Racism, fascism and neo-Nazis in Australia

[Magda Hassan]

I agree Mark. What is good for the 'economy' is often lethal for society. Housing policy here is just insane. Most people I know have had to leave Sydney because they cannot afford to live here including people who own their homes. If our military and multinationals were not in other people's countries busy wrecking them there would be much more reason for people to stay put as most people are pretty happy where they are born except for that. But we are there so they are here. But to change policy is bad for business and other political arrangements. Having a large never ending pool of cheap and flexible labor to call upon is just what employers want and their needs are catered to. These are all policies embraced by both main parties, as they both serve the TNCs and owning class very well, and no sign of change yet. The right wing want to stop the immigrants as a knee jerk reaction because the lumpen feel threatened economically and because of various racial hygiene or supremacist attitudes but this changes nothing else in the equation and will just perpetuate social dislocation. They have a love of the military and hierarchical and authoritarian institutions and solutions none of which is healthy for society as a whole. More equitable distribution of society's wealth, no military adventurism, more democracy at all levels of decision making. The average environmental footprint of an Australian is huge. Most 3rd world people don't make a fraction of the environmental impact that we do. And within states it is the wealthy who consume most of everything and have the greatest impact on the environment. When migrants come here they tend to adopt our patterns of consumption when it is we who have to consume less. We have the means to do so with out a reduction in living standards but there is no real political will to implement that. Eg zero emission vehicles are available right now and any car can be converted now but they're insisting on foisting the hybrids on us first and subsidizing the multinational car companies instead of the car owner and small business mechanics/engineers to convert existing vehicles. Just one example but there are plenty more which just require a change in policy to make a real impact.
For me it is less to do with the head count of how many live here (or there) than it is about levels of consumption (everywhere) Global population looks like its leveling out soon anyway. If Bill Gates had practiced what he preaches, that is not had his 3 children instead of insisting others not have theirs, especially the numerous brown people who don't buy his software, he would have done more for population control and environmental degradation than all the sterilisations in a small African state.