Anna Turner- Winston, Souvlakis and Ouzo | Columns

One of my favourite politicians of all time, Winston Churchill, once said: "The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter".  

It's true. Not that I don't support democracy, the Greeks did a top-notch job on that one -along with souvlakis and ouzo.  

But it's a sad reality that people don't seem to place much importance on the elections any more.  

When I asked people on the street about their local candidates for a Star story a few months ago, a disturbing number couldn't even identify who was standing in their electorate, let alone name any crucial election issues.  

And, I'm sorry to say, it was mostly the younger people who seemed uninterested and unaware.  

I've encountered the same socially.   

I once met a girl at a dinner party, a third year political science student at university, who told the whole table about how she didn't believe in voting as it was "pointless" and "one vote didn't make a difference to the final result".  She used to support the Green party, she declared, but didn't like Darren Hughes as their leader. 

I nodded politely, but inside I cringed.   

Don't get me wrong, I'm no political guru. I certainly wouldn't list politics under my interests.  

In fact, there are some things I despise about politics - the secretiveness and, the pettiness, the fact that a skilled orator may be more highly valued than an intelligent politician.  

But I know my MMP and my STV from my FPP. I know who I'm going to vote for, and can list some semi-intelligent reasons why. (Sorry, not telling!)  

Even in our busy modern world, I still think it's important to make yourself educated and get out there and exercise the right which people once fought so hard for us to have.   

I urge everyone to read a bit online, talk to your friends about some policies, or watch a TV debate. There's even a fantastic new interactive website designed by some uni students - www.onthefence.co.nz - which helps you to decide what side of the political spectrum you sit on, in a fun way.   

You don't have to become the most knowledgeable, you just have to head along on election day and have a better reason for voting than, say, blue being your favourite colour.   

So, to practice what I preach, I'll be going along on Saturday to cast my vote. I'm even going to give Kate Sheppard a post-mortem fist pump while I'm at it.

I hope to see a lot of other young people there, ticking boxes purposefully. And, of course, earning the right to complain loudly at dinner parties about the Government for the next three years.