Concerned about future

Don Parkes laments that the French Revolution of 1789 was associated with considerable violence (Peninsula News, August 8).

I would think that all Australian Republicans would agree with him that there is no need for that here.

In any case, the situation is quite different.

Moreover, not all revolutions are associated with violence.

In fact most are not.

Violence is not the essence of revolution.

The nature of revolution is major change of a system, eg the economy, production methods, industrial relations, transport, communications and the environment.

The environment is an excellent example of peaceful major change.

As to creating a Republic in Australia, the minimalists, including both major parties and the ARM, are clearly not aiming at major change at all.

This is actually their problem but it affects us all adversely because it is exactly what is required.

Piecemeal tinkering, the "Australian way" presumably, is simply not happening.

Improvements in the parliamentary system, the undemocratic electoral system (grossly favouring the mediocre major parties), the costly and dysfunctional federal system and the archaic Constitution are long overdue.

Actually these systems are hardly the envy of other nations, assuming that they know anything much about them.

The stability and "progressive democracy" seems to be more the inability of the system to renew itself.

The wishes of 80 per cent plus of voters who want a directly-elected President are steadfastly ignored by the major parties.

This country has done well economically since WWII in part thanks to an abundance of economic resources, and a large, highly motivated migrant and refugee workforce.

The apparent democracy is now in grave danger of being buried altogether by the local and foreign plutocrats, instead of improved.

Given the outrageous salary packages of senior executives of highly profitable banks and other large corporations, including the mines (owned for 83 per cent by foreign owners) our major party politicians have become pawns in their service rather than representatives of the people.

This is my adopted country, since 1964.

I am deeply concerned about its future.

Many Australians are.

We need to work on major changes here.

Neither of the major parties show real signs of preparing for that.

Can we start the public debate on where to begin the process?

The commercial media refuse point blank to assist.

An independent community paper may provide the opening needed.

Email, 12 Aug 2011 Klaas Woldring, Pearl Beach