The United States of America is Not a Role Model for Political Issues or Guidance Right Now

It's hard not to get caught up with the political issues of the United States of America - as an outsider. This is why I stopped writing about American Politics in this blog. While one can easily make the argument that what happens in the US, politically, affects everyone (and it does, particularly US foreign policy and trade), many of their hot button issues are uniquely their issues.

For example, while Australia (because this is an Aussie blog) does have some challenges with immigration, it has little to do with some manufactured need to deport 'illegal' immigrants as some warped idea of lowering crime rates or stopping terrorists and drug dealers from entering the country.

Recent protest marches around Australia, all on the same day, seemed to send a bunch of mixed messages, as different groups decided that more protests about more things, all on the same day is one way to really get your message across (does anyone not remember the #Occupy Movement of 2011 and its message? Of course you don't, that was everybody protesting about everything all at the same time too).

The Occupy Movement was primarily about the disenfranchised protesting against corporations and rich fat cats, and was largely supported by people who any hard working individual would happily yell "Get a hair cut and get a real job!" to... fast forward a decade or so and US citizens are all perfectly happy being run by corporations and a corporate leader... right?

Some of the current Australian protest marches were focused on racism and anti-immigration views, government corruption, anti-vaccination, anti-immigration, anti-digital ID, anti-cashless society, and sovereign citizen sentiments. As I said, the best way not to be heard is to pile on your protest movement with everyone else. All issues not specifically uniquely local (except maybe the one protesting for Indigenous sovereignty).

Can I say, F*ck off to the sovereign citizen movement? It's not a real thing and you all know it. If it was, I would lobby hard to make sure those loop holes you claim are legit are rectified with all speed because your alternative is just an excuse to act lawlessly. That's the only time you ever pull out your sovereign citizen BS. When you're trying to weasel your way out of breaking the law or pay taxes.

Sovereign citizens has been an idea in Australia for decades but has recently gained more traction as a movement thanks to the internet. It is, however, an American concept that has no place here. Just like the whole concept of 'Fake News' and politicians being able to say anything as if it's fact rather than opinion.

For example, Senator Jacinta Nampajinpa Price suggested that the Albanese government was prioritising migrants likely to vote Labor and named Indian Australians as an example. At best that is an opinion, at worst it's presenting unproven information as if it's true, in order to influence voters.

For all I know the Senator's statement could be true, given the protests against government corruption but all the same, don't act like some of the current US senators (or even US media outlets) who think they can just say anything as if it's a fact. We're better than that.

There was also an undercurrent of protesting Aussie Neo-Nazi groups, thanks to the recent actions of one of their high profile leaders, and a group who wouldn't have to wear masks in public protests if their tactics had any legitimacy at all. Everyone has a right to their views but no one has the right to dispense violence and make threats on people's safety.

Neo-Nazis are not new to Australia either but it does seem the current political landscape in the US has put a spotlight on this type of organisation. Empowering them to raise their profile as they find a tenuous alignment with the wider right leaning community on immigration.

Anyway, my point to all this, is America is not a great role model right now. They're in the process of 'making America Great Again' which implies that it isn't great at the moment. Their solution isn't our solution.

We're better than that too... I would hope. Personally if anyone starts deploying the Australian Armed Forces to our capital cities to 'fix the crime problem' we're screwed. That is weak leadership at the highest level.