Jojogunne

Sometimes people are in situations where they want to make a change to improve their lives. Hence, moving to another country. Once you have done that though, you can find yourself in a situation where things are less straightforward and for lot's of reasons you are not happy. One example would be if you were trying to pretend you were content with the place you were living and you wasn't, but your wife thought it was wonderful. Then you might come on here to see if anyone felt the same way. Let's face it, it's easier for some people to speak their mind on here, than it is in what I call the real world. They put up with being unhappy and then post on here. There's nothing wrong with that.

Don't think it was a typo reading it, just someone who likes to think everyone in the UK is struggling and wants to tell everyone another story to back it up.

Well you must think it's worth doing your job to keep paying that sort of money every week, as I pay nothing, or do you claim it back? Maybe you just like bragging about whose got the biggest?

So when in your opinion did it all start going downhill? Considering we have had a Conservative government in power for the majority of that 40 years.

Right. Did you have to lick road clean wit tongue while you lived in your shoebox in the middle of road?

By the way, what I said was how it was.

You had it lucky. We had to get up half an hour before we went to bed and work 25 hours a day.

Millions probably put up with the oppressive heat, because they have to get on with it. It doesn't mean they don't think it's oppressive. Just like millions of people around the world that have to get on with extreme cold weather, which thankfully, we don't get in the UK. Mind you, reading some posts on here, you would think we had weather like Siberia here in the UK! I blame it on central heating, it makes you a bit soft. I remember when I was growing up in 60's, we use to get ice on the inside of windows. If you wanted to go for a pee in the middle of the night, you held on until you really couldn't hold on any longer, as you knew you had to face that icy cold once you had left your bed. It was then a case of running to the loo and back as quick as you could and at my Gran's house that was outside. You try and tell the young people of today that, they won't believe you, they won't.

That's why I think voting shouldn't be compulsory. Forcing people to the polling station makes them feel they should vote for something. The fact that it's compulsory to turn up, probably makes them feel big brother is watching and they better vote. As you have said, the 'informal' vote in Melbourne was around 1%, so it's been monitored and people find that intimidating, so feel they have to vote for something even if they don't really believe in it.

We are lucky that we have the right to vote, a lot of people in the world don't have that. Should it be compulsory, no in my mind. That is going against the freedom of choice, which democratic societies are built on. I know a few people in Australia who have said to me, if I don't vote I'll get fined, so they just vote without any thought before hand and don't really care what they voted for. That's not right. If you care a lot about certain issues and you think your vote will make a difference, you will go out and vote. If you choose not to do that, you shouldn't be penalised with a fine.

Your opening post on this thread made it sound as though it was the UK's weak £ which is making the Australian dollar look overvalued, which is not the case. I was just trying to point out it wasn't about the UK pound against the Australian dollar, it's far more complicated than that and involved world currencies. It was as though you were trying to make it an Oz v UK thing, which it clearly isn't. So the Australian dollar isn't overvalued then, it's at it's correct level against world currencies and the RBA is wrong in saying that it is? I think some Australian manufacturing exporters will be hoping it doesn't stay high for years as you seem to allude to, as it's not doing them any favours at all. That can't be good, because then the economy is relying on mining exports mostly and if that bubble bursts, who knows where the dollar will be then?

No doubt we will see if your words of wisdom pan out. What are your views on the original post? It wasn't anything to do with the UK, but it seems some people want to drag the UK into it.

And what do you base that statement on?

You are talking total crap and have a very limited view of the over all situation. The Australian dollar is overvalued against other currencies worldwide, full stop. You would rather make it a UK problem, when the op was pointing out an Australian issue they have to address. I can see where the whinging pom term comes from after your posts!

I don't really envy your summers, too warm for me. The heat would sort of zombify me if you know what I mean. That's okay when I'm on my hols, but not so good for me when I have to live and work in it. I do envy your winter time weather. As much as I like some aspects of the UK's winter weather, I think I'd rather have yours at that time of year. Think I'm getting soft in my old age though!