In Michael Moore's latest flick 'Sicko" he touches on the fundamental difference between the US and France in terms of the Government and the people. In France, thanks to their histroy of uprisings, the Government lives in fear of the people and acts accordingly. If the Government gets out of line, the people protest and they ultimately get their way.
In the US however it is quite the reverse according to Moore. The fear that the Government instills in the people is quite palpable with things like the terror threat level and warnings that if the US leaves Iraq, the war will come onto these shores.
And Australia is no different. The Lord Mayor of Sydney announced the preposterous Go Bag yesterday in case of a "hazardous materials incident, an explosion, an outbreak of contagious disease, civil disturbance, a natural disaster or other emergencies".
I tend to agree with Councillor Harris who suggested every Go Bag include a can-opener, a pair of sunglasses, inflatable floaties, a copy of a Sydney good food guide and a one-way ticket to Barcelona.
"I just find these fear campaigns personally offensive. Where are we supposed to go with our Go Bags? With our current public transport system, the roads would be clogged in minutes," he said yesterday.
Hear, Hear.
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