Mr O: It's the idea that one is a member of a polity which is shared by other members who advocate a commonality of person and category vis-a-vis those who are held to be outsiders and foreigners. (Dear all, please let me know if any of this social theory is hurting your brain).

Yep! Cut out the Upper class BS talk & bring it down to the General Public. First rule of Communication. "Speak to your lowest Common show us how Hoi Poloi you can be.

Dear Mr. Opinion,

As it stands, the concept of citizenship is absurd because they tell you that you are a "member" of this club that they call "state" despite the fact that you were never asked whether you want or even agree to belong to that club.

However, once this is rectified, I see nothing wrong with "citizenship" denoting membership (which is shared by other members who advocate a commonality of person and category vis-a-vis those who are held to be outsiders and foreigners).

Even then I would like to see citizenship not as binary function, but rather have several tiers of citizenship - just as some clubs have "bronze-membership", "silver-membership", "gold-membership", etc., describing various levels of commitment between an individual and their club.

Yuyutsu,

Australian Citizenship is gold tier.
Permanent Resident status is silver tier.

Bronze tier is externally administered. 'Tis known as New Zealand Citizenship!

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Mr 0,

Why would you want a commonalty of person?

Dear Aidan,

Why are you asking that question? I hope you haven't forgotten all of those years of social theory they taught to you in your engineering degree.

Dear Jayb,

Believe me when I say that I definitely do not belong amongst the hoi polloi. What on earth led you to suppose that?

Mr O: What on earth led you to suppose that?

I'm not referring to those pragmatic aspects. I'm talking about the concept of citizenship. It's the idea that one is a member of a polity which is shared by other members who advocate a commonality of person and category vis-a-vis those who are held to be outsiders and foreigners.

That's what.

Is what you meant to say, "We're all in the same boat, that makes us all Citizens of Australia, Those not in the boat, aren't." ;-)