OMG! You just pointed out a national concern. We can't let Australians down in this matter. I would like to write a letter to Anthony Albanese asking if he is able to have a meeting with me in his busy political agenda. Environmental issues are an important issue, indeed, but I think every country of the world should promote their national products. I don't want to look like a nationalist here because that's another thing. I mean, I would feel sad if the average Spaniard would prefer to eat sushi rather than paella. :yawn:

I bought a bottle of Australian wine a few weeks ago. It was harvested and manufactured in Victoria (state). Thanks to that Victorian mates, I delightfully tasted an amazing wine on an autumn evening in my house. :heart:

Conclusion: I think one of the main purposes of Australian politics should be the defence of national products such as Fosters. Furthermore, Trump is about to sit on the White House's couch, and his reckless mind would probably put tariffs on Fosters barrels. :roll:

Conclusion: I think one of the main purposes of Australian politics should be the defence of national products such as Fosters. — javi2541997

Nah. I disagree. As a non-Australian, I believe that Australians should continue to exploit themselves in cinema, if only to fulfill my questionable tastes in entertainment, and I say that as an equally questionable consumer.

Or they should keep discussing their energetic policy in general, I dunno.

,

I know I would sound like an alcoholic, but the first Australian thing that comes to my mind is Foster's beer, not AC/DC. — javi2541997

Neither was that popular in Australia; along with Neighbours, these were more exported jokes: "What's the worst thing we can get the those silly pommy bastards to pay for?"

Certainly no one here drinks Fosters. 'Orid stuff.

I don't think anyone here drinks Fosters. — Tom Storm

I see you made the same point.

Lawson and Patterson are historical relics of a bygone day. — Tom Storm

Lawson vs. Patterson was a part of the culture wars in the eighties. Being over fifty I can recite a few Patterson poems by heart, but only pieces from Lawson, this despite being on Lawson's side.

these were more exported jokes: "What's the worst thing we can get the those silly pommy bastards to pay for?" — Banno

Careful, mate. You don't know what you're asking when you ask that sort of question. Remember, we have Eucalyptus here, but no Australian fauna, and no Australian people...

...yet.

Like the US, third parties haven't had much success. — Gnomon

Actually they do. The Coalition - the conservatives - have 30 Senators, while Labor has 25. Labor is reliant on eleven Greens or 6 independents to maintain supply and confidence.

This serves us by mitigating against the bifurcation found in US (and UK) politics. The trend at present is for the Liberal Party to move to the right, leaving room for an increase in the number of genuinely liberal independents, and Labor is forced to compromise with the greens while attempting to maintain a differentiation form them.

In the forthcoming election, the Senate will in many ways be more interesting to watch than the Reps.

Lawson vs. Patterson was a part of the culture wars in the eighties. — Banno

I must have been away that day. :wink: What was the point of that fight? I was in the Keating versus Hawke stoush back then.

Out of curiosity, I read most of Lawson's stories and a few Patterson pieces when I was a voracious reader in the 1980's but then I also tired to read Xavier Herbert...

The Banjo and the Bard.
Certain elements wanted Patterson taught in schools, but not so much Lawson. Can't have kids leaning about revolution:

Once I cried: ‘Oh, God Almighty! if Thy might doth still endure,
Now show me in a vision for the wrongs of Earth a cure.’
And, lo! with shops all shuttered I beheld a city’s street,
And in the warning distance heard the tramp of many feet,
Coming near, coming near,
To a drum’s dull distant beat,
And soon I saw the army that was marching down the street.

Then, like a swollen river that has broken bank and wall,
The human flood came pouring with the red flags over all,
And kindled eyes all blazing bright with revolution’s heat,
And flashing swords reflecting rigid faces in the street.
Pouring on, pouring on,
To a drum’s loud threatening beat,
And the war-hymns and the cheering of the people in the street.

And so it must be while the world goes rolling round its course,
The warning pen shall write in vain, the warning voice grow hoarse,
But not until a city feels Red Revolution’s feet
Shall its sad people miss awhile the terrors of the street—
The dreadful everlasting strife
For scarcely clothes and meat
In that pent track of living death—the city’s cruel street. — Faces in the street

Makes sense.

We'll play AC/DC — Arcane Sandwich

'You're the Voice' would be preferable.

It is interesting that many of the folks are volunteers. I mean, that's positive. It increases the participation of the people in politics (in my opinion). — javi2541997

However, shouldn't be forgotten that voting is mandatory. When my son moved permanently to the US, he would regularly receive fine notices for not voting via our Australian address, until I pestered him to file the requisite forms and get taken off the electoral roll. Although I think mandatory voting is a good thing, overall, even though there's a certain kind of paradox to it (and Australia is not unique in that respect.)

Certainly no one here drinks Fosters — Banno

Especially with the hundreds of beer varieties on offer at virtually every suburban bottleshop.

'You're the Voice' would be preferable. — Wayfarer

Yeah, that's not gonna happen. Everything has limits, including my appreciation for Australia's gifts to the world. John Farnham's music is not one of them. A gift, that is. It's more like a curse, I would argue.

For what it's worth, I think that pop music in general is bad. Like, aesthetically, it just seems too low-brow to my mind. I can't see what the redeeming qualities would be in that sort of music.

Environmental issues are an important issue, indeed, but I think every country of the world should promote their national products. I — javi2541997

Well, amongst Australian national products are institutional racism and laziness - we don't need to promote these. I don't drink alcohol, but in the days when I did, I rarely drank beer or wine. I actually found that there was some marvellous Tasmanian made whisky. But for the most part, I supported Scotland (J&B) and Ireland (Jameson's). I was never a connoisseur.

Well, amongst Australian national products are institutional racism and laziness - we don't need to promote these. — Tom Storm

Oh man, this Thread got really grim all of the sudden. It started out as talk about energy policy. But yeah, I obviously see your point, @Tom Storm

It's more like a curse, I would argue. — Arcane Sandwich

There's no accounting for taste, especially in popular music. Some people like Neil Diamond.

Actually they do. The Coalition - the conservatives - have 30 Senators, while Labor has 25. Labor is reliant on eleven Greens or 6 independents to maintain supply and confidence. — Banno

Great! The US Green Party in 2024 held 153 elected offices in 21 states. Unfortunately, that is just a fraction of the total. The presidential candidate got 0.4% of the national vote. So, while their moral sway may be significant, their political influence is minimal. :meh:

PS___ Speaking of beer, Bud Light lost a lot of monetary votes, due to their use of a transgender person in an ad. In politics, there may be a financial accounting for taste.

Yes, the voting systems here (and in most other places) are far more proportional. Again, that seems to be a part of the bifurcation. Greens here get about 15% of the vote.

Bud Light is not a beer.

Most Australians I know drink imported beers like Asahi or Corona. — Tom Storm

Sometimes, but mostly I drink Coopers Pale Ale. I guess I'm not most Australians.

Yes, Coopers comes up a bit too.

:up:

Most Australians I know drink imported beers like Asahi or Corona. — Tom Storm

You're in Melbourne, then.

Coopers comes up a bit too. — Tom Storm

Especially if you drink too much.

And this:

The Pints vs Schooners Debate

Western Australia: 95% Pints, 3% Schooners
South Australia: 83% Pints, 10% Schooners
Tasmania: 67% Pints, 32% Schooners
Victoria: 50% Pints, 43% Schooners
New South Wales: 46% Pints, 43% Schooners
Queensland: 44% Pints, 51% Schooners
ACT: 42% Pints, 55% Schooners
Northern Territory: 27% Pints, 65% Schooners

Pfff. I bet none of you saw the movie Outback Vampires. And you have the nerve to call yourselves Australians.

Most Australians I know drink imported beers like Asahi or Corona.
— Tom Storm
You're in Melbourne, then. — Banno

Yes, I'm a black-clad wanker, like the rest

Coopers comes up a bit too.
— Tom Storm
Especially if you drink too much. — Banno

I'll meet you in the vomitorium.

Yes, I'm a black-clad wanker, like the rest — Tom Storm

A wank-led lad?

Or a lad-led wank...

:wink: But you do have the best coffee.

Although I hate to admit it, Melbourne city is winning in liveability over Sydney, and has done for a decade or so. Sydney is comparatively dirty, crowded and impersonal. But it does have the Harbour, whereas Melbourne only has that septic creek.

Recall this? Philosopher Alain de Botton says Brisbane offers 'chaotic ugliness'

Yeah, I live in the centre of Melbourne's CBD. It seems quieter than Richmond or Fitzroy. Nice for walks and close to all kinds of expensive shit. I like Sydney - used to stay in Potts Point. lovely place. I quite like Brisbane, but like Alain, it's been 10 years since I was there. I like Canberra too - it feels like a university campus town.

Perth is probably my favourite. But Canberra is not too bad.

Recall this? Philosopher Alain de Botton says Brisbane offers 'chaotic ugliness' — Banno

I'll take his word over yours. "Chaotic ugliness" sounds like a fascinating concept.

Back to the news. 40 more Bushmasters, to be armed with "long range" missiles.

:up: That's the way forward!