How The Election Campaign Ignored Serious Public Policy Issues of Concern!

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 Wednesday, October 23, 2019 - 09:54 Leo Olivero

The election campaign generally, and the accurate reading or lack of it, of the electoral mood provided proof to me that ‘few politicians really had their fingers on the social pulse’ when it came to predicting the mood of the people, particularly on important issues that were completely avoided, sidestepped or simple ignored during the election campaign. 

These were not ordinary issues, but daily important social problems that affect people every single day of the week ‘which did not get a look-in during the election campaign’ which was again dominated by the same 3 or 4 now totally boring repeated issues, which politicians just lap-up as they continuously repeat themselves.

Many issues are simply too important or too timely to wait I refer to those social issues/problems’ that are not only emotive maters, like the abortion issue, but others like the ‘massive drug and alcohol problem’ now of epidemic proportions, and affecting a growing cross section of the community. But other similar issues like domestic violence and other kinds of abuses that families and small children regularly suffer. Issues that really matter to those suffering, which did not receive the same public or media, certainly not the political attention or focus they should have had during the election campaign, with the exception of the more in the news abortion issue.

I know for a fact, that many such groups mentioned or before this troubled side of the electorate decided who to give their precious vote to last Thursday, compared party manifesto commitments, that is, if they bothered to vote at all because of the feeling of social abandonment and despair!

Was there any rationality in electoral behaviour during the election campaign with any of the parties who contested the election?

Rationality is thought to be the ‘driver of a candidates’ behaviour. But if one was to map out campaign content as well as campaign strategies, you’ll probably be left short-changed.

The qualitative election analysis did not show much by way rational consideration, which should have driven the selection of all campaign strategies and public policy positions, only on display in party manifestos, which themselves, are not always cast iron guarantees they will be honoured!

23-10-2019 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR