Election
is a decision-making process in which a
population chooses an individual to hold
formal office. This is the usual mechanism
by which modern democracy fills offices in
the legislature, sometimes in the executive
and judiciary, and for regional and local
government.
During
election campaigns, everybody talks about
the politicians, or rather the candidates.
However there are also some very interesting
participants during elections that are not
so much talked about; they are called
qualified voters/electors.
Candidates
are the most interesting in time of
elections who will tell us anything that
will likely lead them to victory. They will
lie, deceive, and guarantee the impossible,
sing and dance, cry and laugh, all that in
order to win. During the campaign, they will
give us so many promises that if we ask them
just a few hours later, they will not
remember, and will give us new ones in order
to deceive us further. If they are later
elected for formal office, then they will
start giving us excuses for the lost
promises in order to maintain political
power.
It
is evident that while campaigning,
candidates will tell us things we like to
hear and agree with just to make us think
they are good, smart, dedicated, and
considered, amongst other things. However,
almost everything they say was written and
prepared in advance for that occasion by the
campaign staff in order to attract more
voters. In most cases, especially in
democratic systems, candidates heavily rely
on finance from private donors, selected
individuals, groups or industry. If elected,
they have an obligation to reimburse
supporters for their contributions by
protecting and supporting their businesses,
no matter what that business might be.
We
all know what candidates do, but what about
voters?
Voters
are a group of people gathered around to
make some decision or express their opinion
often in discussions, debates and election
campaigns. Voters support their favorite
candidates, they go to rallies and listen to
what their favorite candidates has to say.
They analyze them, agree or disagree with
them, and in the end, they will make the
final decision on the day of the actual
election. During the election, not all of
the supporters will vote for their desired
candidate whom they supported throughout the
year. However, not all voters are faithful
to their candidate.
To
make things more clear, let's use the 2008
US Presidential Elections as an example:
Candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, and
those qualified voters/electors.
It
appears that Americans are fascinated with
democratic candidate Barack Obama, possibly
more so than with any other presidential
candidate in US history. Many talk about
him, adore him, and cheer for him.
On
the other side, republican candidate John
McCain was selected in the US primaries a
long time before Obama. However, it was
clear that he was the chosen one on this
side, but it looks like people are not so
hot for him as they are for Obama.
According
to these indicators, we may feel that Barack
Obama will become the new President of the
United States, but will he?
The
chances for Barack Obama to become the next
president may not be as good as they look.
Yes, people are hot for him, but electors
are not to be trusted. Electors like
something new, new radical changes, new and
different politicians, new ideas, and fresh
promises, among others. However, it does not
mean they will vote for the same. For Obama,
it would be better if he had less attention,
then his chances to win would be better.
On
Election Day many people change their minds
and do the opposite of what they were
saying, promising, cheering and longing for
throughout the campaign. Voters are just
regular people, and on Election Day they
realized the show is over and start thinking
in different directions. Voters are very
interesting; they often say one thing and do
the other. It is obvious that voters
complain and criticize certain politicians
day by day, and in the end, vote for them.
It appears that as more mistakes and
scandals a politician makes and do nothing
for the nation, the more chances are that
voters will vote for him, especially for the
second time. As an example, take a look at
George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Jacques Chirac,
Silvio Berlusconi, among others.
In
the end, democracy is not like a communist
regime. In democracy it may not really be as
important which politician or candidate
comes to power. As long as democracy
continues to be the ruling mechanism; as
long as they do not take extra power, the
system will continue to work; plans and
ideas will continue to be executed, no
matter who is in charge.
The
only thing that is changing is the interests
of the financiers or ruling elite who
financed the elected candidate. If the
financiers are from the weapon industry,
then there will be new wars. We may prefer
financiers from the toy industry, with toys
for everyone.
Ivan Simic lives
in Belgrade, Serbia. Address: Paloticeva 12, 11000
Belgrade, Serbia, Tel: +381
63 7508500.
