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Light Global Ideas
If my husband would’ve let me, I would have been tuned to ABC2 all weekend. It was the Ideas Summit and what little I saw of it left me inspired and excited about the amazing people that inhabit this lucky country of ours.
When it came to our country’s security there wasn’t a speech on fear and loathing of countries we know little about; rather, there was an idea to build cultural centres to increase our knowledge and understanding of our neighbours and a desire to appreciate their differences.
Other big ideas include an Australian republic, a national sustainability, population and climate change agenda supported by robust institutions, a comprehensive review of federal and state taxes within two years, and comprehensive reinvigoration of Asian language literacy. I even read about turbines underwater that would generate electricity as the tide goes in and out. That’s just a few of the incredible bursts of ideas that came from last weekend.
I’m loving Kevin Rudd. There was a photo in the paper of the Ruddster sitting in a corner taking notes while a group was nutting out the shape of our country. Would we ever see John Howard in the same position? Clearly he would have to listen to the people first and that was never going to happen.
Along with the affair Australia is having with Kevin, so is the world. On talk shows they have gushed about our PM and in news reports he’s mentioned with admiration. He is relaxed, down to earth and determined, and seems fairly genuine (even though he’s a little on the wooden side).
We are the clever country and tapping into the thoughts and wishes of the people is a clever idea. It’s always great to feel valued and what better way than a PM asking for our suggestions (Although no one rang me and asked me to attend.
As the camera panned around the crowd, I wanted to see a multi-coloured burst of bad taste in the form of a drag artiste bursting with ideas to make-over the nation, one bogan at a time). There was a lot of criticism from various sectors of the community, most notably Hamish and Andy.
On their afternoon show they had launched the ‘Ideas Bonanza’ ending up with over 9000 brilliant sparks of wisdom but amongst the 40-second sells they never heard anyone mention their idea for an edible teacup, interesting facts on billboards along freeways or ‘S plates’ for senior drivers.
All jokes aside, I want to marry the K-Rudd (actually I might marry Therese because she’s loaded and have an affair with Kev). I do have admiration for the way he’s playing the game. At worst he has spin doctors screwing themselves into the ground to make him look good and at best he’s sincere and all his achievements including our apology to the indigenous community came from the heart.
Our pride in our country increases each day and if an ideas summit shows that ordinary people can be extraordinary and shape our future then I’m all for it.
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