New Head of State
Friday, March 04, 2005
Theories of statehood are notoriously unreliable. Experience is the safest guide. Technically, monarchy is objectionable or superfluous to a democracy. But people love royalty. And history shows that countries with a royal office - albeit powerless - actually enjoy a greater stability. Perhaps it's because there's no wrangling over the position - someone is simply born to the rank.
According to tradition, a monarch should come from a royal family - even if that of another country. We need someone who speaks English, likes Australia, is royal, and has proved they can survive predatory media. We could invite Charles to move here and become Australia's figurehead above politics.
Philip O'Carroll