Political apathy is a real bummer. When more than 50% of voters don’t vote, it just looks like we’re at one of those lame, forced parties. You know, when the host is forcing everyone to dance, and sing, and listen to him playing the harpsichord, but most of the people are just bored or cringing from embarrassment. Or they just don’t care. Some are planning to ditch the party, and others are just sloshing alcohol.
Problem is, this party isn’t stopping, and most of us are staying, so we should at least make some effort. Most of us like to stay at home during election day, and that makes the results lack legitimacy. It makes our parliament and our government lack legitimacy. It makes our mayors and governors lack legitimacy. It makes the whole country lack legitimacy. We often talk about sovereignty. We’re worried that the EU or some other power is taking away our right to decide, but even at local elections, we just don’t vote. We shun our right.
And to be fair, we’re new to voting. This type of democracy is not something the majority of people were born with. Also, the media landscape is radically changing for everyone in the world. Internet, fake news, hacking, targeted adds, trolls and a myriad of other methods used for electoral warfare. People are fed up and confused.
Some other countries like Australia and Belgium have compulsory voting. If you don’t vote in Belgium, you can be fined. In Australia, they‘ll throw you to the dingos. I don’t think we should go that far and force voting, but Belgium is doing great at the World Cup, and I’d love it if Croatia was its own continent.
Also, I believe that people have a right to not have to vote. Not to even show up at the polls and tear up the ballot. Citizens have a right to protest and boycott a system they don’t believe in. They’re also participating in their own way, showing the political elite that they don’t support anyone.
Except that is all a load of bull. It is not like the majority of people who stay home on election day are doing so because they have a whole philosophy of how the system will change without voting. They are not constructive revolutionaries or part of the underground resistance, building alternative ways of life. They just don’t care. And for every person that doesn‘t care, one Care Bear gets chlamydia.
So we need to fight apathy, and give the answer to the question ”Why?”. Why should I vote? Why should I care? It’s Sunday man, I’m resting or going to the mall. Why would I go and vote? Usually, all the answers are political, sociological, or just something boring along either of those lines. They’re not really working. It’s time we try something new.
We should commercialise elections. They should look like a day at the mall! Every election, new exclusive sponsorships! ”Ožujsko beer general elections 2020” or ”Kraš local elections 2022”.
When you get there, you get surrounded by people offering you free stuff. Keychains, free Gavrilovic salami testing, phone credit, t–shirts, lighters, magnets. A bunch of stuff on sale, new cleaning products being presented, amazing dishes, power tools… Some free mineral water, and a basket of a multitude of Croatian products to take home.
The ballots should be part coupon and part lottery ticket. So every person who voted would also get the chance to make some money. How much money?
How much is the government costing us every year? That much.
