A Big Fight May Just Be The Green Way
I put my name forward for the Scottish Green's EP elections list. I'm not sure I'll actually be lucky enough to get on the list, but I'll certainly be doing as much as I can to help with the election campaign. Which will in a sense, be a little disheartening.
The problem is, while the political blogosphere will be alight with talk and gossip about the campaigns, and the pan-European media that has developed over the past few years will be busy offering slightly more serious coverage, the general public will potter along, for the large part oblivious to the whole process.
If only everyone were as conscientious as Rousseau: "the very right to vote imposes on me the duty to instruct myself in public affairs".
I don't know what exactly could be done to engage the electorate, but there might be something in Monica Frassoni's suggestion of the parties having a "big fight". Whatever happens, 45.6% turnout is too low, and just feeds the Eurosceptics claims of legitimacy problems with the Union. Unfortunately the cynic in me can't help but think it'll be the 2013 elections before anything is actually done about it.