When I make the terrible decision to talk about politics

So I was drawn in again and gave my favorite candidate a few more bob in a small donation. I won't say who because I hate arguing with people about politics. If you think hard you can probably guess. I think the most important thing is that people vote. I will argue about that. Maybe. Actually even then I might not.

I am disheartened by my brother's cynicism. He is only recently old enough to vote, and in Australia voting is compulsory. He had to vote in Queensland where he is going to school and as a result the other day and we were discussing strategies for voting “informal” which is the technical term down under for casting a vote that won't be counted. I do not approve!

Two weekends ago I got into an argument about a certain POTUS with someone in my wife's family. This is truly a pointless thing to do. Neither of us is going to come remotely close to changing our minds.

Still I think it is important to vote. I think if everyone voted it would be harder for the most extreme candidates to have as much power as they do. I think this is the case, even when you account for informal votes, and for people who are misinformed.

Sometimes when I tell people in America that in Australia we have compulsory voting they get offended. “How dare you demand that I take responsibility to vote”. or perhaps “I honestly do not have the time to busy”. I guess it would not work in America. It certainly has its drawbacks in Australia, but on balance I think it works in the Lucky Country.