Why does Australia ban Everything?

[killcomic]

Why not ban all dogs then, and how do you plan on handling illegal dog fighting rings?

Because they are not aggressive breeds. 

[murratri]

But they usually earn more too. Australia is more expensive, but we earn way more. That's how the ball rolls.

Except when you get less businesses do to your taxes.

[VMaxMuffin]

Australia is weird sometimes.

 

My personal pet peeve is Australia's approach to young drivers, as a young car fanatic. For context, I do amateur motorsport, so that gives you a bit of an idea of how it is for me.

 

Now, in most countries (to my knowledge), the system for young drivers is that once you reach a certain age, you can get a learner's permit, then once you pass a test you're free to go on the road. However, the systems in Australia are much more restrictive - although it varies state by state and some are more relaxed than others.

 

In my home state, South Australia, once you turn 16 you can get your Learner's Permit (or "L-Plates", due to the yellow plate with a black L that you must display on the front and rear of the cars). As a learner driver, you are restricted to a maximum of 100km/h (a little over 60mph) at all times (note that the maximum of all of South Australia is 110km/h), and must have a supervising driver (person who's been on a full licence for more than 2 years) in the passanger's seat. There are other restrictions too, such as having a 0 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). Seems reasonably fair, but the kicker is that you have to spend 12 months like this. The argument is that you gain experience like this, but in reality I was driving fine after 4 months (better than many people on the road here, we have a lot of crap drivers). Of course, I'm probably an exception given my background, but that's not really the point.

 

Next, you pass your practical driving test, and then you're on your Probationary Licence Level 1 (or "P-plates", due to the white plate with a red P you must display, again front and rear). Now, you can drive on your own - but you're still limited to 100km/h (which can be a problem when driving on highways because you force people to cross to the other side of the road to overtake) and a 0 BAC (still fair, IMHO). However, the real kicker is some new rules they've just brought in - you can only carry one passenger between 16 and 20 (excluding immediate family, i.e. brothers and sisters) and you are not allowed to drive from 12am to 5am. But it gets worse - at least for people like me. There are rules on the vehicles you can drive, but basically it boils down to no performance cars and no cars with performance enhancing modifications (including little stuff, like a different exhaust muffler). Not a problem for many, but as an amateur motorsport competitor, it's a big one because it means I can't drive modified cars to the track. How long like this? Well, for me it's 1 year, but it's now 2 for people who didn't get their P-plates before this change was made.

 

The next stage is Probationary Licence Level 2 ("P2s"). Basically, this is the same for P-plates, but without having to display P-plates, being able to carry as many 16-20 passengers as you want, and being able to drive between 12am and 5am. Still limited in terms of cars and speed. And this is another whole year, before you can finally graduate to a full licence.

 

Now, I understand the importance of reducing deaths of young drivers on the road and so on, but it's just so overly regulated. Plus, it punishes the 99% of capable, safe, law-abiding drivers and the remaining 1% will still break the law and act as they did anyway. Meanwhile, there is very little driver education at all. I know lots about car control, reading road conditions, and understanding where the limits are due to my track experience. However, I have many friends who simply have no idea. Having track experience doesn't automatically make me a good driver on the road, but I've learned a lot from it and find that it makes me a safer driver overall compared to the many learner drivers who drive too slow when they really don't need too (because it's "safe", despite aggravating other drivers and disrupting traffic flow, and then too fast in other scenarios when they crash...).

 

Finally, I couldn't resist posting this. When the last round of changes were made (longer P-plate period, no driving 12am-5am, only one passenger 16-20), they used this photo as an advertisement:

 

Am I the only one who just thought that this was a perfect example of the unnecessarily high nannying that they apply to learner drivers? I just couldn't stop laughing, and neither could my parents.

 

Like I said, I'm probably an exception in terms of driving skill and knowledge for my age, and I still agree that there needs to be some level of protection for young drivers - it's just way too over-regulated as it is.

[AlwaysFSX]

Because they are not aggressive breeds. 

No dog is naturally aggressive?!

[killcomic]

Except when you get less businesses do to your taxes.

Whu?

[murratri]

Because they are not aggressive breeds.

And neither are pit bulls. Any dog can be aggressive if poorly handled and trained, and what about chihuahuas which tend to be very aggressive

[killcomic]

No dog is naturally aggressive?!

Some breeds are less aggressive than others. You think all dog breeds are the same?

[killcomic]

And neither are pit bulls. Any dog can be aggressive if poorly handled and trained, and what about chihuahuas which tend to be very aggressive

Yeah, Chihuahuas. They will give your shoes a nasty puncture.

[AlwaysFSX]

Some breeds are less aggressive than others. You think all dog breeds are the same?

No, but dogs do not naturally kill everything in sight unless you teach them to. A pitbull is one of those dogs that is extremely loving and wouldn't hurt anything.

[murratri]

Whu?

If you own a medium to large company like say a snack shack would you want to be some where with high or low taxes?

[AlwaysFSX]

If you own a medium to large company like say a snack shack would you want to be some where with high or low taxes?

High obviously, to pay for that free healthcare.

 

<_<

[SirRoderick]

Its not about need its about getting what you have earned and what would otherwise be spent in the private sector.

 

I don't know man, but all of us evil socialist countries appear to have thriving private sectors without all of that.

 

I for one am horryfied by the idea of a for profit hospital.

[killcomic]

No, but dogs do not naturally kill everything in sight unless you teach them to. A pitbull is one of those dogs that is extremely loving and wouldn't hurt anything.

It's great that you think that but I think I'll believe the animal behaviorists instead.

[SirRoderick]

High obviously, to pay for that free healthcare.

 

<_<

Same argument as above, our companies are in no hurry to leave.

[murratri]

High obviously, to pay for that free healthcare.

<_<

If you were a man only wanting to make money-like a real ceo- would you though?

[killcomic]

If you own a medium to large company like say a snack shack would you want to be some where with high or low taxes?

But large companies get tax benefits to allow them to profit. I don't see the massive amount of businesses (from small to large) in Australia running scared from our tax system.

[DIV1D3]

Thats my plan, become president and get some real freedom all up in this bitch

President of Australia??? That'd be interesting lol.

[AlwaysFSX]

It's great that you think that but I think I'll believe the animal behaviorists instead.

You're one of those dense people, aren't you? I've been around enough pitbulls raised by people that know what they're doing and their dogs are awesome. Wouldn't do anything to hurt a person, even a random stranger going up to the door.

 

Same argument as above, our companies are in no hurry to leave.

Non relevant answer?

[AlwaysFSX]

If you were a man only wanting to make money-like a real ceo- would you though?

Of course not, sarcasm was shown with  <_<

 

[murratri]

President of Australia??? That'd be interesting lol.

No of 'Murica, that's where i live.

[murratri]

Of course not, sarcasm was shown with  <_<

 

I guess I didnt see it

[killcomic]

You're one of those dense people, aren't you? I've been around enough pitbulls raised by people that know what they're doing and their dogs are awesome. Wouldn't do anything to hurt a person, even a random stranger going up to the door.

 

Dense because I don't take the word of some random guy on the internet that likes pitbulls? 

[SirRoderick]

 

Non relevant answer?

Thought you were arguing that companies would actively seek out lower taxes to the degree that it would be harmful, sorry if I misunderstood. Sarcasm!

[AlwaysFSX]

Dense because I don't take the word of some random guy on the internet that likes pitbulls? 

I don't like pitbulls, but I understand the reason it's stupid to ban people from owning them.

 

I don't even like dogs in general.

[SirRoderick]

Dense because I don't take the word of some random guy on the internet that likes pitbulls? 

Pitbulls are pretty friendly overall, but you can train them to be REAL nasty. I think that goes for most if not all animals though...and humans.