🚀 go-pugleaf

Aldis Ozols wrote in message <380EC271.D8E16F98@zeta.org.au>...
>
>Surely a symbolic functionary is of little practical use. If we need
>someone to open bridges, sign treaties and so on, a member of the
public
>selected for each occasion from a list of volunteers would be
>egalitarian and inexpensive. The "temporary president" would also be
an
>excellent symbol of the sovereignty of the people, for those who
really
>must have some sort of symbol.


Now I'd vote for that.   The elected head of govt  runs the joint
anyway, as he should.

BC

In article <380EC271.D8E16F98@zeta.org.au>, Aldis Ozols
<aldis@zeta.org.au> wrote:

> Surely a symbolic functionary is of little practical use. If we need
> someone to open bridges, sign treaties and so on, a member of the public
> selected for each occasion from a list of volunteers would be
> egalitarian and inexpensive. The "temporary president" would also be an
> excellent symbol of the sovereignty of the people, for those who really
> must have some sort of symbol.

OK, so we have this list of volunteers. If a bridge needs signing in Perth
and John Smith of Hobart is next in line for "temporary president", he &
the missus get a free ride to Perth, money for expenses (for a new suit,
say; can't have him opening bridges in dungarees,   :)    a suite at the
Hilton (unless they're going to be flown back the same day), free meals,
and a government limo. Not to mention a couple of advisers to coach him on
what to say and do and somebody else to pen his bridge-opening speech
(assuming it to be rather longer than "I hereby declare this bridge to be
open").

If the Smiths have got kids does the government pay for any child care
required or do they get to tag along to Perth (at government expense) as
well?

If the volunteer's got a job, is his employer to be expected to pay him
for his time in Perth? Does the Government pay him for him time away (as
it does, for example, when people go on jury duty)? Or does the Government
get to be like a registered charity: volunteers for "temporary president"
don't get paid. They donate their time.

Suppose the next occasion is in a treaty signing in Fremantle but the next
in line is Jane Brown from Cooktown. Can the Smiths fill in or is it a
case of one occasion per volunteer, and so the Smiths must be flown home
and Jane flown in?

Sounds very egalitarian, but "inexpensive"?

--
Stephen Souter
s.souter@edfac.usyd.edu.au
http://www.edfac.usyd.edu.au/staff/souters/

In article <380EC271.D8E16F98@zeta.org.au>, aldis@zeta.org.au says...
>
>
>Surely a symbolic functionary is of little practical use. If we need
>someone to open bridges, sign treaties and so on, a member of the public
>selected for each occasion from a list of volunteers would be
>egalitarian and inexpensive. The "temporary president" would also be an
>excellent symbol of the sovereignty of the people, for those who really
>must have some sort of symbol.

Technically we need someone to preside over both houses of government. Whether
that person has to come with all the symbolic bullshit is another matter.

Rob wrote:
>
> In article <380EC271.D8E16F98@zeta.org.au>, aldis@zeta.org.au says...
> >
> >
> >Surely a symbolic functionary is of little practical use. If we need
> >someone to open bridges, sign treaties and so on, a member of the public
> >selected for each occasion from a list of volunteers would be
> >egalitarian and inexpensive. The "temporary president" would also be an
> >excellent symbol of the sovereignty of the people, for those who really
> >must have some sort of symbol.
>
> Technically we need someone to preside over both houses of government. Whether
> that person has to come with all the symbolic bullshit is another matter.

Each house already has a presiding officer. The Head of State appears only at the opening of Parliament or other ceremonial occasions. S/He has no function in the day to day operation of government apart from signing documents.

--

How to Lobby Politicians
http://www.zeta.org.au/~aldis/lobby.html

"Reality is whatever doesn't go away when you stop believing in it."
-- Philip K Dick

Stephen Souter wrote:
>
> [numerous well reasoned examples of the
> expense of having Heads of State chosen
> at random every week or two]
>
> Sounds very egalitarian, but "inexpensive"?

Not dirt cheap, no. But I doubt if the total expenses, including wages and other compensation would exceed $5 million or so per year. This is a trivial amount compared to the annual Federal budget.

The other details are of a mechanical nature, and can be sorted out relatively easily. What interests me is the principle, which I find more attractive the more I contemplate it.

--

How to Lobby Politicians
http://www.zeta.org.au/~aldis/lobby.html

"Reality is whatever doesn't go away when you stop believing in it."
-- Philip K Dick

Aldis Ozols wrote
>
>Surely a symbolic functionary is of little practical use. If we need
>someone to open bridges, sign treaties and so on, a member of the public
>selected for each occasion from a list of volunteers would be
>egalitarian and inexpensive. The "temporary president" would also be an
>excellent symbol of the sovereignty of the people, for those who really
>must have some sort of symbol.


I vote for Kane, the blue heeler, as HOS.
He can do all the tricks the monarch has performed so far, and more !

>--
>How to Lobby Politicians
>http://www.zeta.org.au/~aldis/lobby.html
>
>"Reality is whatever doesn't go away when you stop believing in it."
>-- Philip K Dick