The moment we discuss resource tax reforms in Australia the mineral lobby will stage a coup and remove the PM. It is a stain on our democracy. Nothing anyone can do about it. They own the country and we just live here and do what we are told.
I love NZ very much. Wonderful people and amazing natural geography. But Australia has higher incomes and more career opportunities and would still be considered a huge career downgrade for many US citizens which probably still favors relocation to the more liberal US cities/states. The city/inner burbs of the major Aus cities are going to be reasonably liberal (in the American sense) and very multicultural probably more so than most of New Zealand outside Aukland. Aus has ridiculously high immigration rates but can be difficult to qualify. NZ currently has a conservative government keeping the divisive culture wars alive while Australia has a centrist Labor federal government as do the majority of Australian states.
Even with growing disparity between the ultra wealthy and regular people most people in developed countries still score very highly for human development with a lot of freedoms, access to health, education and live reasonably prosperous lives by historical standards.
Its been a long time since most of us saw widespread famine or war or plagues decimating our populations. There is good reason to demand more social and economic progress which you would think would increase the appeal of that and not the politics of self destruction. There is no sane reason to burn it all down for most people.
Yet fascism still seems to be in a massive resurgence. Something really odd is happening. There is a huge information war that has seriously undermined society. It has taken over many religious groups, outsider groups like conspiracy believers and alt health, and conservative leaning parties. It is in online gaming and image boards and normie social media. It preys on socially immature young men, appealing to their insecurities. It preys on people looking for spiritual connections and community. Seeing peace and love hippies standing side by side with Christians and full on Nazis is fucking weird but I saw it during COVID.
The fascists were always there but they were not a political force and there is no reason they should ever be again. Not sure why it is happening or why we are letting it happen. It is certainly not in our interests. It always ends badly.