The things they say

Hi guys, I'm back again.  I'm participating in an interesting project at the moment, and that is campaigning on behalf of the ALP candidate for the state seat of The Entrance, David Mehan.

What I'm doing is "doorknocking by telephone".  Our current state member, Grant McBride (ALP), is retiring at this election, and David is the replacement candidate.

My telephone campaign has started very interestingly.  Most people are quite happy to talk about the upcoming election.  I have spoken to a number of traditional ALP supporters, many of whom ARE intending to vote Labor on March 26.  However there are also a number of traditional ALP supporters who are either still undecided, or are not going to be voting Labor on 26 March.  There are also a number of Liberal voters who are not going to be voting Labor, however there are NO Liberal supporters who are thinking of voting for the ALP!

It is interesting how a few of the people I'm calling have (how shall I put this) very little interest in politics.  I have even spoken to people who are not aware that an election is being held in this state on March 26.  I suppose not everyone watches the news.

I keep wondering what the situation would be if we had voluntary voting in this country.  After all, at the moment, many people vote who have no idea of the issues involved, and simply regardit as a burden imposed on them by the faceless ones.  If the decision was left to people who WANT to vote then perhaps a more informed decision could be made on who gets in, and those who don't care can just accept what those who bothered to show up and vote decided.  This is why I was heartened when Tony Windsor, Bob Katter, Rob Oakeshot and Andrew Wilkie were the ones deciding who would be the next Federal government back in September last year.  After all, THEY were interested, informed and had a stake in the issue, unlike so many of the electors out there who couldn't really care less.

Incidentally, one question I ask many people when on the phones is just out of interest, are they able to name the Liberal candidate for The Entrance.  Not a single person has been able to answer this as yet.  (To save you from the suspense, his name is Chris Spence.