Article | Politics or Politricks?

I'm not voting this year. Or next year, or the year after that. Politics doesn't interest me; I'm funny about trusting strangers. And that's exactly what I feel Gordon Brown (Labour Party), Nick Clegg (Liberal Democrats) and David Cameron (Conservative Party) are; this year's election front-runners. Funnily enough, neither of the three have beards which I find even more disturbing about them, but hey - each to their own. Nevertheless, I did watch the first ever Leader's TV Debate, a programme I found both compelling and at times, humourous. Each party leader reiterated their respective manifestos, answered questions from the audience and churned out some worthy quotes with Gordon Brown carefully pointing out to David Cameron how one can "airbrush their posters, but not their policies", a quote which had me nodding and tweeting furiously.

Aside from the political banter though, I did manage to pick up some of the plans each party leader had - Clegg wanted to introduce regional work permits and reduce the so-called "colleges of crime" that we formally know as prisons. Cameron highlighted the key point of limiting bureaucracy and minimising red tape in relation to law and order. Brown focused on the idea of a citizen conjunction, one that would enable the public to launch complaints against the police force working in their constituencies. Yes, much talk. But who's to say that any of these policies would come into effect when one of these men take the reigns? This is where my problem lies with the world of politics. Politicians possess the ability to canter on and on about reforming the public sector, improving education, the health system and the like, but each year, the public are showered with excuses, delays and tax increases.

As a young person, I'm not compelled to vote. Yes, I'll graduate when one of these party leaders are in power; and yes, their policies affect me. But I am not prepared to vote for a man who I do not trust, cannot relate to and ultimately do not like. With my education behind me, the world is my oyster, so that's where my main focus lies. Educating myself and increasing my intellect which may not necessarily involve the political world. Plus, no-one likes a trickster, right?