Going into politics

 is not something I have ever contemplated. Reading this morning's paper left me, yet again, in no doubt that this has been a wise move on my part.

Somewhere along the line Middle Cat read something about the current Leader of the Opposition in our Federal Parliament.  It was wrong, has been shown to be wrong and shown to be wrong more than once. For some reason Middle Cat still believes this man was thrown out of his previous role because of some sort drug related dealings. In actual fact he left the police force with an unblemished record having spent time working in, among other things, the drug squad. There is not the slightest suggestion he was guilty of any sort of wrongdoing. But, mud sticks. It will stick particularly well if you have any reason to dislike someone.

I neither like nor dislike the man. I have never met him. I am never likely to meet him. He represents an electorate in another state. Unless there is some sort of catastrophic event it is likely he will lead the party into the upcoming election. That election has to be held this year.

We are already in election mode. Announcements are being made. They may not be major policy announcements but we are being reminded of all those little "sweeteners" the government has been handing out. They are being handed out to disguise the increased cost of mortgages as interest rates have gone up rather than down. Even more than mortgage holders the government is hoping there will be a reduction in interest rates before the election. It will be a big gift to them if this occurs. They know that most people will not look further than the "point two five" figure. "It's gone down!" is all they will think about. The Reserve Bank is under huge pressure to do this for political rather than economic reasons.

And I know that, despite there being no evidence for the story, there will be people who continue to peddle the story of wrongdoing by the Leader of the Opposition. They may hedge it around with, "Questions have been raised..." and "There was a story..." and much more. Those who do that know full well that people will want to believe the worst of someone. We are talking about politicians aren't we?

I have known many politicians over the years. They have come from more than one side of politics. I have liked some better than others. There have been a few, a very few, I felt were doing something really valuable.  It is perhaps the nature of the job that most are not very effective.

For the first time in many years I will almost certainly go to the upcoming election without having had any contact with our local federal member. She has a very large and very well sign posted electoral office on a main road not far from here. I suppose I could prowl in and ask to see her but I am not sure why. She sends out the occasional glossy newsletter which has been carefully scrutinised by the Labor party machine but that is all. They changed the electoral boundaries before the last election and I am sure she and the party believe she has nothing to worry about. Several people I know have sought help from her but the results have not been satisfactory. I have seen the letters in response and they could have been written by any office lackey. I recognise the sort of thing they are. I have written more than a few such letters for members of parliament in my time.

It seems to me there is not much point in going into politics unless you are destined for the inner cabinet. It is just possible you can be more effective outside - where the rules do not apply.