Mike, a great deal of what you say strikes a chord and I'll just add, what I thought I'd never say about this country:
Whether it be your restaurant scenario (all too often), the roads we drive on & how, education standards, productivity, etc, etc, the very fabric of Aust life, we have been progressively dumbed down to mediocrity, and quite frankly a lot of it started under Howard's final terms.
Been fortunate enough to have spent 2/3 months a year in US/Eu/Asia for the past 20 and so many of the things I used to look forward to coming home for, I now look forward to going OS for. Bizarre.
We are so proud of that "Oz free spirit" but from my perspective it has a hollow ring, wrapped up in political correctness amid a relentless drive to the lowest common denominator. "Oz wrapped in cotton wool".
Hopefully not delusional but this Abbott bloke gives me optimism for change, a fair & frank discussion, just reward for effort & risk, a leg up for people to help themselves and real compassion.
Time will tell, but I'll celebrate the future of the country and what it can achieve tonight.
