Politics as Usual
How do we know it’s nearly election time again? Malema and Zille are once again calling each other names and threatening court action.
We’ve barely had time to settle from the last election and now we’re gearing up for another in 2011. I’m not sure if I’m ready this time.
Though the municipal elections are as important, it hardly has the same kind of emotional impact as the general election. No feeling of history and Nelson Mandela and all the rest.
However…I have been giving some thought about how I’m going to vote. It is actually a lot easier for me to say right now how i’m NOT going to vote.
I will simply not vote Democratic Alliance (as I’ve said many times before on this blog), nor will I vote for any alliance that has the DA as a partner.
It’s not even something I wish to debate, because it is pretty much cast in stone – I will not vote for a white led party. End of story.
Patricia de Lille has apparently long ago given up any pretense of leadership and has taken up the role of occassional watch dog – if you can call a Chihuahua a watchdog. And Cope – is…there’s no words to describe this party.
I seriously doubt any coalition with those three parties can make an impact beyond their own voter bases.
Who I will vote for is another question all together.
I’m an ANC supporter and while I strongly believe in the party’s ideology, Julius Malema and Jacob Zuma gives me little hope that the party is on the right track.
As the saying goes…”All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unless the decent people in the ANC start getting their voices heard above the noise that is Julius Malema, voters may just choose to not cast our votes rather than waste it on politics as usual.
6 Responses to “Politics as Usual”
By claudine on Mar 22, 2010 | Reply
I have so much I want to say but where to begin?
One thing that I do feel is important in any election is that one should vote. If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain or express your opinion if things go from bad to worse.
Good luck deciding which of the worst should run the WC.
By Abigail Abrahams on Mar 23, 2010 | Reply
I agree with you 100% about voting. People died so we South Africans can vote in a democracy. Having said that, I believe that a spoilt ballot is also a vote against the status quo.
By claudine on Mar 24, 2010 | Reply
Ja, but a spoilt ballot means nothing at the end of the day. We can’t assume a spoilt ballot was against any one party. Unless every single ballot come voting day turns out spoiled, you’ve proven nothing.
Voting is such a tremendous basic right. It’s a pity the ruling parties (every single one of them) have lost the meaning of what it means to run a democracy. There is not one single party out there that I care to ever vote for. Unlike you, if a party’s ideology is right and the best thing, but their people are hopeless, I’d rather not vote for them. Can’t see myself supporting the ANC quite yet. Their track record, while brilliant for the first few years, has been tarnished in recent years. There’s just far too much going on for me to feel comfortable voting for a party led by a man who thinks so little of sex and women generally and who by keeping quiet, basically supports another idiot who would ruin whatever is left.
By Abigail Abrahams on Mar 26, 2010 | Reply
Hi Claudine,
Thank you for your measured response. Unfortunately this has been one of ‘those’ weeks. I will reply to you over the weekend.
By Abigail Abrahams on Mar 27, 2010 | Reply
Hey Claudine, I spoke with my colleague over the last two days about this topic. He and I traded votes in the last election – I voted COPE nationally and he voted ANC provincially (or so he says!)
He seems to agree with you that a spoilt ballot is not a vote. Even though I tried to convince him that going to the polls is what is important.
I still maintain that I will not vote for any party who is in an alliance with or will align with the DA (or Freedom Front for that matter).
In that case if I could be convinced (and I am NOT) that a spoilt ballot isn’t a valid choice, I would have to vote ANC. Because of the current bunch, that is who I am politically aligned with.
I see it the way Democrats and Republicans in the US do. There are fundamental things I stand for and the rest is just politics as usual.
I respect your point of view – and my colleague’s. But I at this point I’m going with the spoilt ballot choice. Maybe something exciting happens to change my mind before then.
By claudine on Mar 28, 2010 | Reply
LOL! Well good luck with going to the polls then.
You know what I wish for as a political future in this country? That a party stands up for itself, one that comes out of nowhere, without any of the alliances that the current parties have. One that comes out of unity and not enmity. A brand spanking new party that can take us further.