I often question why optimism is such a rare commodity in politics. The cynicism of British politicians grinds to no end. This haze of disingenuous polemic which is so often volleyed across the front benches is a product of the political system itself. The system needs to become more optimistic.
Yet life stories of politicians often reveal an early youthful optimism - one which finds itself in much deficit on the benches. Jack Straw provides a clear example of this morphing character and dying optimism.
The first left-wing leader of the National Union of Students, he commanded a fierce reputation as a left-wing activist. He supported the 1968 occupation of Vice-Chancellor's office at the University of Leeds. During his presidency of the NUS, Straw was monitored by MI5 whose files classified him as a "communist sympathiser".
Yet as Home Secretary he was described as one of the most right-wing frontbenchers in the cabinet. He was even accused of trying to out-do the Tories. Pressure groups criticised his trampling over civil liberties during his proposals to deny jury trial to certain offenders.
We see a clear change of personality as Straw traversed through the political system. It appears to have sucked the optimism from his politics and replaced it with a disingenuous and anti-civil liberty stance. This kind of change occurs too frequently in the life-stories of politicians.
A number of reasons can be cited for this change which often occurs among politicians - especially the ex-optimists of New Labour. Exposure to lobbyists upon acquiring real political power, political circumcision by party-whips and the soul-destroying effect of advice from unelected bureaucrats are all to be blamed. These are flaws in the system - ones which dilute much-needed youthful optimism from politics.
The system shoulders the blame for this.
Yet the status quo continues. The failure of the proportional representation referendum contributed to this. Had the plan succeeded, the old party system of safe seats by minimal votes would have been challenged - forcing politicians to pay more attention to their needy (and one can hope, optimistic) electorates by responding with optimistic policy.
But it didn't. No wonder so many voters say that "politicians are all the same" and whine about how their votes don't make a difference. Only serious political change can alter these sentiments for the better.
Their optimism deficit is a reaction to the same lacking in politicians. An optimistic and almost youthful politic will provoke a similar optimism in voters. This would result in an increase in votes and engagement - two factors which are sourly lacking from the British political arena.
Such an increase in voters (especially when combined with proportional representation) would make the political system more responsive to voter needs. We would see our democracy strengthened.
The lobby culture needs to be challenged. This culture compounds the lack of optimistic policy among politicians because they are forced to pay attention to lobbies at the expense of their electorates. As they rise from young activists into the world of official politics, lobby pressures work to sap their optimism.
Yet the reason behind the failure of the proportional representation proposal lay mostly with the overwhelming support of the 'no' vote by those whose interests are so entrenched within the system - the tabloid media.
These right-wing bastions work against the strength of our democracy and consolidate the pessimism which caused the tragic change in Straw's politic.
The tradition of small changes over long periods of time which have defined British politics for so long must change. Only a radical overhaul of the system can inject the optimism which we so urgently need.
If only Jack Straw didn't change.