We can have royal visits and a republic if we don’t mind instability and assassinations
We can be republic like the US, France, South Africa. Peter FitzSimons, The Sydney Morning Herald , October 15:
However excited some Australians get over the royal visit, it is as nothing to the excitement they generate when they visit … (the US. Yet) despite President Trump being in the Oval Office, there is precisely NO appetite in the USA for having the British royals reign over them once more. The French, too, have always gone ballistic for visiting royals, as have the South Africans, meaning that three of the most famous republics on the planet — with no appetite to return to having a ruling family — have demonstrated great love of visiting uber-celebrities, without making a political statement about the virtues of republics versus monarchies.
Like the US? Troy Bramston, The Australian, December 31, 2017:
(Former prime minister and republican, Paul) Keating … said it would be “a complete disaster” for Australia to have a popularly elected head of state presiding over a parliamentary democracy as it would threaten the authority of the prime minister … “We could end up with a Donald Trump personality as the singular presidential person in Australia. The mere fact that person is the only person popularly elected will draw all of the political power. The position of the prime minister and the cabinet will be mightily diminished.”
Like that model of stability France? Arnab Beranger, Radio France Internationale, October 5:
Thursday marked the 60th anniversary of the fifth French Republic. For those who are wondering why France has five republics … France has had 10 different governing systems — three monarchies, two empires, five republics, and Marshal Petain’s war regime during the German occupation … In the last few weeks, (Emmanuel) Macron’s government has been in troubled waters. … (there have been) revelations concerning abuse of power within Macron’s inner circle … the resignation of France’s popular environment minister … and on Wednesday, France’s interior minister … (resigned. Many are) calling for a sixth republic and former president Francois Hollande wants to get rid of the role of the prime minister.
Like South Africa? Norimitsu Onishi, New York Times, September 30:
Political assassinations are rising sharply in South Africa, threatening … stability and imperilling Mr Mandela’s dream of a unified, democratic nation … (In) most cases, ANC officials are killing one another, hiring professional hit men to eliminate fellow party members in an all-or-nothing fight over money, turf and power … about 90 politicians have been killed since the start of 2016.
Modern Salem witch trials. Kassy Dillon, The Hill.com, September 17:
We are living in the modern-day Salem witch trials. Accusations without evidence are destroying good men’s names, just as Arthur Miller conceived in the … The Crucible.
Modern-day hexes. Benjamin Fearnow, Newsweek, October 14:
A group of witches … (is planning) a “hex” on (recently appointed Supreme Court judge) Brett Kavanaugh. … Dakota Bracciale, co-owner of the “metaphysical boutique and occult bookshop” Catland Books, told Newsweek they have already placed several hexes on President Trump. An upcoming “act of solidarity” … scheduled for October 20 … will place a public hex on Kavanaugh … “all rapists and the patriarchy which emboldens, rewards and protects them … The people in charge need to be taken down by any means necessary, magical or otherwise,” (she said).
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