Last week – on March 26th, to be exact – the German state Hesse held local elections. Local elections are more or less insignificant compared to state or federal elections; but in a democratic society one should cast a ballot in every election. Normally, I would have done so. However, last week I simply couldn’t be bothered. I stayed home, like most citizens of Hesse. It is the first election I didn’t vote in. And I intend to no longer vote in elections in Germany either.

I have three reasons why I did not do so.

* For the last election specifically; I know nothing about local politics. I don’t know the names of the people who smiled at my from their campaign posters. I don’t know what promises they broke in their careers so far.
* I do know that very likely none of them are honest people who have the well-being of the citizens in mind. Politicans, as a general rule, are corrupt, egoistic, and will fuck you over wherever they can and whenever they see some personal gain in the process. In short, there is not one party or politican I would feel I could trust simply by reputation.
* Finally, I feel that democracy in Germany is failing. It has degenerated into a popularity- and story-telling contest, where the voters are granted a chance to decide who gets to get the support and money from the industry for the next four or five years (depening on the type of elections). Lobby groups are able to buy mostly the laws they desire; while the nation is slowly being transformed into a police state in the name of “protecting the citizens against terrorism”. 1933 it was the communists and the Jews they wanted to protect us from; today it’s “islamic extremism and terroists”. Who protects me from my country?

As an aside, voter turnout in Hesse was only 45%. How an election can be valid where the majority of voters have clearly stated that they support neither of the candidates is beyond me. I really wish there was a “None of these people” option on ballots. I certainly would make use of it.

I know I didn’t want to get into politics anymore on my weblog, but I do believe in stating my opinion. That isn’t yet illegal in this country. And until it is, I hope I will find [some other country to live in](http://auswandern.pandemonium.de). There must be one that isn’t completely messed up!