I am actually surprised at myself. For all my complaining about the lack of real difference between the main parties and no interesting wars on the policy front that I have done, I am quite looking forward to this year’s general election. Maybe, I am being caught up in all the hype—and that fact that Newsnight, my drug of choice, is on more than is necessary, or healthy, and slave to the media that I am I just HAVE to watch it. Whatever, the reasons are, I am being dragged into the mix and find myself debating politics (albeit, ‘softcore ‘politics) with all and sundry.
Consider...
Last night, I was at a revision session at my church for GCSE and A-Level students. I am one of the volunteer tutors, tutoring on Maths, Art and Government and Politics. I got a little kick going through the AS-Level Politics syllabus and remembering the subject that got me started on my current career path. But I was amazed just talking with the kids, at how knowledgeable some of them were. Excluding my tutee (can you even say that?!) from this discussion for obvious reasons, I found myself engaged in some lovely and at times lively debate about what people believed the parties stood for, about the recession, foreign policy and negative campaigning. I was genuinely amazed. I think I have always taken the somewhat pompous view that 95% of the electorate knows nothing much about politics. And for that reason I shall be lumped with a leader that about 20 people voted for because nobody knows or cares enough to vote sensibly, if at all. But here I was with a group of children, having to rethink my views.
Fair enough, they do not count as the electorate as they cannot actually vote. But what this little encounter did show me was that for children to be passionate and knowledgeable about politics there must be some adults somewhere around them who have been thinking these issues through. I’m happy to see that people are not as disengaged as I thought they were...or maybe I just know people who are from politically aware backgrounds? Who knows? But I prefer to look on the bright side...
3 comments:
My sentiments..quite erm exacly? I had a debate with some ver "intellectual" peeps of mine. They just blew me away, maybe the set voting age should be decreased?
Never take politics for granted. Most people know exactly what they want and fully understand the impact of their vote. However, the interest in these elections have surprised me too.
I really do wonder what has whipped up so much interest. The issues are boring and for the most part, so are the personalities...I wonder if the interest will actually translate into a high(ish) voter turnout.
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