With all sorts of elections going on in the world I think people need to be far more aware why they vote and how they vote.
A shor while ago we had elections
People here have chosen against the sitting government, heard one good statement and took the whole package (with discrimination in it, making certain groups of people into enemies of society, etc etc.). Others voted for the underdog. just because the underdog should have a voice too, not because that voice spoke the right words and had the right plans. And there is a large group who think that belonging to a certain party means they need to vote for someone of that party, regardless.
People are not aware that a vote of a second means 4 years of struggle and after that a very long time cleaning up the mess.
To be not aware of this also goes with the same people (and others) not being aware that their vote also means a vote for how their country will stay in the world.
And look at Germany how long it takes before a certain image is shaken off.. We are 80 years after WW2, and there are still people stuck in a way of thought that generalizes and blames. They blame all germans and make them responsible for what happened in the past.. The present people didn't make the choices a few made in the past! Yet people are stuck.. using the same language to point out things...( and to manipulate the minds of people to make them agree with war.)
The people in our country are very aware how the world sees us. As a trading nation by birth we know we need to cooperate with others. In practice the largest party delivers the leader, the choice is made after the government if formed, which is always a coalition. The coalition makes the final choice, so there is always an indirect choice for the voter.
Each now and then a discussion is started if we shouldn't have a special election for the Prime Minister (as our president is called), but up to this moment it's agreed the decision should be made by people who are more knowledgeable in the field.
The requirements we have for our leader means we want a good representative of the country.
So we chuckle when his (up till now) English is not sounding like Oxford of Cambridge English, when he acts strange (like Balkenende when he tried to skateboard) or doesn' t honor protocol (which is a set of rules to ensure one acts polite and respectful.) In fact we want him to behave like a good father, brother and son. (So sexual escapades, past or prsent, are out of the question.) We don't want a leader that has been convicted of anything, and we need him to have a clear history too because none should be able to blackmail him.
This also means less manipulation of the media, less media attention for personal matters. Our political leader is judged on his political behaviour. The pre-selection already took care of all issues and characteristics that would negatively influence his work, including his international activities.
We want a leader who brings people together, under all circumstances, not one who keeps telling his party is better, or that he is better. A listening attitude is as important as decision making. And a good decision for a whole country should reflect advanced knowledge, of the subject, the wishes of different people, a long term vision, and the place in the world, as well as the long term world situation.
Because we don't need to focus on the choice of the leader we are more focussed on political plans.
And as our economical situation is depending on that of the world, we know a lot more about the international economics than many other nations.
I can't count how many times I told Americans who were blaming their president for certain economical problems: "It's not his doing. Look around, this is happening all over the world and it's caused by international issues, not by national decisions."
This all brings a lot of rest and focus on what is important.
That is necessary, because there is a lot going on in the world. We need to keep our perspective clean.
This is a time of conflict, egocentrism and a need for a leader.
That also means that there are a lot of false leaders around.
Those who enjoy leadership, because it makes their egos grow, makes them wealthy, enables them to make decisions based on their own needs.
One of the examples is the man who is afraid of injections, of needles. He made his own need: no vaccinations, as the leading motivation for all he did. He downgraded science (which is nothing more than a closely regulated fact finding system) and he voiced his opinion in the loud media. On internet he was downright rude to people who stood up for science. (Oh... I got name called, threatened. He even told me he would come and kill me, just to shut me up, and when he couldn't silence me he mobilised his group to harrass me on internet over and over again. Don't worry: he is behind bars now.)
He got many followers, like it was a sekt and he was the god. People forgot to think as he was bombarding them continuously with his one liners.
That's what most false leaders do. They repeat over and over again their easy to understand and to agree with statements, pull them out of their contexts and manipulate people into thinking they are far wiser than others.
It's interesting to see that people who would not accept certain behaviour of their fathers, brothers and sons, adore a socalled leader and forgive him generously all unlawful and stupid behaviour that would never ever make him even fit to be a president. Instead of keeping a clear mind, people go with the flow, because that feels good, and take the easy way: the way of no self reflection.
Deciding which way to vote is made easy: belong to a party and just absorb their information, whether it's true or false, goes against your common sense or not.
But decision making how to vote is a hard job: reality checking, developing your own long term vision, listening to the international reactions and more important; honestly weighing everything.... Yes, everything!! Propaganda, manipulation, statements, knowledge, your own needs, the need of the country, the place in the world, the economical consequences, the social consequences, etc etc etc etc. With an open mind assessing what the other parties say, not following the same party as your grandfather, just because he was a sensible man.
And on top of that: keep your sense of reality: what the guy there states: is that good, honest? Doesn't that smell of dictatorship?
Will it bring peace?
Peace at the workplace, at the council, in the nation and internationally.
Does he just state things to get your vote... or will he bring peace?
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