4.50016072003 * 9.333

4.50016072003 * 9.333
Sections 61 - 64 of the Australian Constitution make the role of the monarch perfectly clear. There is nothing whatsoever resembling a figurehead in them. What makes the monarch a figurehead has nothing to do with the constitution. It is convention. Australia is way more democratic and civilised than the USA despite our constitution in the exact same way that the USA is way more theocratic than Australia despite its constitution.Brian Peacock wrote:...the Monarch has a constitutional role, but only as a figurehead
Yes, well, generally speaking that is a good thing to have. In our case, however, the best thing about our written constitution is that the most important bits regarding the executive arm of government has become a dead letter via circumscription and real-world practice. Or, to look at it another way, the worst thing about our written constitution is that it says nothing about how the most important bits regarding the executive arm of government are supposed to work.Brian Peacock wrote:At least you have a written constitution.
LOL - "way more."Hermit wrote:Sections 61 - 64 of the Australian Constitution make the role of the monarch perfectly clear. There is nothing whatsoever resembling a figurehead in them. What makes the monarch a figurehead has nothing to do with the constitution. It is convention. Australia is way more democratic and civilised than the USA despite our constitution in the exact same way that the USA is way more theocratic than Australia despite its constitution.Brian Peacock wrote:...the Monarch has a constitutional role, but only as a figurehead
Well, no. But, I am curious as to how one reaches the conclusion that Oz is more democratic than the USA, much less "waaaay" more....pErvin wrote:Uh oh... ln(1.74 x 1018) is going to be triggered by that..
Well, in Merka most people, if they take account of Oz at all, view it as a rather backwoods and uncivilized place, probably based on the "tough" image that we tend to assign to Australians. I think "rugged" and uncouth (when compared to say, Brits, who are viewed as effete and semi-gay) would be a fair stereotype. When advertisers advertise Australian stuff here it's like "Fostahs! Australian for beer!" and a mug hits the table, splashes and it's all "tough guy" imagery (before you say it, yes, we know Fosters is shit beer). Or, it's Outback Steakhouse where the talk is all about meat and potatoes and there is nothing frilly or fancy about it. And, then of course, there's Crocodile Dundee, who gave Merkans a view of the "outback" where rough and tumble hat-wearing safari guys skin alligators with their teeth. You cawl that a noif? That's nawt a noif! Now, that's a noif!pErvin wrote:You'll have to ask Hermo. I don't view Straya as more democratic (it's certainly more civilised, even taking in to account Victoria and South Australia the bogan states). All up it's probably much of a muchness. Although, cabinet positions being unelected in the US is certainly a concern.
That part of the post was purelyForty Two wrote:Well, no. But, I am curious as to how one reaches the conclusion that Oz is more democratic than the USA, much less "waaaay" more....pErvin wrote:Uh oh... ln(1.74 x 1018) is going to be triggered by that..
The reality, of course, is that we are a largely urbanised population living in costal cities, where appreciation of a good expresso, wood-fired pizza and novel gins are vastly more important than wrestling crocodiles...Forty Two wrote:Well, in Merka most people, if they take account of Oz at all, view it as a rather backwoods and uncivilized place, probably based on the "tough" image that we tend to assign to Australians. I think "rugged" and uncouth (when compared to say, Brits, who are viewed as effete and semi-gay) would be a fair stereotype. When advertisers advertise Australian stuff here it's like "Fostahs! Australian for beer!" and a mug hits the table, splashes and it's all "tough guy" imagery (before you say it, yes, we know Fosters is shit beer). Or, it's Outback Steakhouse where the talk is all about meat and potatoes and there is nothing frilly or fancy about it. And, then of course, there's Crocodile Dundee, who gave Merkans a view of the "outback" where rough and tumble hat-wearing safari guys skin alligators with their teeth. You cawl that a noif? That's nawt a noif! Now, that's a noif!pErvin wrote:You'll have to ask Hermo. I don't view Straya as more democratic (it's certainly more civilised, even taking in to account Victoria and South Australia the bogan states). All up it's probably much of a muchness. Although, cabinet positions being unelected in the US is certainly a concern.
Maybe Merka's stereotypical view of Oz as sort of a further west of the American west -- wild and free -- colonized by criminals and miscreants....has always been a myth. But, I think that's closer to how Oz is viewed overall than some sort of civilized, cultured land of polite society.
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