Peter Richardson has been a journalist on the Sunshine Coast for 50 years and is the former editor of the Nambour Chronicle. Last year he published Chapter and Verse, a collection of short fiction and verse inspired by the people and places of the Coast. Peter is now writing a memoir of a half-century of journalism in South-East Queensland. Why we should value the right to vote
| Peter Richardson
In answer to last week’s question “What’s your vote on compulsory voting?” readers who weighed in with their thoughts mostly did so on this blog.
Doesn’t anyone actually write letters any more?
When editing the letters pages of various newspapers over the years, I used to love the ones in copybook handwriting, formally addressed and grammatically impeccable. The opinions might have been extreme, but they were always expressed with a respect for the linguistic rules of the road.
As I have written so many times, correct grammar and syntax are part of those rules, which have only one objective … to make the meaning clear; so I’m sad to see the apparent relegation of grammar to the dust bin of education.
But back to the question of compulsory voting. In my book, the response that stood out for cogent and convincing argument was from a reader who shall remain nameless lest his career prospects are affected by the dreadful crime of expressing an opinion on a matter of national concern.
He writes: “Having worked in polling booths in two states over the last 30-odd years, I am always astounded at the apathy displayed by many Aussie electors. They don’t seem to grasp how lucky they are to be in a country where not only is it easy to vote, but in which they are actually given that right.
“I don’t know which ones are worse, the ones who come in complaining about having compulsory voting or the ones who come in only to deliberately leave the paper blank or write something on it that may render the paper informal.
“I was reading an article on the web today telling of a woman in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, which is in the process of changing from a monarchy to a democratic state. She had walked about 600km to lodge her vote. That’s how much she valued her opportunity to have her say.
“Perhaps some of those complaining about our processes should have a good hard think abut that ... or the alternative – move to Zimbabwe.”
And another thing
Why the sudden fear of heights? People who speak to the media seem to have developed an obsessive desire to be “grounded”.
In these days of the copycat culture, it is the latest “in” word, presumably intended to give the impression that one’s position, policy or persona is solidly based.
Lots of baby boomers, though, would remember being “grounded” by their parents for kicking over the traces; and Wednesday’s Daily ran the heading “Grounded!” on a story about drivers having their cars confiscated by police.
Yes, one word can have several, or many, different meanings, some of them almost opposites, as in “sanction”. If you sanction something, you allow or permit it, but if you impose a sanction – on trade with a particular country, for instance – you forbid it.
That’s what I love about our language, it’s so gloriously inconsistent. But let’s not break too many rules. They’re there to keep us on the road to clarity.
rich.29@bigpond.net.au
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Recent Comments
The frequent polling booth worker only supports a view that the apathy of some people is a strong indicator that being compelled to vote is a burden to them.
Leave voting to those who want to, and who realise that their vote is about the only way Constitutionally in this strange Australian democracy (in which democracy or democratic values are not even mentioned in the Constitution) that ordinary people have the opportunity to take an active and unusually equal role in local, State or national affairs.
For the remainder of the 3 or 4 years until the next elections, representative democracy takes away the responsibility and freedom of ordinary Australians to participate in debates, decision making and legislation, by passing those roles onto very well paid Members of Parliaments or Councillors.
Let's develop democracy further, and bring democracy back to the people at a local level, and elect more of the people, such as bureaucrats, who otherwise remain unseen, appointed by partisan politicians.
Empowering the people to take an active part in the governments that have such a tremendous effect on our lives, have huge budgets comprised of our tax moneys, and legislative powers, will encourage greater participation, and appreciation of the democratic and human right to vote, because the effects would be more immediate and individual.
I have had cause to define 'sanction' and could achieve only partial success. In the end, I settled for a duality of meaning depending on the 'party of speech' attributed to the word. As a verb, the 'action word' is to permit or allow while the noun 'sanction' imputes a negative or rejection.
Interestingly, when I researched the introduction of 'sanction' into the English language, the duality of meaning occurred at the same time.
Strange word 'sanction'! Should we agree to sanction a sanction on the word 'sanction'?
With regard to 'compulsory voting' by the disinterested, might I suggest the removal of all the 'dirty play' around the electioneering process would improve the outcome far more effectively than an educated electorate! Both are a blight on the electoral process.