Universal suffrage: you bet! Informed: don�t be stupid!

I had the chance to vote, and duly did, the 40 kms drive to the polling station was no deterrent nor was the fact that I could not vote a local council representative of my choice. The past few days social media was replete with political messaging by Facebook savvy operatives and journalist-cum political operatives, these reached fever pitch and I for one was left with no choice but to temporarily ‘unfriend’ some good friends. I will re friend you guys post elections! My reading of the atmosphere in the electioneering thus far is that not much is on offer rather than the tired and worn out banality of political demagoguery and outright chicanery by the pretenders to the echelons of political power.

On my way back from the polling station, there in relative solitude, within the inert confines of my car save for the hum of the diesel engine I was jolted in to some soul searching.
l What really informed my vote?
l Does my vote really matter?
l Did I afford this noble activity due diligence, that is did I acquaint myself with the different political platforms/manifestoes before I cast my vote? Yes