Australian politicians worry about the Americanization of their politics - i.e., the move towards violence:

Windsor calls for calm after death threats

Independent MP Tony Windsor has called for restraint from talkback radio hosts and fellow MPs amid an increasingly vitriolic debate about the Government’s carbon tax plans.

The independent MP drew parallels with the recent shooting of US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, warning violent political rhetoric and “abuse” on the airwaves could provoke a similar tragedy in Australia.

His comments came after he revealed he had received a number of death threats over the issue, and released a phone message which ended with: “I hope you die”.

“You’re a f..ing liar, a dog, a rat, a big f…ing MP dog… and you wait you’re not going to get voted in again. I hope you die, you bastard,” the caller said.

“All I’m saying is look, be careful we don’t want to go down the American road. We’ve got a great democracy here, we can argue with each other without killing each other,” Mr Windsor told ABC Radio National Breakfast.

“I think we saw instances in America recently where people were incited by various professional media people to hideous acts,” he said.

“There should be substantive debates on substantive issues, not just slogans and one-liners and abuse on the airwaves. And I would hate something happen to someone in our parliamentary system and that would change it forever.”

And he levelled a finger at conservative talkback radio hosts, saying they are orchestrating a campaign designed to bring the Government down.

“This is about eradicating the current Government, using the carbon pricing issue as the catalyst to attempt to get some sort of people’s revolt, US-style revolt to overthrow the government,” he said.

“I think the shock jocks and others are involved in an orchestrated campaign over the issue itself, but particularly they’re targeting members of parliament that want to be involved in the substantive debates.

“I think if they keep running that line they may well have a self-fulfilling prophecy and incite people to do things they would never normally do.”

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