I would like to see Australia become a democracy. To me a democracy means separation of religion and state. Taxpayers should not fund religious assemlages or their schools. Religious entities may have their schools, but government should not fund them. There should be no chaplains in public schools.

A ceremonial head of state is a vestige of colonialism as is the lack of separation of religion and state. The Australian Constitution should apply to all Australians. Since all Australians do not believe in a God and all Australian religions do not postulate a god the word god should be deleted from the Australian Constitution if Australia becomes a republic. The word, God, does not appear in the US Constitution. The US motto and pledge was changed under Eisenhower to include God as a Cold War way of differentiating the US from the godless USSR.

I'm not sure about the separation of church and
state in America. The reality is - in any court of law
people still swear an oath to tell the truth and
nothing but the truth "So help me God." Politicians
consistently make references to "God Bless America," the
References to God seem to abound. "In God we trust."
(everyone else pays cash). Seriously, - God figures very
greatly in the lives of most Americans. Look at the many
different places of worship that exist (and making
a fortune). Religion plays a big part in the lives of
most Americans.

When we try to compare the political spectrums of the
United States and Australia there are quite a few differences
ranging from healthcare, social welfare, to gun control.
The US has an entirely different political spectrum on
these issues.

Australia needs to reflect on how Australia can take a
different path forward to ensure that we do not make the
same mistakes that led America to the profound divisions
that it has today and as stated earlier that will take
time, considered thought and debate - so it is important
to get it right.

cont'd ...

The following link explains further:

http://en.wikipedia/wiki/In_God_We_Trust

My apologies I left out a word. Here's the link again:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_God_We_Trust

Dear Foxy,

I was advocating separation of state and religion. How big a part religion plays in a person’s life has nothing to do with that. That should not be the business of government. Roger Williams, a Baptist minister, was probably the first person to use the expression, separation of church and state. Rhode Island, over which he presided, was the first unit of government to have that as part of its law. Williams was probably mindful of the persecution of Baptists by the Church of England.

Separation of religion and state may foster religion. The US has been a place of refuge for people fleeing religious persecution because, unlike England and many other countries, the US does not have a state religion.

Jews, fleeing persecution in czarist Russia, were denied admittance to England by Balfour under the Alien Exclusion Act. Balfour, the dirty dog, declared Palestine as a homeland for the Jews – a country at the time not under English control. Better the US where one is free to practice what religion one wishes than Israel where there is an intrusive clergy, no civil marriage and no integrated public school system.

In any American court of law a person does not have to swear an oath to testify. A person may simply affirm they will tell the truth. The fact is that division is a natural part of democracy. A totalitarian state tries to eliminate division. A democratic state lives with it and allows people to express it. If you want a country without divisions try North Korea.

Until the 1950s the US motto was e pluribus unum, one out of many. It was cold war exigencies that changed it to ‘In God We Trust.’ Hopefully the motto will change again. I am for freedom of religion and that is best served by government keeping its hands off it.

Yawn.

If and when there is a referendum, voters will make their decisions - all without reference to anything posted here by us. Having an opinion is fine; going on and on thinking that your opinion is better than someone else's opinion, and that anyone in authority is going to care what you think is delusional, bordering on mentally disturbed.