🚀 go-pugleaf

In aus.computers.linux Phred <ppnerkDELETETHIS@yahoo.com> wrote:
> In article <10hc8gtmrsu9k3d@corp.supernews.com>, <telford@xenon.triode.net.au> wrote:

>>I have plenty of confidence in Australian talent and competence,
>>but not much confidence in our present government showing any sign
>>of acting in Australia's interest. Australia is desperately in need
>>of a real leader.

> Well, I have to agree with the last.  But I don't see us getting one 
> with Mark "Rusty" Latham -- he sounds too much like a cross between a 
> real estate agent and a used car salesman for mine, with a bias  
> towards the car dealer.

He's probably the best we are going to get in the short term,
which isn't saying much. I will give Latham credit for at least
pointing a probing finger at the large banks who are providing less
service, higher fees and lower interest than ever before and the
supermarket chains that are squeezing both farmers and the consumers.
I doubt that Latham has the guts to really keep the corporates in
line but even a token effort is better than nothing.

>>Nothing *need* happen, but if Howard gets back in, he *wants* nothing
>>more than to hand our livelihoods over to US corporations.

> Whatever faults Howard has, what you say there is crap.

I'm only measuring him by his actions.

John Howard is TOTALLY pro-corporate. He has had several goes
at increasing foreign media ownership and cutting back Australian
content. He has given the green light to environmental damage
in Tasmania and in ignoring the Kyoto treaty. He has supported
the big banks while they reduced services and increased profits.
He has supported the USA and Israel at the UN and demonstrated
contempt for UN resolutions, he supported Israel putting down their
wall and increasing their territory through use of force.
He pays a US corporation to run his detention centres where he
can lock the illegal immigrants away from public scrutiny.
He has cut funding for Australian universities and taken money
away from the states forcing them to cut funding to state schools
while he moves that money into private schools. He introduced
the ASIO bill allowing detention without charge and without
communication with the outside world (people can legally just
vanish here in Australia). He has modified our IP laws to weaken
our industry and encourage the takeover of foreign corporates.

Can you find a single case where the Howard govt has provided some
assistance (however indirect) to an Australian industry at a cost
to an American corporation?

	- Tel