With Howard GONE [yippee!] and pro-republican Turnbully the front-runner for Liberal leadership in opposition, the republican debate is heating up again.
No doubt Mal the Pal would love to be our 1st President. Would you support a model for the republic with a powerful, independently-elected President, similar to the US system?
2007-11-28 09:58:52 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
To clarfiy: my own view is pro-republican, but opposed to an elected president.
2007-11-28 10:40:00 · update #1
Note small "r" on "republican"!
2007-11-28 10:46:17 · update #2
HEAR HEAR DICK E!! I'd rather hug the Queen too!
2007-11-29 12:25:12 · update #3
No I would not support it. At least if an Australian Prime Minister starts losing their grip, the party can change the leader. Long may it stay that way.
Americans have no such luxury, only impeachment can achieve the same result, and for it to succeed it needs a two thirds majority in the Senate iirc.
2007-11-28 10:22:41 · answer #1 · answered by Twilight 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am for Australia becoming a republic because we are a great country which should stand proud and not be "ruled" by the descendants of some byegone feudal system. Not that they have any power here but it is the principle.
I certainly don't want us to adopt the American system of giving so much power to one man or the ballyhoo they attach to the office. What we need is somebody to perform the duties of the current Governor General, and with much the same powers, but is known to have been elected by the people so that he/she is known to represent us all.
I would never support an American style president and I suspect there are very few Aussies who would as it seems to be a highly discredited form of government.
2007-11-28 20:30:35 · answer #2 · answered by Ted T 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Naw, I'm not keen on that model.
While personally neither particularly for or anti 'republican-ism', I do think our current system is working OK at the moment and am not in favour of change for change's sake.
I'd rather let this type of thing evolve gradually in response to the needs and wants of the population. I don't know that the monarchy has a lot of 'go' left in it, but it seems to me that most Australians at this stage of our history are pleased to have a head of state who is distant, non-interfering and reasonably presentable.
A popularly elected president seems to carry its own baggage of eternal 'electioneering' and populist politicking, while a president elected by Parliament from a field of 'prominent persons' could well be lacking in an understanding of ordinary life, as many judges tend to become after a period of time in the elevated circles of the bench.
For now, the Queen does a great job, imo, but I'm sure the day will come when Australians find they wish a new, or different system.
Perhaps by then our boundless creativity and 'newness' as a society and culture will have led to the development of a system that is neither republican parliamentary or monarchical, but something unique to ourselves, home grown and fitting for the future nation we will be.
Cheers :-)
2007-11-28 13:08:13 · answer #3 · answered by thing55000 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No British Commonwealth nation should.
It is far too hard to get rid of an American president. Impeachment hearings are quite rare, in case you haven't noticed. In any event, there is too much power concentrated at the executive branch in the US system. This will unavoidably lead to abuse.
No doubt the British commonwealth system has its flaws. In Canada, I know that the Senate might as well be disbanded. The Senate in all nations, I think, should be with elections, not appointed by some prime minister.
Overall though, at least there is a serious chance of getting rid of people that shouldn't be in power, unlike in the US system.
2007-11-28 10:30:06 · answer #4 · answered by ch_ris_l 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
As Thing says, Let us not rush into it. We need time to find out the best way to go about installing a President. Let's not have the same style of election as our American friends have. They are one year out from voting and already the hype has started. Could you imagine Turnbully running for our President? Never mind climate change, the methane gas generated from all the B/S spoken would undo the Kyoto agreement completely. Imagine having someone like Turnbull running for the position. It is enough to make me turn into a Monarchist and hug the Queen.
2007-11-28 16:34:27 · answer #5 · answered by Dick E knee 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am a staunch Republican, but I would not like top see an "American-style" president for Australia.
If, and when we have a republic and therefore a president, I hope that either (a) he is elected from the ruling political party at the time, similarly to the current PM is elected, or (b) if the president is "appointed" as is the current Governor-General.
2007-11-28 10:09:01 · answer #6 · answered by Walter B 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
i am from America now living in Australia and from what i understand Australia is still under the rule of the queen of England.... in all my working years in the states having a president isn't all its cracked up to be...
you work your *** off and get no where in life... you are always living on a wing and a prayer... if by chance you do end up with more money than god some one will always try to take it from you... look at all the people in the recent past that have gone to court and lost their millions because some body said you molested them (Michele Jackson) or you killed their son and your wife.... ( sorry cant remember his name) these people worked their whole life to get where they are and the greedy people in govt were afraid that they may try to run for president.... look at Arnold Swartzenhager.. he could do it .anyway the courts and attorneys brought them down to their knees and broke them.... just to say oh were sorry you were Innocent... BS..... the govt there only wants the poor to stay poor and the rich to get poor... so they don't have to worry about some no names getting their foot in the political door... and screw everything up that is good for them.
so in answer to your question... why would you want to end up like America... always struggling always worring always stressed... why????
cheers
Jo
2007-11-28 10:38:41 · answer #7 · answered by josie d 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
i don't think any aussy is that stupid to bring us back to a 2 party state, that's why we voted against the referendum for becoming a republic.
2007-11-28 10:08:10 · answer #8 · answered by Gengi 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
So 'murcan-centric. Could I apologize for this guy?
2007-11-28 10:02:45 · answer #9 · answered by Em E 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋