Raising Australia's IQ Through Immigration (It's a joke, folks)

@JudyEv (328703)
Rockingham, Australia
May 20, 2017 10:41pm CST
I’ve just read a post by Val (@valmnz) giving us a few facts about her home country, New Zealand. Being relatively close to Australia, our two countries have had a long and close association. Val’s post brought to mind one of my favourite stories about New Zealand (NZ). It involved Rob Muldoon who served as NZ’s Prime Minister from 1975 to 1984. Sometime during his term of office, New Zealanders were flocking to Australia looking for work. However many were also signing on for welfare, thus causing a bit of a problem for Australia. When a journalist quizzed Muldoon about this state of affairs, he replied that he thought the the migration of so many of his countrymen to Australia was a very good thing. When asked why, he said it was raising the average IQ of both countries. Gotta love a clever quip! And a photo of sheep (Monty and Baasil) as NZ has many more sheep than people. Here's the link to Val's post.
New Zealand is a long way away from most the homes of most myLot readers, I don't think some realise just how far south we are. Nor how tiny we are. So, I've...
34 people like this
35 responses
• Otis Orchards, Washington
21 May 17
When immigrates to the U.S. apply for citizenship they have to answer questions most Americans can't even answer.
6 people like this
• Otis Orchards, Washington
21 May 17
@JudyEv I think nearly every country had a policy to keep certain people of the their country at one time or another.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
@RichardMeister Yes, I guess so. Some countries get a bit paranoid from time to time.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
Years ago, we had a 'White Australia' policy and, if the authorities didn't want to let someone into the country, the questions would be asked in a language the applicant didn't understand.
5 people like this
@jstory07 (134846)
• Roseburg, Oregon
21 May 17
That's funny if you can not get help in one country go to another one.
6 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
Yes, there was a loophole somewhere. I think they've stopped it now.
2 people like this
@Shavkat (137310)
• Philippines
21 May 17
The sheep are so cute.
4 people like this
@Shavkat (137310)
• Philippines
21 May 17
@JudyEv Do you sell some of them?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
@Shavkat I don't have enough to sell and they are pets just like a cat or a dog so there is no way I could sell them.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
We've had one or two or more pet sheep for ages now.
4 people like this
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
21 May 17
You're in a cheeky mood today! Yes, I remember Muldoon saying that. Thanks for the link
4 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
It was very clever, wasn't it? And you're welcome.
4 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (49470)
• United States
21 May 17
Those sheep have some very thick wool.
5 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
They do, don't they? Baasil (on the right) hated being on a lead. She found it very degrading I think.
3 people like this
@magnumopus (1647)
• Singapore
21 May 17
That's a good joke.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
I thought it was very clever.
2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
21 May 17
Typical British humor Do they also export sheep to Australia? These too are looking like tough guys.
3 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
21 May 17
@JudyEv I don't know many animals happy to see a leash. Maybe a few pervert dogs.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
Except it was NZ - but like us, many of them are 'colonials'. Monty and Baasil were very nice characters although I think Baasil (on the right) is offended at being put on a lead.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
@topffer You're right of course but you could tell by Baasil's expression that she wasn't happy about it.
2 people like this
• United States
22 May 17
That was a quick come back answer.
3 people like this
• United States
22 May 17
@JudyEv Yes it was Judy..love the old sheep
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 May 17
Very quick wasn't it? So clever.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (462783)
• Switzerland
21 May 17
This is very funny Judy. I knew that in Australia there are many more sheep than people and the two pictured are cute sheep.
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45788)
• India
22 May 17
@JudyEv Yes it was very clever indeed!
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (462783)
• Switzerland
22 May 17
@JudyEv Yes, it was a clever response.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
It was a clever response wasn't it?
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64360)
• United Kingdom
21 May 17
Very clever response
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
I hope he was wrong!
2 people like this
@Ceerios (4698)
• Goodfellow, Texas
21 May 17
@JudyEv - Ms Judy - I had already replied to your fine post here. Then I stepped out of my little work room and my 2-year-old great-grandaughter stepped into the room without me knowing that she was in here. She did a number on the computer - turned it off - removed one of the disks - and so forth. So - back again. Computer on. Remember that earlier response. You know the drill, right? This little girl frightens me. She is obviously way far out in front of anything I might imagine of "techie" in a wee little kid. Back to my now missing response of earlier moments. Muldoon is my kind of guy. For certain, the people of Australia AND New Zealand all thought well of his comment. And I think well of you for posting it here. -Gus-
3 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
Don't worry. Your little great grand-daughter will be of great benefit to you in a few years when she'll be able to solve all your technical problems! I think Aussies (and probably NZers as well) would all be impressed by such a clever remark. You couldn't really take offence at it.
3 people like this
@xFiacre (12586)
• Ireland
21 May 17
@judyev That's hilarious!!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
I thought so. It's very clever.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (12586)
• Ireland
21 May 17
@JudyEv Don't you just wish you could come up with one-liners like that.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
@xFiacre Oh yes! Definitely. Churchill was pretty quick on the uptake too wasn't he?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (119118)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 May 17
That was a funny quote from Muldoon!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (119118)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 May 17
@JudyEv Well, let me ask you something...did it raise the average IQ of Australia, or not? haha
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
@moffittjc Um, duh, What's IQ stand for?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
You had to give him points for a clever answer.
2 people like this
@just4him (310766)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
21 May 17
That is funny!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
On the spur of the moment like that - you have to admire him.
2 people like this
@1hopefulman (45121)
• Canada
21 May 17
Very clever quip! I also liked the expression "flocking to Australia." Very appropriate description.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
Haha. I didn't think about 'flocking to Australia'.
2 people like this
@MALUSE (69388)
• Germany
21 May 17
The sheep look like pompoms.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
They were probably due to be shorn.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (29269)
• United Kingdom
21 May 17
A quick way to offend the inhabitants of two countries at once! How did that go down at home?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
I think most people just thought it was very funny. They applauded his cleverness and laughed about it. I don't remember anyone being offended.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
21 May 17
Very funny.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
I thought it was very clever - to be able to think so quickly and turn a negative question into such a positive answer.
1 person likes this
• Banks, Oregon
21 May 17
How clever
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
It is clever isn't it? And he wouldn't have had time to think about it much.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109848)
• Los Angeles, California
21 May 17
Monty and Baasil could use a shear!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (328703)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 May 17
Yes, they look a bit 'woolly' don't they?
2 people like this