Posted by Kevin Bates It seems clear that we mostly vote for the Party that is best going to suit our own needs. We vote for the policies that will give us the best economic outcomes. We vote for the people who will best serve our own needs - whether that be our own personal needs, our family's needs or the needs of the group of citizens to which we belong. This is very understandable, when in the case of young parents, we are trying to make ends meet, and we look for any help we can get. Likewise if I am a pensioner, I look for the best deal I can get. All this adds up to a pretty random result in the end as all the self-interests in the country battle it out. This dynamic echoes the platforms of the major Parties, who themselves are seeking the best outcome for themselves. It's no wonder then that good social policy, health care for aboriginal people, justice for refugees, hope for the environment, all take a back seat in people's thinking. We tend to vote for ourselves, rather than each other, or our nation, or our world, or really the generations yet to come. Our needs of the present moment consume everything. Understandable enough, but a reminder that we haven't come all that far in the evolutionary process. The creatures we evolved from operate in much the same way!!
on October 6, 2004, 8:06 am
With our Federal Election only days away and the polls showing a likely Coalition return to office, and listening to lots of people talking about their voting intentions, a message finally sinks in.
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