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> Have just returned (Friday, but then left for a fundraiser in S.F. Saturday and > back again on Sunday > night) from Australia, where I had almost NO exposure to the aborigines except > through... > > ...viewing and absolutely magnificent exhibit on aborigine history and > spirituality at the > Australian Museum in Sydney and > > ...listening (mouth open in disbelief) to one of the primary (I guess) > candidates for P.M., there, > as she explained why "abos" shouldn't get any financial assistance, etc., > etc. Nastily. Hi Kim, The only time politicians in Australia ever asked the Australian people anything about the aborigines was in the 1960's, when we were asked to vote in a referendum on whether the aborigines should be counted in the census, allowed to purchase alcohol, and be given the vote. They had none of these rights up to that time. I don't know whether you know the rules of a referendum in Australia, but to pass, a referendum has to receive a majority overall, PLUS a majority in a majority of states. Since there are six states, this means 4:2! You can see why we almost never get a referendum passed, unless it has across-the-spectrum Party support. It passed overwhelmingly! And I believe that if you asked the people such a thing today, it would still pass. The politician in question comes from a state, the politics of which are controlled in the main by "squatters", people who moved onto land illegally, and who later became wealthy and influential, and pastoral leaseholders who treat their holdings like freehold, and who have very "dodgy" leases. One Premier of the state who "ruled" for many years, belonged to a party that achieved, in one notable instance, only 27% of the overall vote, but won a majority of seats. How about that for a gerrymander? But the opposition party, when it got in, wasn't a lot of use, and now the previous clique is back in power. Incidentally, this was also the only state or territory in Australia to practice legalised slavery, with natives "blackbirded" from South Pacific islands. (Long since outlawed, thank God.) I apologise in advance to any person from the state in question if I appear to be "slamming" them; I am not, since I believe that the majority still believe in a "fair go" for all, as we say here. These vested interests are making the moves behind the scenes, for their own devious purposes, urging on a woman who is only giving voice, though not in a good way, to the legitimate worries of many people. These worries include the large-scale sale of land to foreign corporations, mass sackings of people in government employment, downgrading of the health and education sectors, introduction of draconian labour laws, and the selling off of public assets such as international airports, our national airline, major Government bank, and, soon, our only telecommunications corporation. To add to the mess, the only public-access, though government-owned, radio and television network has been gagged by a massive slashing of funds. So you can see why this person attracts the interest, though not the unquestioning support, of some of the "battlers" whose holdings, jobs, and future have been sold on the platform of "globalisation" and "market forces" And this is being done and financed by the very parties who are supporting, at least in public, this politician.. But even then, I STILL believe that the innate good sense and ideals of fair play of the common Australian people will eventually win the day. (If we don't lose OUR voting rights along with everything else.) Just think, we are the only continent (baring Antarctica) on which a civil war has not been fought - yet. I know that the three things one shouldn't talk about in polite company are sex, religion and politics, but I couldn't let this comment in a public forum besmirch our image. Sorry. Jim