Question for our Australians re America perception

Texchappy

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On Facebook, saw a post from a Melbourne (presumably) tourism page. It was ostensibly about American beef imports but it was also very much a hot piece on us Americans. The comments were overwhelming worse and seethed with hatred for us. Is hatred for Americans pretty common there?

FWIW, I bear no malice towards Australia. Almost moved there as a kid (marriage fell apart to mom’s husband number two before paperwork finalized).
 
I wouldn't say we hate you, but there is a lot of anger at the way you're treating one of you staunchest allies, afterall we were with you in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan, all actions which really had nothing to do with us. We're even trying to buy some nuclear powered subs from you guys, as part of a special alliance called AUKUS, unless the deal gets changed of course. We buy far more off you guys than you buy off us, so putting tariffs on our exports to you is just stupid, especially as we don't pay the tariffs, they are payed by whoever is importing them over there. Notice that our government hasn't retaliated with tariffs on US exports to us, because they realise that would raise prices here, and raise inflation here.

There are some Australians who are really upset by the whole beef situation, and they're very vocal, but most of us aren't bothered, because we're not going to buy US beef anyway, it'll probably cost more than our beef, and won't be as good.

I think we're all just worried where you're heading, it doesn't look to be anywhere good.

We had a federal election here earlier this year, our conservative party got slapped down hard, they were trying to distance themselves from anything that seemed similar to what the Republicans did, or were doing, over there, they even had a senator say "Make Australia Great Again" before denying she ever said it, but the damage was done. The leader of the conservative party even lost his seat and got kicked out of our version of the Congress.

So, we definitely don't hate you, but we don't see you as the friends you once were, collectively that is. You guys are all still good with me personally, I hope you all stay safe over there.
 
Don't hate us.....hate our Government.....we all do...... 😉

Well, we have something in common, most hate our government as well. Actually, I reserve a special hatred of local council governments, jobs funded by the ratepayer to spend "our" money however they see fit.
 
Well, we have something in common, most hate our government as well. Actually, I reserve a special hatred of local council governments, jobs funded by the ratepayer to spend "our" money however they see fit.
Our local government isn't too bad here, at least compared to what we had in Sydney. I see the guys out regularly fixing street lights, and they are least try to keep up with fixing potholes, but with the rain we've had this year it's been a losing battle. They built a new toilet block at our local park, and fixed it when someone tried to burn it down.
 
Throwing hatred towards any country is just falling right into where they want you. No country is perfect but many of us can recognize how great we really have it. Channel that hate towards corruption.
 
Part of the issue is the garbage "articles" by what they say are "writers" today, and pathetic media with skewed views. All designed to get folks against each other.
People that get along don't create clicks and glued audiences. Those people go out and live. They need people in front of media watching ads and buying junk.
 
I heard this somewhere a while back about watching stuff online, "if you don't know what the product is, you are the product". Basically eyes glued to screens watching the ads is the point, not the content.
 
Part of the issue is the garbage "articles" by what they say are "writers" today, and pathetic media with skewed views. All designed to get folks against each other.

I have not read a newspaper or watched a news broadcast for a VERY long time now. That's for a few key reasons -

- With the 24-hour news cycle, there is just too much padding put into these broadcasts. Why do I need to know what colour underwear a footballer has on? Or what pop star is making the most money? Silly, trivial stories that are of no use to anyone. Why would I sit through that?

- It's too political, no matter the medium. Not interested one bit.

- The online content is almost always devised for click bating.

- I have enough problems of my own let alone reading/listening to someone else's. Sorry if that sounds arrogant or self-absorbed, but sometimes ignorance is bliss. And considering the content that's fed to us, those news outlets are cashing in on other peoples problems. So why would I feed that beast?

FOR THE RECORD - Not all Aussies hate Americans, just like I would hope not all Americans think Aussies are all a bunch of bogans cooking shrimps on a BBQ while downing copious amounts of beer and calling everyone MATE.
 
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