1. The American war of independence was partly triggered by resistance from black market beneficiaries of the tea trade and it was their resistance to the Brits actually reducing taxes on tea imports that triggered unrest. There is a profound black market in tobacco in Australia as we speak due to a $1.30 excise per cigarette, leading to a growing spate of gun violence amongst gangs competing for market share. If an Australian government reduces this excise, will these armed groups provide resistance against the established authorities as they did 250 years ago?
2. The decline of the British Empire was in part due to its growing shame in its status as a worldly force, a shame that Ferguson contends that the USA shares today. This might be changing due to the patriotic resurgence under Donald Trump in his efforts to confederate Greenland and even Canada.
3. Australia’s prime minister at the end of World War One was the greatest proponent amongst Allied leaders for severe reparations upon the Axis powers. Billy Hughes claimed 464 million pounds (or 30 billion pounds in today’s money), but by 1931 had only claimed five and a half million pounds. Australia had lost 60,000 lives in the conflict, but perhaps this was an early case of the grifter affliction that now pervades Australian society – across the dozens of taxes in Australia it is estimated that over half of the average worker’s wealth is taken by the government.
4. The Australian soldiers in WW1 were renowned for their “ferocity” in battle, as well as the Scots from their native highlands. Can it be concluded that harsh environments can breed the best soldiers? Dagestani fighters from mountainous regions of Russia are dominating in the Ultimate Fighting Championship right now. In 1914 around 40% of men lived outside of major cities in Australia – now it’s about 10%.
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