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Re:Google: Open Letter to Australians by ehnto on Monday August 17, 2020 @01:47AM (#24184360)
What the Australian government does well is control information and controversy. The government is a quiet achiever in that regard.

Australians have been comfortable for a while, and are generally disengaged from politics. Most Australians I know are more aware of American politics than their own.

Re:Google: Open Letter to Australians by BLKNSLVR on Monday August 17, 2020 @03:18AM (#24184787)
American politics that they're happy to mock, whilst the broth they're wallowing in is rapidly coming to the same temperature.
Re:Google: Open Letter to Australians by pjc50 on Monday August 17, 2020 @10:10AM (#24187356)
American politics is a horrifyingly successful reality TV show. It provides the entertainment and conflict people crave, with the intellectual standards of professional wrestling.

Unfortunately real administration is boring - and should be boring. We want to avoid crises.

Re:Google: Open Letter to Australians by ehnto on Tuesday August 18, 2020 @01:46AM (#24195663)
I hadn't thought about it that way before but I think you're right. American politics is very dramatic. High tensions, big consequences, subterfuge, conspiracy. It's got it all.
Re:Google: Open Letter to Australians by squiggleblaz on Monday August 17, 2020 @04:16AM (#24185140)
Yes but it's much harder to find out about Australian politics because we all spend our time as a minority on an American web and our media just aren't doing (can't do?) a great job.
Re:Google: Open Letter to Australians by thisrod on Monday August 17, 2020 @05:38AM (#24185577)
Which Australian media do you follow? I'd say that Crikey covers politics as well as the best newspapers do overseas, and most countries dream of having a TV show like 4 Corners.

The media is certainly getting smaller—everywhere, not just in Australia—and important things aren't getting reported. The answer to that is pretty boring, though: pay your subscription fees already.

Re:Google: Open Letter to Australians by rbg246 on Monday August 17, 2020 @07:14AM (#24186098)
If I may add:

theguardian.com/au

michaelwest.com.au

theconversation.com

themonthly.com.au

All do decent analysis of policy and economics and holding government to account.

[dead]
Re:Google: Open Letter to Australians by dash2 on Monday August 17, 2020 @08:21AM (#24186502)
I’m not saying this post is by a Russian troll. I’m just saying it’s so incoherently angry, so full of irrelevant heat and devoid of useful information, that it might as well be.
Re:Google: Open Letter to Australians by rbg246 on Monday August 17, 2020 @09:01AM (#24186794)
Too true the thought crossed my mind but it provides an opportunity to make your own point in reply.
Re:Google: Open Letter to Australians by rbg246 on Monday August 17, 2020 @08:20AM (#24186486)
As they say ignorance is not an excuse, politicians are just a reflection of the people who voted for them.

But it sure beats authoritarianism, at least there is a chance of making it work!

Re:Google: Open Letter to Australians by nickcox on Monday August 17, 2020 @05:38AM (#24185572)
And also because journalists could go to prison for reporting on it.
Re:Google: Open Letter to Australians by jmkd on Monday August 17, 2020 @04:32AM (#24185233)
Sorry but I just loved this turn of phrase and how well it sits with the issue. Thanks.
Re:Google: Open Letter to Australians by fastball on Monday August 17, 2020 @05:03AM (#24185392)
Over here in the UK, brits are doing the same.
Re:Google: Open Letter to Australians by b0tch7 on Monday August 17, 2020 @04:59AM (#24185375)
> Most Australians I know are more aware of American politics than their own

Gosh this is so true. My sister and I are Americans living in Australia, she recently posted celebrating Kamala being named Biden's VP and got 20+ negative/derogatory DMs from aussie men in her network. I can't believe they care so much.

Meanwhile, you rarely read much about Australian politics in social media besides satire (Batoota Advocate, etc).