Sporting a political life
There's no getting away from it - most people watch motorsport for the crashes, rugby for the punch-ups and yachting for... OK you've got me, I don't know what people watch yachting for.
As much as we enjoy seeing sports people at the top of their game excelling and performing above their limit we actually enjoy it more when they push the limit too far or lose their composure.
I bring this up because as we all know sport is a metaphor for life and our reactions to on-field behaviour are paralleled in the way we look at day to day events such as the goings-on in Parliament.
It seems some of our parliamentarians believe they have an eloquence and verbal gift on par with a Roger Federer forehand and hence they want to stop cameras in the house catching them with their guard down.
We should be hanging on their every word without being sidetracked by the likes of Ron Mark flipping the bird or Steve Maharey using colourful language.
New proposed rules would prevent photographers and TV camera operators from snapping MPs in less than a positive light.
Apparently you'll only be able to take photos of MPs on their feet and there's be no close ups.
Also kicked to the curb is the footage of disorder or the use of material for satire ridicule or denigration.
That not only takes the fun out of it, but is a sure fire way to lose your audience. Parliamentarians should bear this in mind before voting on restrictions.
People need unpredictability and excitement to keep them interested.
There's photographic evidence to suggest the current state of play in the house barely keeps MPs from nodding off.
If they bland it out any more the rest of us will be asleep at the wheel as well.
Bring back the biff.
As much as we enjoy seeing sports people at the top of their game excelling and performing above their limit we actually enjoy it more when they push the limit too far or lose their composure.
I bring this up because as we all know sport is a metaphor for life and our reactions to on-field behaviour are paralleled in the way we look at day to day events such as the goings-on in Parliament.
It seems some of our parliamentarians believe they have an eloquence and verbal gift on par with a Roger Federer forehand and hence they want to stop cameras in the house catching them with their guard down.
We should be hanging on their every word without being sidetracked by the likes of Ron Mark flipping the bird or Steve Maharey using colourful language.
New proposed rules would prevent photographers and TV camera operators from snapping MPs in less than a positive light.
Apparently you'll only be able to take photos of MPs on their feet and there's be no close ups.
Also kicked to the curb is the footage of disorder or the use of material for satire ridicule or denigration.
That not only takes the fun out of it, but is a sure fire way to lose your audience. Parliamentarians should bear this in mind before voting on restrictions.
People need unpredictability and excitement to keep them interested.
There's photographic evidence to suggest the current state of play in the house barely keeps MPs from nodding off.
If they bland it out any more the rest of us will be asleep at the wheel as well.
Bring back the biff.