Dear gair rhydd,
I agree with many of the points that Jamie Thunder raised in his opinion piece entitled ‘Puerile Politics’ in last week’s issue of gair rhydd.
He’s right in saying that politics are becoming more and more about the style and the ‘fun’ rather than about the actual policies at the heart of our politicians. The age of New Labour and Cameron’s caring Conservatives are absolute proof of this.
But there’s got to be room for a hook to actually get voters enthused in the process. For example, this year’s council elections in Cathays have passed us by but I felt completely detached from the process even though I put myself out there and voted.
At this most important time for the political parties of this country, how many attempted to contact me in a way that wasn’t one of their ‘newsletters’ posted through my letter box?
The student population of Cathays is literally huge, so I was surprised that council election campaigners didn’t attempt to contact some of them face to face depending instead on mass printed propaganda or faux-handwritten attempts at sincerity.
Yes, student elections can be ridiculously gimmicky but that’s what gets students to vote unfortunately. It’s not a perfect system by any means but I would take it over our recent council elections because at least I knew who the candidates were because as annoying as they can get, they came to talk to me.
Maybe some did say, “Who wants to hear about drinking!” but if that’s how they want to present themselves then so be it. It’s up to us to choose them or not.
Please take us for the informed citizens that university is meant to be helping us become and talk to us about the political process.
Yours,
Third year humanities student
