Good article, thanks very much Sarah. I really couldn't believe the shocking level politics in Australia had reached when I read Christopher Pyne's preposterous words. As a Dutchman, I have always been amazed about the kindergarten nature of Australian politics. Especially in the last months, throwing as much mud as possible seems to have taken over worrying about policies and running a country. With Pyne's words, Aussie politics has sunk to a new low.

Sarah, whilst I agree with some of the sentiments the political bias in your article takes away from what should be the real point.

To read the piece it would seem that the coalition were the only ones prone to misusing words or some exageration for the sake of political point scoring.

All sides of politics (and for that matter most of the rest of us are prone to it from time to time).

Unfortunately for them the coalition don't have buddies who will change the dictionary following the misuse of a word.

R0bert

We can expect to see more of this sort of article as the election date draws near. ALP people and their supporters on the pseudo-left will attempt to make the Coalition victory seem illegitimate by claiming the so-called 'moral high ground'. This means, I'm afraid, that we'll be subjected to more and more self-righteous moralising in the guise of political comment.

All too sadly predictable really.

I think some have short memories.

Just go back and listen to parlimentary debate by Keating. While the so-called true believers salivated on his words, because that is what true football supporters do when they can't see past their own team, I was disgusted and thought it did litle to prove a superior intellect. And i was a die hard Labor voter then working in a factory.

He he, Sarah,

"The term 'an authoritarian regime' denotes a state in which the single power holder - an individual 'dictator', a committee or a junta or an otherwise small group of political elite - monopolizes political power. However, a totalitarian regime attempts to control virtually all aspects of the social life including economy, education, art, science, private life and morals of citizens. "The officially proclaimed ideology penetrates into the deepest reaches of societal structure and the totalitarian government seeks to completely control the thoughts and actions of its citizens ."[8]

Totalitarianism is an extreme version of authoritarianism. Authoritarianism primarily differs from totalitarianism in that social and economic institutions exist that are not under governmental control."

I believe we are in need of a benevolent dictator.

For those with short memories you could try this http://www.webcity.com.au/keating/ or you want a mobile version http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/smartphone-apps/keating-insult-app-proves-a-hit-20121219-2bmxa.html

That Keating was such a nasty conservative politician, not like the saints in the Labor party.

R0bert