My previous post - in case you didn't realise - was suppose to be read with Australia in mind. The fact that America struggles to see the big picture is also a potential flaw in this country. As a country we need to start thinking about how we fit into the "system". By "system", of course I mean the world - not just in a political sense (not even) but more so how we operate as a nation with our neighbours and other countries in mind. Some may think, "why worry about others?" It's not so much "worrying" about others e.g. I don't consult my next door neighbour about what I'm having for dinner, but I will let them know if I am going to have a large party just so they can expect a few more cars parked in the street etc....
So too it goes with countries in our region. A good neighbour will operate in a manner that considers others. What about our neighbours like, PNG, NZ, Indonesia, Pacific Islands - how do we treat them? I'm a little upset by Australian mining operations in PNG (for example). Some of the actions of mining companies are akin to having a bad guest for dinner - they arrive, accept your hospitality, eat lots, drink lots and leave you with empty glasses and dirty plates - having got what they came for. I think Australia needs to be a better neighbour, and we need to re-think how we relate and behave in our region.
