Happy Australia Day!

[Dave62]

For this Sunday to all my Aussie and foreign friends. Here are some things you may not know about Australia. The flag is comprised of the British Union flag in the top left corner. The Union flag is comprised of the crosses of Saints George (England) Andrew (Scotland) and Patrick (Ireland). This designates our predominantly Christian and British heritage. The Southern Cross depicts our place in the world, and the Federation Star in the bottom left represents the coming together of the former colonies as willing and free participants in the new commonwealth of 1901.

In the 1890's, emissaries travelled to France, USA and Britain to pick the best ideas for a representative democracy with a genuine separation of powers between the Executive, the Parliament and the High Court. The Crown was retained as the head of state to preside over the Parliament. Women were given the vote from the first election. The constitution is suprisingly small and simple. Some say this was deliberate as it makes politicians discuss more. The Parliament works very effectively at critiquing proposed legislation. "Her Majesty's most loyal opposition" utilises the Hegelian dialectic to vigorously defend the minority voters who did not vote for the government. Loyalty to the British monarch has remained surprisingly strong. This is probably due to the fact that we would rather not have a partisan politician as Head of State

This has resulted in a whole continent united as one country in what is arguably one of the most prosperous and peacfull democracies in history with no civil wars, insurrections or political assassinations. God Save the Queen!

[Dave62]

And we still beat the English at cricket, which is very satisfying as it is their own game...

[Elizabeth]

God Bless Australia... the best place in the world to live.