farmdoc's blog post number 23

Why don’t they just go away, these people? They’ve had their day. And that day is gone. Long gone. Last week saw Paul Keating bleating about why the NSW electricity system should be privatised. And Malcolm Fraser, that Hamas praiser, bleeding-heartedly yabbering on about why Australia’s Middle East policy should be even-handed. Then frequently there’s a squawk from Hawke. Nary a week goes by without some ex-politician being quoted saying something or other. And what they say is mostly forgettable. Don’t get me wrong; I think public debate is important and the opportunities for it should be maximised. But these has-beens, whom the public elected way back when but would not elect if they stood for office now, should be allowed a public voice no louder than that of any other citizen. I don’t know why some politicians cannot assume a low, or zero, public profile after they leave parliament. Most do, so why not all? Perhaps for these few it is a power thing, or a need to be needed. Or maybe the media chase them. John Howard, for all of his shortcomings, and there are plenty, has disappeared from public view. Good on him for that. But these others? All I can say is that I wish they’d disappear. And soon. And for good.