POLITICAL punch-ups are part of the territory and have been since before Julius Caesar was done over in 44BC during a senate meeting.

Australian, Romanian, Ukrainian and almost all other politicians “get into it” on a surprisingly regular basis. And they’re almost always belting one of their own. 

No nation comes close to South Korea, though. A simple sneeze can set off their pollies – to the delight of television audiences around the world. [see footage below]

KICKED

The infamous 2018 Liberal Party branch meeting that kicked off with an all-in-brawl at a Sydney chicken shop was tame by comparison.

The branch minutes recorded that meeting as being “collegiate”. It probably was when compared to other meetings. The only reason this one ever received media coverage was because their fight spilled into a public space.

The tone of physical interaction between politicians is ingrained at a young age.

A quick flick through John Hyde Page’s classic The Education of a Young Liberal provides a glimpse of political reality.

SOMBRE

His “Liberal Party handshake” is a favourite among Young Liberals, male and female, and is described in great detail in his now-banned book.

“I put my hand out in greeting,” Hyde Page wrote. “But he announced he only gave the Liberal Party handshake. What was that? The guy suddenly turned very sombre. He placed one hand on each of my shoulders, winked, then abruptly kneed me in the groin. I doubled over in pain. The Liberal Party handshake. It set the tone for much of what was to follow, from the Right Wing at least.”

[The Education of a Young Liberal has been pulped in Australia, but remains available via Amazon for about A$600 a copy. And is worth every cent.]

If it must be a choice between Queensberry rules or never-ending backstabbing, the former is often the best way to clear the air and to move forward.

The latter can be infinitely more damaging to the nation.PC