Posted by alexandra_k on September 20, 2006, at 6:17:10
In reply to Australian Values, posted by Declan on September 19, 2006, at 19:39:54
Do you know what the 'official' Australian values are?
I went to a friends citizenship ceremony the other day. She needed to get citizenship for security clearance working as a public servant. She holds dual NZ / Australian.
I didn't know voting was compulsory. I was surprised that people were handed out their voting forms as part of the ceremony. They had to full them out and they were collected up.
I wonder what the political outcome of enforced voting in the US would be? I wonder whether enforced votes are likely to happen any time soon? I wonder why not?
I'm not sure how I feel about enforced voting... To start with I was slightly... Okay I'll admit it... Outraged. But then after considering the people who are least likely to vote and how many of them there can be... The upshot is that it is a fairly good idea I think.
I even caught myself singing the Australian National Anthem. That felt really very strange... You know I used to think the Aussie National Anthem was 'Waltzing Matilda' until I got to High School lol.
It was a fairly interesting ceremony...
No pledging allegiance to the queen (of England). NZ ceremonies involve pledging allegiance to the queen and her heirs or hairs if your english isn't so good lol. What freaked me slightly was how you commit to defending Aussie too... Thinking the draft there. I guess being a citizen makes you eligable for draft. That is unfortunate. Comes with the turf though I guess.:-)
poster:alexandra_k
thread:687507
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20060809/msgs/687606.html