In an article published today, one of the [other John Augusts](http://johnaugust.com/archives/2004/my-namesake-also-a-screenwriter) argues persuasively that [the states should be abolished](http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=3705).
Before you take up arms against him, you should know that he’s Australian, and he’s talking about “states” like New South Wales and Queensland. Which sound like made-up [Risk](http://www.thegamesjournal.com/articles/Risk.shtml) territories, if you ask me.
It’s important that you not be confused by the other side’s rhetoric. For instance, listening to them you might think all of the members of [Beyond Federation](http://www.beyondfederation.org.au/)…
* are cheering Howard;
* hail from Whitlam;
* claim a monopoly on wisdom;
* only have advocates in New South Wales and Victoria;
* ignore the need for independent regional initiative;
* refuse to acknowledge population differences within Australia;
* and are “centralists”.
I have no idea what this means.
Ever since I first fired up Netscape lo these many years ago, I’ve been following the career of this other John August like he’s my long-lost brother. (He’s not, incidently.) I’ve seen him posting in scientific Usenet groups. Once, he even acknowledged that there’s an American screenwriter with whom he shares a name.
But what to make of his desire to abolish the Australian states? Is he a Socialist, a conservative, a progressive, a forward-thinker, a wacko? I don’t know, because I have zero understanding of Australian politics.
From the picture, he looks like a friendly sort, capable of telling jokes that a specific subset of friends would find hilarious. (For instance, people who know Monty Python backwards-and-forwards.) Also worth noting: he seems to have more hair than he knows what to do with. I do not.
I guess I’m saying, I want him to be good. I don’t need an evil twin. That’s what my subconscious is for.
[His name is my name, too](http://johnaugust.com/archives/2004/my-namesake-also-a-screenwriter)