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Woz Applying For Australian Citizenship Because of the NBN
An anonymous reader writes "It's a well known fact that Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is a fan of Australia and now we know why. He supports a national broadband network — a scheme being rolled out by the Australian government to provide fibre 'for everyone' — so much he's applying for citizenship, the Australian Financial Review reports. You can be assured that he's not giving up his American citizenship though, he told Brisbane radio."
And for U.S. citizens: "Despite his status as a technology icon, Mr Wozniak said he was not connected to a broadband service in his home in California, classing the options available to him as a 'monopoly.' 'There’s only one set of wires to be on and I’m not going to pull strings to get them to do something special for me,' he said .... 'I've sat with our FCC commissioner and told him that story in his office, but it’s not going to happen. We just don’t have the political idea to bring broadband to all the people who are 1 kilometer too far away.'"
You could Google dual citizenship and check the first result: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1753.html
>Er, wait... did you guys do anything about all those deadly creatures crawling around your city streets?
What, Bogans? They only think that they're dangerous.
I actually believe allegiance to country is a silly concept. I was born in Canada, but I have lived all over. I will go where I see the most benefit for me and my family. I have no allegiance to Canada beyond wishing her well. I have one life, I will not spend it fussing over imaginary lines in the dirt.
Australia is a nation built on immigration and welcomes those who aspire to the Australian way of life, in the same way as the Puritans, Unitarians, Amish and other religious folks left Europe for the American Colonies all those centuries ago, rather than fighting tooth and nail for religious freedom in the countries of their birth. Conversely, guys like Rupert Murdoch and Mel Gibson are also welcome to fuck off at their own pleasure.
American born Australians are welcome to participate and integrate fully into Australian public life, we even had an American born Premier of New South Wales recently.
This is the Australia of the past, where the displaced Greeks and Itailians came in droves after the war, the 10 pound poms after them seeking a better life on our fair shores. All this started turning around in the 80s as demonstrated in the documentary Romper Stomper.
The Australia of today is a very different place where immigrants are treated with disgust and suspicion, the evil brown people are accused of turking jerbs, you're told to Fit In or Fuck Off, because all the immigrants need to Fuck Off Were Full, or so the stickers on the back of chevrodores keep telling us. I mean how can the Bogan have 3 kids and if we're that full. How can the Bogan afford his jet ski and McMansion if the Abbos keep taking all his tax money, after deduction he's already taxed at 20% which barely pays for the money the government gives him for child care.
How is the Bogan supposed to drink a bottle of Jimmy and threaten to "smash" everyone on his stumble home if this keeps happening. Wont someone think of the Bogan?
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
Emergency Kit = Australia has extremely good emergency response (SES, Fire Services, Police, Ambulance Services) for everyone.
Basic Medical Care = Medicare. Quality health care for anyone all billed directly to the government.
Place to Live = Low homeless rate and good quality government housing.
Proper Nutritional Assistance = Covered under Medicare
Bomb Shelter = We aren't paranoid.
Gun = Don't want em.
Efficient Car = Some excellent cars available if people want them, but many still drive SUVs or low efficient cars through choice.
Water Filtration System = We have excellent tap water in most cities. One exception, and they have alternatives in place.
Money off their taxes = We have a AAA economy still.
Vote that actually counts = Compulsory voting and our representatives will generally talk to us if we need them to.
Additional Insulation = Been there, was a waste of money.
Own surveillance and security system = What now? See point 1.
Money = AAA economy. Strong dollar.
Food talks = We produce most of our own food and export almost as much again.
Looks like we covered your bases. Time to build us an Internet that's better.
This "well known fact" is news to me.
I have not applied for Australian citizenship but have taken some first steps towards it. I would very gladly be a devoted and loyal Australian. This has nothing to do with the NBN, which I do praise in concept, regardless of whether it even exists. I would love to be an Australian even with lower bandwidth like I have today in the States. I do applaud any attempts toward inclusion of all. For things as important as broadband, we should deal with our fellows as family and take care of those who just live in the wrong place. That's my personal opinion but it has nothing to do with why I would love to reside in Australia.
Cheers, mates
OK a new size TV
I'd argue that Canada and Australia, despite their vast physical separation, and despite variations in detail (eg: they love rugby and we love hockey - but we both love "our" sports) are remarkably similar in general. We share many themes (commonwealth, beer, sports, left/liberal/egalitarian society, native/aboriginal influences, native/aboriginal issues, sense of humour, cultural inferiority complex, etc) for being so very different in specifics. We're a sort of mirror image of each other, and there's almost a natural fit between the two nations as a result.
Whatever happens, even in the unlikely circumstance that the Australian Government should capriciously grant him citizenship, he will have to deal with a monopoly. Seems to me that for a supposedly smart guy, Woz hasn't thought this through.
To elaborate,
(1) When I migrated to Australia in 1987, the typical procedure was to apply through an Australian Consulate for a migrant visa, which after a qualifying period, was upgraded to permanent resident status. Only after a period of two years was it possible to apply for Australian citizenship. I am given to understand that conditions for such an application are now much stricter and more onerous.
(2) The NBN (although IMO a very nice idea) is being implemented very patchily, and has never enjoyed the support of the opposition party in Federal Parliament, so may well end up being shitcanned after the next election, leaving the majority of households to fight for whatever best connection they can find, exactly as before. If Woz chooses to live close to a metropolitan area, he is likely to find a good ADSL2 connection from one or other of the major players such as Internode or iiNet, but that might be as good as he'll get.
Wouldn't have taken much research to find out this is no longer the case. First hit on Google:
http://www.citizenship.gov.au/current/dual_citizenship/
Basically prior to April 2002, you are correct - Australian citizenship was lost if you acquired a different citizenship. But for the last 10 years, that has not been true - dual citizenship is recognised and perfectly OK now.