Who has heard a politician on the TV, on radio or on Twitter rip shreds off someone on the other side of parliament - or even the same!?
Every single week, column inches are focused on the rumblings between the members of parliament. Kevin Rudd is always one who can easily fill some opinion pieces about what future role he'll play in the Labor Party. The Greens - Labor alliance in both Tasmanian and in Canberra is another one that can instantly create pages of journalistic comment on what really is a difference of opinion that has always been held. And this is something that is becoming more and more common
- and I'm not sure that we're seeing any benefit as Australians with the political debate.
If these arguments happened behind closed doors, then hardly any of us would actually want to be in that room, because it's not really affecting us.
My focus might be different to others, but I believe that political debates should be about how the issues will affect me and my peers and my country, rather than having personal attacks being made at each other. How many times do you hear members of the Labor party say that 'the Howard government did this' and then the Liberal party are saying 'the Gillard government is doing that'. It's not like the issue is at the core of the debate, but it's the fact that someone stands on the other side of their opinion.
Political debates are losing focus on the useful conversations. They are focused on defeating the other party, gaining power so that you minimise the impact of the other party, and balancing the argument between popular opinion and ensuring the political sponsors are still looked after.
We all agree that bullying is wrong in the school yard, but it is all our politicians can seem to do!
I may be an idealist, but here's what I believe politics should be orientated around -
For too long, we've been watching politicians use each other as the point of reference in debates - and the Australian people simply sit by waiting to find out how it really affects us. Even in debates, you are more likely to hear the bashing of the other side rather than painting a clear vision of what they want to see happen in Australia.
Let me hear what you want to see done with the health system, with the education system, with the environment - just don't tell me what the other side is doing.
Present the preferred tomorrow.
It's going to take a courageous leader to stop bashing the other side of politics and start focusing on the future of Australia - but it's got to happen soon before the entire political arena turns toxic.
Follow Adam on Twitter @adammostogl
