Your writing is really great... I keep recommending your blogs/newsletters to my friends because I feel this is the kind of thing they will enjoy. The Havard Skull Fiasco is a wonderful book as well.
This is a good question, and I have many tips. I think it might be better if I write a newsletter (or two) about it, instead of as a comment. But I really appreciate the question and promise you I'll respond in a comprehensive and detailed way!
I know nothing about australian politics..ours in South Africa are depressing enough. I steer very clear. All the ones in control are ghastly. But I adore your daughters! And the park looks deeevine, wish I had somewhere nice and spacious and not covered in rubbish or full of aggressive homeless people who will rob you and hurt you, to enjoy with my dog here.
Yeah, it sounds rough. You need those public spaces. It's really one of Australia's little secrets, is how well it does public space. It's where you see the tax dollars being spent. It's when we go overseas and find out that it's something the rest of the world isn't quite doing, it comes as a bit of a shock. I'd say 'public spaces' is at the top of the list of what Australia is getting right. But you know, there's problems everywhere. I've always had this view that humans need to see trees and water every day, just to feel sane and level-headed. About a year ago, a friend forwarded me some scientific research that more-or-less confirmed it. We need to get out there and see nature or we don't feel right. I hope you find some nice places to take your pup. Sth Africa does look incredibly beautiful..
I had to ask Siri what a lamington is so now I will probably receive all kinds of pop ups and unwanted suggestions via text and email. Please put in a link to any peculiar (not American) things😂
I will! and in the meantime, you need to bake some lamingtons. Or beg/bribe/blackmail someone competent in the kitchen into doing the same. Because you can't shuffle off your mortal coil without eating a lamington. It's not just right.
If find your perception of the democratic process to be oddly skewed, even for an Australian. A compulsory vote cast over the weekend because the law say you have to vote?
I would say that compulsory anything in relation to local, state or federal government constitutes a loss of freedom Paying taxes, the same thing, however, if we want government to do what it does, then paying taxes is not a good thing.
Being forced to vote. Has there ever been election when you looked at both candidates and a sigh of meh escaped your lips. And yet your government, instead of giving you the option to take a pass on this year’s slate, says, “No mate, get your ass down to the polls this weekend and vote anyway.”
I strongly, strongly suspect if Australians were put to a vote, they would elect to keep compulsory voting, as a measure to stave off the situation of having, say, 30% of eligible voters electing a political leader who starts dismantling democracy.
Also, if you don't vote in an election, they don't haul you away in chains and put you on a plane to El Salvador. You have to pay a $300 fine or something in that range. So, if you skip five elections, it's a one-off $300 dollar fine, and that's it. I haven't looked up the exact number for a while. But simply put, we don't generally feel this is tyranny.
As for taxes, well, that park in the photo above, Rainbow Forest Park, is a nice park maintained by taxes. There's miles and miles of bikesways running around here; taxes. It's kinda good, actually. Australians are less hostile to taxes, because you can just see the stuff it brings, here. Don't believe me? Visit, talk to people. But Australia is not America; it's worth considering. Taxes, or democracy sausages, are not high on our list of national grievances, at present.
But if you disagree, that's fine; I'd just caution you not to critique the democracies of others, especially not western allies. Don't be like, 'I've looked at your country, and I see tyranny!' because they're going to say stuff about tyranny looking more like government employees kidnapping citizens and 'forren-ers' and deporting them, and 'no due process'. They're going to say a lot of things like that, and I just don't think you'll win the argument. Anyway, stay safe over there Dave. Be well.
After reviewing my previous message, I can see how easily I might have come off as being decidedly Trumpian, which is not me and was certainly not my intent.
You do remember I am a journalist, I hope. Perhaps I failed to tell you what beats I covered. I was a legislative reporter for 10 years. As such, I critique governments all the time. In some quarters of this planet we live in, I am considered to be an authority on critiquing the government.
And it's not as if I am alone in this endeavor. Australian journalists are having a veritable field day with with the crap our president is pulling on us and the rest of the world. And to be honest, I have no problems with what they are writing.
Nor do I mind this well-aimed shot at the waterline you've leveled at me in terms of my current residence being a glass house.
You are absolutely correct. Our current president is a dickhead who has cowed a Congress that enjoys a majority in his party in both houses of our government with threats to run hand-picked opponents against them in their primaries if they don't tow his line.
They aren't just towing the line, The creativity they use to justify our president's utter lack respect for the Constitution he swore to protect upon taking his oath of office with each and every executive order he writes, would be hilarious, were it not so pitiful and horrifying.
Cutting to the chase (finally!), I apologize if I have offended you with my opinion about the oafish nature of your national government's efforts to get out the vote. And though it may not seem like it, this is a genuine olive branch I'm dangling, because I like you Kris, and I really like the stuff you right.
You put a lot of stuff up on the web for all of us to read. And then you blithely put up this comment section here. Tricky stuff these Letters to the Editors and Comment sections can be. One of my readers in northwest Michigan once wrote a letter, which we published without prejudice or response, in which he asserted I was "a socialist, who knew as much about politics as a hog knows Sunday."
We published content like tis because our feeling was if you were reading what we were writing, you definitely had the right to tell us what you thought about what you were reading. Past that, our feelings paralleled words falsely attributed to P.T. Barnum: "We don't care what you think about us, as long as you spell our name right."
I was just dropping off Hattie at school, and her school principal greeted me, and through no real fault of my own, we were soon discussing politics. I said something like, 'i think our preferential voting system seems to be a good one', and she immediately asserted, out of the blue, how good compulsory voting is. I immediately thought to myself: this won't sound like a credible anecdote to report to anyone overseas. But I think what's happening here is that Australians are, like much of the world, freaked out about what's happening over there, and the subject of what Australian democracy gets right has risen to prominence in the discourse - especially after that last election. People here are standing around, wondering 'if it could happen here'. The last election was such a swing away from Trumpian politics ... and it can't be explained simply by 'general sentiment'. It's obvious how important independent parties now are in Australia. There are structural things involved, and the majority of Australians (my theory) believe compulsory voting is partly what we're getting right. I mean, I keep hearing people say so, and I'm trying to avoid Australian politics, most of the time. But it's very much the zeitgeist.
I'm not paying too much attention to local affairs; I don't watch the news, my attention is mostly fixed on American news. And in fairness, that might be true of many Australians nowadays. My mother, in her 80s, has more to say about Jasmine Crockett and AOC - she adores these women - than local politicians.
(This comment should be a newsletter, judging my the length, and what I haven't yet gotten around to saying).
But I should say, I apologize if my response sounded sharper than I'd intend; its a challenge for me to convey my own impishness without the risk of sounding inadvertently demonic at times. You know I like you too, Dave. I have mad respect.
I intend mostly to caution you about Australia's way of looking at itself. The country is more jingoistic than it used to be, unfortunately. Also, Australian political discourse is far more vociferous (in journalism) than American political discourse. I don't enjoy much it. It's a mode of rhetoric that is not to my tastes. Insult comedy just seems easy and lazy, to me. And when I see it, I just cringe, somehow. Though I will say, Australian journalists hold politicians' feet to the fire in a way that might shock just about every American. But my point is, they're over-ready to pick a fight, here, and I'm not sure how many of them have a nuanced outlook, in regards to the US.
I don't know what percent of Americans voted for Trump - probably about 30%, that's the figure I usually see - and at this point, his supporters might be lower than 25%. So, i don't see much to be gained in haranguing Americans in general, or kicking them while they're down. I'm not entirely sure what we're supposed to do, actually. I can, however, say that Australians aren't as 'nice' as Canadians, and if Trump picks an argument with this country the world will see the difference between Australians and Canadians very quickly. And just in temperament, most of my friends live on the east coast, or in the North East - the greater Boston area. The contrast between how such people, there, express their ideas, and here, can be really stark to me, some days. But anyway, this is becoming to long and Ill break off here.
All Ill say, we good, we're mates, and all that. And I'm in your corner. Yap soon.
Your writing is really great... I keep recommending your blogs/newsletters to my friends because I feel this is the kind of thing they will enjoy. The Havard Skull Fiasco is a wonderful book as well.
Thank you, Bel
Also, do you have any writing tips for someone who wants to expand their vocabulary/ make their style of writing funnier?
This is a good question, and I have many tips. I think it might be better if I write a newsletter (or two) about it, instead of as a comment. But I really appreciate the question and promise you I'll respond in a comprehensive and detailed way!
I know nothing about australian politics..ours in South Africa are depressing enough. I steer very clear. All the ones in control are ghastly. But I adore your daughters! And the park looks deeevine, wish I had somewhere nice and spacious and not covered in rubbish or full of aggressive homeless people who will rob you and hurt you, to enjoy with my dog here.
Yeah, it sounds rough. You need those public spaces. It's really one of Australia's little secrets, is how well it does public space. It's where you see the tax dollars being spent. It's when we go overseas and find out that it's something the rest of the world isn't quite doing, it comes as a bit of a shock. I'd say 'public spaces' is at the top of the list of what Australia is getting right. But you know, there's problems everywhere. I've always had this view that humans need to see trees and water every day, just to feel sane and level-headed. About a year ago, a friend forwarded me some scientific research that more-or-less confirmed it. We need to get out there and see nature or we don't feel right. I hope you find some nice places to take your pup. Sth Africa does look incredibly beautiful..
I had to ask Siri what a lamington is so now I will probably receive all kinds of pop ups and unwanted suggestions via text and email. Please put in a link to any peculiar (not American) things😂
I will! and in the meantime, you need to bake some lamingtons. Or beg/bribe/blackmail someone competent in the kitchen into doing the same. Because you can't shuffle off your mortal coil without eating a lamington. It's not just right.
If find your perception of the democratic process to be oddly skewed, even for an Australian. A compulsory vote cast over the weekend because the law say you have to vote?
My perception is skewed because I'm Australian, and because compulsory voting is bad for, or in, a democracy?
I would say that compulsory anything in relation to local, state or federal government constitutes a loss of freedom Paying taxes, the same thing, however, if we want government to do what it does, then paying taxes is not a good thing.
Being forced to vote. Has there ever been election when you looked at both candidates and a sigh of meh escaped your lips. And yet your government, instead of giving you the option to take a pass on this year’s slate, says, “No mate, get your ass down to the polls this weekend and vote anyway.”
I strongly, strongly suspect if Australians were put to a vote, they would elect to keep compulsory voting, as a measure to stave off the situation of having, say, 30% of eligible voters electing a political leader who starts dismantling democracy.
Also, if you don't vote in an election, they don't haul you away in chains and put you on a plane to El Salvador. You have to pay a $300 fine or something in that range. So, if you skip five elections, it's a one-off $300 dollar fine, and that's it. I haven't looked up the exact number for a while. But simply put, we don't generally feel this is tyranny.
As for taxes, well, that park in the photo above, Rainbow Forest Park, is a nice park maintained by taxes. There's miles and miles of bikesways running around here; taxes. It's kinda good, actually. Australians are less hostile to taxes, because you can just see the stuff it brings, here. Don't believe me? Visit, talk to people. But Australia is not America; it's worth considering. Taxes, or democracy sausages, are not high on our list of national grievances, at present.
But if you disagree, that's fine; I'd just caution you not to critique the democracies of others, especially not western allies. Don't be like, 'I've looked at your country, and I see tyranny!' because they're going to say stuff about tyranny looking more like government employees kidnapping citizens and 'forren-ers' and deporting them, and 'no due process'. They're going to say a lot of things like that, and I just don't think you'll win the argument. Anyway, stay safe over there Dave. Be well.
You're points are well taken, Kris.
After reviewing my previous message, I can see how easily I might have come off as being decidedly Trumpian, which is not me and was certainly not my intent.
You do remember I am a journalist, I hope. Perhaps I failed to tell you what beats I covered. I was a legislative reporter for 10 years. As such, I critique governments all the time. In some quarters of this planet we live in, I am considered to be an authority on critiquing the government.
And it's not as if I am alone in this endeavor. Australian journalists are having a veritable field day with with the crap our president is pulling on us and the rest of the world. And to be honest, I have no problems with what they are writing.
Nor do I mind this well-aimed shot at the waterline you've leveled at me in terms of my current residence being a glass house.
You are absolutely correct. Our current president is a dickhead who has cowed a Congress that enjoys a majority in his party in both houses of our government with threats to run hand-picked opponents against them in their primaries if they don't tow his line.
They aren't just towing the line, The creativity they use to justify our president's utter lack respect for the Constitution he swore to protect upon taking his oath of office with each and every executive order he writes, would be hilarious, were it not so pitiful and horrifying.
Cutting to the chase (finally!), I apologize if I have offended you with my opinion about the oafish nature of your national government's efforts to get out the vote. And though it may not seem like it, this is a genuine olive branch I'm dangling, because I like you Kris, and I really like the stuff you right.
You put a lot of stuff up on the web for all of us to read. And then you blithely put up this comment section here. Tricky stuff these Letters to the Editors and Comment sections can be. One of my readers in northwest Michigan once wrote a letter, which we published without prejudice or response, in which he asserted I was "a socialist, who knew as much about politics as a hog knows Sunday."
We published content like tis because our feeling was if you were reading what we were writing, you definitely had the right to tell us what you thought about what you were reading. Past that, our feelings paralleled words falsely attributed to P.T. Barnum: "We don't care what you think about us, as long as you spell our name right."
I was just dropping off Hattie at school, and her school principal greeted me, and through no real fault of my own, we were soon discussing politics. I said something like, 'i think our preferential voting system seems to be a good one', and she immediately asserted, out of the blue, how good compulsory voting is. I immediately thought to myself: this won't sound like a credible anecdote to report to anyone overseas. But I think what's happening here is that Australians are, like much of the world, freaked out about what's happening over there, and the subject of what Australian democracy gets right has risen to prominence in the discourse - especially after that last election. People here are standing around, wondering 'if it could happen here'. The last election was such a swing away from Trumpian politics ... and it can't be explained simply by 'general sentiment'. It's obvious how important independent parties now are in Australia. There are structural things involved, and the majority of Australians (my theory) believe compulsory voting is partly what we're getting right. I mean, I keep hearing people say so, and I'm trying to avoid Australian politics, most of the time. But it's very much the zeitgeist.
I'm not paying too much attention to local affairs; I don't watch the news, my attention is mostly fixed on American news. And in fairness, that might be true of many Australians nowadays. My mother, in her 80s, has more to say about Jasmine Crockett and AOC - she adores these women - than local politicians.
(This comment should be a newsletter, judging my the length, and what I haven't yet gotten around to saying).
But I should say, I apologize if my response sounded sharper than I'd intend; its a challenge for me to convey my own impishness without the risk of sounding inadvertently demonic at times. You know I like you too, Dave. I have mad respect.
I intend mostly to caution you about Australia's way of looking at itself. The country is more jingoistic than it used to be, unfortunately. Also, Australian political discourse is far more vociferous (in journalism) than American political discourse. I don't enjoy much it. It's a mode of rhetoric that is not to my tastes. Insult comedy just seems easy and lazy, to me. And when I see it, I just cringe, somehow. Though I will say, Australian journalists hold politicians' feet to the fire in a way that might shock just about every American. But my point is, they're over-ready to pick a fight, here, and I'm not sure how many of them have a nuanced outlook, in regards to the US.
I don't know what percent of Americans voted for Trump - probably about 30%, that's the figure I usually see - and at this point, his supporters might be lower than 25%. So, i don't see much to be gained in haranguing Americans in general, or kicking them while they're down. I'm not entirely sure what we're supposed to do, actually. I can, however, say that Australians aren't as 'nice' as Canadians, and if Trump picks an argument with this country the world will see the difference between Australians and Canadians very quickly. And just in temperament, most of my friends live on the east coast, or in the North East - the greater Boston area. The contrast between how such people, there, express their ideas, and here, can be really stark to me, some days. But anyway, this is becoming to long and Ill break off here.
All Ill say, we good, we're mates, and all that. And I'm in your corner. Yap soon.