Something went wrong on the way to the throne
I’m seeking solace in the sentiment that I’m not quite like the majority (and that is clearly a good thing). Referring to political tastes here, of course. We’ve spent another day in the strange limbo that exists between the dropping of a ballot into the slot and the result announced via a website that updates every few minutes, numbers growing but percentages remaining constant.
This has been a chance to replace the last mayor who died before the world could end. A mid-term contest; in two years we’ll put the pendulum back in sync and hold a full council and mayoral campaign. Meanwhile, we now have a new mayor. The numbers aren’t official until all the paper gets counted in an empty exhibition centre tomorrow. For now, the website is enough to show that people don’t always read, or look, or listen, or reflect before marking a ballot. What else can explain the choice made by my neighbours today?
The media coverage has been satisfying for a political junkie, with op-ed pieces, surveys, mudslinging, even photo shoots in the homes of the candidates. What started out looking like a landslide for (in my opinion) the best choice suddenly turned around a few days ago with a poll result that seemed bizarre. Number two was suddenly number one. Did I miss a chapter in the story?
Now the results are minutes away from the “all tallied” point, and we have a new mayor, one with no experience, no party, nothing that I would have considered as proper background for a job that comes with some real responsibilities. I’m not heartbroken; this is not as important as the leadership of a country, and my neighbours have screwed that one up as well. I just wonder why my choice doesn’t win very often. Good thing I’m not interested in the ponies.
