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Leper

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#26
Medusala said:
You have no idea. I have lived in Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada and the UK for nearly all of Howards time in office and never have we been considered a pariah state in those countries. For starters most of the Singaporeans and Hong Kongers were very keen to come here for education and to get permanent residency.
Couldn't agree more Med. Same here in Veitnam and other places I've lived in Thailand and Indonesia. Many of them pay a small fortune for an Aussie tertiary education - mainly due to the reputation that comes with it. I appreciate that means a whole host of Aussies miss out on places because of this, but that's a whole separate debate and arguably encourages competition.

Personally as much I'd love to go back to Aus in a couple of years, for the time being it's hard to beat the expat lifestyle where you can pay peanuts for someone else to do all the mundane things like housework; pay 2 bucks for a taxi when you want to go out and have a drink; pay a lot less tax; earn twice the income; etc etc.

I don't blame any of these things (income levels; even tax rates) on govt's. Under either party the tax rates and salary levels aren't going to be too much different. Tax rates in Aus are what they are primarily to ATTEMPT to bridge the gap between rich and poor - by taxing the rich more, but also by funding things like a generous welfare system and free education and health.

The main reason you have lower tax rates in other countries are (1) higher population density = more people to share the costs; and (2) low spending - little or no money spent on essentials like welfare, education, health. Which means the poor live in a type of poverty Aussies who haven't seen it can only try to comprehend.
 

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Leper

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#27
BrisGirl said:
The fact that we can say what we want, vote how we want, have a computer to write what we want, it is a pretty good indication to me that we live in one of the best Countries in the World.
I'm sitting here in a communist country under the shadow of the hammer and the sickle and can still do that. And outside capitalism is alive and kicking.

As for freedom of speech, I'm sure if i said something in the street like "Ho Chi Minh takes it up the ...

*** BANG BANG ***

arrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
 

coasting

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Thread starter #28
Australian universities might compare well to those in SE Asia but they are a complete joke when compared to those in America, the United Kingdom and many other Western countries.
 

Leper

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#29
coasting said:
Australian universities might compare well to those in SE Asia but they are a complete joke when compared to those in America, the United Kingdom and many other Western countries.
<<< waking up with gun shots to the head >>>>

I am sure that, say, UTS or even Monash or RMIT probably don't rank as highly as Harvard or Cambridge in world standings, if there is such a list.

But I am also sure they don't cost half as much either.
 

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#30
Leper said:
<<< waking up with gun shots to the head >>>>

I am sure that, say, UTS or even Monash or RMIT probably don't rank as highly as Harvard or Cambridge in world standings, if there is such a list.

But I am also sure they don't cost half as much either.
Can't speak for Harvard, but I'm sure Cambridge is accessed on merit and payed for by Grant, just like any other English Uni? could be right or wrong there?
 

medusala

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#31
funkyfreo said:
Can't speak for Harvard, but I'm sure Cambridge is accessed on merit and payed for by Grant, just like any other English Uni? could be right or wrong there?
Yes, I think it and Oxford are but both have been in the press a bit lately over the pressure they are under to let people in not on merit but other factors ie less public school more state school and ethnic background kids. They are considering going private because of govt interference which they perceive is against academic merit and producing worse graduates. They are also looking at introducing their own entrance exams as they believed the govt has dumbed down A levels so much. You can imagine how popular that is with the govt. Just like under Howard Blair is trying to introduce a system to let unis charge top up fees to students.
 
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Admin #32
bunsen burner said:
Don't tell this crap to me.

And who's fault is that? I don't like a situation where one party can have control of both houses but that is part and parcel of our excellent democratic system. Yes it does have a flaw, but it is better than any other system I have seen, and this flaw can't be removed without other adverse consequences.

Now if you latham supporters aren't being represented it's because many people think Latham is a buffoon. Bad luck. Get over it. Deal with it.



Sooky la la.

So what do you suggest? Or are you just having a cry that Latham ran a pathetic campaign?

That's just your opinion. Not everyone shares it. Or are your views be-all and end-all?

Aus Absolute bollocks.

That's the way the cookie crumbles no matter which Govt. is in power.


So you want a system where people can own their own home but will have little or no growth?

They're still the same. Do you really believed Howard cam along like some Messiah and changed the way people think? You're being ridiculous.


It is.


It is. It is mandatory to attend primary and high school, and we have a HECS system for university which means when those students are earning a certain amount of money they have to start paying it back. Seems pretty fair to me.

This has never existed and will never exist and I'm at a loss as to why you would believe such tripe.


Always been like that since the start of time.


Ahh, so people who don't agree with your political views aren't reational?

Sorry champ. We have a democracy that you don't seem to accept. You only want a democracy if things go your way. You're a fool and a sooky la la.


Are you calling the people who run our country extremists?
Far out BB, I write an opinion piece and all you can retort with are pieces like 'sooky la la'. I've no problem with you disagreeing with what I wrote, but do you really need to debase your own arguments with such petty schoolyard name-calling?
 

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#33
medusala said:
Yes, I think it and Oxford are but both have been in the press a bit lately over the pressure they are under to let people in not on merit but other factors ie less public school more state school and ethnic background kids. They are considering going private because of govt interference which they perceive is against academic merit and producing worse graduates. They are also looking at introducing their own entrance exams as they believed the govt has dumbed down A levels so much. You can imagine how popular that is with the govt. Just like under Howard Blair is trying to introduce a system to let unis charge top up fees to students.
MEDDERS YOU ARE SO ONE EYED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I grew up in the UK and did a lot of my shooling there. They have always discriminated towards wealthy kids in selection. For example a kid from a posh school would be told they were accepted if they got 2 Cs at A Level, but a kid from a poor school would be told they needed to get 3 As.

THEY HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE EXAMS WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT.

Anyway this was about COST and not ENTRACE REQUIREMENTS.
 

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#34
Jim Boy said:
Far out BB, I write an opinion piece and all you can retort with are pieces like 'sooky la la'. I've no problem with you disagreeing with what I wrote, but do you really need to debase your own arguments with such petty schoolyard name-calling?
This is the Bunsen Burner M.O.

Wait for a coherent post you disagree with, and then dissect it with unsubstantiated rebuttals, drifting to direct abuse. Be careful never to state a position on anything other than opposition to somebody else.
 

Bombers 2003

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#35
bunsen burner said:
Don't tell this crap to me.

And who's fault is that? I don't like a situation where one party can have control of both houses but that is part and parcel of our excellent democratic system. Yes it does have a flaw, but it is better than any other system I have seen, and this flaw can't be removed without other adverse consequences.

Now if you latham supporters aren't being represented it's because many people think Latham is a buffoon. Bad luck. Get over it. Deal with it.



Sooky la la.

So what do you suggest? Or are you just having a cry that Latham ran a pathetic campaign?

That's just your opinion. Not everyone shares it. Or are your views be-all and end-all?

Aus Absolute bollocks.

That's the way the cookie crumbles no matter which Govt. is in power.


So you want a system where people can own their own home but will have little or no growth?

They're still the same. Do you really believed Howard cam along like some Messiah and changed the way people think? You're being ridiculous.


It is.


It is. It is mandatory to attend primary and high school, and we have a HECS system for university which means when those students are earning a certain amount of money they have to start paying it back. Seems pretty fair to me.

This has never existed and will never exist and I'm at a loss as to why you would believe such tripe.


Always been like that since the start of time.


Ahh, so people who don't agree with your political views aren't reational?

Sorry champ. We have a democracy that you don't seem to accept. You only want a democracy if things go your way. You're a fool and a sooky la la.


Are you calling the people who run our country extremists?
I would expect this reasoning from someone who has never been outside Australia in their life.And this aint my country anymore,it's Howard's and the Loony Right.
Better Red Then Dead.
 

medusala

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#36
funkyfreo said:
MEDDERS YOU ARE SO ONE EYED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I grew up in the UK and did a lot of my shooling there. They have always discriminated towards wealthy kids in selection. For example a kid from a posh school would be told they were accepted if they got 2 Cs at A Level, but a kid from a poor school would be told they needed to get 3 As.

THEY HAVE ALWAYS HAD THE OXBRIDGE ENTRANCE EXAMS WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT.

Anyway this was about COST and not ENTRACE REQUIREMENTS.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/3159649.stm

FF, note the last sentence in the article.
 

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#37
medusala said:
The entrance exams were scrapped briefly for a few years and now being reintroduced. The only reason I know this is because there was an article on it in the Times last week. The article pointed out that traditionally Oxbridge had a far higher than normal level of kids from public schools than normal but this had changed quite a bit in the last few years due to pressure from the govt. Wouldnt know whether you are right or not re bias towards rich kids but The Times inferred they had always based entrance on academic ability alone.

Nothing one eyed. Maybe if I got the truth from the Guardian the spin would be a bit different. Cant give you a Times link as its subscriber only.
As two great public universities, I think everyone has the right to a chance to get in. Who is smarter, the 10th smartest kid in a Private school, or the smartest kid in an inner city Birmingham comprehensive? If you just look at results you may say the 10th kid, but the other one will give you a better student and a better graduate most likely. The are public universities and the public deserve a right to get in.
 

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#38
funkyfreo said:
As two great public universities, I think everyone has the right to a chance to get in. Who is smarter, the 10th smartest kid in a Private school, or the smartest kid in an inner city Birmingham comprehensive? If you just look at results you may say the 10th kid, but the other one will give you a better student and a better graduate most likely. The are public universities and the public deserve a right to get in.
Just to clarify, you think a state school kid will be a better student and graduate even if their entrance exam scores are worse? Any statistical evidence to prove this? Do not private school kids form part of the general public? If sending your kids to a private school doesnt give them a better education and thus a better chance to get into the uni of their choice based on merit then why would anyone send their children to a private school?

PS did you see the link above, I edited my post.
 

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#39
medusala said:
Just to clarify, you think a state school kid will be a better student and graduate even if their entrance exam scores are worse? Any statistical evidence to prove this? Do not private school kids form part of the general public? If sending your kids to a private school doesnt give them a better education and thus a better chance to get into the uni of their choice based on merit then why would anyone send their children to a private school?

PS did you see the link above, I edited my post.
I think being the best at your school says more than just doing well.

Not sure if it is just in WA, but I know that here the school gets to recommend a student who gets auto admission into any course (other than Medicine and Dentisrty) even if they miss the cut-off. I think this is a great system. KInda like they swam slower, but they were swimming against the current so will most likely do well if given the chance.

Will have alook at that link.
 

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#40
medusala said:
PS did you see the link above, I edited my post.
Ok the Oxbridge dismissal musta been in my recentlt-left-the-uk years - :rolleyes:

I have no problem with a standardised type test like the old ASAT we had in WA when I went through in the early 90s. But such a test I think would play even more into the hands of the genuinely "bright" public school student than the private student who was boosted by a good school. I doubt that such a Test would assist private schools much.
 

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#41
Jim Boy said:
Far out BB, I write an opinion piece and all you can retort with are pieces like 'sooky la la'. I've no problem with you disagreeing with what I wrote, but do you really need to debase your own arguments with such petty schoolyard name-calling?
if you don't like being ridiculed, don't write such crap. Your arguments have no base and are no more than pathetic.
 

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#42
Bombers 2003 said:
I would expect this reasoning from someone who has never been outside Australia in their life.And this aint my country anymore,it's Howard's and the Loony Right.
Better Red Then Dead.
Lived 4 years in the UK, idiot.
 
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