Go, Howard, Go !!
Posted on 9/5/2004, 11:30:08 AM by Dundee
Dubya delivers, putting PM first among equals
WHEN John Howard called the election a week ago one thought went through the minds of those who study US-Australia relations: would the Bush administration do something to help Howard?
Yesterday, the answer was an emphatic yes.
In the most extraordinary, perhaps the only, reference to Australia in a presidential nominating convention acceptance speech, Bush declared to a television audience of tens of millions: "I deeply appreciate the courage and wise counsel of leaders like Prime Minister Howard ..."
That's right, Howard was first in the list, ahead of the Polish, Italian and British leaders, the only others to be singled out.
It is a sign of the extraordinary profile Australia now has in Washington, and throughout the US.
This is unpleasant for Mark Latham's Labor.
Latham cannot possibly complain about the context; the President thanking an ally for help in a war.
But make no mistake, Bush wanted to help Howard win the Australian election.
Bush went on to lampoon his challenger, John Kerry, for saying US allies in Iraq were a "coalition of the coerced and bribed".
Surely Kerry could not be referring to proud nations such as Australia, and a few others he mentioned by name?
And just in case anybody missed the point, Bush went on to say: "I respect every soldier, from every country, who serves beside us in the hard work of history. America is grateful and America will not forget."
But more important even than Bush's intent towards Australia is his political calculation.
In the most important and watched speech of a desperately close presidential election, Bush calculated it would help him win US voters to be associated with Australia.
There is no big Australian ethnic minority in the US. It's not like appealing for the support of Poles or Italians or even Filipinos.
Rather, Bush and his speech writers have decided that Australia's reputation is so high it helps Bush politically to be associated with it.
This is also why the Australian free trade agreement was the only FTA to be brought before the US Congress this year and passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, including from Kerry.
Australia enjoys a standing in the US among Republicans and Democrats it has never enjoyed before.
This is an enormous national asset.
But right now it has also delivered a real political dividend for Howard.
In the Australian system, the party (or coalition of parties) that has the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives forms the government. Labor has to win 12 seats if it is to beat John Howard's coalition (tough but possible).
Security is an important issue in the election and part of that includes the US-Australian alliance. If Labor can't convince the electorate that it can handle the alliance it will probably loose the election (and that would be a good thing).
Interesting article and analysis. Thank you.
I've heard the tax rate in Aussieland is about 50%. True? Used to chat frequently with bunch of folks down under. One lady told me an American man that dances could do well in the average neighborhood pub. Said gals there like American accents and Aussie men don't dance. As it happens, I'm a sucker for Aussie gals's accents.
And I've heard all those single bar women look like Elle MacPherson. :)
Me too!! ;-)
It seems a lot of conservative guys are suckers for Aussie girls' accents.
Guilty as charged here as well, along with a lot of my friends.
Thanks to all our friends in Australia.
America never forgets.
We will never forget your support and strong leadership during this awful crisis the world is in. Aussies are great.
Comparing tax rates is a bit difficult, because of the exchange rates, other taxes besides income tax, and depending on how people file, etc.
But for single filers, on today's exchange rates, the following comparisons for income tax are valid (before deductions, etc).
US income of US$3,500, 10% income tax
Australian equivalent income of A$5,060, 0% income tax
US income of US$17,700, 15% income tax
Australian equivalent income of A$25,590, 15.04% income tax
US income of US$48,200, 25% income tax
Australian equivalent income of A$69,687, 26.52% income tax
US income of US$106,150, 28% income tax
Australian equivalent income of A$153,471, 34.97% income tax
US income of US$227,725, 33% income tax
Australian equivalent income of A$329,244, 42.66% income tax
US income of US$467,926, 35% income tax
Australian equivalent income of A$676,527, 44.89% income tax
If you're earning enough, it can get up close to 50%, but at more common incomes, it's a lot closer to US rates.
Thank you very much.
$0 – $6,000: Nil
$6,001 – $21,600: 17c for each $1 over $6,000
$21,601 - $58,000: $2,652 plus 30c for each $1 over $21,600
$58,001 – $70,000: $13,572 plus 42c for each $1 over $58,000
Over $70,000: $18,612 plus 47c for each $1 over $70,000
On top of this there is a 1.5% Medicare Levy. State governments don't have income taxes.
John Howard recently raised the threshold where the 42c level kicks in (from $52,000 to $58,000). Howard is pretty restricted in what he can change since the Greens and Democrats have the balance of power in the Senate. If he controlled the Senate then you'd see a drastic reduction of both government spending and taxation.
And for the record, some of us Aussie guys can dance; we just choose not to (I do a mean waltz). And there's a large number of American women who are suckers for an Aussie accent (as I learned on Guam as a young lad).
My appologies, she did, in fact say "choose not to".
Freegards to our FRiends down under who also know the cost of freedom and take the fight to the enemy! Thanks for a great post.
Apologizing in advance for the dumb question, when is the election?
October 9. I hope Howard wins, if no other reason than to just tick off the Aussie and the US media. Plus it would help Dubya (the first election in one of the major players in the liberation of Iraq re-electing the leader that took it to war).
Ping for a great post by our Aussie FRiends!
BTT!!!!!!
Go, Howard, Go !!
God Bless our Aussie Allies!
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