Deakin didnt mind there being no bill of rights: it gave the federal government \"latitude\" when it came to the Chinaman. Australia sorely lacked a Madison. When Washington and Adams were President (and Hamilton Secretary of the Treasury), Madison led Congress. During Jefferson\'s terms he was Secretary of State, and the he was the next President. The US Republic is more a Madisonian Republic than a Jeffersonian one. But Jefferson was more eloquent with the pen, and nastier campaigner.
Probably the closest thing Australia had to a Madison was Andrew Inglis Clark or Henry Higgins. Clark did too many disappearing acts and Higgens wasnt powerful enough to push forward alternate systems like the Swiss Canton.
A lost oppurtunity that still hasnt been fully unravelled. I think the Australian public is going to have to recognize that the bearded men, not so much got it wrong, but didnt get it right.
cam
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