HATS OFF TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

Over the last couple of weeks I have been watching parliamentary question time on ABC. I’m not altogether sure I gain any clarity on current issues as the politicians seem to always dance around the answers with their fancy deviations and verbose responses.

However, I truly sit in amazement for the speaker of the house. He keeps proceedings moving forward, he quickly pounces on anyone getting out of line and most importantly he keeps his cool.

Sometimes the frustrations will show in his face or in the tone of his voice but never does he stand up and shout, “Just shut up!”

Honestly I don’t know how he does it. To me, during question time most politicians seem like children in suits who use this opportunity to take pot shots at their opponent. So there.

I wonder if I spoke to my children in the manner Mr Speaker addresses the house they would listen more.

“Would the Member of the second bedroom please take his seat and the Member of the first bedroom go to time out for 10 minutes”.

I suppose the key factor here is that the members of parliament respect the Speaker of House and his position; even if they sometimes lack respect for their peers. This is why they listen to him.

Respect. Earn your children’s respect and they will listen. How do you do that? Well the Speaker of the House sets a fine example. He gives everyone the opportunity to have their say, but if they step out of line he doesn’t let them get away with it. It’s common sense really. As adults we like to have our say; so why not the little people.

I wonder if the Speaker of the House has a long stiff drink after question time.

This post was originally posted on my other Mum’s Word blog “Hats Off To The Speaker Of The House”

6 Comments

  • At 2011.06.19 23:52, life in a pink fibro said:

    LOL. I think that the Speaker of the House goes directly from the House to the nearest boxing gym and punches the crap out of a boxing bag for a few hours. I know that I’d need to.

    Thanks for Rewinding at the Fibro.

    • At 2011.06.20 14:22, Maria said:

      Hi Allison,

      He has to do something. There is no chance he just goes home and watches Deal or No Deal with a cup of tea and a biscuit.

      Love & stuff
      Mrs M

    • At 2011.06.20 00:35, Jackie Katsianas said:

      very good! I don’t know if I could do this though, it’s stressful enough listening to question time!

      • At 2011.06.20 14:23, Maria said:

        Hi Jackie,

        I’d like to try it for a day. It would be fun to tell some of those pollies to sit down.

        Thanks for the visit.

        Love & stuff
        Mrs M

      • At 2011.06.20 00:48, Susan @ Reading Upside Down said:

        I’ve often marvelled myself that the Speaker of the House stays so calm and in control. I’d be sending people to time out left, right and centre and quite probably telling them to not bother opening their mouths unless they had something positive and/or productive to say. Honestly, I feel like getting my children to watch question time and then telling them “you see how they all behaved? Don’t do that.”

        I might try the more formal tone when my kids play up next to see how it goes. Thanks for the idea. 🙂

        (PS I agree with Alison. I think that the Speaker of the House has a great big punching bag somewhere.)

        • At 2011.06.20 14:25, Maria said:

          Hi Susan,

          I’m sure if I addressed my children in that way that would think I’d lost the plot.

          And kids take things so literally. Last year during the election as I was walking in to vote my son asks “Are you voting for Tony Abbott? Because the man at the gate said you had to”.

          If that’s all it took, maybe the man at the gate should tell my son to not pick his nose in public.

          Thanks for the visit.

          Love & stuff
          Mrs M

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