Strategy for Voters

 

This letter got printed in the Press on 26 September - the heading I had selected was Strategy for Voters. I am sad that it was changed. 

Insert photo of Brian'sletter

 

Complex Task

 

Brian Ward (25/09) is right. Making good decisions is a complex matter.  Voters are NOT helped by simple sound bites.  Voters are also turned off by the political commentators who highlight and laugh at petty fights and focus on what voters might think. Politicians and commentators struggle for attention - their jobs depend on it - entertainment is most important. Policy sits behind entertainment.  But more importantly, behind both entertainment and policy sits political strategy. 

The strategy of the right is to create diversions that entertain the commentators and thereby reduce voter turnout.  The extreme right is now actively undermining democracy and turning people away from voting through disinformation. Both National and Labour know this. They both care for the wellbeing of this nation and they fight for their policies to be heard. 

So what can voters do?  Voters can sift through the nonsense and vote for the future, for our young people and for the planet.  It is especially important for voters to encourage those who are bored or disenchanted by politics to vote for the future of their children.  The strategy of voting against the extreme right is critically important.  Let's get everyone to vote.

Elaine Mayo

Hoon Hay