drug testing for politicians?
June 16th 2007 07:13
There is a lot of talk at the moment about drug testing in sport. The problems faced by several West Coast Eagles players in the AFL has lead to the Federal Government demanding that all sports get tougher on testing their players for illicit drugs. They want players being tested anywhere at any time. This means that even on your holidays, when the drugs will have no affect on your game, you can get a knock at your door demanding a urine sample.
As the papers and most sports people have pointed out, this is typical Howard Government stuff, pulling out the drugs bogey-man to try to gain votes in the election (they used it against the Greens in the last Federal Election in 2004). However, Essendon player James Hird asked a good question, why aren't we testing our politicians?
Now I'm sure Hird intended this as an off-hand remark and usually it would stay that way, but I started thinking more and more and feel that this is a good question. I mean these people make decisions which can sometimes mean life and death to people, they are decisions with far greater consequences than whether Ben Cousins played last years Grand Final high.
I would even go further to suggest that testing should be made for alcohol as well. I would never be allowed to go to work under the influence of alcohol but how many politicians have a wine or two during lunch at parliament house? Many will remember Steve Bracks' famous "Eddie Eeels" speech at the Heineken Golf Open (he was actually congratulating South African golfer Ernie Els). It also might explain what's going on in Bill Heffernan's head.
As someone who hopes to have a seat in parliament one day, I would be happy to subject myself to drug testing if it meant we could be sure that governments do not make life or death decisions such as the invasion of Iraq or ignoring the plight of refugees under the influence of anything.
As the papers and most sports people have pointed out, this is typical Howard Government stuff, pulling out the drugs bogey-man to try to gain votes in the election (they used it against the Greens in the last Federal Election in 2004). However, Essendon player James Hird asked a good question, why aren't we testing our politicians?
Now I'm sure Hird intended this as an off-hand remark and usually it would stay that way, but I started thinking more and more and feel that this is a good question. I mean these people make decisions which can sometimes mean life and death to people, they are decisions with far greater consequences than whether Ben Cousins played last years Grand Final high.
I would even go further to suggest that testing should be made for alcohol as well. I would never be allowed to go to work under the influence of alcohol but how many politicians have a wine or two during lunch at parliament house? Many will remember Steve Bracks' famous "Eddie Eeels" speech at the Heineken Golf Open (he was actually congratulating South African golfer Ernie Els). It also might explain what's going on in Bill Heffernan's head.
As someone who hopes to have a seat in parliament one day, I would be happy to subject myself to drug testing if it meant we could be sure that governments do not make life or death decisions such as the invasion of Iraq or ignoring the plight of refugees under the influence of anything.
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