Welcome to the first Facebook election in history.
This may be news to the few diehards who refuse to get on the social media juggernaut but not so to the rest of us.
You log on to see how uncle Jim in Melbourne is doing and you are assaulted by ads from Labor’s team for Campbelltown Council or Paul Lake’s Community First Team.
The old ways haven’t completely gone away, but the number of candidates posters on trees and power poles are way down compared to four years ago.
As are the number of leaflets from candidates put in our letterboxes, which once upon a time would fill the recycling bin.
One or two candidates even persist with a large sign at the back of a ute and so on, but there’s no doubt the times are changing.
When we go to the polls again in four years’ time there’s no doubt the digital world will be the dominant information force, if it isn’t already.
But what does it all mean for the average punter?
For one thing, social media gives them incredible access to the ability to have their say the minute they see a party advertisement or promotion.
On the other side, the politicians are able to suss out the public’s view on any given issue quite quickly and maybe react to that.
It really is incredible the change that is taking place right in front of our eyes.
Remember that the extent of change is not really understood until many years later, so at the moment we can only guess how big it all is.
The interactive nature of social media has forced many politicians to realise that if they wish to continue being supported they will need to start giving power back to the people.
This means the people being able to elect more than just councillors and state and federal politicians.
What about local police chiefs or ICAC commissioners?
Either way this council election has shown that thanks to the emergence of social media the ground has shifted in favour of the people.
Yes, power to the people. And what’s wrong with that?
I won’t post my link lol
Well said, Eric Kontos, power to the people!
On the same note, I am still amazed at how many of the players are still getting the corflute game wrong as well after so many decades of use. DONT put them on council land or powerpoles. Leave the roundabouts and cemeteries alone. Mount them to a private area inside the bounds of a nature strip like a fence, and retreive them after you are done. If you cant play by the guidelines in something as simple as putting signs up, how are you going to go with the guidelines of council which come with a greater impact?