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| Pic courtesy Sydney morning Herald |
The election results, although still unclear, put the
current malaise in Oz politics front and centre.
That malaise is very simply the binarization* of our
political culture that has gathered pace since the beginning of the twenty
first century.
Obviously, dear reader, I’m introducing a couple of concepts
here that require explanation.
By binarization, I mean the reduction of all political discussion
into right and wrong, goodies and baddies, and Left and Right.
It’s a trend that has developed rapidly, principally in the
media, both mainstream and social. The advent of the internet has been significant. The geographical origin is trans-Pacific,
and it has metastasized through intellectual laziness.
Unfortunately, this cancer has spread to Australian politics,
which used to be a bastion of collaboration, pragmatism and common sense. These
local characteristics go a long way towards explaining the reasons behind our comparatively
peaceful history.
Australians have never really taken their political beliefs
seriously enough to shed blood over them. This is not necessarily the case in
other comparative democracies.
My reference to the influence of the internet refers to the
ability of individuals to express their ideas to a wide audience without too
much difficulty. In case you haven’t noticed, I am, dear reader, doing that
right now.
Unfortunately, as a consequence perhaps of lack of time in
our busy lives, and creeping intellectual laziness, these private opinions
almost automatically line up in binary fashion. Most bloggers, opinionistas and
commentators can’t be bothered with analysis. It’s easier to opt for one of the
two possible binary positions. Some make a living from it. Others exploit it.
It’s a malaise we’ve probably caught from computers. Their operating systems are binary.
There is a poor match between the Westminster system, under
which we are supposed to be governed, and binary politics. The House of
Representatives was designed as a chamber where people represent the opinions
of their constituents, not those of political parties.
This most recent poll is a manifestation of this mis-match.
We have two major parties, each with two appendages. For the
Liberals, their appendage is the slightly-to-the-Right Nationals – for Labor,
it’s the slightly-to-the-Left Greens.
There are splinter parties on the extreme. The best examples
of these are ALA, Pauline Hanson, and the Socialist Alliance.
To me this binarization and splintering represents something
dangerous and destructive and explains to a
large extent the volatility that has become a feature of recent polls. There is a solution. We need a legislature
reflecting the wishes of the electorate. The combined sitting of the House and Senate will not do that.
This same volatility reflects the frustration that most voters
feel because their wishes and aspirations have become lost in the binary trend.
That’s where Wotif (with apologies to Graeme Wood) comes
in.
Wotif we had a government of national unity? You know, as existed in many countries in wartime. If our economic situation is as dodgy as we’re told, and we
don’t want to inflict debt and damnation on our descendants, wouldn’t we be
crazy to continue as we are?
Wotif the sitting of both houses was closed, so that the
press pack was unable to hoot and holler about the goings-on? Wotif members
were sworn to secrecy about the proceedings to prevent grandstanding? Wotif all
ballots were secret? Wotif the issues voted upon had to be significant enough
to the gathered representatives to warrant discussion and legislation, rather
than to appeal to some vested interest or another?
It would have to be better than the nightmare confronting
us.
As it is, unrepresentative senators, elected through spite
or disdain, will exercise power on behalf of the splinter groups who voted them
in, holding hostage the bulk of voters who wouldn't touch their obsessions with a barge pole.
I can dream……
*It’s real word. Consult your thesaurus.
