RAMBLINGS OF A NON-POLITICAL VOTER

At the outset let me say that I am a totally nonpolitical being.

- GOOLBAI GUNASEKARA

Mind you, I am mightily interested in politics but I support no party unconditionally as do many of my aquaintances.I have voted for every President ever since I first received my voting card many, many moons ago — Sir John, Sirimavo, Premadasa, SWRD, Ranil, JR, Chandrika, Rajapakses et al. (Obviously not in that order.) And this time I voted for AKD and have so far not regretted it.

As a totally unreliable party voter I feel quite free to give my opinions on the goings on of politicians at any time (specially at the moment) and to cheerfully proclaim that I would vote for Beelzebub himself if I thought he would be best for the country. It is my opinion that loyalists are sometimes not the best critiques of their Government, and blind loyalists do their leaders a great disservice by not listening to people who are not necessarily antileader but are being merely analytical. Armchair talkers — that's who they are (me included.)

Never before has an election caused this much discussion. That is the word for the goings on in the political arena right now. The rumours alone are enough to send heart patients into non-recovery mode. One man, a few years ago, died after hearing a Cricketing result. How come no one has done likewise of late? The scenario is set for it. What with Ditwah slamming into us and the weather continuing to be devastating, heart failures should abound.

Never before has an election caused this much discussion. That is the word for the goings on in the political arena right now. The rumours alone are enough to send heart patients into non-recovery mode.