Australia The Stupid Country

Regarding the question of Australia's class system. More to the point is the idea that far from being a classless culture, Australia is actually a single-class culture. Big difference. Those suburbs whose inhabitants are often categorized as upper class... for example, Double Bay or Mosman in NSW, or Toorak in Victoria... don't really qualify, to my way of thinking, as upper class because they continue to defer to Australia's miasma of stoopid and grant it its legimacy. What I mean by this is that, even though they can often be nice enough people, they continue to allow the stoopid to define their lives. Where in other cultures the ignorant are easily dismissed, in Australia they carry legitimacy such that civilized Aussies are easily offended, easily "put in their place" for speaking out of turn. In other countries, civilized people have the confidence to laugh off ignorant insults, which "nice" Aussies do not have the freedom to do. This is a most important point, and it brings us back to the idea that of course there are decent Aussies... it's just that they forfeit a lot of liberties in order to live in this toxic cesspit of secretiveness and hidden agendas. This single-class culture strictly defines their limits.

In other countries, an idiot is, well, an idiot. In Australia, the bogan is a legitimate lifestyle choice and the idiot is king. And the honour of "lovable larrikin" is often bestowed upon even the uppest of upper-class inhabitants, from ex-Prime Minister Bob Hawke and politician Jeff Kennett to businessman Kerry Packer.

Kevin Rudd is no lovable larrikin, though... can any of us recognize what happens to people when they fall outside of the blokey, fun-loving stereotype?

We must be robust and constructive in our criticism of this country and hold ourselves up for continuous review if we are to progress. The refreshing thing about Australia is its still an unwritten story unlike many countries who've written their final chapters and the endings were often tragic .
Many countries become moribund and self deluded . Australians on the scale of 1 to 10 are about average . It is true there are many things here that infuriate . But then you want to try say England or America . Unlike England we don' t have a class system .. many would say Thank God ..but then we don't really get anyone who is extraordinary either . We get the turkeys instead of the eagles , the ordinary instead of the extraordinary .The eagles from Europe or Asia go to America and while they achieve great things there they are usually glad to finally leave because the US is truly a crazy wacky violent country . They're unbalanced .
Australia is still a great country full of promise but we have got to stop dumbing ourselves down . Australians are great in reaction but not proaction. You can rely on an Ozzie in a crisis . But its too late to react when the horse has bolted or when industries have left . This is not a wise nation . I mean who builds 5 rail gauges ? We are not a patient nation . Like spoilt children we want everything by tomorrow and because we can't do that -- we import- because we can . Australians hang their psychology on 'how well we did in attending other peoples wars ' and of course sport . The truth is we are a footnote in military history and these days not too good at sport either. Unlike the lazy bloody Greeks Australians do work hard but only from the neck down . The country depends too much on pushing dirt around and digging big holes like a bunch of cats with diarrhea. The Western world was built by the mind then the back was used to produce the goods that give us a good standard of living otherwise we would be just peasants in the field. Take away everything invented somewhere else and we would be in the nude in a paddock with a victa motormower . Its not good enough is it . The English proved you can't build an modern economy based on pushing paper around .The Irish proved you can't build an economy building nice houses for yourselves with other peoples money .The Greeks proved you can't holiday eternally on German money. You have to export something OR live within your means . We freeload on smarter nations for just about everything including knives and forks and its got to change , otherwise one day we will be like the aborigines-- taken over --until the will of the people is irrelevant and no longer heard. Some just call it evolution.

I am a canadian immigrant, I emigrated here in 1995, so been here for 18 years now. This country by far, is the most respectful country I have even been, I've been around too, I beleive to experience one country you to reside in it, to experience and know the country. I was lucky to lived in Perth for 2 years, before that, I am already a canadian citizen and was accepted as a citizen in Canada, prior to canada, I've lived in Singapore, in Japan, worked in Indonesian and Malaysia. Grew up in the Philippines. by far the worst country I've ever lived in is Australia.

Well . I couldn't read the whole lot, but I will tell you this.
I have lived in a few countries in my life and i have never seen so arrogant , unintelligent , literate stupid and often lack of dignity Nation as Australians. How easy is to control this Nation. Its like a stupid dog - give him a junk food and it stops bark. In over 23 years i met a few people I could use my mind with. The rest I even had to teach spelling of simple words or names.
If not internet and wise books of some ...... and .............. I would be now stupid as well.
Anther example of australian stupidity:
Australian woman -dirty nails , dirty peeling feet, tide thin pants,no shoes, visible panties, tattoo on the neck or something else, but nails and her lips are coloured. All horses would laugh in the stable.haha
That everyday sick being affects now everyone. Even many migrants turn to stupidity after years. What is the most sad is, that this secular Nation without God like without food already dead/rotton. Sad. So sad. Strange that government do not see that. Maybe this is what they really want. Stupid Nation controlled by rules, little rules, midim rules, policies and regulations and of course LAW.. And they even taught them how to dob one onother. Hahaha. Stupied Nation in hidden Communism.

This is so true, and I bet if Aussies heard you say that they'll say" if you don't like it leave!" I'm not
Even sure why they call themselves lucky, I guess it's just the weather. PAthetic, In Perth, you can't even leave you're window open, or someone will try to rob your belonging in broad daylight.

The only thing wrong with Australia is the people's massive egos and attitudes. Everyone thinks they are top ****.

Hate to break it to you buddy, but that is most of the "developed" world. Everywhere you go people and governments are like that. And in a foreign country it is even easier to notice then where your home is.

It's just the way this world is (ALL OF IT) and b****ing about it on blogs, social media and other websites is not going to change it at all.

And on a final note since Australia is so bad to all of you PACK YOUR F***ING BAGS AND LEAVE!

I beg your pardon, I seem to have got my reports mixed up. This is the one:

"Australia perform rather badly, coming in at 27th place out of 45 countries studied internationally." Google it to learn more.

You may want to reconsider the name calling tag in light of the new stats. Thankfully, where I come from the standards aren't nearly as bad, not to say however, things aren't in need of improvement.

Regards, Terry

Go back to Scandinavia you bullshitting lunatic.
LOL.

all of the people that are from across seas only see Australia in the news and as we all should know the media try to find the worst in all countries even their own because without an interesting story the people watching would get bored so they mainly try and find things that are bad in other countries to make theirs look better but in reality Australia is a very good country because why would all these immigrants would be coming to Australia instead of other places. its because Australia is a very good country and is considered to be one of the best countries to live in, just because our leaders are awful people it doesn't mean that the rest of us are plus "its failure to promote its culture, education" in Australia the education isn't as good as some places but that's because of the ****** government not being able to fund the schools properly and if the funding for classroom materials was better more people would be more educated. also i must state that the areas that the media and the rest of the world target of Australia are the worse off areas of the country that millions of people love to be. when all you ignorant people cant get it that no country is better than another no matter your ******* opinion.

I may be young but even I can see how dumb, racist, and down right ignorant people of this country are. Australians generally don't care for anybody except themselves, have a lack of respect for culture, and seem to turn a blind eye to the problems of not only this country but the problems of the world.This country's culture consists of alcohol, football, partying, and being rude and ignorant.

For me attending school is hard, especially when I am surrounded by countless teenagers who don't want to learn, and are there on a strict mission to disrupt others learning and progress. I attend a school which in my opinion doesn't seem to value education at all. The teachers have a careless attitude and the kids from what I have seen don't think about anything except how well their social life is progressing. Sure you can say kids should be care free, but when this behaviour continues well into their 20's, 40's, and beyond, it gets scary. When these kids really don't aspire to be anything when they grow up, its very sad. I hang around many people at school but I have a hard time relating to any of them, most are just to stupid to carry an intellectual conversation with or on anything for that matter, except how drunk they got on the weekends or what pills they swallowed. The large amount of new kids coming to my school are NOT refugees from "the boats", but are English people coming from planes, who seem to share a similar interest in our alcohol-loving, materialistic, and lack of respect for education society.

The majority of people in Australia only care for what they have, and get depressed when it isn't as much as the next person. I wish I could say that I love this country but I can't, and the more I live here the more I dislike these "bogans" surrounding me. I think my dad finds it hard to watch this country become worse and worse as the years pass. We are so far up America's backside, its frighting. Australia seems to embrace being uneducated, and care-free. In Australia we have this attitude, well if its not affecting me, who cares? We've sold-out nearly all our businesses to foreign countries, we have let America drag us around like a helpless puppy, and let the media pollute our minds through manipulative lies. Whats worse is that this country is again going to take a step backwards by voting in the despicable Tony Abbott, and whilst I don't particularly like Julia Gillard, she is better than Abbott. Now don't get me wrong there are many wonderful Australians who care for others, are educated, smart, creative and admirable, but they are not the majority. However, the majority seem to follow like "sheep" to whatever it trending.

The day that Australia actually stands up and acknowledges the problems in this country, is a day that sadly probably won't come. As long as the ignorant, small minded, racist, and obnoxious keep breeding, this is how it is. I have to agree Australia is alongside America, "The Stupid Country".

UPDATE: It's official; Australia ranked 25th out of 28 advanced economies for standard of education. I heard it on the news today.
Regards, Terry

Many valid points raised in this rant. It's now 2013 and the chickens are slowly but surely coming home to roost; unemployment up, big business and manufacturing closures up, cost of living pressures up, the list goes on. Anyone with half a brain or more could see the China bow-wave that Australia's been surfing on would reduce to a ripple on a pond. Try surfing that, dude. Real estate is exhibiting all the signs of a death rattle, new paradigm? Wait and see about that. Seeing that materialism (oh ok, and beer & footie) is the fabric holding society together, the fabled real estate bubble pop will jolt even the most "hear no, speak no, see no" types into paying attention. All in all, a challenging time requiring great leadership, that said, you just know how things could go down. How's Scandanavia?

I really agree with the writer when she said that australia is a stupid country by the way we scandinavian are more cleaver than those people by example we are not sheep.Thanks mom and best wishes from Europe. Peter Josef Boere

I've lived in Australia all my life and I'm approaching forty. I've
travelled to most continents but only on holidays, not for work, so that only adds up to about three months total. I'm white, female and completely agree with everything negative posted here about Australia.

The people are stupid, so unbelievably stupid that it should be a crime to be so ignorant. They are rude, uncouth, arrogant and extremely emotionally immature. Their socialisation skills are particularly sub-standard.

50% of all employees are employed by the government, not including private contractors. This means there are rules and regulations for everything you could possily think of. Thought crimes are also a crime in Australia, so be careful what you think.

As Australians and the world now knows, it is one giant rip-off.

There are no values in Australia other than materialism, drinking and sport.
The education system, including universities, is extremely poor and massively overpriced.

The F word is practically learned in kindergarten and is the most commonly heard word in any conversation. Men and women don't approach each other unless they are drunk and then the conversation is only ever about putting the F word into action.
Australia is essentially a large prison continent still. Many of the people may not have descended from convicts but they are still prisoners of the government. It is like Big Brother, or Robocop without the technology.

Unless you want to do nothing but lie on the beach all day and you are self-funded to do that, do not stay in Australia, nor migrate here. There is no other pleasure to be found in Australia but that, which appears to be something the Aborigines have known all along.

I agree wholeheartedly. Especially with the 'stupid' label. Just today, more moronic bogans showed me again, just how ****** up they really are. I thought intelligence could only sink so low, but boy was I wrong... It makes me sad, then angry, because I come from the same socio-economic areas they do, unfortunately. That's right, I'm white and born here, although my ancestry thankfully diverges a little into Welsh territory (they were of course invaded by the English). I love some of the people here, and wanted so much to help this nation any way I could, but that was the last proverbial straw. I've had enough, I'm not sure how I'll do it yet, but how the hell do I get out of hell (down under)?

Its simple.
If your not happy LEAVE.

We're not gonna get down on our hands and knees and ask you to stay.

Yes, with your attitude I definitely think you should go back to Scandinavia.

Undoubtedly Australia has many problems, but I could compile a similar list of criticisms for countless other countries also!

As for the highly distasteful, massive generalisation that Australians are unintelligent 'sheep minded bogans'; I'm afraid that despite your attempts to sound intelligent, that comment alone simply shows YOU to be racist, uncultured, narrow-minded, and uneducated.

This is very true. Australians are dumb, racist and arrogant. The doctors in hospitals , mining engineers are IT professionals are all foreigners, not Aussies. They are too stupid to do it. There are CEO of companies who cannot barely read a financial statement. But CEO, because Aussie. I will be out from here soon

I totaly agree with the article, I have immigrated to Australia from Germany and after 6 years I can see that this country is disappointment , the system is unfair, takes from hard working people and gives to lazy bogans, government spends huge tax payer's money on doubtful projects with no clear results, this might be similar to some countries in Easter Europe, well, but these have at least good education system. Australia's education, mainly the VET sector is a joke, certificates are produced as hot breads in bakery, without any skills, so this country is and became more stupid, private schools charge high prices, but the quality what theay provide to students is not enough, I am lucky to get quality education in Germany and free of charge!!!! My kids will study in Europe, the living costs are really expensive,to own a house (just a wooden box quality without proper heating) is almost unachievable, sometimes I have a feeling that the working environment is more flustrated and stressful than in some countries in Easter Europe. The Aussie businesses are absolutely unorganized and unefficient (according to what I am used to from Germany) There are no skills to learn, just to learn, how things should not to be done. Authorities, mainly councils people are arrogant and not helpful, just money collectors, such a high fines for wrong parking you will never find in Western Europe!!! The ordinary citizen is rip off on every steps and the check list could go on. And government, well every nation get such a goverment thats deserves. But I do not complain , is just a flustration what I do experience in this country, which drives me mad, although I am Australian citizen, during this 6 years I relised that my real home is Germany and thank you Australia to show me what I lost by leaving Germany, and these who say I should be grateful to live in such a lucky country as Australia is, I have to aswer, I paid for my visa thousands of Euros and the skills and education what I brought with me were paid by German government, so I do not owe anything to Australia, I learnt to value my home country and sooner or later it will come the day when I will be able to say farewell Australia and return back home.

dont forget about australia economic - high dollar, high interest rate , high inflation.. high tax. is hard to have a saving in australia the only way is to get a loan and get a house and hope the price will shoot up the roof and u will be rich .

high dollar -> result in less student enrolled in australia education, less agriculture export as is too expensive because dollr is too high. and the only thing that support australia economy is australia mineral. where is about to hit the peak. and australia is not a strong manufacturing country as all the manufacturing company is closing down due to high labour cost ,ultra-strong union and high dollar. these manufacturing company wont come back even when dollar is low because is just to cheap to do it oversea

next few years you will see usa, and europe coming back. while australia will be going to fall into recession. because the government dont have foresight and more than willing to fall into the global currency trap. where every country in the world try to devalue their currency to stay competitive while australia dollar rise and rise. and the government is proud of that saying there a sign of how strong our economy is

I'm Australian born with a physical disability and a high, creative intellect. I agree with these observations.

i know its a clique but why are you here ,its your attitude that all your complaints are there and there is a lot of your thinking unfortunatley

I have lived in Australia my whole life, and have also travelled extensively from a young age. Australia is certainly a giant black hole where bogans thrive and the rest of us seek refuge in scattered pockets throughout the country where people do not aspire to mediocrity and idiotic behaviour. There are some very genuine, charming, intelligent and creative people in Australia. There are brilliant and amazing individuals out there doing good things for the planet. However these people are a minority that are not breeding at the rate of the bogans! The wrong people are breeding!

I have been consistently trying to escape from aggressive, unbelievably stupid, narrow minded, disrespectful and even cruel Australians anywhere that I have chosen to live, and I have mostly lived in very nice parts of Sydney and surrounds. I suppose what I have come to realise is that there are just so many 'ordinary' people in Australia, that they encroach everywhere. Apparently somehow being 'ordinary' in Australia is synonymous with being an acceptable person, after all we should all just strive to 'fit in'. Australians even take pride in being an 'ordinary Australian'. No prizes for trying to do something really special, something that can instigate change, actual progress or have a profound positive impact. Look at what is happening to courses at university....I personally do not play a musical instrument. However, I do want to live in a country that values music as part of the culture...and we are shutting down music departments! Cuts to public education in general are being made increasingly. It is the nature of Australia, it is becoming dumber, and the only relief is to leave.

Don't think that I over romanticise other countries, because I am open minded and enquiring and do find fault with, and disappointment in other countries. There are parts of the world where I have been and found myself grateful that I was born in Australia because of the terrible crimes I have witnessed against the animal world, humanity and the planet in general. These are places that I would NEVER trade for Australia, and even though it is not perfect in these aspects either, it is paradise by comparison.

However, when we compare Australia with other so called developed nations, it is simply offensive to say that Australia is the "best country in the world". Ridiculous...who are we to say that other people could not and do not have the quality of life that we do, if not far better! It is simply stupid and demonstrates how uneducated Australians are about other nationalities/cultures.

This year I visited some of my family in France to be so taken by the simplicity and richness of their lives. Their values are not dominated by investment properties, four wheel drives, and how many gadgets they posses. No, theirs is a modest life actually, where they DO own their homes (not banks), and they are concerned about the quality of food they consume and the impact they have on the world around them...including the old lady that lives next door! Being educated is very high on their list of priorities and much energy is dedicated to learning. That life is far more enriching than what most Australians can imagine and aspire to. What is notable to me is that when I travel to Europe it is easy to have a interesting conversation with people of all ages. People in their late teens and early twenties are far more knowledgeable than Australians of the same age, and aware. My own cousins are very articulate and have an excellent grasp of politics, and are seemingly mature. Although when you meet their friends it is apparent that this is just how many young Europeans are.

By the way....I am not French. I am one of those square peg in a round hole Australians who thinks that the Sydney new years fireworks display is absolutely boring, unnecessary and demonstrative of a culture that is delusional and needs to grow up if it is ever to compete on the world stage. I am always longing to find a way a feasible way out....yes I freely admit to that.

I THINK YOU PEOPLE ARE ONLY KIDDING YOURSELF WAKE UP AUSTRALIA YOU DON,T REALLY MATTER ON THE WORLD STAGE EVEN IF YOU PAYED 46 MILLION FOR A PERMANENT SEAT AT THE UN WICH RUNS OUT NEXT YEAR

I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THIS PERSON HAS SAID THAT COUNTRY IS TOTALLY
FINISHED I JUST THE POOR LITTLE AUSTRALIAN THAT DON,T KNOW IT BUT WHEN IT DOES HIT THEM BOY WILL THEY FEEL IT THEN AS FOR ME I AM ALSO PLAYING THE WAITING GAME UNTIL THEN ALL THE POWER TO THIS PERSON FOR ACTUALLY STANDING UP AND TELLING IT AS IT IS

my name is Mark Webb from sydney, im gay and proud woohoo!! gay sydney 2013 wooohoo!!

Australia needs to be in the thick of a war on its home turf, or some kind of invasion. The anglo natives are too soft, blinkered, willfully ignorant and have absolutely no comprehension of the privilege of making educated and informed decisions. Apparently, being behind everyone else in the world by five years (in terms of technology, business, etc.), being politically irrelevant in the global arena and making prank calls to hospitals is something to cheer and laud. As Jack Nicholson once said, "this town needs an enema." Or a fist.

Good article.... but is too kind in my opinion. I saw some replies below blaming the Government. Come on the Government is just the reflection of the constituency. Someone else just said "There may be a touch of jealousy in the author’s original post." That was hilarious! Anyone jealous of that cancer patient? Anyway I don't think is much hope for this place. Thanks for this good article and I hope you enjoy it being back in Scandinavia.

I came in a little late. I was a little shocked by the comments made by the original author, but even more so by the comments posted below. I am Australian, but have lived abroad for over 20 years. I frequently visit, and I have always considered Australians to be racists, albeit on a variety of levels. Still, I’ve never seen such an aggressive stance against a nation for what seems to be a mix of bad luck, poor choice of friends/location/lifestyle etc, a touch of jealousy and maybe a little racism on the author’s behalf.

With regards to bogans, they are everywhere. The names are different (rednecks, wankers, East-enders, cholos, yobbos, hooligans, torcidas etc). This is not particular to Australia. Now, if you find that you are mixing with bogans, it’s time to change areas. No one can take you serious when you say the nation is full of bogans. There are some highly educated, charming, intellectual Australians. You may have been unlucky in your choice of friends, or unable to find the right group. But they are not all bogans. I too dislike bogans, so I avoid them like the plague. Suggestion: look elsewhere for friends.

Yes, the nation is obsessed with sports. But there are people who do not care about it. I now live in a country also obsessed with a particular sport. I hate the sport, but managed to find people who are not obsessed. Once again, it is up to you to make your circles liveable and likeable.

Australians are naturally careless, carefree, overly confident, rude and uncouth. That said, they are also reliable, bitterly honest, and, once you’re a recognized friend, generous and open-hearted. Yes, this is not everyone’s cup o tea, but “there lies the rub”. That’s why we travel: to experience different cultures. Australians are like this for a number of reasons: they’ve never really had it rough (compared to most countries), they are not a traveled bunch (a couple of weeks on Bali is not travelling in my books), the government has pampered them (and shafted them at the same time), the have never really understood their heritage (rape, pillage, plunder of Aborigines), and I could go on forever. Still, the country is what it is. But it is going too far when you classify the nation a shithole. There are many a shithole in Australia, and it seems you have found (one of) them. Suggestion: move on to a better place. Seek and yee shall find.

There may be a touch of jealousy in the author’s original post. Maybe, the Scandinavian part of you is too strong to live with such a bunch of careless, carefree, overly confident, rude and uncouth people. That’s fine, but you need to recognize your European stance on this. Is it possible that you are a tad jealous that are not that carefree and confident? I know many people who have criticized my carefree attitude to life. It could be cultural (my guess is that it really is), but maybe the Scandinavian in you can’t accept the Aussie culture.

Racism is, essentially, the non-acceptance of the other, the different. As a foreigner, you too come across as a racist. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t know you, nor do I have any idea of the intensity of the racism you endured (I do not doubt that you in fact endured racism), but as an outsider, your words echo many a racist’s.

In sum, the cultural mismatch you have experienced is sad, but not all together shocking. This happens everywhere. I could never live in the WASP-ridden cities in the US’ southern states, so why would I move there? This may be a case of being mislead or misinterpretation of cultural markers. Either way, Australia, despite all these problems, is no different to any other country when it comes to cultural glitches. The racists are everywhere, even in Oslo, Copenhagen and Helsinki. But maybe you are on a wavelength that is in synch with theirs. Say “Australia wasn’t for me”, not “Australia was a shithole”. It just seems so much more becoming…..for a European/Scandinavian.