Kevin07

While I like Kevin Rudd (and will probably be voting for him, if only for the Julia Gillard factor), I think this new interactive site (complete with links to a MySpace, Facebook AND YouTube page!) is just a cheesy and somewhat condescending attempt to reach the younger generation.

Older generations are constantly complaining that my age group and below are uninformed, uninspired and immature - rather than pandering to the few of us that are like that, why not run an intelligent campaign? Dare the younger generation to care; to use their brain and intellect (however limited it may be) to vote not for the candidate with the prettiest MySpace, but to vote for the the candidate who is best to lead us. Not because they have awesome YouTube videos, but because they are genuinely the right person – or, at least, the lesser of two evils.

The majority of my generation is one of the least intelligent, selfish, uninformed, apathic generations there is - the only reason the majority of these people give a damn about Making Poverty History and climate change is because Beyonce told them too! While I agree that shows such as the Make Poverty History concerts raise awareness, do they really change anything? Have the kids who attended the climate change concerts altered anything they do in their daily lives to conserve our natural resources? I doubt it. Because it’s just a gimmick – it’s in their heads for about a week after the concert and then that’s it. It’s the same for Kevin07 – just a gimmick, and an offensive one at that.

It is constantly reported that numeracy and literacy rates among school children is at an all time low, and yet candidates are using childish means to attract younger voters! Lets try and raise the intelligence of this country – instead of marketing to the lowest common denominator, lets market to the highest; the most intelligent, informed, willing and able young adults. Challenge those who are apathetic to stand up, be informed and be counted for.

I am 22 years old, and I would love to see a prime ministerial campaign run on the merits and beliefs of the candidate, not how ‘hip’ and ‘cool’ they can pretend to be. There is a place for fun and frivolity in a campaign, but please – MySpace, Facebook, YouTube? The belief that this is the way to get through to the younger voters? It’s just insulting. While I applaud him for trying something “new”, albeit a copy the USA Presidential campaigns, to attract younger voters, I just wish that he had enough respect to the younger generation not to stereotype us into a bunch of illiterate (have you seen some of the MySpace messages? It’s called grammar and punctuation, people!) and internet crazed youths. The insinuation that this is the only way to catch the attention of young voters is insulting, at least to me.

By the way, at what point was it decided that someone who appears to be less than intelligent would make a great Prime Minister? How did the candidates get it in their minds that by acting like youths, pandering to youths, copying the things that youths do (all the while complaining about the fights they get into, their disrespectful behaviour, their less than impressive school results, their apathy etc), they would be running a successful campaign? What happened to impressiveness, intelligence and even compassion? What happened to candidates wanting the respect of the voters?

Perhaps our candidates should hire a few seasons of the West Wing or The American President – however fictional and Hollywood they may be, they portray truly impressive, distinguished and respected leaders. Just what this country needs.