Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id NAA16768 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Sat, 25 Nov 2000 13:21:33 GMT From: "Chris Lofting" <ddiamond@ozemail.com.au> To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: RE: Fwd: Thinking Like a Chimp Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2000 00:25:55 +1100 Message-ID: <LPBBICPHCJJBPJGHGMCIKECDCLAA.ddiamond@ozemail.com.au> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0) X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.00.2314.1300 In-Reply-To: <200011250046.QAA23712@mail2.bigmailbox.com> Importance: Normal Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> -----Original Message-----
> From: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk [mailto:fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk]On Behalf
> Of Scott Chase
> Sent: Saturday, 25 November 2000 11:47
> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Subject: RE: RE: Fwd: Thinking Like a Chimp
>
>
<snip>
> I thought they didn't allow guns in Australia with it being a
> former penal colony of the UK and all. Besides it scares the
> kangaroos and koalas.
>
> Actually, I think the NRA (National Rifle Association) has
> inundated late night telly (a UK slang variant on TV) with
> commercials warning us of gun ownership rights being taken away.
> IIRC these commercials point to Canada and Australia as examples
> of this horrid etatic tyranny.
>
> I'm more moderate. I can see a purpose behind waiting periods and
> some restrictions, but I'm not too fond of banning guns (even
> though I don't even happen to own any myself).
>
When the government started the gun buyback they budgeted X dollars working
on a determination of Y guns.
For some unknown reason they seemed to have over estimated Y. Noticably
there was at the time a BIG increase in sales of PCV pipes... as well as
knives (which they are now trying to limit/ban!)
I wonder what they will do when we all start carrying boomerangs etc?
As for the Koalas, they are a tourist attraction that brings in US$ so they
stay... the roos are already in the pet food and the gourmet cuts in the
best hotels...
The cash market thrives despite the goverment recently introducing a goods
and services tax (aka VAT).
We are one of the most over governed countries in the world, federal, state,
local, and all for the population of greater New York City (18 million?)
spread out over the size of North America.
However the high level corruption in the governors (including police etc) is
well documented... and the Queensland government is in hot water at the
moment for electoral vote frauds...
meanwhile everyonelse gets on with living :-) At least we can vote people
in/out and do that quickly (well, a week or so for close votes) :-)
Note that voting is compulsory -- the price of our democracy is you have to
participate at least once every three/four years for fed, state, and
local... Not much to ask for and it is a proportional representation system
such that the two dominant parties are often dependant on third parties (as
is the Senate at the moment with the Australian Democrat Party holding the
balance of power between the government (liberals, republican to our US
readers) and the labour party (democrats to our US readers).) The Florida
situation would not have happened here (or its chances reduced) since
Nader's and Buchanan's votes would have been distributed with Gore the more
likely winner due to the 2%+ of votes that went to Nader.
We also happen to be big in drinking (2nd only to France for wine etc) and
gambling... and then there is the sex and drugs and rock'n'roll.... see, two
hundreds years on and we are still just one big happy prison :-)
best,
Chris.
------------------
Chris Lofting
websites:
http://www.eisa.net.au/~lofting
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~ddiamond
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