Caution: rant ahead

Good gracious.

Insight makes me want to get stabby tonight.

I can't believe the level of disengagement and total lack of understanding or actual complete wilfull ignorance about the state of politics in Australia among the young voters on the panel tonight. Okay, the majority of people in Australia probably aren't interested in politics, but you sort of think with an election coming on, it's time to find some information out!

And especially the good ol' excuse of "I googled it and I couldn't find anything about the party." WTF? Type in any of the political parties and their sites will be up there in the top returned results... Or at least some wikipedia thing. But I guess it doesn't matter if they're not actually interested in finding out what the politician or party stands for once they're there.

The self-interestedness, bordering on obsession, was also astounding. It seemed like the majority of the young people on the panel only cared about personal gains (at the cost of all else) and getting more money in their pocket at the end of the week. Yeah, that's probably most young people for you, but I thought we had a little bit of concern about others, too? Or has society just become so "Me me me" that we ignore what needs to be done to help it? It's embarrassing to be part of Gen Y if that's what we're meant to be like.

I also can't believe there's a chick on the show who's saying that if you've never experienced any other government, you shouldn't change it because it'll be a change! Oh no! Change! The world will end! My goodness. With that attitude, she'll be marrying her first boyfriend - even if he's a total knob - while singing Tradition from Fiddler on the Roof.

Thank God there were a couple Labor supporters, but the majority of them were all "Wheee, yay John Howard! I wanna hump his eyebrows! He'll give me a couple extra dollars per week and that's a perfect reason to sell my soul and our environment and living conditions! I'm a tax cut whore!" or "Politics? Que?" or "I just vote how my parents vote."

And yes, that tax cut announcement thing made me annoyed. Not just because high income earners end up being the ones best off, but also because I personally don't mind paying tax at the current rate if there's actually going to be something done about education, health care, social services, etc. Plus what impact will it have on interest rates? A tax cut doesn't help all that much when you just have to put it on the home loan anyway.

Jenny Brockie asked one question that stuck out to me, and that was "Can you remember anyone other than Howard being in power?" I feel ancient being only 24 and remembering Paul Keating and Bob Hawke. My family isn't political, so I have no idea where my political interest sprang from. And my political persuasion has changed over time. I'll be voting for a different party this time to that in the previous election (I'm so sorry, Bob!). When I was young, I actually liked the Libs.

Oh the shame...

But from what I've seen of them growing up, going through tertiary education, entering the workforce and becoming a home-owner, I see the Liberals providing less and less for people. Cutting funding to universities, Work Choices, their environmental and climate policies, treatment of refugees, the adoption of Pauline Hanson policies, the Iraq war, AWB, dog-whistling politics, Tampa, children overboard, lack of condemnation of Guantanamo Bay, treating the Australian public like morons, not wanting to say "Sorry" but suddenly wanting to include Aboriginals in the constitutional preamble (which seems like a cynical ploy), AFP bumbling...

It's all rather depressing. Why not find out some information about the major parties and their policies? Why not think beyond getting $20 more per week and look at what the parties have to say about the environment, what will be done for educational facilities, how hospitals will be funded and run, welfare, relationships with other countries, treatment of refugees, desire and commitment to work within and with the law, will they promote unity and acceptance rather than fear, division and prejudice, etc? Why not engage with the political scene, even just a little? Explore, find out, understand?

You might find a love for the Labor party. Or the Liberals. Or the Greens. Maybe the Nationals. Maybe it's a long shot, but the Democrats are also another option. Then there's Family First if you're so inclined... Plus independents and a myriad of other parties and people. Your vote can make a difference, so be informed about how it can and what you could do with it. Don't just fall for the first shiny political promise carrot that's dangled before your eyes.

There are lots of options out there.

Including this, apparently...