(JJ Hurley)
Election fever seems not to have gripped the South County, as we are less than two weeks away from heading to the polling stations.
If it had not been for the posters peering down from their lofty vantage points, one wonders if we’d knew there was an election at all.
One voter recounted their experience with a canvasser, who simply trust the leaflet into their hand, no pitch for the candidate and simply scampered off down their driveway.
Despite an attempt by the boss of Ryanair to liven up this campaign and the Monk throwing his hat into the ring, the campaign has been a lack lustre one.
Fond memories of Michael Mc Dowell climbing up a pole seem best to be remembered in this election by Michael Martin climbing up awkwardly on a cow.
Allowing Mary Lou to suggest tongue in cheek or is it (Cheekily), sure he’s a cowboy (paraphrase).
If Monday night’s leader’s debate was to inspire an unsure electorate of the direction of their vote, it adversely seems to have turned people off.
Of course, politicians will tell you people at the door are engaging with them, but how many of us can actually say when we have closed the door, we have read the literature.
I dare not suggest people have actually logged onto the parties websites and actually read the manifestos.
Of course, it also suggests worrying times for our Democracy.
In the constituency of Cork South West, the turnout has seen a fall in the numbers of those using their vote in three consecutive elections, down from a high in 2011 of 72% to 64% in 2020.
The stark figures for the local elections in the Bandon/Kinsale Municipal area are far worse, with voter turn out barely falling over the 50% mark in the last three votes.
The reality is, for those who fail to take themselves to the ballot box, they have surrendered their right to complain for the lifetime of the next Dail.
To those who thumb their nose up at the opportunity to vote, suggesting it makes no difference, the world’s history books suggest otherwise.
Returning to the current campaign, it is not the job of the politician to entertain us like it’s the latest reality TV show on Netflicks.
However, it looks like they have a job of work to get those who politely answer the door to them only later to toss the literature in the bin.
For those engaging in such activity, you are in sporting terms sticking the ball in your own net!
Remember it’s your vote and your voice you are throwing away
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