Oct 26 2008
Statistically Political
The United Kingdom has one of the lowest turnouts for elections in the World despite having one of the most transparent political processes. Could it be that this very transparency is responsible?
Apparently, 47% of people in this country are not interested in the US elections compared to 25% in France and 15% in Germany. Only 51% in the UK say they would vote in a General Election whereas 70-80% in other European countries is not uncommon. Only 27% of the electorate here have any trust at all in politicians generally yet, even in those countries with openly corrupt regimes, polling turnout is considerably higher than here.
It is my contention that a transparent political process following the usual posturing and brazen lies to secure control of parliament shows the electorate has been shafted yet again. You don’t need to have a brain the size of a planet to figure out that most people, if repeatedly kicked when they get up, will soon learn not to get up. So it is with politics. What’s the point of making the effort to consider policies and manifestos then go to the polling booth and vote for someone who is never going to do what they promised.
It might be better if we didn’t get to see what’s going on in politics as it just rubs salt in the wound. After all, getting shafted is one thing, but knowing you’ve been shafted that’s completely different!
One response so far
We have a high dose of reality running through our British blood – everyone else seems to believe, to a greater or lesser degree, that you can change the World with your vote.
In the UK we know this isnt true.
As a result, we don’t vote much ‘cos we don’t have the time to waste.