

I rarely ever leave our 'southern states'.....for good reason.

A very close friend in Tennessee is 1/2 Filipino, he's a long hours/hard working mofo.
We consume lots of beer together in his off hours.
reckon the beer drinkin comes from his 1/2 Ohioan side LOL

the so called wife was once married to an Aussie but born and raised in Asia learn well how to get lots of hand outs from the governments , this newer American husband she has now was born a AMERICA and raised here came from a good family but has always taken the easy path so ya they will fit right in down in Aussie land. free free glad they are gone !

I am glad to be born an American and that i live in America too . sure is nice to be able to carry a legal handgun and have a AR-15 loaded and ready at home in America !

Actually this is not true. I read the study that is commonly cited, and the assumption they used is that if any person who declared bankruptcy had over $1000 in unpaid medical expenses they classified the bankruptcy as due to health care expenses. This is very misleading.

Also, government provided health care is generally not as good as private health care. There have been a number of studies on life expectancy for people with serious health conditions and people in the US live longer on average than people in places like Canada and the UK where they have "free" health care.

Two or three is hardly a thread full.

That's good Pete; people should be proud of their particular countries. As far as carrying legal handguns and having an AR-15 loaded and ready at home you must think you need them where you live. They aren't necessary in Australia or NZ for defense. That's a freedom we have that many Americans find hard to understand. I've recently cracked 70 years and have never known a single law abiding person that needed a firearm for self defense and I was in law enforcement for many years. Gangs and violent criminals don't bother the public as they have no need to.

I travelled all over the U.S. in my early 20"s before settling down and a couple of times since. Once on business. I never felt unsafe except in a couple of large cities at night. Lots of nice little towns all over the country.

Hahaha!


I dont need an 8.1 liter gas engine for protection either.


Needs got nothing to do with it.

Jim, what you do on your land is your business. And since you are not here on my land your wants and likes don't matter one little bit.

If you don't understand 2A keep your sewer shut on the matter.
Some retard kills a bunch of Muslims and you all bend over and throw your arms in the scrap heap.

And you seem incapable of grasping the fact that this thread is about Australia, not the US.

If you do not like how we operate then don't visit...simple really.

Some just love to point the finger.

Never willNever will.
Ditto retard.

Point your finger up your [bleep].
Why not go on the Christianity forum and tell people how dumb they are for not believing.
Twaty fugging hypocrite.

What ever floats your boat.


I dont have to act all self righteous and justify going without something because the politicians deemed it too dangerous for me to have.

Be handing over all the boomerangs and didgeridoo next.
Fugging moist cunnys.

I never could get a boomerang to come back.


Maybe I am too ugly.....

So...how is your most excellent president and his lovely VP doing today.

You being so proud of his achievements...you know...because he is YOUR duly elected president.

Pussy, can't even get your own miserable shit straight.

You don't seem to know what is happening in the US...yet do seem concerned about a nation across the other side of the world.

Why is that Jim, is your life that miserable and small?

Jeezus you guys act like pussies now.


Buck up some and it will be fine.


We just dont understand your whole gee golly gosh we are all in this together attitude.


Is it because you are so outnumbered?

You protest too much Jim...not happy in the US?

Jim...you do not understand Australians at all...best you stay in your own sty.

I am covered up with guns and we told them to fugc themselves on the Covid....why wouldn't I be happy?

No you didn't Jim, you sat on your own plot of dirt and let the world pass you by...we all did so why deny it?

Do you really think shooting a snake is worthy of pictures...really?

I guess that is where you are confused.


We didn't give in. We organized and forced change.


I told the county that we were not going to participate any more...we had had enough.

We didn't get the shot so we could go to the movies.

known as Waco Syndrome...
.

No movie theatre here.

You are grasping...say hello to your president.

My limited experience in Australia indicated that like pretty much anywhere else in the civilized world, rural people were largely conservative and city people were largely liberal, with notable exceptions.

The Aussies I have hung out with and worked with were every bit as conservative and pro gun as the most red blooded American. I will be back in 2025 for a free range stag hunt and fully expect that experience to mirror my previous experiences there. Can't wait and I have little doubt I will be in good company with like minded folks. I am not sure I understand Zeissman's point about not needing to carry handguns in NZ but that viewpoint wasn't shared by the outfitter I used on the South Island for a tahr and chamois hunt, and that was before the Christchurch incident, let alone after.

You forgot the "K".

Whereabouts are you hunting?

Jeebus.


You have over 100 percent compliance and I am grasping??



My brother in law and his family said no. Suffered the social consequences and are in good shape now having met and befriended like minded people.



I have some frame of reference.

I disagree, respectfully.

That's a lie. I have never told anyone they are dumb. Nor have I initiated insults, that was your mob. The question is, why are you so hostile, intolerant and defensive? Is reasonable questioning of beliefs so threatening to your faith that you can't deal with it rationally?

You are grasping.

No, you don't.

You are doing the exact same thing the fuckwits that rule you do...they make half-arsed determinations about foreign nations then get all hissy when they get their arse handed to them.

News for you Jim...Americans are a minority and not popular...and by association, neither are we.

But we know it, you don't.

Not terribly far from Toowoomba.





Disagree, about what? What my experience was with rural Aussies, or that I am not understanding/agreeing with Zeissman's point? Something else?

You haven't handed any asses...and you should ask a Kiwi what its like if you dont do what America wants. In other words docking nuclear war ships......

You went along because it was easy and you thought it was the right thing to do.


Just own it.

Brisbane valley...red stag?

Having spent a small amount of time over there, I never did find a group that I would consider "as conservative" as any "red blooded American".

If I did happen across such an individual....they were headed to the "states". True story.


Its kinda like saying your average "red blooded" Californian could hang out at the Hell Creek bar for any length of time. Without a pocket full of hundreds..

I see, you think YOU are America...it will be a shock for you when you find out that you are ruled by a class that doesn't know and doesn't care whether you exist or not.

You are simply not that important...none of us are but most of us have figured it out.

You are a very small possession Jim.

You have no idea. I was there attending some of the biggest street protests I have ever seen. And don't fantasize that if you were in that position you would take up arms, storm the white house and start a civil war.

I am not sure about it being in the Brisbane Valley or not, but I fly into Toowoomba and we'll drive an hour or so from there, to the hunt area on a low fence cattle ranch in the 'mountains' of SE Queensland. I understand they're more like hills compared to what I am used to, and is supposedly comparable to a typical New Mexico private land elk hunt.

Yes, for free range red stag primarily but also whatever else there is time for.

Glad you were doing your part.

So, you have been here 'a small amount of time,' yet consider yourself qualified to comment on how and what Australians think...

Then our experience differs.

Were you on the populated east coast, or somewhere more rural?

Never claimed I wasn't.


We just refused to hid behind our children.

East Coast for a while. New Zealand for the rest.

I don't even recognise the reference.

What are you attempting to convey?

The whole world was more than content to let the young people pay the debit.\\

A more pathetic display has never been seen.

Funny, I do not recall hiding behind my daughter. That must be a Jim thing.

Yeah yeah....you showed all of us.


Who needs a 30 round mag anyway?

Their inland ranch country reminded me a lot of ours, with a lot of very conservative people, fiscally and socially. I didn't chat much about gun rights so won't comment, but they sure shot the heck out of predators and varmints. Always had varmint rifles in the vehicles. I also worked with several Royal Australian Air Force folks. Many of them were absolutely nuts and a Warrant Officer in particular, in a good way. I liked them.

My New Zealand outfitter was absolutely pro-gun for self defense, but maybe he was an exception. I dunno....

Shooting wallabies from the roll bar of a Hilux is something everyone should experience.

The kid that helped us with that was a great guy.


He moved to Idaho.......

Not me.

Nice rifles.


I dont need a 30 rounder either....but that doesn't mean I am going to give it to you.

Ah, but I am good with my neighbours owning select-fire arms...I just don't have any interest in owning or using any myself.

I like blue and walnut.


Added: I am trying to work out how to break it to my wife how we desperately NEED an AREA 419 ZERO press when we move house, my daughter thinks it is a great idea but we have to work on the wife a bit.

I dont know what that is...but it sounds pretty fugging good.

Looked it up. I think you do in fact need that press.


I bought a lee 6 hole progressive a while ago.
\

Told the wife I wouldn't pout near as much if I had it.

I have to be careful or the wife will get her nose out of joint and will stop feeding us, and I am a lousy cook.

Update: She just offered to cook steak for tea so I am in with a shot.

I tell the boys that they will learn how to cook and do laundry.


Puts them in a better position to negotiate.


Hope its a good steak.

I really enjoyed the farmed venison when I was down under. Preferred it to the beef in fact.

New Zealand is not the place to get a good steak though.

You were called out on this bullshit earlier claiming the vax was mandatory yet wouldn't say what happened to your family here. You wouln't answer the question and ran away, lieing coward.

Social consequences? - LOL!!! Pray tell us what happened

It was that mandatory that they got called names by the authorities? LOL!!!

You make a fine Subject.


Go lay down.

Have another doughnut and mars bar - you'll be alrght

If questioning gets too close to the truth just ignore and keep making false accusations fat boy

Man you guys turned into pussies.


Tell us what you did besides bitch and moan!

So what happened to your family here? Nothing, but you "earned the right" to whinge like a big fat sook. Have some more cupcakes cupcake

Does your boyfriend know you talk like that?

Plenty happened to my family.


What did you do to stand up to it?




Quisling cogksucker

Do tell

Go grab another big mac, we'll wait

They needed you....and you supported the govt.

I knew you couldn't the simple question.

Maybe pray for some inspiration to be an honest person, after a whopper or something

That lockdown was terrible for you.


Since you act like a bitch, I will not tell you.


Instead....tell us what you did to help and resist.


Aside from hiding under your granny's table.

I understand your 2A probably better than you do, so put that in your sewer. Didn't have to sell any of my guns to the socialists either. Still have plenty and will use them for self defense if I need to (which is perfectly legal). But I will have more chance of winning the lottery than that happening. Meanwhile, another mass shooting in the good ole U.S. of A today. How many does that make it so far this year? Over 100 isn't it?

Old mate, you do know that Jim is just bored and taking the piss don't you?

That other clown though, is serious.

You have those deathly-scary 'assault weapons' tucked away safe & sound, right?

Do you have any idea as to how many Americans die every day?
Gun deaths?
Stabbing, clubbing deaths?
'Other' homicides?
Auto or accidental deaths[wrecks, drownings etc]?
Natural causes?

Your last 2 sentences makes it sound like you'd fit right in here.....with the left.

Any excuse to avoid facing your lies.

Console yourself with a few bags of cheetos if you haven't already.

I know right? Imagine how much worse it would be if you lot weren't armed. Sub-third world I reckon.

You ignore anything that is said, only to rinse and repeat your silly accusations.

You are Trolling. Most likely butt hurt over our input into your religious threads. Get over it. It was nothing more than what you should do for yourself, question not believe.

I detest the left with their woke insanity and intolerance to anyone with a different point of view to their own. Their atheism pushing and multi gender madness directed at school kids in particular. I could go on but I'd be punching the keyboard for a long time.

I personally have never had any interest in the deathly-scary 'assault weapons' of mass destruction you mention. I prefer precision bolt action rifles. However, I completely disagreed with their banning unless you applied for a special license to keep them for pest control or you're into collecting. There were according to import records over 120,000 AR's, AK47's legally bought into the country. The government so called "buy back" only resulted in about 17,000 sold back (the public was lied to about the actual number). Where are the rest you may ask including all the illegally imported ones? Many owners were pleased to hand in their assault rifles for the good price they received as ammo was getting pretty darn expensive and a lot of the AK47's were Chinese manufactured junk anyway. What did the sellers do with their government payout. Most went out and bought more firearms.

Our previous Prime Minister, the right dishonorable Taxcinda Ardern used the Christchurch attack as an excuse to push her UN inspired anti-firearm Marxist ideology on to the public. The same public was outraged that the lunatic Aussie terrorist had killed so many Muslims so Ardern gained a lot of support. There has only been three mass shootings in NZ; one in 1945 when a guy shot a few cops and then was killed himself, 1992 when a dude dressed up in camo and using his Chinese AK47 killed 11 people including some kids before the police killed him and the 2019 Christchurch attack.

Atheism is neither left or right because it has nothing to do with politics. Which doesn't mean that someone on either side of the political spectrum may not try to use it for their own agenda.

The left, PC, woke teachers seem determined to discredit the Bible and push their atheist views onto young school kids. They should stick to reading, writing, basic arithmetic, history, geography and science for starters. Haven't heard of any pro Christian teachers preaching to the kids. Not to say it doesn't happen.

A lot of bad things are also done in the name of religion and God.

Not that long ago Principal Brian Mulheran resigned from Citipointe Christian College after facing retaliation against unlawful discrimination by that college. They are there to teach children, not exclude them via discrimination. They are terrible, terrible people. Personally happy to see some churches burn. YMMV

A Christian School/College is a private entity and as such can limit or exclude who they damned well wish, regardless of public funding.

Anyone that thinks differently can fund a public school next door to them.

I will also add that no one gives a shit when jewish or islamic schools apply exclusions or standards, nor does anyone give a rats when they pump their particular brand of crap down their students throats...only Christian Schools are attacked.

Well they dropped their discriminatory contracts after much outcry and complaints to the Human Rights Corruption Commission.


Many complaints came from Christian parents who wanted to send their children to this school, or whose children were already there and were discriminated against. Your opinion of what a private entity can do is different to theirs - seems theirs had more impact in this case.

I don't want my tax money supporting such vile establishments.

I don't really give a flying fuck what you want.

I don't think too many people would disagree with that.

Attending a Christian church doesn't make you a Christian (follower of Christ) anymore than putting your hand in a cookie jar makes you a cookie. Religion is of man's making. Jesus of the bible had nothing good to say about the religious leaders of the day such as the Pharisees, calling them hypocrites and self serving. Anyway, I'm not going down the rabbit hole about religion, Christianity or atheism any further in this thread as it's pointless.

Well maybe you need to start giving a flying fuck - I'm not the only one that shares my concerns. Even Principal Brian Mulheran gets it now.

So...now you are telling me what I should think.

Fuck off cunt, I have enough opinionated controlling pieces of shit here and I do not need your particular brand of crap.

I never said that - it was a suggestion. You do what you like, just don't be surprised if it flies back in your face at some point. Not everyone agrees with you, and they'll probably let you know if you overstep the mark.

There are wrongs done in the name of religion that are no more related to religion than atheism is related to the left or any other political ideology.

Something that is incidental is not causal.

Then there are conflicts that are religious, Muslims killing infidels because of insults to their prophet, following instructions in the Quran, the Crusades, the Church's inquisitions, etc.

I couldn’t have stated any better!

People that felt ECON 101 was a tough course were likely socialists or Democrats.

Problem is: the left doesn't just want the AR/AK's.........

Yep, they want all of our guns, which won't happen; but they'll keep trying under the guise of public safety.

Heck No, they would have dropped out after the first week!

Too many people are taken in by the public safety ploy. The Greens have stated that it's their gaol to abolish private ownership of firearms, for everyone's safety, of course...

I've never known a politician from the Greens to make an ounce of sense.

True, but it doesn't stop them trying. Plus groups such as ''Gun Control Australia (GCA) is an Australian incorporated anti-gun association that advocates for tighter gun laws.''

How many years have you been a member of this Godless violent commie group?

Did the give you a free membership after your 8th booster shot? lol

How many years have you been struggling through life with half a brain, little ribka? It must be hard.

Take our situation here with the Nashville School shooting.

When it is mentioned that hardening of every school here in the U.S.would cost somewhere near $20B for the amount of officers necessary the Lib/Leftists suddenly become fiscally conservative.

Screaming that this is cost prohibitive!

As a nation we hand out over $50B annually to other countries[before earmarks etc] and doesn't include what we spend militarily[Ukraine $100B + in 13 months].

It's not about protecting anyone.......

THEY WANT THE GUNS, PERIOD!

The beta Covid cocuck just schooled by a real AUSSIE MAN.

Are you still triple masking you dumb anti gun facist coward.

Yes we all remember your bleating and crying on here during the fake covid scamdemic. lmao

Poor little Tyke, pooped in his panties again. Cry a little louder, little man.

let's just read your pathetic posts on here in 21 an22 you dumb cuck

I'll bet that everytime you crap yourself you stick your hand down your pants to check, then get feces all over your keyboard and face as you get inspired to type another post to distract you from your situation of sitting in your own shit.

You really are as thick as a house brick. What is clear is that you can't understand a thing that is being said.