Imagine that you’re a political prisoner in a Soviet gulag and you, along with your fellow captives, are given the option of voting for porridge or porridge with salt. Although the outcome of the election may make a slight difference to your comfort levels your jailers will still have absolute power and a monopoly of force, the election will not bring you freedom, your daily activities will still be unjustly controlled, you will still be unable to cross the border fence without permission, the products of your labour will continue to be stolen by your jailers, and essentially nothing will change. This is exactly the situation that arises in New Zealand triennially.
On that cheery note, I’m off to vote.
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