[paraclete]

But it is a sign of the times
Why Samoa will lose a day – Global Public Square - CNN.com Blogs
A very symbolic event occurred in the Pacific. Tiny Samoa, who hitherto looked to the US, has decided that its interests lay elsewhere and they have changed the date to prove it. Now I expect this is more about a place to migrate to than it is about anything else, but when empire starts to wane you can find the indicators of it everywhere, by the way they now drive on the left, just like us

[tomder55]

You're right... no one cares . You'll all be sitting in a Chinese lake soon.

[paraclete]

So Tom you are saying the US is abdicating, leaving the Pacific? Already we have chinese cars, chinese clothes, chinese computers tell me how is it over there, any different?

[tomder55]

So Tom you are saying the US is abdicating, leaving the Pacific?

That exactly what I'm saying . Isolationism is returning here with a vengeance... 1930s style . If the Chinese made a move on Taiwan today there are a lot of people here who would say "why is it our business? "
I know if I was an ally of the US in the Pacific Rim and I saw the way the current Administration treats it's friends I'd be very worried .

[paraclete]

I don't think we have anything to worry about, Tom, we have very good relations with the chinese. We have not been confrontational towards them. Anyway there is talk of more US bases here as the US leaves Asia. That is not necessarily a good thing, but it doesn't speak of abandonment of its obligations

[tomder55]

The truth is that as the Chinese have become more belligerent and confrontational in the litoral waters ,the Taiwan Strait and the waters off Japan ;and their continued expansion of their blue water Navy .The nations around them have to consider expanded joint security arrangements amongst themselves and with the US while the US still has the capability to project power beyond Hawaii.

[paraclete]

while the US still has the capability to project power beyond Hawaii.

Yeh projecting power that's what it is all about for you guys

[excon]

That exactly what I'm saying . Isolationism is returning here with a vengence ....1930s style .

Hello tom:

You're right...

But, we're not isolating ourselves because of POLITICAL reasons, as you suggest... We're doing it because we CAN'T afford it - kind of like we couldn't afford it in the 30's. Surly, a cut, cut, cut philosophy at home WILL affect our influence abroad... That's kind of a no brainer...

excon

[paraclete]

It's all right guys you can be isolationist if you like, we will get less stupid tourists lost on the barrier reef. Sooner or later you will realise you have to stop living beyond your means and expecting someoneelse to pay for it. Why don't you give yourselves another tax break after all you can afford it, you too can be like Greece if you try hard enough

[NeedKarma]

It's alright guys you can be isolationist if you like, we will get less stupid tourists lost on the barrier reef.

Be careful, tourism = good, imperialism = bad. Must make the distinction since you don't want to alienate people from exploring their world; that's good for all of us.

[tomder55]

It's alright guys you can be isolationist if you like, we will get less stupid tourists lost on the barrier reef. Sooner or later you will realise you have to stop living beyond your means and expecting someoneelse to pay for it. Why don't you give yourselves another tax break afterall you can afford it, you too can be like Greece if you try hard enough

We are all Greeks . Ich bin ein Greek. Every nation with an unsustainable entitlement state is Greece. They are just the 1st to fall.

[speechlesstx]

Nope, who cares. Must have a been a slow news day for CNN, this is old news. They're simply switching back from where they were in 1892 when they also switched for economic reasons. They are a lot closer to you guys so it makes sense. American Samoa will remain in the same time zone.

[paraclete]

We are all Greeks . Ich bin ein Greek. Every nation with an unsustainable entitlement state is Greece. They are just the 1st to fall.

Makes me glad to say I'm Australian, our leaders might be stupid but they are not that stupid

[paraclete]

They are a lot closer to you guys so it makes sense. American Samoa will remain in the same time zone.

Now that doesn't make sense, all of Samoa should be in the same time zone, in fact all of Samoa should be united, another vestage of colonialism that should be stripped away

[tomder55]

makes me glad to say I'm Australian, our leaders might be stupid but they are not that stupid

Perhaps... you means test. But your demographics is still a time bomb.

[paraclete]

perhaps .....you means test. But your demographics is still a time bomb.

I expect you mean we are getting older, isn't everyone, but our migration program is still bringing young people here. Our government has been reinforcing the message that government provided pensions will not be enough for years, and long ago forced wage increases to be taken in the form of superannuation so that all workers now receive 9% superannuation in addition to social security entitlements provided by the taxation system. This policy stabilised inflation and cut off the continued union claims for increased wages.

Means testing is a government tool that is applied to all entitlements in various forms. It has the effect of preventing the rich from accessing various schemes and rorting the system. There is a move to increase the retirement age which is not opposed as it is in Greece. One of the benefits of not having a "Bill of Rights" is we don't have ridiculous opposition to reasonable proposals

[tomder55]

There is a move to increase the retirement age which is not opposed as it is in Greece

Any attempt to reform retirement entitlements here put a politicians career at risk. Such is the nature and the power of the special interest organization that suckers seniors into joining up by promising them discount prices at the restaurants for early bird specials.

[paraclete]

Any attempt to reform retirement entitlements here put a politicians career at risk. Such is the nature and the power of the special interest organization that suckers seniors into joining up by promising them discount prices at the restaurants for early bird specials.

I think we tend to live more in the moment, so an increase in retirement age doesn't affect seniors and the baby boomers, but the next generation, who have their head so far up their backside they won't surface until it's over. You see, Tom, Canberra is so remote that once a politician gets there the rest of the nation doesn't seem to exist. They can exist in their bubble and not need to breathe reality. It's all NBN and mining tax and carbon tax and the great new tax on everything and flood relief tax and interventions and boat people, stuff that us ordinary people are no part of. We contend with things they have no idea about, rocketting energy prices, rocketting food prices, falling property values, rocketting interest rates.