Twitter drives the national conversation in the theatrum mundi

Like Windisch I would argue that representation of the ordinary political argumentation developed and played out on the Twitter micro-blog is a supplement rather than an alternative to traditional abstract and structural approaches to the topic.

A strong supplement to political argumentation will by its very nature increase the strength of the initial structure of the debate, dialog or conversation.

Politicians in recent years have stepped back from the word 'narrative' and its elitist overtones to talk about political argumentation as a 'conversation'.

The prime minister states that Australians will have a 'national conversation' about the hot issues including carbon tax, immigration and now, paradoxically, a very fast train.

Ms Gillard's constant use of the words 'national conversation' became a topic itself for one Melbourne newspaper.

"A conversation is something politicians in a tight spot say is required when they don't have a clue how to approach a problem. This is elevated beyond the old tried and true 'dialogue' to the need for 'a national conversation' when the issue is perfectly irredeemable."(The Age).

But the prime minister does not reveal where this national conversation might be taking place, or how ordinary folk (as Barack Obama calls us) may become involved in it.

Most Australian politicians, thankfully, have not grasped the significance of the public tweet space; but ordinary folk are tweeting themselves hoarse.

The #carbontax hashtag for example refreshes every second 24/7. And #agchatoz gathers interesting and erudite Tweets every Tuesday night for a conversation about rural and regional issues from AI to mental health.

It has taken a couple of years longer than it did in the US for citizens searching for space to put their opinions - advocates and opponents - but now they are attuned there is no turning back.

Twitter is available to anyone with access to a computer and wifi; it is in effect the 21st century version of the 19th century English coffee house, the site where traders, media and politicians exchanged information and news over a cup of the newly discovered beverage (is this why Starbucks provides wifi with their coffee?)

The big difference is that now the public Twittersphere is more widely accessible than was the public coffeehouse to the marginalised ordinary folk in the 18th century.

It offers both a space in which to have the national conversation, if that's what it must be called, and for those searching for resolutions to the hot button policy issues it provides a measurable instrument of public opinion.