As Anne Rouen, I take no interest, whatsoever, in modern politics. Now, if it were historical … However, as an Australian citizen, I find the current penchant for trashing the character of political rivals truly appalling. As an observer of history, I am impartial. Offenders are equally guilty, no matter which standard they rally behind.
Do we pay these people immense salaries to comport themselves like spiteful children when there are, literally, world shattering issues to consider? Quite frankly, it is a spectacle that nauseates me.
A person’s character is his/her most precious commodity; their very essence; all that they are, or have the potential to be – the whole man or woman. Therefore, to assassinate the character …
Should we look on without protest while others systematically and determinedly destroy that person with no other desire than to remove a rival from the political scene? Is that not our job at the ballot box? I, for one, find it a despicable method of reducing the field.
Our pollies talk a lot about blood on the floor. Metaphorically, thank goodness, but it is the same intent to destroy. Back in my time, the blood on the floor was real, pumping from a dying body. If, as we believe, my ancestors were Huguenots – French Protestants – then they knew all about it. The trouble with history is that, now and again, it has a tendency to repeat.
We need to be sure that parliamentary debate is healthy, about pertinent topics that enhance the lives of the citizens of this country; that question time is not a metaphorical Coliseum with the loser thrown to ravening lions; or a mud-slinging contest with the victim drowning in slime.
Wasting our time and abusing our intellects with this type of smear campaign is unconscionable when our economy needs the greatest bi-partisan care and attention to survive.
Wake up, Pollies! The masses are more intelligent than you give us credit for.
Hi Anne,
Is there one particular issue that spurred this thought? Or just the business-as-usual process of parliament?
And has this ‘habit’ of trashing political opponents on the parliamentary front given rise to more common place media and public character-bashing, i.e. Alan Jones incident? What came first, the chicken or the egg? Have the media and public always held their political leaders in such disdain, and parliamentary behaviour followed, or did ‘politician’s behaving badly’ make it okay for the rest of us to ‘poli-bash’? What do you think?
Felicity 🙂
Hi Felicity,
It’s great to hear from you, again. Thanks for taking the time to comment. This time, for me, it is more the straw that broke the camel’s back, rather than the chicken and egg story, I think.
Just a trend I’ve noticed over the last few years. Nothing to do with a certain shocking, shock-jock. As far as that goes, I am as disgusted as the rest of us. I would rather not dignify it with my blog space.
The Media seem to see it as their job to hound the politicians out of their comfort zone – with increasing vigour, it seems. Don’t get me started on their ‘cringe-factor’ lack of manners. I am embarrassed for them!
But I get your point: it is not just the pollies who do it. And let’s face it: it’s the pollies themselves who make it OK for us to bash them, by behaving so badly. I mean, how far do you let them go before you protest? Perhaps it’s just a reflection of another deplorable trend: the demise of the Fair Go!
Great to have your input,
A.R.
I think I’m going to have to add a ‘like’ button, so people can give a thumbs up to your post, and to comments. (Adding to the to-do list). 🙂
PS ‘Like’ x
Hi Felicity,
Thanks for the above. I do love that little smiley face! At the moment, I cannot get into hotmail – something I’m finding most frustrating, since I came home early to attend to it. So, if you have something important to talk to me about – I don’t know when it will happen. This has happened the last three nights, but after an hour or so, it has so far let me in. But, you never know, do you?
Take care,
A.R.