"<<Frankly, that's a bit silly.>>
(that a republic would increase national pride)"

That's not quite how you put it - is it, Yuyutsu?

This is how you put it:

"A republic would heighten the prevalence of nationalism, which is a disease."

Replete with all the rhetorical bells and whistles that put one in mind of nationalist hysteria.

"Many on that web-site want a republic explicitly because they consider national-pride a desirable outcome..."

I suspect there's already a bit of that "calamitous" national pride circulating in Australia....you know the kind of thing that makes one proud of their country and its achievements - and eager to contribute to furthering its development.

Gawd! - "national pride"...what have we come to!
(Sarc)

If people visit the Australians for Constitutional Monarchy website, it looks very second rate and is very negative in its overtone in some parts.

You only have to see its website title to see that. It's NO to something. I hardly consider that positive.

http://www.norepublic.com.au/

Also their website is overloaded with what I consider silly comments like:

"Some of us believe that Australia is already a form of republic under the Crown: a "crowned republic". Australia now enjoys all the desirable features of a republican government and a constitutional monarchy without any disadvantages of either system."

This organisation is desperately trying to find and connect to as much as possible to keep our current system in place, where as if they had a clear purpose, the group would not need to write comments like the above on their website.

Furthermore I am not against, the many elements of Australia's history, (as I have benefited from these, some though have also lost). That is why a move towards a NEW country is needed, with clear goals, aims and objectives for 2015 and beyond.

A well developed, positive Republic will be in my view be the way forward.

Dear Poirot,

<<the kind of thing that makes one proud of their country and its achievements - and eager to contribute to furthering its development.>>

"Country" in English has more than one meaning - one is positive, simply denoting "the land around us and its features" (and often also refers to rural areas as opposed to urban), the other negative, denoting that collectivising power which bundles together all the people who live on the land whether they like it or not.

Pride is a weakness of character, so it is not something to encourage.
We should instead be thankful for the land we live on and wish our neighbours to be well and prosper.
Meanwhile we should be contemptuous of involuntary organisations that impose themselves on us and our neighbours and be ashamed to have anything to do with them.

---

Dear Nathan,

<<That is why a move towards a NEW country is needed, with clear goals, aims and objectives for 2015 and beyond.>>

So what are your intentions regarding those who live in this continent but do not share the same goals, aims and objectives at yourself? Would it be OK for you to make them miserable in order to have it your way?

Poirot,

I'm sorry that you are upset by my theory of why many people desire a republic.

If you have sound reasons why you think that a republic would be good for Australia and Australians, you don't belong on my list of 'malcontents' tired of their lot and wanting something new that might make them 'feel better'.

So, how about it: what are your true reasons for believing that, despite the cost and inconvenience, a republic would be good for Australia and Australians? You can say what I think is 'bildge', but you will need to do better than that to persuade me of the necessity of Australia becoming a republic.

Poirot,

Australia's agenda should surely be about developing newly productive business and employment and export revenue generating opportunity, yet you Poirot are more interested in appointment of the GG.

The view you seem to have in this regard does not make sense economically.
Australia needs newly productive business and employment and export revenue, especially now the wool industry is not what it used to be.

How will a republic make a difference to Australia's economy?

At present creating a republic is just talk and more talk which in my view lacks productive purpose and sense in these economically difficult times.

If PM Turnbull chose to assist develop newly productive industry as part of a republic then I would support that republic.
I would feel proud to be part of an economically improved prosperous and independent Australia.

My "productive" debate to this thread is this.
Tony Abbot released the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper to which I made a submission via the Green Paper.
My submission suggests new water infrastructure to allow farmers to increase Australian food and fibre production and exports, while at the same time helping river and ocean vital ecosystems.
But will MT follow through with such a productive suggestion or not?
If not why not?

f.y.i. I suggest assess Index F - Fairfax., at
http://agwhitepaper.agriculture.gov.au/supporting-information/published-submissions-green-paper

I think PM MT would do well to lead by example and then he will most likely gain strong support. But at present I don't even see a tweet from him about such new export productivity.

What would be the practical advantages of Australia becoming a republic?