Election fever

Finally, it's polling day.  It does seem to have taken a long time to get here, especially when you consider how little we have actually learnt in the last couple of weeks.  There haven't been any really radical changes since the first debate when everyone suddenly realised that the Lib Dems had a leader and that perhaps they should pay some attention to him.  Since them nothing much seems to have changed.  We've known pretty much what all the parties were going to say for some time (apart perhaps from Cameron's 'Big society' but even that is just giving a name to things we've heard about before.  Even Bigotgate hasn't really told us anything we don't know.

But somehow today's still a bit special.  An election is An Event.  A national event.  It's rather twee to say that it brings the nation together, but in a way it does.  Pretty much everyone you speak to, in shops, in the street, at work, has something to say on the subject.  We British are experts at grumbling, so often it's to complain about this or that or all parties or politicians.  But at least it's engagement with the political process.

I went to vote about midday, and was glad to see that the polling station was busier by far at the same time of day than it was last year for the European elections or for the local elections a year or two before.  Perhaps because it's looking close, the turnout for this election will be higher than in recent years, higher than the last couple of general elections.  That perhaps is something positive to take away from this election, whoever wins; that people have been more, even if only a bit more, engaged with politics this time round.  Cynics might say this is all down to the 'X-factor'  TV debates, and I don't doubt they have had an effect.  But even if people are only voting because they think Leader A looks more friendly than Leader B, they're voting, they're taking part, taking responsibility for the givernment of their country.  Of course I'd much, much rather they listened to what the leaders were saying, looked at their policies and considered their values.  But I'd rather they took some responsibility for their future than none at all, even if I disagree with their choice.  That's democracy.  Those who can't be bothered to vote* don't have the right to complain for the next five years!

So if you haven't yet and you can, go and vote.  For whoever (although please, not the far right!) you think will be best for the country.  A century ago I wouldn't have been able to vote- I hope I'd have been chaining myself to railings outside as a protest!  Two centuries ago even a lot of men wouldn't have been able to vote due to property qualifications.  In many countries people are still denied a say in the government that runs their lives and in others the elections are no more than a sham (think of conflict in Zimbabwe and Kenya over the last few years).  However bad and corrupt you may think our politicians are, really we are very very fortunate.  Let's show that we don't take it for granted! 



*I don't include those who for a reason that's not their fault can't vote.  Failing to bother to check you're registered probably is your own fault, though, it's not as if you haven't had enough warning!