Never met you, I will in the future....but you seem to get more and more anal every day, or have you always been this way?

:feels-hot

Aaron, your ignorance is astounding...GEORGE BUSH WON THE ELECTION IN 2000. READ MY PREVIOUS POST. There is nothing more frustrating than discussing politics with someone who doesnt have the slightest clue as to hwo government relly work.

We live in a democratic REPUBLIC. I know you dont know what h=that means but it has alot to do with the way we elect officials in this country. We as a nation grant more power to the individual states than to a central federal government. That is why we have the electoral college.(do you know what that is)

You keep stating that george bush did not win the election. Take a look at the law of the land. Its calle the constitiution. Take a look at your state voting laws and the civilrights act of 1964..

YOU ARE A MORON, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. Your ignorance about the most basic matters regarding the electoral process are amazing. Did you ever take even the most simple civics class in high school?
WE LIVE IN A ""REPUBLIC OF STATES"""" NOT A DEMOCRACY. The states have more power than the federal government. Your inability to accept this fact has caused you to reach conclusions about our government that are just simply wrong. Go to you local high school and get a civics textbook. It will help you greatly. Until then, please stop making the rest of us americans here look like idiots. You really need to educate yourself. I truly feel sorry for you. I could not imagine going through life being so ignorant.

And yes, that was meant to be offensive. THAT IS MY RIGHT

I'm proud so many of my fellow countrymen don't have the same attitude as europeans. I am proud that my country is the first modern democracy. I am proud that my country has helped spread liberty and democracy throughout the world and continues to do so.

regarding gonfishins post about young voters tendency to vote for liberals,

theres an old saying, young people vote liberal, then they grow-up, get a job, have a family and realize that they didnt know anything when they were young, at that point they become a republican.

gobush you do not have to become an Australian citizen mate. I have been here 6 years and I'm on a permanent residence visa. Last week my family voluntary took the step to become citizens. We did not have to.

I know of people who have lived here for over 40 years and are not citizens.

kevin2, I think the laws have changed since 1981 when myfamily was there. And to be completely honest, it was a very different world back then.. Boat people were turned away from many countries. We were not turned away by australia, and we are thankful for that. But there was alot of different political pressurte back then... Hopefully we've al learned.

And thanks for calling me mate. Thats something i remember as a child on my first day in australia. I can distinctly remember hearing a man call my dad mate. I didn't know what it meant. It was one of the first english words i learned..

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING BACK THAT MEMORY. YOU CANT SEE IT BUT THERE ARE TEARS ROLLING DOWN MY FACE AS I WRITE THIS.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL

and i humbly apologize for having resorted to name calling here. My father would not be proud of me and to his spirit i apologize

all countries make poor decisions at some point. you cant be correct 100% of the time. pround might be the wrong word though...regardless of what poeple think now, america has helped the world more than it has hurt it...

You could be correct about the laws changing since 1981 and maybe there are a few Aussies here who could enlighten us.

I can imagine how tough it was for you and your family when you arrived in Australia as boat people. We came thru the standard embassy channels and that was tough enough on my family.

My Son has a Vietnamese friend who's family arrived by boat many years ago. When I heard what they went thru to get here I realised how lucky we were.

The reason Aussies call each other mate is because they can't remember each others names LOL. Only kidding Aussies ;)

How old were you when you arrived here?

AaronM I really enjoy your posts and replies. I've always found your posts very intelligent. :thumbsup