In many ways, this term-in-waiting has supplanted my other titles of business owner, psychotherapist or even soccer mum.
But recently, a funny thing happened on the way to my official Facebook page. I found, with no consultation, that my status had been changed to ‘politician’.
I had a violent reaction to this new nomenclature – the idea of Marie Rowland and Politician in the same sentence sent shock waves of horror through the system and I wanted to stage a revolt.
I could understand at that moment why Thoreau had championed civil disobedience. It dawned on me that under the guise of ‘candidate’ I have worn down stilettos, lost sleep, talked my jaw off, had leaned in, become a mother in absentia and foregone much-needed income in order to join a club which I had held in such disdain.
The voter had transformed into someone to vote for.
I am the aspirant. And should I be successful then I will become ‘one of them’. One of those people we cannot help regarding with disregard and contempt. The entitlements, the lack of transparency, the arrogance and the complete disconnectedness – who would want to take on this mantle? And yet I am striving to become the next Honourable MP for Warringah.
Arguably, Nick Xenophon is probably the most liked, trusted and respected politician in the country today. This is why I joined his Team. I wanted to be involved in a movement of change where principles could defeat politics.
But of course you can’t escape the word. It serves to ridicule you as people scorn politicians as a rule. As a therapist or counsellor, implicit in the meaning of these words is helper, empathic listener, compassionate – useful. Not so with Politician – self-serving, liar, unemployable and a whole pile of expletives that I dare not repeat here. But perhaps we can do a semantic backflip.
A mum-of-two, a former Oxfam aid campaigner working in Afghanistan and Dafur and an advocate for the disenfranchised was also a politician. Her name was Jo Cox (pictured below) and her senseless death affected me as both a mother and someone who wants to change the way we manage mental health.
As an MP for British Labour she was using her influence to fight slavery, to prevent maternal deaths in pregnancy and was a champion of getting more women into in politics. Jo Cox was the embodiment of honourable. She was also effective and passionate. The outpouring of love and affection shows that she was the politician that by any other name would be just as sweet.
So I have decided to own this word on my Facebook feed and to live up to the honourable part. The truth and integrity that I take into my practice each and every day, I will take into my new role should I have a title change. Perhaps as part of this new force in politics we can change it from toxic to a tonic and reproach into respect.
I promise nothing but to be myself, to listen and to do my best. I will never take my job or this honour bestowed on me by fellow constituents for granted.
These past few weeks I saw politics in action as the preferencing wars came to Warringah and it was my first test of character. But I only had one option. To preference the people of Warringah by running an open ticket may do me in the end when the flow doesn’t come my way but I know it was the right thing to do.
Inspired by an English rose, perhaps I too can do justice to Shakespeare and make the term politician a less smelly word.