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Originally Posted by Squirt

It all started in 2003.. mainly with the anti American rallies Australian wide

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Note that this was clearly anti-war sentiment and not just Anti-American.

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Originally Posted by Squirt

I do have to point out that you said, all things being equal, even with a higher price for an Aussie product, you'd go Aussie.

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Yes, I did.... and to me that is a personal choice to support local industry... where lots of my friends work.... and earn money...... and get jobs..... and generally support the economy of where I live and pay taxes which in turn benefits me. Self serving I know but that's the way it is.

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Originally Posted by Squirt

But.. honestly.. you and I know, being IN Australia.. that the very public movement to take American products off the shelves for Aussie brands, do business only with Ozzie companies, learn from American companies abroad then bring home to Australia, etc. etc. is a very real thing and is on the Tele' pretty much every evening here, relentlessly. Some Aussies, like Americans, choose by good business, not by country affiliation.

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So are you telling me that despite the fact that it is good for me to deal with someone that is no more than a 3 hour flight away and that I can pick up the phone and make a relatively cheap call to them and that if all else fails I can take them to court in Australia relatively easily if something goes wrong that it is still cheaper, easier and better to deal with someone overseas. Sounds like you might be anti-Australian or is it just that you are anti everyone else having an opinion?

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Originally Posted by Squirt

It seems Americans, Germans, Japanese, British and Europeans are the targets here.. oddly enough nationalities that have a greater dollar value then the Aussie dollar.

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But note that despite the recession like conditions in the US and interest rates of close to 2% the Australian economy was still strong. Oh and by the way the value of the Australian dollar against other currencies is really not the best way to judge the strength of the economy. There are many different factors that should be taken in to consideration!

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Originally Posted by Squirt

I do my own thing here in Oz, and more often then not, run into some idiot here who thinks he's gonna take my models, leach off my business, rip me off, or do me under.

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I think you'll find that there are just as many people in other countries willing to do the same given half a chance!

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Originally Posted by Squirt

There are some good businessmen & businesswomen here that don't judge by nationality and do good business. If you're interested ICQ me at 265-912-752

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Well don't worry squirt I won't be hitting you up any time soon!

Allan

Greetings:

Welcome To Pistol Media!

erm I mean,

Three Cheers For Australia!

oh, wait...

God Bless America!

uhm.....

What was the purpose of this thread again?

:huh:

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Originally Posted by Squirt

Ah what's that about? Talk about inference.. like I said.. quality, honest businesses. You're talking about me not giving you all my content.. yeah you're right.. wont do it... work to hard to give you everything for free in the "hopes" I'll make a buck :P

Oh and "we" support Brian? I don't see any of your models on his site. I've worked with Brian. Weird being the only American whos worked with Brian here in Australia. This anti American shit in Oz gets old after a while

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Ha ha ha

Go change your skirt little girl, it's dirty.

Like We of all people want your content?

Can I get your dealers number? I want to be on what you are on.

:wacko:

Tom, if you hate Aastralia and Australians that much feel free to fucking leave whenever you want.

In the meantime, go watch some more X-Files to fuel your BS conspiracy theories.

I with Allan, I'm GLAD you didn;t have a clue when we originally spoke.

Sorry everyone else, I am usually nice on this board, but a bitch is a bitch is a bitch.

:wacko:

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Originally Posted by Squirt

Allan.. again.. I'm not talking about you .. or the other decent Ozzies I do business with. It all started in 2003.. mainly with the anti American rallies Australian wide

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2003... why's that year ring a bell? Oh yeahhhhhh we invaded Iraq that year! Crazy coincidence, that is!

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Originally Posted by Squirt

But.. honestly.. you and I know, being IN Australia.. that the very public movement to take American products off the shelves for Aussie brands, do business only with Ozzie companies, learn from American companies abroad then bring home to Australia, etc. etc. is a very real thing and is on the Tele' pretty much every evening here, relentlessly. Some Aussies, like Americans, choose by good business, not by country affiliation.

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That happens in every country. Maybe you've been out of the US for too long but we do it here in the US everyday. The whole debate over offshoring, the whole Buy American and Made in America thing. In just about every country I've ever lived in or been to, there's an active drive and common marketing pitch to get people to support homegrown industry.

This is a really weird thread, considering it's original subject.

Well the historical fact of the matter is that Australia has been an ally with the United States in every war engagement since World War 1, so had it not been a part of the Coalition of the Willing that would have been very significant.

Had the last election gone against the conservative John Howard government, that would have been even more significant. In fact, that would have been hobbling.

However, like all governemnts, with the exception of Spain, all those who have participated in the war have been returned to office in an election.

Steve

Not sure what that has to do with anything, Steve. Please elaborate.

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Originally Posted by desslock

Well the historical fact of the matter is that Australia has been an ally with the United States in every war engagement since World War 1, so had it not been a part of the Coalition of the Willing that would have been very significant.

Had the last election gone against the conservative John Howard government that would have been even more significant. In fact, that would have been hobbling.

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Many here see Howard as Americas whipping boy who is supported by only the older generation, and people supported by his subsidies to survive in the outback. Others say Howard had a very good incentive to be our ally, the free trade agreement, which was recently signed. Some have said that Oz would not have been our ally had it not been for the free trade agreement looming over their head.

Those raised on American TV and products, as they are coming of age now, are rebelling against, what they see as, the Americanization of Australia. Some associate Americans, and American products, with the current administrations foreign policy, and idiot Bush, as well as (what some see as) Americas attempt at globalization.

It seems things are split here politically, like back home. A lot of the people feel the administration isn't following the will of the people, but it's own agenda.

I think it's great to support your country and be patriotic. Unfortunately some people take that to an extreme. No matter what country you're in there will be those who see anything foreign as a threat, or in a negative light.

Here are two stories run here on Australian TV, on just one major show, last week, demonstrating the American backlash here: ( I would link to the third story but the online version doesn’t reflect the report on TV )

Store brands not Australian-made

Store brand takeover

Some informative links:

http://www.countercurrents.org/gl-hassan120104.htm

http://www.wcfcg.net/americanproducts.htm

Ok,

I will agree with you on the point that there has been a large amount of pro-Australian product news items in the last few weeks.

As some of the regulars here would probably be aware I also work for a company here in Australia that operates in QLD, NSW and VIC. As it so happens we supply all the major supermarket chains in Australia under private label (own brand).

Squirt you can rest assured that the greater percentage of stock on the shelves in Australia is Australian Made already and will remain that way when they switch to private label as in most cases it is cheaper and easier to source product from local suppliers and in fact one of the Australian supermarket chains actually has a policy whereby they have a minimum percentage of product on their shelves that is Australian made this is somewhere in the vicinity of 80%.

So whilst you may see it as strange that there is a pro-Australian movement in Australia and the artilcles that you quoted also note that product is from a number of non-US countries the Australian public will generally always support the local manufacturer.

When the switch to private label occurs in most supermarkets the Supermarket will generally approach the existing supplier and ask them to pack the own label product for them before going to other suppliers. It is normally the failure to cooperate that has them pulled from the shelves.

As a result suppliers complain and the media sensationalises and then we end up with the stories you see in the media. What results you ask?

More australian product purchased in supermarkets - am I saying it's right - no. Am I whinging - no because it means they buy more of our product.

Allan

It's definitely not a uniquely Australian, or even Australian vs. American phenomenon that some (patriotism/xenophobia/nationalism/protectionism/insert-ism-here) is exhibited with stuff like this.

And it has nothing to do with one country's currency vs another or anything like that.

The impression among a great many people in a majority of the world's countries is more often than not buying locally made products, patronizing local businesses, manufacturing and employing and so on so forth locally is what's best for the country as a whole.

We saw it in Bolivia last year when a president was ousted because he suggested exporting natural gas to the United States.

We see it in the US where even companies like Honda and Toyota proudly declare their products "Made in America" in order to encourage people to buy them.

We see it in those news stories Squirt referenced in Australia.

There's an example to be pointed out just anywhere.

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Originally Posted by ozmalegalleries

Ok,

I will agree with you on the point that there has been a large amount of pro-Australian product news items in the last few weeks.

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Yes well that is what I'm refrencing.. along with the other aspects of the movement. And, if you had watched those stories on the Tele you would have seen when they were talking about foreign brands... the camera panning all the American brands.

Like I've said many times before, in this thread and elswhere, there is nothing wrong with being patriotic and supporting your country/local business. I actually am against BIG business. I shop at the local mom and pop grocier for most items, and the local butcher. I think, wherever you live, the local people deserve to make the money.. after all the place you live is like that because of the local people right?

Anyway... that is where I was coming from. Every now and then being a foreigner, especially from America, you run into someone who automatically thinks you have the "tall poppy" syndrome.

I don't see people as nationalities, colors, etc. I find out who they are, what they're about, then see them for them. That's why it's odd being here when this kind of movement is taking place, in the form it's taking place.

We used to call it the "John Wayne Syndrome" =P

Squirt and I have just had a discussion offline and have come to an agreement that this thread is not really proving anything other than that we are great at constructive discussion with each other.

We have decided that our views are equally valid and as such will not be discussing our conflicting viewpoints any further.

Everyone else should feel free to discuss this further if they like.

Cheers,

Allan