Throughout our lives, there will be things we like and things we don’t like. We will have strong views on some things and no view on others. We all possess bias, and we can usually back up that bias. So why is it that we seem to spend a lot of our time calling for ‘bipartisanship’ and ‘unbiased’ interactions? There may be some common ground on issues, but for the most part, isn’t being partisan and biased part of life’s interactions?

All of us sit in either one of three camps; left, right, or neutral. Both the left and the right have strong views, and can back those views. Those who are neutral sit on the fence, and are either apathetic, or have a strong preference not to get involved. They see negative aspects in both the left and the right argument. If we didn’t have opposing sides and opinions, we wouldn’t have elections, as there would be no differentiated political parties, as everyone would think the same. Opposing sides that enter into ‘power sharing’ agreements, as in Kenya and Zimbabwe, are troubled liasons from the beginning, as both sides have completely opposing views, but they have decided to live together in political ‘marriage’, as there is no other choice.

I have said many times that I am to the left of the argument. I make no apologies for that, and it at least says to others that I believe in something. I have no problem arguing with people that are to the right of the argument, as long as they are well read, and can back up what they say with facts. I may not agree, but I can see their point and at least concede that they make a well balanced, well thought out argument.

I do, however, find it difficult when either side of the ideological spectrum become extreme and baseless in their arguments. For the left, this occurs especially within the far left union movement. The thug mentality kicks in, and they become nothing but headkickers and bully boys who almost follow a line of ‘thinking’, that says all authority figures are bastards, elite, and hell bent on destroying the worker.

For the far right wing, they become patronising, hyprocritical, contradictory and also baseless in their argument. All logic goes out the window and they make excuses for bad decisions. Instead of owning up to the fact that they may well be wrong, they laugh criticism off and make out that everyone, even the mainstream media, is ‘left leaning’. They love to play victim.

That third group is the group that concerns me. As much as I despise the ignorance of the right, if they make a valid point, I say ‘touche’. But a group of neutral ‘fence sitters’ infuriate me even more. They don’t care about anything, they sail through life and they would not know one politician from another. Most times these people would then go to a polling booth on election day, scribble on the ballot, or not do anything at all, and then go home and sit on their couch. But, once their local roads are deteriorating, their schools are rubbish, their health system is stuffed and their taxes are going higher and higher, they complain. Why should they? They haven’t taken part in the process of life, so they should sit on their couch and shut up.

Singaporeans are probably the most apathetic group of people when it comes to their electoral system. Singapore is by and large a ‘benevolent dictatorship’. For Singaporeans, as long as everything is ok, and their lives are not controlled too much, they can make money and have a nice life. They don’t complain. Lee Kuan Yew, the founder of Singapore, has had his hand on the ship’s steering mechanism since Singapore’s independence in 1965. However, when Lee dies, it will be interesting to see how the political process develops then. I have said to friends in Singapore that there may be a day when someone they don’t like takes the reigns of Singapore, and changes things for the worse. Then we may see Singaporeans with a voice.

This US Presidential election is important in many ways, but what it is pushing people to do is to register to vote. Whether they are voting for McCain or Obama, they are being encouraged more than ever to get out there and make their voice heard. Bias, allegiance, support or whatever you want to call it, is good, and bias is the thing that will get a result in these elections come November.

Apathy will not get anyone elected.

Enjoy your day.

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