Very often, on this forum, politics devolves into a racial slanging match. The ANC has become synonymous with black South Africans, and the DA with white South Africans.
As a result of this slightly infantile approach to politics, any comment about the DA from a white South African is viewed as racially biased at best, or a direct attack on black South Africans at worst.
Likewise, any comment against the ANC is seen as racist, and born from a desire to return to apartheid.
As I said, that is an entirely infantile way to approach politics, and it's time that the people who think that way grow up, and educate themselves about the nature of politics in OTHER countries - because South Africa, in general, is a very warped example of how things should work.
Now that we have that out of the way, down to the topic of this post. Is the DA perfect?
In a word: no.
They've had their fair share of scandals, for one thing (although their handling of scandal is light years ahead.) They sometimes have a too conservative approach to politics, that would be right at home in the first world, but falls flat in the land of stadium rallies and chicken bucket bribes.
They're not perfect, and I think they know that.
They're probably not even - in their current form at least - a viable long term option to lead South Africa.
But even knowing this, they still have my vote.
Why?
Is it because I am racist?
No.
Is it because I pine for apartheid?
Hell no.
Is it because they have a white leader?
No again.
It is because, of the two major political parties in South Africa, they're the only ones who have any clue how to govern.
It's because of the two major political parties in South Africa, when the DA is the subject of scandal, it's still shocking. It's newsworthy. When the ANC is the pivotal focus of scandal, all it really means is that it's another day.
Because be honest here - can anyone out there remember a single day in the last five or ten years when there WASN'T an ANC scandal making news?
I am fairly certain that I am not alone in saying that on the happy day that the DA finally topples the corrupt, bloated, out of touch, past their sell by date ANC, I will start looking for alternative parties who might deserve my vote.
Why?
Because we should always strive to move forward, and to have the best people at the helm.
When the day comes that there is a better option for South Africa out there, in terms of political parties, they will have my vote.
That's because I vote with my head.
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