How do you feel about X in your country?

[fordy]

Australia here

Healthcare:
On the cusp of a US style system, thanks to Howard's LHC reforms. Essentially, they class it as an incentive to buy private health (if by "incentive", they mean "do it, or we'll increase your medicare loading, AND make it more expensive to buy it later). Those prices are skyrocketing, and at the same time private benefits are being removed (Bupa just removed knee and hip surgeries, as well as pregnancy care). Those "unprofitable" benefits will be forced back on to Medicare (which will eventually come through in a future govt/Murdoch article as "Medicare unsustainable").

Guns:
This is probably the one thing I WILL give Howard credit for. It took a lot guts to implement policy that contradcited with a lot of their party's platform. I live near a gun store, and I feel safe that no random person can wander in, buy a gun without a background check, and fire it off in public as soon as they're out the door.

Economy:
Impressed. It appears pretty stable, despite what opposition leaders like Abbott would want you to think. We cleared the last recession pretty well.

Politics:
Shit circus. Just like everywhere else.