They say that democracy is failing. Don't ask me who 'they' are, but if you ask any 'international relations' student (the fancy name for politics these days) the student will tell you that democracy is in decline.
I have never believed this, not even slightly. This is not because I think 'they' are lying but more because I think what is considered failing is just wrong. The idea goes that democracy is failing because less people are turning out to vote. This means supposedly that less people believe a difference can be made and more people are becoming disenchanted with the whole system of being lead by those who have been given the all inspiring, all wonderful, all justifying democratic mandate.
This, of course, is a steaming pile. As far as I'm concerned the very fact that people don't vote is evidence that the system IS working. It means that the system is working more efficiently. This is for two reasons:
1. If you don't vote that means you don't really care who is going to lead the country. 'Oh no' I hear you say, 'evidence that people don't trust politicians and that people don't think they can do the job'. Au Contraire. This mean that people think that whoever is elected they are going to do a pretty good job and as a result think that turning up to the polling station is just a waste of their day that could be spent solving the mysteries of life, or whatever it is people in the UK do in their spare time. Don't believe me? Think about it, if you thought the BNP or some other nutters were going to get in power would you be more likely to vote? Unless you really are a shaved chimp the answer is yes. If you thought that the party to get elected was going to turn you out of your home and banish you to work in a factory for the rest of your God-given life would you vote? Of course. Even if there were several parties who were in the running all with such similarly inane, fatuous ideas you would vote for the green party just to try and dilute the power of the others. If there was no party that would allow you to keep your home, you would start your own party.
The fact is the only reason why people don't vote, isn't because 'all politicians are as bad as each other'. It is because they're lazy and don't really think either party is going to do much damage to their way of life. In essence while they tell you it is because they don't trust any of the parties, people don't cote because actually they do trust ALL of the parties, and therefore don't really see a pressing need to bother voting. You can't argue with the logic.
2. The second reason that people don't vote and this I think is never appreciated, is because many many people are either too thick to understand what is going on or don't bother to find out. This, I say hand on heart, is no bad thing. Anyone who thinks that it is a bad thing probably isn't too sharp themselves. Let me put it this way, if you went to hospital and you had to have an operation would you have the Doctor schedule an operation or would you have him bring in several complete strangers and ask them to vote on what operation they think you should have despite the fact they have never read your chart? The fact is there is always going to be a decent section of society that either doesn't have the time or the Witt to learn about the various parties, what they stand for and the policy that they are seeking to promote. In these circumstances why would you want them to vote? They obviously don't care, if they do vote they will be doing it on who they have seen the most of (the tactic I employed in deciding University elections), whose name they like or who looks the 'coolest'. You wouldn't use it to choose your surgeon, so why is it any different in politics.
As if this wasn't bad enough for every numbskulled neanderthal that votes for the one with the nicest tie (which appears often to be Nick Griffin) that means your carefully considered vote means less. Conversely for every vacuous, knuckle dragging, cretin who stays at home your vote counts for more. So why is that a bad thing again?
Sure, I know I'm sounding harsh, we can't expect everyone to take an interest in politics, intellectual or otherwise, human nature will always mean that there will be some who find it interesting and others who cannot tolerate the thought of it for longer than 5 seconds and that didn't bother me, to be honest, those who don't like thinking about it can be lead by those who do, that is what canvasing is for. But then X -factor happened and now I find it all a bit wrong.
I have facebook and of late the status updates have been filled with comments about some creature called 'Jedward' and there has been much support and criticism of this creature. Also apparently the Metro and Yahoo News have seen fit to incorporate headlines using words like 'outrage' not in reference to British soldiers dying because of a lack of supplies but in reference to some sonorous bint being voted off the program. Thankfully the Times has not followed suit, else I would be forced to fly to Afghanistan and tell our boys to come home because Western Democracy is no longer worth saving.
But nonetheless with a petition now being set up to send to Downing street (yes I'm still talking about X -factor at this point) one does begin to wonder what is going on.
Surely if people have the time to get so worked up about some mindless entertainment show where members of the public embarrass themselves for the benefit of the masses surely they can find the time to work out Labour has been about as good to Britain as a serious bout of the flu? As a result of which they can get up and vote for the Tories. Or worse, am I forced to conclude that actually the reason why they can get annoyed about 'X - strictly come skating in the Jungle' is because it takes no intelligence to know if someone is singing out of tune?
If the latter is the conclusion then one could ask the question: does that mean that in front of polling booths in order to protect the nation there should be a five question test.
1. What are the names of three main parties in the UK?
2. Who is the current prime minister?
3. Who is the leader of the opposition?
4. Do you think bombing people is an appropriate way to influence government?
5. Which is more important to you, voting five times in X -Factor or once in the general election?
Anyone who doesn't get these questions right gets sent home with a lolly pop and a pat on the back, the other 1% can go on to vote.
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