One thing you can guarantee democracy will lack the capacity to provide on most occasions is quality choice.

And is it any wonder?

Democracy may simply be the best form of government human society has developed, but it’s far from perfect.

For a start, democracy requires candidates for office to not only face the type of scrutiny very few endure in the search for employment, but also that the final selection process is a popularity contest where everyone – from the least to the most informed, from the most prejudiced to the most considered – has the right to a vote.

Then there is the reality that to subject yourself to such a process requires a level of ambition that clearly brings out the worst in some people.

Take the case of opposition leader Kevin Rudd. The sanctimonious claptrap he has had to endure during the past 48 hours or so would be enough to turn any reasonably sane person away from any involvement in politics.

The story is certainly not fresh news. But its appearance after four years raises serious questions not only about the political process but also the complicit involvement of some journalists and newspapers in the farce.

Sydney Morning Herald journalist Phillip Coorey, who was a News Ltd correspondent in New York, knew what went on at Scores back in to 2003.

He now finds himself playing catch-up on a non-story whose sudden appearance in newspapers and on television screens has nothing to do with questions of character and judgement and everything to do with someone’s desire to exploit those of us whose votes are influenced by simplistic triggers.

This is Coorey’s recollection of what New York Post editor Col Allan told him about Kevin’s big night out:

“A night out with Allan always involved drinking your own body weight in alcohol, something to which he and Snowdon were accustomed but Rudd most clearly was not. I recollect Allan cheekily saying not long after something along the lines of: ‘Mate, don’t tell anyone this, but we took Rudd to Scores last night.’

“There was no mention of anything ‘inappropriate’ happening. In fact, the story told was along the lines of a nerdy Rudd freaking out to find himself in such a place and scarpering after about half an hour.”

So is that “non-event” really what all the nonsense of the past four days has been about?

No such luck.

It became apparent yesterday where this story was going and if, as a consequence, it affects the way we vote then that will say very much more about us and our democracy than it will ever say about Mr Rudd’s character.

News Ltd’s Daily Telegraph in Sydney and The Courier Mail yesterday chose to keep the story alive by publishing the fact that Mr Rudd’s brother’s wife once worked as a stripper. Why it did so is a matter for its editors but I am beginning to suspect that juicy bit of gossip was what the Scores’ story was about from the start.

And before politicians around the country start lining up with clean-the-slate confessions about their relatives, can I just say: “I’m not interested”.

I’m not interested if they went to a strip club or if their sister-in-law works or worked in one.

What I want to know is who is providing the bullets.

I want to know if this is The Daily Telegraph’s own work or whether it has received help and from whom.

Specifically, I want to know if any political party or politician had a hand in this saga seeing the light of day. Because that piece of information would give me a far better guide as to whom to entrust with my vote than any of the rubbish to which we have been exposed in the past few days.

I’m with Greens’ leader Bob Brown on this one.

The Tasmanian senator was quoted on Monday saying the revelations should be kept in perspective.

“Four years ago Kevin Rudd got drunk and took himself into a strip club,” Senator Brown said. “Four years ago John Howard, sober, took Australia into the Iraq war. I think the electorate can judge which one did the more harm.”

I hope he is right. Because if the coming election – and could John Howard please either go back to running the country or set a poll date now – is to be influenced in any way by Rudd’s past employment then it is a very sorry future indeed that looms for all of us.