Somthing for the aussies... Thread

Well, I have a pretty good argument I think for us aussies to stew over...

Ok lets take a look at this disaster in Asia with the Tsunamis and all .. Our PM, Jonny Howard pleadged 1 billion in aid .. not to mention many more of our troops and soilders to help them all out .. you know, thats good and all because we all know jonny wants to be the leader of the world so he had to beat everyone else's aid ... thats not the point here though ..

The point I'd like to make is .. where did this 1 billion come from ..? Jonny's personal vault? I don't think so .. this is taxpayers money. Now not that I have a huge issue over this .. but why is this money.. and so much of it going out to aid another country when wwe have enough issues in our own country that need funds, example.. education and hospitals.

I mean, our hospitals and medical training facilities are at an all time low, and they are closing hospitals and surgury's because of it, and here is 1 billion going to our 'sister' nation. That's just not right? Correct me if I'm wrong tho.

i think that 1 billion is a bit much, (im not an aussie) but i think if they did small amounts over 5 years (for example) 100 million that would be ok.

i think other countries will forgt about this catastrphe by summer, and will not give aid in the long term, just like the Bam earthquake in Iran.

Just my opinion...

Thats true the thought crossed my mind when i saw it on a newspaper and coud have sworn it was a typo at the time.

The australian education system is an embaressment and is only getting worse as time goes on, i go to a private school ($7000+) per year and we still have to get sponsers (3 at the start of this year), when i first started at the school we had none and this is a more well off school.

Last month i also had some relitives from england over and they were disgraced with the medical treatment, its been a while since i was at my home country so correct me where im wrong but according to them anyone under the age of 18 gets free doctor and hospital services, here it still costs you upwards of $100.

That $1 billion is certainly money that is needed for its own country but this is the case all around the world, the money and equipment that america is sending is just as needed at home, same goes for england and japan. Its a matter of keeping face, each country wishes to look better than the other and what better way than throwing money in the air and saying look what im doing.

Its also worth mentioning that its not just the hospitals and education that's in need, in brisbane their talking about constructing a tunnel that will easily go into the 10's of millions if not 100's but can they realistically do that with $1 billion suddenly vanishing? Ontop of that the two major cities Sydney and Brisbane are at the point where they are becoming one super city as the boundries get closer and closer by the day. more money needs to be invested into the construction of increased public transport and high density living or serious problem will surely follow.

Also it seems the number is closer to $2billion after reading
Brudirect.com
as australia already pouring money into indonesia of the sum of $800,000.

Unfortunatly whats done is done and not mcuh can be changed now.

what is 1 billion aussie dollars in GBP?

1,000,000,000.00 AUD
Australia Dollars = 404,675,373.45 GBP
United Kingdom Pounds

404 million, shit thats a lot, when britain gave 55 million i thought it was a lot

lol yeah 60 million from the people and about 50 million from the government at my last watching of the news.. Still no where near tht amout though

most countries are waiting till this world economic meeting at the end of the month to say what they're really going to give

The US is pledging $350 million to the cause (1 billion in Aussie money is $764.5 million here). The world sees us as highly generous just for that amount, and people are more than willing to tack on millions of their own money to help the people out over there, but that's probably because we're apparently better off than a lot of other people around the world. Sure, we have a lot of problems with jobs and education over here, but we can stand paying extra for taxes and whatnot.

Australia as leader of the world... that would be different

my friend came up with this theory

"America is more powerful because it has the most white people" and looking at it its true.

embers. wrote: my friend came up with this theory

"America is more powerful because it has the most white people" and looking at it its true.

that is unbelievably racist. And as the millenium turned there have been many more minorities moving to America. In fact, Soccer is soon becoming the current "American Pass time" because of so many spanish speaking people. In the next decade or so African Americans will actually be of a greater population than whites. America has always been called the "Melting pot of the world" for a reason. It has accepted countless generations poor or rich, to live here equally (Me being an American)

And to say America is only the way it is because "we have more white people" is damn stupid.

Grow up

embers isn't even american, his friend fails

Embers that kind of racism is not welcome here. Enjoy your warning.

and a well deserved warning at that, not only totally racist but also completely ignorant.

<embers> if america was 100% black
<embers> it would not be in the same position
<embers> it would be like africa
<embers> other countries would of ignored it because they're racist
<embers> not me
<embers> i go to an international school with 120 other diff nationalities
<embers> and im racist
<embers> lol

thats going to be all my explaination on it and i dont want other posts to relate to it(at least not too much) seeing as i dont want to go into a race debate nor does carni

I hate to tell you buddy, but white is a minority in America now.

embers you look black in your avatar

mr.spammer wrote: embers you look black in your avatar

what does that have to do with anything?

just that i didn't understand why he was being racist when i thought he was black...just forget it

but anyway NOT FUNNY EMBERS.

Nice one guys.

ForK wrote: but why is this money.. and so much of it going out to aid another country

Because we care.

If budget is an issue, tell John to stop pissfarting around with spending millions on his trips to other countries and blowing off cash rebuilding stadiums every six months.

And yes, I am aware this thread is locked; as an Aussie, felt I had to put in something.

Edited by: frosty-theaussie

jackson doesnt understand :p

so he had to lock my thread