Monday, June 20, 2011

Collective Introspection

For some reason, introspection has once again become the fashion in Federal politics, because…well, you know…everyone's depressed about Federal politics. Panel shows are popping up with topics such as: "Is Democracy Broken?", "Why Can't We Talk About Policy" and "Let us All Stab Ourselves." The Australian Labor Party, with poll numbers plumbing the depths of an existential sewer, is once more arguing over their internal structures, like it's the process of how they vote on things that's the problem and not the actual things they vote on.

While the ALP's polls are a giant turd, disapproval is up for both parties, revealing a general sense of malaise towards the entire freak show. When this happens, the MPs blame the media for only reporting the personalities, the media blame the politicians for cultivating that situation for votes, and the public think that using a mobile phone during Masterchef is dodgy and thus don't know if they believe in anything anymore.

Seriously, the public do not cop it enough when it comes to this stuff. It's all very well to whinge about the state of political discourse in this country and say politics isn't worth your time, but if the majority of people spend all their time obsessing over reality shows pissed into the collective mainstream chamber pot by soulless, asparagus eating TV executives, then politics and the media will reflect that fact. If the media organisations thought they would make money by reporting the issues and fostering debate, trust me, they'd do it. They're interested in making money, not in making me depressed, they just happen to accomplish both.

Do you know why spin is used in politics? - because if you don't use it you will get fucked over, by the media AND the public. If you say what you think – you're a dissenter. If you toe the party line – you're a robot. The media will report it that way, and the public will soak it up like a giant filthy grey water sponge.

Everyone goes on about how no one talks about policy, yet as soon someone actually does they are drowned out by mindless cries of "BORING" and "Why can't this be a celebrity cooking show?" If everyone is obsessed with mindless gossip and the illusion of drama via modern editing techniques then why is everyone surprised that this attitude has invaded House of Reps as well? MPs want your votes, and the media organisations want your money – and this is how they get it. No one will change anything until this strategy stops working.

But it won't change, because nothing ever fucking changes unless it is to something utterly catastrophically bad. If last night's Q and A panel of Gen Y plebs is truly representative of what the future holds, then this place is doomed and I have lost the will to live.

Well maybe not completely, but I certainly won't enjoy it.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Q and A, Go Away

Is Q and A even worth it anymore? Does the Australian political discourse really need another meaningless back-and-forth that makes people want to kill themselves? I admit that it may have been somewhat charming at first, but it exponentially eroded any good will I had for it the moment it became a place for Federal politicians to 'appear.' You know, to do the rounds, spruik something, and be a dick.

The show's main contribution seems to be the addition of the now ubiquitous 'live' twitter feed on screen, which is made less appealing by the fact that it is 'moderated'. It's slightly better if you have your laptop next to you with a clean feed of tweets, until you realise you are the very modern model of a fucking stupid Gen Y loser.

Q and A has simply become a place for variously placed MPs from all sides to have a shill off and constantly get into arguments over semantics. Sometimes there's as many as one person on the panel who is not politically attached and hence speaking in human talk, but they're usually also an idiot, so it is of no benefit.

As a result the questioning has become increasingly grandstanding in nature; questioners don't seem to be looking for information but rather to get a clap after completing whatever drivel comes out of their mouths. Then there's the always awful question-that-is-actually-a-statement ramble-athon which almost drowns surrounding audience members in the smug spittle of indignant wankery. It is appalling.

Currently serving MPs, other than at election time, should be immediately banned from future broadcasts. Let's have some policy wonks, some academics, and sure, let's have Janet Albrechtsen occasionally so we can witness true soulless evil, but two MPs with intractable party lines to service are not going help anyone. Once they're finished in politics; then yes, get them in, it's infinitely more entertaining. Everyone seems surprised when a former MP goes on the TV and is actually quite likeable, there's a reason for that and it's the letters that have been removed from the end of their name.

Q and A's format needs re-tooling, and by that I actually mean de-tooling. Until that happens I'll be staring at a flickering fluorescent light on Monday nights, softly muttering.