Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Scorpion]

I remember ten years or so ago the republican movement in Australia was pretty strong. The Prime minister, Keating, was a republican and clearly wanted a break with the monarchy. Was that merely a temporary flirtation, an attempt at blending into its Asian geography, or something else. Accordingh to this article Aussies are swinging back to tradition and respect for the monarchy. Any Aussies on here who care to comment?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/10748620/Royal-tour-Is-Australia-embracing-the-monarchy-again.html

[Axiom]

Interestingly, from the poll that I think this article refers to, it is now the young people which is letting the Republican movement down.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/02/support-republic-20-year-low-poll

[aq8knyus]

Charles will be the next King, abolition of the monarchy would be more likely than it skipping a generation.

I am not an Australian, but I think the appeal might be something to do with the fact that it is a pretty good system.

Plus a quick look around the world will confirm that the republics aren't exactly shining beacons of social equality.

[meangradin]

Is it true that if Charles were to die before his mother, then the throne moves to his brother/sister and his/her descendants?

[jvalmer]

I'd say it's more Australians thinking that times is better spent tackling bigger issues then worrying about removing symbols of the monarch. It's nice to do, but that's for later.

I'm Canadian, and many Canadians would love to get rid of that damn foreign monarch. But there are more important things to do now, than spending millions debating and putting it to a national vote.

[andrewchon]

[Stan Rogers]

Aussies are useless until they can bring kangaroo meat to Korea.

[Scorpion]

The reality is that constitutional monarchies have been shown to more progressive on social issues than many republics. Canada, a constitutional monarchy, is a more socially progressive country than the States. The UK is more progressive than the Republic of Ireland, and the Scandanavian countries are ahead of us all. Not only that, the Scandinavian countries, despite being monarchies, have populations that are far from obsessed with traditional ways of thinking or living. Something like 82% of Swedes are either atheist or agnostic. Compare that to all the religious ignoramuses back in the States. Britain has Darwin on its friggin' money, we have a bronze age deity.

I say to our Australian, Kiwi and Canadian friends: if it ain't broken (and it's not) don't fix it. Do you really want another seedy politician as your head of state? Aussies and Kiwis, if you want to put some symbolic distance between themselves and the UK, just change your flag. Canada had a similar flag until the 1960s, but replaced it with the maple leaf. I advise Australians and NZ to just follow that example. No need to throw out the baby with the bath water. Just change your flag.

The world is changing rapidly. It's nice to have some tradition, continuity and stability. The monarchy provides that. It doesn't mean the UK government has any influence over your country. It doesn't. The link is with the monarchy, not the British government. And even the Queen is merely a symbol with no power.

A republic would, in my opinion, be a waste of energies better spent elsewhere.

[meangradin]

[/quote]I'm Canadian, and many Canadians would love to get rid of that damn foreign monarch. But there are more important things to do now, than spending millions debating and putting it to a national vote.

[I'm With You]

I've always found Australians to be very similar to Americans. More so than even Canadians.

It's like Australia is a larger version of Texas.

And by default, their constitution ties them to the U.S. in terms of military action around the world.

Australia is a mini America.

[I'm With You]

[jvalmer]

[Newbie]

[meangradin]

i think i did

[andrewchon]

Australia: black and red stripe with yellow circle in the middle
New Zealand: too dumb to have a flag.