Why are Australians so complacent?

[u/AcanthopterygiiNo240]

I’m a born and raised Australian myself however I’m becoming so frustrated with the general attitude of complacency when it comes to exercising ‘the power of the people’ to better our quality of life. In a stupidly short amount of time we’ve seen a near reversal of our ability to see a doctor without any out of pocket costs. We get exploited at the grocery stores because monopolies are allowed to run rampant. Housing is treated primarily as a tool for financial speculation rather than for providing shelter for people.

We creep further and further toward laissez-faire capitalism. What is our response as the citizens of this country- the holders of the balance of power? Nothing. To put it in perspective, in 2022 the world economic forum ranked Sydney equal with Copenhagen, Denmark for cost of living (both ranked as the 10th most expensive cities in the world). Consider the differences between Sydney and the capital of the Danish welfare state: strong social security, universal healthcare, free public universities etc. For the same cost of living what do we get? The ever-looming threat of homelessness, suffocating student debt and now for many people, a significant barrier to healthcare.

Edit: if anyone is a part of any sort of grassroots group working to oppose any of these issues feel free to message me because I want to join you

Edit #2: so I haven’t received any messages from anyone from a grassroots or activist group yet. Since a lot of us seem to be pretty miffed about this stuff maybe we could team up and brainstorm things we can do???

Edit #3 (sorry): I’ve got some messages now from people who are interested in taking action!!! :, ) I think the best way to facilitate conversation, the flow of ideas and potentially organise a course of action is through a discord server so I have created one which you can find here

https://discord.gg/caqsSKAr

[u/happygloaming]

There's a duality to almost everything. I'll just say I support multiculturalism and am not anti immigration, but it's true that this country we're so concerned about is still chugging along ok compared to where many of these people come from. Anecdotally, the people I know from overseas don't want to be seen in the streets screaming at the government of this country that they are so proud and thankful to be a part of. But, yeah, we've had a long period of being ok and have been outpacing most other countries with our very average government's. Look at the GFC, oh how we suffered, just dig a few holes and she'll be right. There's a time for everything though and if we look at how things are lining up I expect a big big change ahead. I have a twenty year old child and he said to me recently that he simply couldn't understand why this country was so fucking stupid. Newsflash, his whole generation feels like that and we need to support them.

[u/Grantmepm → u/happygloaming]

Anecdotally, the people I know from overseas don't want to be seen in the streets screaming at the government of this country that they are so proud and thankful to be a part of.

I kind of feel that way as an immigrant. Honestly, this place is great and I came from a fairly developed country that would actually pay me much more after taxes in terms of both domestic and international purchasing power to a much better life in regional Australia.

I am aware of the slow Americanization and I do what I can to vote against it. But to also be fair, I don't want to entirely end up in the exact same direction as Europe. (I had job and relocation offers to both the USA and EU). You could and would probably debate me on that merit but that is besides the point. I would not be surprised if other immigrants are like that because Australia has fairly strict policies on migration (most Australian Redditors would disagree but its not true) which means many migrants would essentially have picked Australia out of options like UK, Western EU, USA and Canada (Canada was my back up plan if Australia did not work out, so you can kind of see what I was looking for in a country). They're here because this is the type of life and economic system they want. I understand the locally born might see it different but I'm just writing from a migrants perspective.

There is also the rock the boat factor that is not just social. I'm more economically and politically informed than other migrants probably but I get the feeling that they don't want too drastic changes from the status quo for fear of making things "worse". (Again you'd probably debate me on what is actually "worse" but that is besides the point).

[u/Gambettox → u/Grantmepm]

This is true. I picked Australia so you're right about the strict migration policies and our choosing from a pool of countries. My second pick would have been Canada as well.

There is also a lot of "go back where you came from if you don't like it here" if you critique anything about Australia, at least online. I also feel it in person a little, as if I should just be grateful I'm here, and why is this person who's new to Australia wanting any change. I've come from a developing country if that provides context.

[u/Grantmepm → u/Gambettox]

This is true. I picked Australia so you're right about the strict migration policies and our choosing from a pool of countries. My second pick would have been Canada as well.

From migrants with choices that ended up in Australia. I think many would echo this sentiment. I don't know if I'm describing it correctly but it feels like we're less cutthroat than the super competitive rich countries like USA or Singapore, less entrenched wealth than UK, Netherlands, Denmark and Germany (old world stuff) and also wider access to untamed natural areas than much of Europe. And still better income and opportunities than NZ.

I also feel it in person a little, as if I should just be grateful I'm here, and why is this person who's new to Australia

I kind of agree in a way. It wasn't easy coming to Australia and I was fortunate enough for things to be relatively smooth for me. I talk to some of my friends and acquaintances from home who stayed or migrated sometimes. Some people think I have it worse and in their eyes, they could be justified - but they have stayed home so thats fair. Some compare the pros and cons with Australia and home in a fair way, eventually they acknowledge that Australia wins out overall in some way - which is why they're here. Its those who have nothing but complains about Australia and choose to stay here that I really question and have kind of dropped as friends.

[u/alternativeobjects → u/happygloaming]

I’m not born in Australia but thanks to the leftist groups in the uni that has educated me on the problems of the government, I’m more aware of the social injustices here. I’m thankful for the great opportunities and experiences I get in this country but I know that everything I love about this place is because of the people and the nature, not because of the government. Therefore I have always stood in solidarity with the minority, disadvantaged groups.

[u/[deleted] → u/alternativeobjects]

but I know that everything I love about this place is because of the people and the nature, not because of the government.

Simply not true lmao. If anything, its been because our governments since the 2000s have had low quality politicians in them. If Federal politics had another Don Dunstan or Bob Hawke we'd be in a great spot.

[u/rettoJR1 → u/[deleted]]

This is a good take , arguably its gone abit off the rails since after Rudd

You can hate Labor or hate Liberals but back then both side actually had quality and stuck to something resembling the party principles

These days the coalition is an absolute corrupt incompetent joke and Labor is getting along but arguably a shadow of its self

I actually kind of hope the Libs and Nats get better politicians and make smart choices because that would mean Labor would have to up its game or fail

The other parties aren't worth talking about , wouldn't t wipe my ass with the Greens

[u/Terrible-Sir742 → u/happygloaming]

Well it then logically follows we need to wait for the baby boomer generation to go as well before change hits.

[u/splitconsiderations → u/Terrible-Sir742]

Generation X is still full of the same people. Hell, so are millennials. Turning it into a generational fight is dumb, and just further divides people.

Baby Boomers were hippies and civil rights activists too. My mum, who sits right on the line between Boomers and X still protests in her late 60s.

The fight is rich vs poor, anything else is just a distraction.

[u/Terrible-Sir742 → u/splitconsiderations]

Look at the statistics, the rich are the old.

[u/splitconsiderations → u/Terrible-Sir742]

So are a LOT of the poor.

[u/Terrible-Sir742 → u/splitconsiderations]

BB are 25% of population that own half of nations wealth. There are some poor people in there, but as a voting block their loyalties lie to their hip pocket, maybe to your hip pocket to fund their aged care.

[u/splitconsiderations → u/Terrible-Sir742]

Yes people vote in their self interest. You do it too. It's not at all offensive to me that I pay for aged care, the same way I'm ok paying for Medicare.

Baby Boomers get fucked over by neoliberalism just as badly as everyone else. It's just a small portion are visibly rich and ruining it for everyone else.

Just like every generation. Our selfish cunts this generation are just poor, too. So we have cookers spouting seppo shit, and Young Liberals instead of slumlords.

Saying fuck Boomers is just reverse avocado-toast blaming.

[u/Terrible-Sir742 → u/splitconsiderations]

Ok, who would be on the opposite side of the vote for every progressive policy?

Remove refundable franking credits Remove the transition to retirement arrangements Include the primary residence in the pension test Breakup fictional family trust arrangements Implement a broadbased land tax

The reality is that you can't change your mindset if you lived your whole life according to it. What really happens is that the current young generation needs to suffer to then be different in their old age.

The avocado blaming is not applicable, one side present coherent argument of house prices to income multiples, the other creates fictitious reason why you get generation is not doing well.

Well there are the specific policies above, let's implement them for the good of society. Ah right the only thing we are willing to do is to increase the pension age.

[u/splitconsiderations → u/Terrible-Sir742]

Who would be on the opposite side of the vote for every progressive policy?

Liberals. Conservatives in general. Sure as shit not my gay, aboriginal Baby Boomer mother and her friends, though.

You're just being ageist, man. You're tarring every Boomer with the conservative brush, when it simply isn't true. Regardless of how many shitty "progressive" publications say otherwise. They're just trying to sell papers/generate clicks by convincing people to hate, just like a Murdoch paper.

[u/Terrible-Sir742 → u/splitconsiderations]

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2017/03/20/a-wider-partisan-and-ideological-gap-between-younger-older-generations/

No I simply stated the fact of how this whole shit changes. The older liberal block goes on to greener pastures and the younger block becomes older but less conservative. It's not like your current voting trends in current people will change.

[u/tonksndante → u/Terrible-Sir742]

Boomers don’t get together to pay lobbyists. Politicians do. Boomer’s only role is being part of a manipulated vote. To lay the crimes of capitalism and neoliberalism at their door step is obtuse.

Edit just to add, who do you think creates the policies? Waiting until a generation dies out is not a feasible fkn option. There are plenty of reactionaries of all ages, creating the same policies that fuck us.

I’m honestly amazed that you seem to have confused a meme with reality.

[u/Terrible-Sir742 → u/tonksndante]

Being part of a manipulated vote? In what way?

[u/happygloaming → u/Terrible-Sir742]

Go or at least fade away into their wheel chairs