Issue No 36 | 22 October 1999 | |
Letters to the EditorRepublic Soapbox
Dear Peter, I thoroughly enjoyed your rousing article on the Republic question in the latest issue of Workers Online. I enjoyed your use of language everyone can understand. It leaves no doubt as to the mood of the article. It was very refreshing. To me, the Monarchists are like adults that have never grown up and still cling to their mummies apron strings, scared witless of that "big bad world" out there. Brother in ARMs Al Gordon ARM's Heavy Price Dear Peter, I too view with disdain the tripe espoused by the Loyalists in the Republican ' debate '. I say ' debate ' given the ARM model is all we are able to consider on the form of the Republic. For this, the ARM will pay a heavy price post the vote when the recriminations fly thick and fast as to the failure of the Republican cause. Yet Peter, do not not lose any sleep over the ACM and their inherently dishonest campaign. As a journalist dedicated to that profession, you will find the recently released "The New Prince: Machiavelli Updated for the Twenty-First Century" by Dick Morris, a fascinating read. Also, given your concern over the No campaign the following quote from the book may be of comfort; "The public reserves to itself the right to decide what to accept and what to reject. The slant of the media does little to influence their decisions; it is overwhelmingly the content of the ideas that matters". The good news for you, Peter, is that the Monarchists will be seen for what they are; prisoners of the past and bereft of any vision. Yet the news for the ARM is equally bleak. Their own polling shows 70 % of Australians want to directly vote for the President. To arrogantly jam their model down the collective throats of Australians will witness a feeling for Turnbull et al that will approximate that visited upon Jeff Kennett. Incidentally, I thought your Barmy Army idea had plenty of merit. That the spin-doctors at ARM chose to dismiss it hardly surprises; they did not think of it themselves. The anger that will be evident when the model is voted down will be palpable. Those Republicans that reluctantly supported it will feel that they were press-ganged down that path. I for one, will thoroughly enjoy the retribution that will be directed at the toffs that make up the ARM. Yours faithfully ANDREW WILLIAMSON Billy Deane for President With the referendum coming very soon, I'm concerned about the possibility of the NO case winning because of the gross misrepresentations being peddled by monarchists. I believe it is vital for us to have our own Australian head of state and the proposed republican model will be a great first step. If this first step is not taken now, I fear it will be many years before we have another opportunity to replace the monarchy. One way we can help to win the YES case is to actively promote the nomination of Sir William Deane, especially in the remaining weeks before the referendum, as our first Australian head of state. Over the last few years he has impressed myself and many others as a man worthy to be our first head of state. There has been a lot of misinformation about selecting the President of Australia. By promoting the nomination of Sir William, we can help people understand they have a say in the process of choosing a president. We can also remove the fear people have about the nomination process by reasoning that the republican model can evolve as long as the first step is taken. Thus I am involved with the DEANE for PRESIDENT campaign. The aim is to get people committed to the republic by signing a petition requesting Sir William be our first President. Have a look at http://www.presidentdeane.com and pass the message on to others. Ewen Finnane
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Interview: When All�s Not WEL Suzanne Hammond explains how the federal government�s decision to cut off funding to the Womens� Electoral Lobby wil impact on all women. Republic: The Great Constitutional Swindle In an upcoming book, Peter Botsman argues the blanding out of Australian consitutional history is one of the big barriers to the Republican cause. Unions: Beaten by the Clock Ron Callus from ACIRRT counts the social cost of increased working hours. International: Pakistan Military Urged to Protect Workers' Rights The ICFTU is urging General Pervez Musharraf, who yesterday seized power in a military coup, to take urgent steps to ensure a return to constitutional rule in the shortest possible time. History: How the Cunning Fox Survived Len Fox recently turned 94. He celebrated the event by sending out copies of his latest publication to friends; a booklet of his selected pencil and crayon sketches since 1925, with autobiographical commentaries. Satire: Direct Electionists to Keep Voting No Pro-direct election republicans who plan to vote �no� in the upcoming referendum have announced plans to extend their approach to every future election held in Australia. Labour Review: What's New at the Information Centre Read the latest issue of Labour review, a resource for union officials and students. Review: Bowing down before Globalzilla It is my experience that books that have the word "globalization" in the title should be avoided at all costs.
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