Hanging On To Australia, Too Hard For Royalty

It's going to be quite a strain, an energy sapping struggle
for the monarchy to retain it's position in australian life.

Donald4564...

Australians voted in 1999 to retain the monarchy.

Perhaps in 2099 the question could be put again? I think that most
Australians are of the opinion that there are a number of more
important issues to be concerned with other than tinkering around with
our system of Government which has worked extraordinarily well since
1901.

I think that a common bond still exists between Australia and the
United Kingdom and that there is a mutual affection. After all we have
shared so much together. This though doesn't inhibit us from going in
differeing directions.

Finally one must look at what has happened immediately afterwards to a
majority of those nations who have given up their monarchies.

Donald Binks

Brian Pears...

There will be no struggle whatsoever. I doubt that the Queen cares
much one way or the other and the British people certainly don't.
If a majority of Australians want a republic then that is what
they'll get - I'm not convinced that is the case but whatever
happens, it bothers me not a jot. At least as a republic the
whingers wouldn't be able to blame others for their own failings.

CJ Buyers...

That is very unlikely.

One particular school teaches about all the evils of colonialsm towards
the aboriginals, seizure of land and so on, as if once those things
were done, the evil Brits then packed their bags and went off to
Britain. Nothing whatever to do with the good Aussies, noble fighters
against colonialsm all the while. While being noble fighters against
colonialsm, of course, they also fought all Britain's wars for her. I
doubt any of that is going to change just because they happen to dump
the monarch as head of state.

mikejames...

The group that won indepence in 13 of 18 British colonies of North
America decided on a republic. Look at a news cast, and see if things
are so wonderful there. Does having an elected head of state in lieu

Joseph McMillan...

We're getting along tolerably well over here, thanks for asking. How's

CJ Buyers...

Last I heard people were trying to blow you up.

everything back in the old UK...things going all right? Everybody one

CJ Buyers...

Not really. People are trying to blow us up, because we are too close
to you know who.

big happy family of subjects of the Queen?

CJ Buyers...

Well, last I heard the opinion polls gave her a resounding 70+ percent.

When was the last time a US president received that sort of support?

of an elected head of government guarantee that all is well in the land?

Joseph McMillan...

We have both, actually, combined in one person. Does having an elected
head of government and a hereditary head of state furnish any
guarantees?

Their head of state is representative of one party, not the whole nation.

Joseph McMillan...

For some reason I've never been able to fathom, subjects of
monarchies--in which one can be a supporter of the Crown without
particularly liking the person on the throne--often fail to comprehend
that citizens of republics distinguish between their institutions, like
the presidency, and the temporary incumbents, like presidents. A US
President represents the entire nation, not just his party, because he
is chosen by a Constitutional process to which Americans are
overwhelmingly committed.

CJ Buyers...

Yeah right. The people of New Orleans learned just how well he
represented them, did they not?

By the way, what is the percentage of the electorate that participates
in presidential elections these days?

Our head of state is representative of the whole nation. The prime
ministers gets the flack.

Joseph McMillan...

Judging from the tabloid press and this news group, I'd say the royal
family gets more than its fair share of the flack as well. But the
thread has to do with Australia: is the Queen representative of the
Australian nation?

CJ Buyers...

Why would she not be?

coffeecup...

Because, she brought into the world a frog prince, who
would be King. What a usurper, that would be!

Joseph McMillan

The last shreds of british rule, the british legacy, like
the flag, torn, beating in the wind, the queens
profile etched onto our minds, the coins, the ugly mark
of politics on our thoughts, feelings, those of authority,
besmirched with grime, time, malice. The number of
lives so injured by failed law, by institutions destroying
their own, the pernicious effects of profittering power-
mongers. These things in our imaginings cannot be
sundered from the margin, the line of rule, triumph of
historical precendent, the making of what we are, and
what we could be, what we would like to be, stamped
by the imperitives of a distant, dessicated of wisdom,
throne.