Later this year, major elections will be held in both Australia and the United States of America. Americans will vote for a President and Australians will vote for a Prime Minister. Not many Americans will lose sleep over the outcome of the Australian Federal election, which is scheduled for anytime between July and November. But for Australians, both elections are vitally important to our everyday lives.

The Federal election is shaping up into an interesting stoush between the two major parties, Labour and Liberal. The Liberal party have held power since 1996 under the leadership of John Howard. In 2001 they were way behind in the polls all year. Then the events of September 11, 2001 saw a turn around as voters rallied behind our “heroic” Prime Minister John Howard. Howard himself gained huge political clout just by being present in Washington on that fateful day, and by aligning himself steadfastly with George W Bush’s war on terror. Terrified Australians, convinced that World War III was about to erupt, voted John Howard back with a resounding majority.

Australia jumped to the beck and call of George W Bush with unseemly and ill-considered haste. I remember the address to the world by George W Bush, shortly after 911, in which he said that another such attack was imminent. “Not if, but when”. In fact the only such attack to occur was in Bali in October 2002. The convicted bombers stated that they targeted Australians because of Australia’s involvement with the United States. World War III has not happened; the numerous US terror alerts have proven groundless.

Yet Australian military personnel are still serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places at the behest of the United States. Furthermore, the United States military has a very large presence in Australia. This is not alluded to much in the media. In fact, the very scale of US military operations in Australia has only come to light in recent weeks. In Darwin, US military personnel have been charged with raping two women, and in Townsville a similar assault case involving US military personnel is currently underway. At the same time, the Australian government has announced that they will hand over large amounts of land in Queensland to the United States Department of Defence for their training purposes. The land in question covers several hundred square miles in the Rockhampton area.

All this to rid the world of weapons of mass destruction? It doesn’t take too much intellect to analyse this situation. IF Saddam had WMDs, then why didn’t he use them to save his own country and his own life? If he did have them, and not use them against his sworn enemy, then he should be nominated for the Nobel Peace prize in light of his admirable restraint in the face of extreme provocation.

Yet, still Australia is bending over backwards for the United States. The recent Free Trade Agreement between the two countries is a fine example. So far, there are not many pluses for Australia. Our sugar industry has been dealt a death blow. Our beef industry will make profits – in 18 years time. To speak out against the United States of America is to be branded an unpatriotic Australian. Work that one out. Yet this is exactly how John Howard labelled politicians who objected to our involvement in the so-called war on terror.

John Howard keeps on reminding us of the benefits of our close alliance with America. Righto. Here’s my list:-

1) *Our friends get blown up in Bali
2) *Our women get raped by US servicemen
3) *Our prime real estate is handed over willy-nilly.
4) *Our military is deployed across the globe at a current cost of billions of dollars and numerous failed relationships. Oh, yes, and deaths.
5) *Two Australian citizens have been held in Guantanamo Bay for over 2 years without charge, without even the basic treatments demanded by the Geneva Convention. If they have done something wrong, then charge them. If not, let them go.
6) *Our struggling sugar industry has been slain.
7) *Australians travelling to the United States now have to undergo fingerprinting and have a new microchip implanted into our passports.
8) *On the long 18 hour flight to America we are now forbidden to even queue up to go to the toilet. (I am not joking; this is just one of the stupid demands made by the United States government.)

So, you see the United States of America has great influence on the lives of all ordinary Australians. Sure, we can exercise our rights at the upcoming Australian Federal election, but this will do little. Both Labour and Liberal are very much the same when it comes to standing up to the bully tactics of the United States. The fact is; we are too small. Economically, Australia can not afford to resist America. No matter who we vote for in the Australia election, we will still get the President of the United States of America. Is it not only fair that we be given a vote?