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.