ideology

Whatever happened to it in politics?

With elections coming up in Australia, Great Britain and USA, it seems they are all going to be reasonably close. The swinging voter is a person that I just don't understand.

In Australia, at least, we have two major parties. One is conservative. Very conservative. The other is, despite a decade of drifting to the middle in an attempt to win power, is left leaning. But all we hear about are policies, and how specific policies are going to win or lose the election. I don't get it. What ever happened to a belief in a political ideology? How can you vote for neo-conservatives one election and then vote for a left wing party the next? Surely, it is through the broad ideology of the parties that the best chance exists to separate them. Labor is a left wing party and the Liberals are definately not (liberal that is). Despite Labor drifting to the middle in economic policies, surely there are other things that matter more. The left wing in politics will always be more compassionate, always supporting the arts and the environment better than a right wing government. The right wing will always have the interests of the rich at heart.

I could never vote for a right wing government, because my political ideology is that of the left. That the next election will be decided in marginal seats by swinging voters leaves me bereft of understanding. I just don't get it.