election selection?

With the federal election only two weeks away, I've started taking much more notice of talk of politics around me. And the results make my heart heavy.

I confess I am a bit of a political tragic. I love curling up on the couch at 7.30 and watching Big Red interviewing politicians from all sides of politics, clashing with titans, asking the pressing questions, never giving up. Maybe it's the red hair. But I've also been glued to Gruen Nation, Yes We Canberra, and other bits and pieces popping up on the telly. I'm by no means an expert, but I want to be engaged by our poiticians, find out what makes them tick, find out what they want to do and why.

But it seems more and more that I'm in the minority in this. So many people I've been speaking to lately have been so apathetic about the election, so unaware of any of the policies of either of the major parties, let alone the minor parties, that I have to wonder what they will be basing their vote on.

There's been much made in the media recently about the gender split on the two main candidates, with women more likely to vote for the ginger ninja and men more likely to vote for the mad monk. I've heard comments such as 'women are so stupid, just voting for her because she's a woman" and "it's just because she's the first female PM/breaking the ultimate glass ceiling". Apart from the blatantly misogynist language that women are stupid, I think explanations like this are so over-simplified and reductionist that it seems there's no thought gone into why this gender division has occurred. Perhaps it's because women recognise that the mad monk is a threat to them and their autonomy? Perhaps it's because men gravitate more towards the 'action man'? Perhaps it's not women voting FOR the ginger ninja, but men NOT wanting to vote for her? Or perhaps I just know too many eedjits.

Call me a nerd, but I thought deciding on the government to decide the future direction of the country was a bit of a big deal. But people are basing thier votes on seemingly superficial reasons. Voting along gender lines just for the sake of it is a classic example. So is not voting for the PM because she's a redhead, or because she ousted the former PM (yes, people actually say that!). Or not voting for the mad monk because he was photographed hairy chested in red speedos (I agree, not a pretty sight at all, but at least he's healthy). Regardless of whether you're conservative or liberal (as in, small 'l') or somewhere in between, surely the future of the country shouldn't be decided on soemthing as shallow as hairy chests and a Kath & Kim accent?!?!

To be fair, this political apathy has not been helped by the two major parties' campaigns thus far. Both have been so controlled, so monotonous, so scared of putting a foot wrong, that it's all just so bland and boring, unengaging and uninspiring. Yawn, hand me another beer luv. I got excited when the ginger ninja finally declared she would reveal the 'real' Julia and stop being so controlled. But all for naught, there has been no significant change (though thankfully her real Kath & Kim accent is back). How can apathetic voters actually give a shit when what's on offer is so boring and contrived it's hard to tell one party from the other in their race to mediocrity and the lowest common denominator?!

Here's hoping most people come to their senses by polling day, actually engage their brains, ask questions about the policies, and vote according to how they want the future of the country to advance. And please, no more red budgie smugglers!