Besides numerous complaints and efforts to address service delivery problems, one of the most frequent questions put to me revolves around the issue of why we – frustrated and furious with the state of service delivery and government – should still bother to vote in elections (on whatever level).
Even more often, this question centres around whether it’s of any use to vote if one supports one of the opposition parties (and, as a DA member and councillor, I am obviously biased in this regard).
I have to be honest, it’s a question I’ve often asked myself and, therefore, I’m seldom surprised at it, or the apathy many people have in this regard.
The truth is, however, that if one doesn’t vote, you admit defeat and, more importantly, you live a life in which you deny your ability and right to make a difference or, more importantly, a contribution.
For the sake of this argument, of course, I’ll admit that it doesn’t matter who you vote for, as long as you vote!
But when voting, we all have the benefit of evaluating and judging our governing structures’ track records.
For the sake of fairness, one simply cannot be expected to encourage people to vote for whoever.
When looking at the question (’to vote or not to vote’ – if I’m allowed to plagiarise The Bard), it makes no sense to support a party whose track record speaks of failure, corruption and incompetence. It also makes absolutely no sense to support a party with no experience in governance at all.
Who, in their right mind, would put the life of a loved one in the hands of a physician who’s known for all his botched jobs? And, who in their right mind, would put the life of a loved one in the hands of a physician who’s never actually performed the procedure but has a nice, appealing advertising campaign?
I, for one, will not deny myself the opportunity or the right to make a contribution or a difference. Neither will I, through my apathy, deny my children the right to do so. I will also not let my ego get in the way and put my future or that of my family in the hands of either a rogue or an inexperienced physician.
Voting may very well be within our rights but we sometimes forget the responsibilities that come with it.
If we take the trouble to vote – which I implore you to do – we also need to take the trouble to be informed and vote for the party and leadership that will enable us to make the difference and contribution we’d like to see, and are able to effect.
It’s what true democracy is – an enabling environment in which individuals are empowered to create the world they want to live in.
And one has to start somewhere. I argue that, that ‘somewhere’ is in the voting booth.
See you at the voting station!
