The Court: Fifth Judge Run-off

[GeneralTacticus]

In that case we're all US colonies, as Bush can seem to change any Government he wants (or at least thinks he can).

I'm serious. Our elected government can (and on one occasion has been) be dismissed from office by the Governor-General should he so choose, and there's nothing to prevent him from doing so except the PR disaster it would be if he did it without giving some kind of justification.

[Drogue]

As was I being serious

But is that right? The Queen cannot disband our parliament, and I thought the same bill applied to colonial powers? If not, then that really should be repealed

[GeneralTacticus]

Not disband parliament, sack the government. It ahppened in 1975: "Sir" John Kerr dismissed the Whitlam government and replaced it with Fraser.

EDIT: And, yes, I think that power should be removed, although personally I think we should get rid of the whole royal system and have an elected chief of state for once.

[Drogue]

Hmmm. I would hate an elected chief of state. Of course it is your decision, but for the UK, if we elect a head of state, we need to give them some power (which I wouldn't want) and also they would be politicized, and thus would only care about the time before the next election, so they get re-elected.

[GeneralTacticus]

I'd rather that we had a head of state who could be made accountable in some other way than threatening to abolish their position and replace it with someone else.

[Archaic]

Why not enter all their personal posessions as government property, and upon the completion of their term, they recieve them back plus a monetary bonus...assuming they do well. If they don't....well....it's auction time.

[Drogue]

Because that would mean, if you don't do your job, not only do you not get paid, but you lose all your belongings? That's a little harsh, isn't it?

[GeneralTacticus]

All that would be likely to lead to would be more business for Carribean tax havens. They sell all their property some shell corporation in Bermuda and then loan it back to themselves, and get it back once they're out.

[Archaic]

Hmmmmm......a good point. Still, to prevent corruption, you *would* really need something that harsh. Obviously the solution I mentioned can't work in the modern era (Does anyone recognise where I stole it from? ^^; ), but surely there'd be one that does.

[GeneralTacticus]

No, I don't think so... unless you're referring to what was (IIRC) the custom of a native American Indian tribe, whereby leaders would give up all their possessions when they got the job.

[Archaic]

Nope. I'm actually referring to something out of a medieval fantasy fiction novel. ^^;;; However yes, it's quite similar to that practiced by some of the native Americian Indians.