Saturday, July 24, 2010

PM's Clothes Signal Her Intentions

Based on a study from Plymouth University, personal hygiene and cleanliness dispose individuals to deal better with morally questionable situations (if you want to read more on this, go here). Think of Lady Macbeth as she sought to cleanse her hands of invisible bloodstains having convinced her husband to commit regicide against his kinsman in Shakespeare's tragic tale. Think of those characters in CSI dressed in their white lab coats clinically inspecting the compromised bodies of their "vics".

This knowledge made me sensitive to the way PM Julia Gillard has suddenly taken to donning pristine white outfits like the one she wore here after presiding over the political demise of her former "boss", Kevin Rudd. I wonder if there is a wardrobe consultant advising her or if this is a subconscious play on her part as she appeases voters wary of how Mr Rudd's sacking was handled by the Labor party.

As she announced her intentions on climate change (a highly contentious set of policies characterised as being more brown than green), she was again wearing the same suit. It could perhaps be symbolic of her willingness to compromise on what was the "greatest moral challenge of our generation" for the sake of some voters in marginal seats. At any rate, the latest polls showing an expanded lead for Labor over the Coalition on a two party preferred basis and her better ratings as preferred prime minister would show that her clinical approach to the campaign is paying off.

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