PD has spent time in Poland and in Australia, and the contrast is wide. In the COVID-19 era Poland’s restrictions were minor in comparison to Australia’s draconian restrictions which saw its citizens who were abroad locked out of the country and those within it in house arrest for the longest period of any state, and culminating in the shooting of unarmed protesters in the back at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance. Australia’s restrictions have been lifted however the psychological and financial toll on the population shows. In general, the population appears depressed, and suffering from government instituted crises in jobs, housing and increasing taxes. The government has embarked on Australia’s biggest ever immigration program which will worsen the job and housing crisis. To make matters worse, Australia’s are taught in schools to hate themselves and their country. The future looks bleak. In contrast, the general mood of the population in Poland is upbeat, people are taught to love the country and the economy is growing at twice the rate of Australia’s. Inflation is higher than in Australia however taking everything together this is a happy country despite the war on its doorstep. The contrast with Australia, a once happy, proud and successful country, could not be greater. [Photograph: Police in Australia shooting at unarmed civilians during Covid-19 protests]