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To: GraceZ who wrote (17497)	2/18/2004 1:03:11 PM
From: Elroy Jetson	Respond to of 306849

It is very likely that American medicine is the world's best at treating gunshot wounds. Guns are much less available in Australia so their quality of life is lower in that aspect. Gunshot wounds in Australia are far more likely to be fatal. Gunshots wounds tend to be more prevelent in the Asian and Middle Eastern immigrant communities. As any addiction expert would expect, their rate of drugs addiction is fairly similar to that of America, although their preferred drugs are different. Ecstasy and amphetamine use is higher. Drugs like Vicodin are inexpensively available without a prescription at any pharmacy. In spite of a vigorous effort to eliminate the availability of barbiturates and Valium like drugs, their usage in Australia is estimate to be similar to that in America. As in many countries in Europe, Heroin addicts have access to relatively in expensive Heroin and free needles and syringes. In spite of the low price of Heroin and Heroin substitutes, the rate of heroin addiction is no higher than in America. The incidence of Heroin addiction is seemingly constant but the demand is highly price inelastic, shall we say. The Howard administration is increasingly uncomfortable with the government funded injection centers, so there is still a chance Australia can turn Heroin addiction into a major social problem. Alcohol consumption is higher but the penalties for drink driving are rather draconian. The penalties for drink driving in the U.S. only become severe once you have caused an accident.

To: GraceZ who wrote (17497)	2/18/2004 1:14:45 PM
From: KyrosL	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 306849

My back of the envelope calculation shows that the higher US murder rate compared to other industrialized countries (the difference is around 4 extra murders per year per 100,000 people) decrease US life expectancy by around 2 months.

To: GraceZ who wrote (17497)	2/19/2004 6:39:09 AM
From: Elroy Jetson	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 306849

I mentioned that penalties for drink driving in Australia are draconian in comparison with America. Here is a comparison between California and New South Wales. Other Australian states are more restrictive. Blood Alcohol .05 First Offense California: Legal Australia : First Offense: $1,100 fine & 6 month driving suspension Second Offense California: Legal Australia : Second Offense: $2,200 fine & 12 month driving suspension Blood Alcohol .08 First Offense California: $1,000 fine & limited driving for 3 months Australia : $2,200 fine & 9 months imprisonment & 12 month driving suspension Second Offense California: $1,000 fine & 1.5 year driving suspension Australia : $3,300 fine & 12 months imprisonment & 3 year driving suspension Blood Alcohol .15 First Offense California: $1,000 fine plus limited driving for 3 months Australia : First Offense $3,300 fine & 1.5 years imprisonment & 3 year driving suspension Second Offense California: $1,000 fine & 18 month driving suspension Australia : Second Offense $5,500 fine & 2 years imprisonment & 5 year driving suspension

To: GraceZ who wrote (17497)	2/20/2004 12:30:43 AM
From: Elroy Jetson	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 306849

When you go out for the evening with Australians, one difference you notice immediately is that everyone takes a cab, even in country towns. As everyone likes to drink, and no one wanting to spend nine months in prison, leaving their cars at home is entirely reasonable. Some friends of mine from East Hampstead discovered this when Alun was arrested for drink driving in Sydney shortly after arriving. They would be living there for a year to avoid UK taxes. The judge was more lenient with him, as a tourist from the U.K., and he spent only three months in prison with six months of weekly supervised probation. Of course he lost his Driving License for twelve months - or in this case until he departed for London. I find this approach entirely reasonable. People make the decision not to drive before they start drinking. Or in this case, it meant I did all of the driving.