Scare Tactics... (the defeat of the Hanging Bill)

What took place in the Parliament yesterday was downright scary.

Big men and women on both sides gathered together to take part in a farce designed to claw at each other while pretending to be about the people's business failed at government and not for the first time.

The government in its/their role as chief celebrant flubbed their lines and raised none of the national ire against the opposition that they were hoping for, and their continued arrogance in the face of all evidence that this is not the way to go continues to turn the public off.

 It is safe to say that their intended righteous victory at the expense of the Opposition's refusal to support their 'Hanging Bill' has fallen flat.

What could have been the outcome had they been advised to work with the Opposition on this instead of against?

If in every one of those clips and sound bytes on this issue prior to yesterday's sitting the members of the Government were instructed to say 'we are working with the Opposition to find a solution, so that the rule of law can prevail,' the public may have been more inclined to frown at the Opposition for taking up their marbles and leaving the game.

As it was, it appeared to everyone at large as an attempt at strong arming and bullying by the goliath of a Government, and David's victory, while contradictory in spirit to the 'bipartisan politics' bills like these will require, was still recorded as a people's victory over what many are considering a Government gone wild.

How many of us now have suggested, asked, pleaded, scolded that they stop the constant politicking and campaigning and get on with the job?

We have so much recorded work on this subject that when this Government does in fact collapse because of its hubris and refusal to read the writing on the wall, they will have much to look back on when they ask where did it all go wrong.

No one won in Parliament yesterday but everyone lost.

The Attorney General derogatorily referred to the Opposition as a 'small maxi' due to their few numbers in the House, creating the unintended image in the people's mind after the defeat of their Bill that a small maxi 'bounce down' a big bus.

Instead of the people seeing the Opposition as obstructionist as appears to have been the government's plan, the people see the Government as having failed again despite superior numbers in the House.

To those fundamentally opposed to this administration this is a victory, to everyone else, this is a loss of a wonderful opportunity for all hands to come up on deck and work in the best interest of the people.

The issue of whether to hang convicted murderers or not was never adequately debated publicly and the promised referendum on the matter, which could have borne much fruit towards navigating the thorny issue never materialized leaving the Government to appear incapable of even the smallest of tasks.

Contrasted with that the calm efficiency with which they all gathered for the post parliament photo op, the ease with which all members found their places without prompt or direction, and one can plainly see just what they are adequately qualified for.

The people, left to their own understanding and witnessing the circus that their government has become, must be wondering where can we go from here.

It is this growing void that is the scariest thing of all.