@CanvasesByPeter oh c'mon now, ease up on this poor little aussie battler. coulda happened to anyone, forgetting they owned a multimillion dollar property portfolio. who here can honestly not say that at some time they also forgot about their london palace?

#AusPol #Greens #VoteGreens #ProgIndies #WeAreTotallyFscked #WeAreSelfishCruelBastards #Misanthropy #FsckOffDutton! #ShitParty1 #ShitParty2 #ComeOnTanya! #WhyIsLabor #NatsAreNuts #NoNukes #racism #FuckRacists #OzElection2025

outside the inner circle are well informed, it is doubly true of our senior politicians, diplomats or spooks. Close colleagues and good personal friends they might be. But they are all used to being economical with what they say. Particularly when they do not know.

Australia wants continuing world growth and prosperity. Our own growth and prosperity depend upon it. But the US no longer seems to care, intending to put itself behind an economic curtain, reinventing its own comparative advantages, avoiding getting involved in international politics and conflict other than when it directly affects its interests. Australia is a major buyer of goods in which the US intends to specialise, such as IT, AI, and computer technology. But it is becoming clear that China has made genuine achievements in innovation in the same area, and that America will be unable to maintain a stranglehold over intellectual property or new product development. Nor will the US be able to rely on an old mate's act to assume the loyalty of its old markets.

Those asking themselves whether they trust the US as an ally, a business partner or a friendly culture with similar values and free markets are also looking with astonishment at America's hostility to Canada, its intentions towards Greenland (which necessarily involves its relations with Denmark and Europe) and various coercive diplomacy towards Mexico and Central and South America. Old friends wonder whether Americans still share the same broad values, and respect for science and education, for a rational legal system, and for civic values. The Trump administration operates by fiat rather than a parliament, reinforced by a tame highly politicised judiciary. It is seeking to write down by executive declaration human rights, anti-discrimination laws and schemes promoting diversity and inclusion.

Australians, even of generally conservative disposition (and Brits and Europeans, and even Canadians) want an open society, respect for learning, the rights of minorities and America's place as a beacon for refugees.

George Carlin once said that, "When fascism comes to America, it will not be in brown and black shirts. It will not be with jack-boots. It will be Nike sneakers and Smiley shirts. It will be wrapped in the stars and stripes and carrying a Bible."

The word "fascist" is not always helpful, because the movement, in revival, is to be found everywhere. America's bigotry, racism, authoritarianism and state terrorism is as American as apple pie. America does not import its bigotries and bad thinking and does not need to exclude it by tariff. It grows its own, the most toxic and contagious of the modern world. If we walk away from them we will be better people. Experience, for example over vaccination, has demonstrated that we cannot convert them by argument and example. It is time for us to grow up, move out, and establish ourselves in the world.

• Jack Waterford is a former editor of The Canberra Times.

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