Lonely Planet politics

A line from the Good Mail in Queensland’s Sunday Mail that the journalist finds amusing as it feeds her prejudices.

COLLEAGUE and a friend planning a trip to Indonesia picked up a copy of Lonely Planet’s Indonesian phrase book. Both were tickled by the appearance of a translation for “I am Australian but I didn’t vote for John Howard”.

Michelle Collins, the journalist who compiles the Good Mail knows full well that Tony and Maureen Wheeler, the owners of The Lonley Planet, are anti-US/Bush/Howard activists so she has obviously included the line simply to fit in an undergrad anti John Howard giggle. The Lonely Planet series are of good value for travellers but whenever they touch on politics readers need to be aware of their slanted views. Travelling the hippy trail does that for you. Check Tony Wheelder’s blog and rejoice at his enlightend approach to politics.