Like my father, I like to converse with the television. Every time a politician talks out at me from the box, I can’t resist the urge to talk back. Occasionally my return fire is in agreement but most often it is in strong, loud and head-shaking disagreement.
All of which means that if I were to read a headline like the one on this post, I would probably head straight for the comments box and launch into a tirade against the average parliamentary representative.
As a rule, politicians are self-absorbed, narcissistic egomaniacs with a strong tendency to use three words when they could get by with one. They thrive on the ‘game’ of politics: they see pork-barrelling, branch-stacking and back-stabbing as legitimate strategies where the rest of us only see them as hyphenated corruption. And, as the debacle of the British parliament is demonstrating, they are only in it to line their own moats.
At least that’s the way they tend to come across.
However, as my mother often liked to point out while my father and I were cursing the TV, there may be another side to this story.
I had reason today to search Google News for a story on Barack Obama. As I scanned down the search results, I was increasingly amazed at how many West Wing plots he is dealing – all in one episode, so to speak.
In the last couple of days, Obama has announced a new regulatory regime for U.S. banks; made a major statement about North Korea and defended his position on Iran’s elections; spoken to American doctors about his plans for public health care and announced changes to the way same-sex partners of federal workers can claim benefits; released a major White House report on climate change, and swatted a fly with his bare hands while recording a television interview.
Over the years I have been a committee chairman and a middle manager, and I am currently the father of two teenage girls. I know how hard it can be to find consensus in these small-scale situations. (Ever tried to agree on the name of a pet?) So when I look at this list I can see the other side of the story.
No matter what he or she does, a politician will be criticised. By those opposed to an action, they will be criticised for taking action. By those who support the action in principle, they will be criticised for not going far enough, or for taking the wrong path. Obama has been criticised for his approach to everything I just listed – even the slaying of the fly. If they take unilateral action, we decry their lack of consultation. If take time to consult, we accuse them of dithering. And of course there is always a group who see conspiracy in every decision made.
Imagine, if you can, a politician who is honest, has integrity and operates with absolute transparency. It wouldn’t be long before their transparency allowed some flaw to be identified: politicians are humans too. This flaw would be admitted (due to their honesty) and they would be forced to step aside (in line with their integrity). Is it any wonder there aren’t many such pollies in the palace?
Politicians should cop it sweet when we catch them feathering their own country homes, or hiding the truth, or displaying double standards and hypocrisy, or failing to consult, or lacking curiosity. But perhaps we need to cut them more slack at times when they do things we don’t agree with. Not that I’m likely to stop yelling at the telly.
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Damn, I tried so hard to pick a hole in this, but couldn’t. Three thoughts:
1. Maybe Obama really is a good politician, and we’re just so damn surprised, based on all the crappy US presidents that have been in the job over a long period of time.
2. The media probably doesn’t want Obama to do a good job, because it will vindicate all the crap they’ve put out there about his colour and ethnic backgound.
2. Let’s not fall into the trap of thinking that, because Obama might be a good politician, they all are. The quality of the politicians (and the media that reports on them) in Australia really is very poor.
Ethics and integrity seem to matter little in politics.
If you can get away with anything by “spinning” the story so no one finds out, if you can “spin” the story so that you those taking the “gossip” polls believe you, if you can convince the journos that the “Spin” sounds credible, if you can hide the truth behind the “spin” … then hey you are a great politician … NOT!!
Politics has become a game of he who has the best spin and the machine to keep churning it out wins …. actually what happens is we loose because the information and discussion is “dumbed down” … not simplified.
Agree wholeheartedly Andrew – well put.
I guess I’ve got wondering whether the increasing dominance of spin in politics has grown out of our high expectations. Do the politicians resort to spin knowing they can’t meet our expectations in the belief that their spin will disguise their weaknesses? What gets me is that they really seem to think that we don’t see through the spin.
Unfortunately, as well, the age old problem remains: the political task being as difficult as it is means that most people with a modicum of sense stay well clear of it. This makes our expectations of the average pollie even more unrealistic, which only serves to wind up the spin machine even faster.
I was wondering if you could help me roast a fictitious politician in a 4 min speech just pollies traits in general I am having trouble making it full of humour.