Election Day
Over in the US today it's Thanksgiving; here in NZ it's election day—not quite the same thing those who spend time parliament and politician watching might say …
But I'm not one of them.
As a student of history, I think having an election day and being able to go out and vote is a privilege. Thinking about the issues and what you want for your country and community beforehand is a responsibility and a duty—one we're fortunate to have.
A lot of people have suffered and fought hard, and in many cases died, over many centuries so that I can inherit both the duty and the privilege of voting to decide who will govern this country for the next three years.
As a woman I feel this duty and privilege even more keenly, since it is only 118 years since the right of women to vote on equal terms with men became law.
So yes, that is something I feel like giving thanks for—and so I am going to be going out there and voting today. I hope all New Zealanders reading this blog will be either about to do or have done the same—especially as today's vote includes a referendum on the electoral system as well.
As for the various arguments along the lines of "all politicians are unworthy/venal and so I'm somehow going to protest that by not voting", I've got two things to say:
firstly, I've had dealings with a fair number of NZ politicians in my 'various lives' and believe that most of them are, by and large, in politics because they want to serve their country and communities. Sure they're human and sure that means they're not going to get it right all the time, but they are not bad people—and in the cases where they are, or may become so, it's hard to see how not voting is actually helping that situation in any way;
secondly, if we don't like the way the country's being run and things are being done—we do have the opportunity and yes (that word again!) privilege to do something about it by getting involved. So not voting is just an abrogation of responsibility.
So hey Kiwi, don't be a flightless wonder, be a citizen: have a think about what matters to you for the future, and what you want for your country, and get out there and vote today for the party and electoral system that you think is most likely to deliver that result for you.
