Thanks for an outstanding analysis of the situation, including the options available to us. Sadly, we are definitely on the wrong path, as America's sidekick, and neither our present government nor the opposition show any sign of changing this.
Thanks for this writing. I mostly concur with your arguments, but would avoid ever calling the country where I am a citizen "we". I am a member and animal of the planet Earth, but national boundaries are just an immoral construct.
I wish your article had taken the path of explaining this even further, by examining the ideas of immigration, excessive human breeding, and border control; all tied in with the problems of climate collapse and associated concerns such as war, genocide, land and other resource scarcity and hogging, religious prejudice and discrimination, and the plight of human refugees. The Australian officials do not "own" the land or the country any more than the next person.
The options that you listed for Australia's defence policy were a little interesting, but I do wonder whether the idea of "armed neutrality" could come with opposition to any form of foreign influx, such as refugees, and further crystallise the Australian authoritarian arrogance. I would strongly advocate for co-operation with sensible and peace-focused other governments, especially preferencing those closest to Australia--those who understand the idea and ideal of peace for all creatures and do not antagonise as the US generally does.
Thanks for an outstanding analysis of the situation, including the options available to us. Sadly, we are definitely on the wrong path, as America's sidekick, and neither our present government nor the opposition show any sign of changing this.
Carolyn
Thanks for this writing. I mostly concur with your arguments, but would avoid ever calling the country where I am a citizen "we". I am a member and animal of the planet Earth, but national boundaries are just an immoral construct.
I wish your article had taken the path of explaining this even further, by examining the ideas of immigration, excessive human breeding, and border control; all tied in with the problems of climate collapse and associated concerns such as war, genocide, land and other resource scarcity and hogging, religious prejudice and discrimination, and the plight of human refugees. The Australian officials do not "own" the land or the country any more than the next person.
The options that you listed for Australia's defence policy were a little interesting, but I do wonder whether the idea of "armed neutrality" could come with opposition to any form of foreign influx, such as refugees, and further crystallise the Australian authoritarian arrogance. I would strongly advocate for co-operation with sensible and peace-focused other governments, especially preferencing those closest to Australia--those who understand the idea and ideal of peace for all creatures and do not antagonise as the US generally does.
Ok...good luck.