Is Prince Charming A Candidate?
Illawarra Mercury
Friday November 9, 2007
IF my life were a fairytale, it would read a little something like this:
Once upon a time, there was a young, budding journalist - always with a ribbon in her hair, a sandwich on her desk and a notebook in her hand. And then along came the big, bad election.It was her first venture into the voting world and she became overwhelmed by incomprehensible economic policies, strategies for environmental reform and a complex history of 'failed' leadership so confusing that she fell into a politically-induced coma until November 25, 2007, awoken only by the relieving kiss of another three years vote-free. The fact is, elections scare me.It's not that I find the responsibility of voting too much to handle. My awareness of political issues is fairly good - I read the paper, I watch the news, I've studied politics. What scares me is that no matter how much I read, or how hard I try to understand, I still feel like I have no idea how this country really works. The sheer breadth of issues to consider, and the depth required to understand them is mind-boggling. I don't really understand the economy, I can't properly grasp indigenous affairs and I'm still a couple of pieces short of the war/oil/petrol price puzzle.And if it wasn't hard enough already, add the puppeteers pulling strings, the secrets buried in thick forests of spin and goblins tempting you with poisoned sweets - it's a frightening world to enter.And so, I have a choice. Trust the politicians on policies I don't know enough about or let other factors influence my choice. Neither sound appealing.It's a depressing thought that our country's leader could be chosen on the basis of his tie selection, but if AWB and the children overboard episodes taught me anything, it's not to trust the pollies. But hopefully, if I have beginner's luck, I'll get my happily ever after.Alexis Cooper is an intern at the Mercury
© 2007 Illawarra Mercury