Merlin - Knock yourselves out guys!

[Donny]

Lis, it DOES matter what you think. Very much so.

People of your age are our country's next adults, our next parents, our next leaders. It's very important what you think.

You say you're educated about the subject because one teacher talked very passionately about it for a whole year and yet you wrote an apparently very good speech in which you disagreed with her (or him).

Find out the facts for yourself and make up your own mind on the issue.

[bokka]

I agree with you miss L (in case you didn't notice) - we are being hoodwinked. Also the Howard govt probably knows its position on stopping refugees is fairly popular despite the media propaganda impression that everyone is on the side of the refugees. Of course there's a case for helping some refugees but it should be on a case by case and situation-by-situation basis. For example if it was rich people who had profitted from a corrupt regime, fleeing their country in order to keep their loot - which I am sure it very often is since they are usually the only ones that can afford to pay for these "people pirate" boat trips - then I would say and I believe most Australians would agree, piss them off where they came from and confiscate their return fare and other costs to boot.

As far as language problem is concerned, obviulsy that is on topic despite what poor Donny thinks. I'd say maybe we ought to be patient with people who have been let in, since hopefully most will pick up English pretty soon. It's not their fault they have been let in legally, and most asians seem to be quite nice people. However it is a bit of a worry if as you say there are lots that cannot speak English. It either means many are so enclaved they don't have to and don't even try to learn, or even worse, it might be because there are so many new immigrants being brought in all the time into our country which is quite crowded enough already thanks. But do you think the population will be asked their opinion eg in a referendum? No chance since the dictatorship knows that 80%+ of Australians have *always* been opposed to mass immigration.
The funny thing is most new Australians would almost certainly oppose it too (except for bringing in their relatives) since now that they have foot in the door they don't want it any more crowded either.
The policy is not for us at all, it is for corporations - I don't know what they have decided but it's probably something like having a certain working population density that will produce maximum profit for them. The media always brainwashes people into thinking the "strength of the economy" is the most important thing. Actually it's only the most important thing for corporate profits and the overworked yuppies that jump on the gravy train. What is important for us is having lots of room, a big backyard, an easy lifestyle with the ability to live with integrity without need to work like dogs for corporate creeps.
The new world order earmarks countries either as mainly primary producers in which case they make sure most of the people are empoverished and don't share the wealth of their own country - eg Iraq was the country that was sharing its wealth with its people the most in the Arab world b4 it was attacked in 91 - or consumer countries. We are - so far - granted consumer status so have a pretty decent standard of living so we can keep ourselves doped buying all their gadgets, trendy frills and status symbols. But it was much better 40+ years ago IMO.

[Donny]

Would it be too much to ask for an explanation for some of that mumbo jumbo, Bokka ?

"poor Donny" ??

"It's not their fault they have been let in legally" ??

"most asians seem to be quite nice people" ?? You know most of them, do you ?

" .. overworked yuppies that jump on the gravy train" ?

" .. the dictatorship knows that 80%+ of Australians have *always* been opposed to mass immigration" ???

"As far as language problem is concerned, obviulsy that is on topic" - no, it's not. Obviously, it's not refugees, asylum seekers or boat people Lisey spends 25 minutes serving. Her problem seems to be with people who live here (legal immigrants) who don't yet speak English.

I did bear in mind the time you posted this and there being no Pies game on this weekend.

[bokka]

That mumbo jumbo is only meant for those who are ready for it Donny. Maybe one day in the distant future... you could save it and read it again say every 5 years.
BTW it was actually 1:45 in the afternoon here in the EE