Learning from America

There is definitely something we could learn from the Americans when it comes to conducting an election campaign: fair play.

Let's not mince words: BN doesn't cheat but that doesn't mean they play fair either. I fully expect a romp for BN come polling day; it would surprise me if BN doesn't get back seats it lost in 1999.

But look at the way they've done it as far as the election campaign has been run:

* Barely two weeks official notice is given to the Opposition of the impending elections; that severely cuts into the time they have to campaign the electorate.
* The media is flooded with BN advertisements -- perhaps its because only BN has the financial muscle to afford RM100k per week full page ads in The Star. But if there's such a disparity in the opposing parties, why hasn't SPR put a cap on campaign financing, as exists in the US. Equal access to equal monies would make the playing field much more level.
* Ads on TV and radio. Again this costs big bucks. But, in the name of fair play, the SPR should force any TV or radio station airing an ad for one party to give equal air time to the Opposing party, even if they can't afford to pay for it. Again, this is the practice in the US and i reckon its a pretty decent rule.

BN will win again, most probably by a major landslide, and in most circumstances, this is a deserved win. I'll be happy with this result -- this country needs stability rather than a buck in the smooth ride we're having right now. But the win won't be one won fairly, and this leaves a sour taste in the mouth. How democratic is a system where the richer incumbent holds all the aces in the pack of cards?