But I can't. Not today. It's not that I don't despise what Japan does in the name of its whacko so-called-science but I wasn't tossing and turning last night. Sorry.

The Republic? Well bugger me it should've happened years ago but its not got me hot and bothered with frustration. Not right now. It'll happen. I'll wait.

As for the fibs told to get us into Iraq well this is for you George W.: "Liar, liar pants on fire." But, honestly, that's as much puff as I can bring to the matter right now.

Not that they're not worthy issues but I sometimes feel in this prosperous and safe country of ours that we latch onto the ‘big' stuff at the expense of what's really causing pain at home.

And you know what really hurts?

Teeth.

Stay with me on this.

By some estimates half a million Australians go to bed each night and wake up each morning in nagging or bloody awful pain. That's one hell of a lot of Aussies suffering because our politicians pay lip service but not tooth service to dental health care.

Count it, 500,000 Australians. Big Brother would still be on air next year if it had that many viewers. Come to think of it Big Brother might be the only non-invasive way of numbing the pain of severe tooth ache such is the stupor it induces.

All of us know the agony teeth can cause. It'll ruin your day. But for those poor buggers too poor to buy themselves relief outside of the under funded and inefficient system masquerading as a safety net in this country, it's not only ruining their day but their week, their month, their this year and next year and the year after that and that and that.

Those bloody waiting lists, they'll get you every time.

Which begs the question, why can't our politicians and bureaucrats pull their collective fingers out and do something? It's staring them in the face (actually, not quite the face - just behind the lips below the top gum above the bottom one. Those white things, they're teeth).

Why can't they fix it? Why don't they care? I suspect it's because it is not the sort of issue to get thousands marching in the streets. It doesn't lead the prime time news. It doesn't grab our pollies by the goolies and make them take notice. It just simmers quietly in the background unnoticed by all except those hurting like hell.

Damn sad really, because what this issue does do is tap into those values that are important to Australians: caring for those who are least able to care for themselves; having a safety net in place for people in need like, you know, mums, dads, grandparents, children, teens. Like, you know, fellow Aussies.

In fact it could be you. And if it is you then those politicians who ignore you should be made to hear you.

Instead of World Youth Day it's time for World Tooth Day.

As difficult as it may be to speak out through swollen mouths and impacted wisdom teeth the time has come to pull out the drill and touch a nerve. At the very least write, and write again, to every state health minister, and the Federal Health minister Nicola Roxon as well (she who hates beer - more on that here). Make our politicians feel your pain!

And you, you with the gleaming teeth and bright smiles join in too. After all these, your fellow Australians, are mammals in distress.

Just like those Whales.