We've been discussing politics at work. I'm someone who actually reads the policies of various parties and thinks about the values that lie behind them. I try to see how any party's policy might translate those values into reality.I'm very much alone in doing that.
Most people appear to capture a sentence or two from a TV news broadcast, a newspaper opinion piece or their mates over a beer or five.
In particular, I've been fascinated by how many people see the Green Party. It isn't a view shaped by awareness of the policies or actions of the Green Party. Most often it is a view shaped by the negative framing of those opposed to the Green Party. It's as though you allowed your enemies to define you and no one actually listened to what you had to say.
It's not a flattering (or remotely accurate) picture.
The short Canadian federal election campaign is nearing its peak, with voting day now only 12 days away. The Greens in Canada are polling well and appear to be drawing support from all parts of the political spectrum. Reading the comments of Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada, it's obvious why the Greens have such broad support :
"We're not conservative in the sense of homophobic intolerance, right to life kind of policies, but we are fiscally responsible and socially progressive and share the values of a lot of people who used to vote Tory but can't stomach (Conservative Prime Minister Stephen) Harper," May says on the last leg of her cross-Canada whistle-stop campaign.
"We also appeal to people who always used to vote NDP (leftist New Democratic Party) but wondered what happened to their principles. And any (centrist) Liberal ... would be happy with us," she insists.
The Green Party of New Zealand is very much the same: fiscally responsible, socially progressive and sharing a lot of the values of people right across the political spectrum.
The media could cover party policy as news but appear unable or unwilling to do so. People would have to find these things out for themselves....and few - very few - make the effort.
For the sake of our democracy, that is a shame. Uninformed voters make sub-optimal choices. The polls already indicate there is a HUGE proportion of uninformed voters.
For example, anyone on a wage they feel is low is as mad as a hatter to vote for the National Party as that party's track record is to enable employers to cut wages and conditions further........not increase them. Anyone concerned about the environment shouldn't be voting for parties with a track record of presiding over the rape the commons.
The truth can be an ugly beast.
ReplyDeleteAnon: ...as voters who look closely at National and its record can clearly see.
ReplyDeleteI've thought about this too amd posted about it myself. It is disturbing that so many people have such bizarre misconceptions. One only has to look at voxpops, letters to the editor and especially blog comments to see that some people's views and opinions are shaped by fallicious premises. So who is too blame for so many voters who hold these misconceptions? Whose job is it to ensure voters are educated and informed? The media? Schools? The electoral commission? The political parties themselves?
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