hearts & crosses
Some of my regulars will know that I have no truck with Russell Brand’s voting stance. His oft quoted message of total disengagement is quite simply wrong and does nothing to counter the status quo he claims to rail against, probably from the £20m Oxfordshire estate of his current squeeze, Jemima Khan. The right to put our cross in the little box of our choice has been hard-earned and brutally fought for over many centuries and we ignore it at our peril – it will be far more easily taken away than many of us suspect possible. So, and I hope you’re sitting down and ready for this bombshell, I’ve come to the conclusion that we need to introduce a new kind of vote, a vote that is a true and accurate representation of the nation’s apathy.
Last week’s local & European election, with a voting turnout of less than 40%, make it abundantly clear that it is now the majority that don’t vote. The apathetic now rule! Except they don’t, but the constitutional question it raises is how long can out traditional tripartite political system be ethically permitted to ignore such a vast constituency? The minority rule and the majority don’t care.
A couple of years ago, at the height of the MPs’ expenses scandal, I admit that I tootled off to my local polling station and spoilt my ballot paper. Spending three or four minute’s scribbling why none of the standing would-be politicians warranted neither my support nor my vote, certainly drew furtive glances from the volunteers but it didn’t half feel good to get it off my chest. In fact, if I was being honest, it actually felt better to do so than to vote properly and responsibly. Extrapolating this feeling across the voting populace, and adding into the equation, the fact that the system is so easily discounted by so many, brings me to the conclusion that we do need a new box to tick, a ‘none-of-the-above’ option. My get-feeling is that for many of the Joe Public, spoiling a ballot paper is a radical step too far, an act of wanton rebellion and there needs to be a more conservative (yeah, small c) option. ‘None-of-the-above’ is perfect.
Come the revolution, Comrades, the apathetic will have their say!
