Hi
Hope this isn't tripping over any previous threads but does anyone have any information on how markets other countries with a resource/commodity base are performing relative to Australia? I read in passing that Brazil and Canada, for example, were doing better but I can't verify that. How come our transparent, robust regulatory environment and a resources boom end up with our markets getting slugged 30% worst than the real invalid, the U.S? (I'd even be happy with parity...)
Does it strike anyone as odd that continental Australia with a population the same as Shanghai or Cairo and 5 million less than Mexico City can't seem to quite get the mix right when it comes to getting us on a sound footing for the future. Surely almost any one or two of our economic sectors would be big enough to get adequate infrastructure, services and (especially) incentive/imagination on the go for a city size population?
Like the old lady in the mid-80's Wendy's ad. said of her skimpy burger, .... "where's the beef?" Where does our wealth go?
Is it a cultural cringe that has us too readily doffing our beanies to the powers that be? What are the financial effects and influence of overseas interests? Are state governments anachronisms, now merely bureaucratic and financial friction slowing the nation? (That's not really a question, more a statement of the bleeding obvious). Nine education departments (and the same multiple iterations of health, housing etc.,) for Cairo ... we're kidding right?
Australia must develop self belief that go way beyond sporting prowess. We are arguably the world's best country but we don't know it in our bones. We don't yet walk that fact unconsciously and proudly in our everyday lives. Let's decouple quickly (a crude image about how we're facing (... away) comes to mind here but etiquette restrains me).
I want us to light a fire in the eyes of our children; let's re-invent and re-conceptualise the nation we want them to inherit. We are capable of world's best practice in policy, administration, service infrastructure and sheer hard graft. What on Earth is holding us back?
Michael
Hope this isn't tripping over any previous threads but does anyone have any information on how markets other countries with a resource/commodity base are performing relative to Australia? I read in passing that Brazil and Canada, for example, were doing better but I can't verify that. How come our transparent, robust regulatory environment and a resources boom end up with our markets getting slugged 30% worst than the real invalid, the U.S? (I'd even be happy with parity...)
Does it strike anyone as odd that continental Australia with a population the same as Shanghai or Cairo and 5 million less than Mexico City can't seem to quite get the mix right when it comes to getting us on a sound footing for the future. Surely almost any one or two of our economic sectors would be big enough to get adequate infrastructure, services and (especially) incentive/imagination on the go for a city size population?
Like the old lady in the mid-80's Wendy's ad. said of her skimpy burger, .... "where's the beef?" Where does our wealth go?
Is it a cultural cringe that has us too readily doffing our beanies to the powers that be? What are the financial effects and influence of overseas interests? Are state governments anachronisms, now merely bureaucratic and financial friction slowing the nation? (That's not really a question, more a statement of the bleeding obvious). Nine education departments (and the same multiple iterations of health, housing etc.,) for Cairo ... we're kidding right?
Australia must develop self belief that go way beyond sporting prowess. We are arguably the world's best country but we don't know it in our bones. We don't yet walk that fact unconsciously and proudly in our everyday lives. Let's decouple quickly (a crude image about how we're facing (... away) comes to mind here but etiquette restrains me).
I want us to light a fire in the eyes of our children; let's re-invent and re-conceptualise the nation we want them to inherit. We are capable of world's best practice in policy, administration, service infrastructure and sheer hard graft. What on Earth is holding us back?
Michael
