- 27 Feb 2013 03:48
#14182349
Not so, we do have a common interest to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, we also have a common interest to keep free movement of trade throughout the region, spread of democracy etc etc. If you think we are not culturally americanised you have your head in the sand, we have swallowed the US obsession with celebrity, fast food and hollywood hook line and sinker. My sister is a primary school teacher and she says they actually have to work with some kids who speak in an American accent because they watch so much US tv.
Our future is in Asia economically, but we are never going to become a Chinese puppet as you wish Igor, not unless you plan to import 20 million Chinese settlers.
Igor Antunov wrote:US political and economic interests are alien to ours. That trumps culture and we aren't culturally American anyway, we have a huge contingent of people from Asia and non european origin and growing.
The basis of our economic well-being is not the US or Europe. We must integrate ourselves with our neighbours bcause it is the more natural and safer stance to take, they are our growth driver, they are in our immediate proximity, we are a major regional enabler of growth through provision of resources and education.
As it stands we have both feet and one hand in asia, and one hand in the US. We risk losing an arm. Why in a million years should Australia for example intervene in a war between Japan and China or China and the US? How do we benefit from making ourselves a major target and comprehensively ending our rapid economic rise? How do we benefiting from turning what will be the defining world region of this century and beyond against us? Europe and the US are in relative decline. Time to join the highly beneficial bandwagon here at home or risk being torn to pieces and left for dead. This year Indonesia is set to surpass us economically. They will want more coal and more student places at university. We can become a hub of higher education and enlightenment. China has shown that it is willing to work with countries without forcing political change upon them by exporting its system (like the US does).
Currently we are a pathetic little stooge and it hurts us in the long run.
Not so, we do have a common interest to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, we also have a common interest to keep free movement of trade throughout the region, spread of democracy etc etc. If you think we are not culturally americanised you have your head in the sand, we have swallowed the US obsession with celebrity, fast food and hollywood hook line and sinker. My sister is a primary school teacher and she says they actually have to work with some kids who speak in an American accent because they watch so much US tv.
Our future is in Asia economically, but we are never going to become a Chinese puppet as you wish Igor, not unless you plan to import 20 million Chinese settlers.