Why I'm Not Voting

Those of you who have read this blog for a while might have got the impression from various posts that I love my politics. Hell, it's even listed under the interests section in my profile. In postings pasts i've tried to get across the point that voting is imperative in a democratic society, and that those who don't vote should put up and shut up.

In times past, during many drunken debates, i've stated that those who don't vote should have any privilages they have under the state reduced somewhat. It was all in jest of course, but the fact of the matter is that on the very eve of the elections to the Scottish Parliament, an election that could prove a turning point in the history of Scotland, i am not registered to vote, and even if i was, i wouldn't bother turning up at the ballot box.

It's not a reaction against the party I normally vote for, and indeed was once a member of, but more a reaction against the seeming pointlessness of voting for someone that puts themselves before their constituents. There seems to be no will in the current political spectrum in this country to involve the public in the process in situations other that picking up a baby and kissing it. Why on earth would anyone who is just reached voting age want to vote for something that is not relevant to them or their daily lives?

The campaigning in this election has been shocking. The SNP have gone from wanting to hold a referrenda on independence within 100 days of office, to cosying up to the Lib Dems and saying that it would take place later rather than sooner. In amongst all this, they've found time to critisize Labour as being anti-Scottish. Please. What sort of bollocks is that? Just because the party doesn't want to bring the country out of the union, doesn't mean those involved in it are going to wave their little flags during Rule Brittania at the last night of the proms.

It smacks of arrogance of a party in the lead, although Labour have done themselves no favours in pushing the leader of the party up here into the shadows, whilst the big guns like Blair and Brown play their power games during an election to a devolved assembly they are not elected to.

The other parties seem just as self involved, too hung up on promoting their own agendas instead of trying to invite proper debate.

The Scottish Parliament has done many things well since its foundation, and has the potential to do much more. It's just a shame that the parties involved in this campaign are not willing to play a game of consensus politics for a change....