Election campaign lies

are to be expected. It is part of the political "game" played by the parties. There are all the "he said, she said, they said" words which come out as if they are actual facts when they are actually carefully culled to make it appear as if the opposite is true.

And then there is something else. There was a curious advertisement which appeared on the evening news site I watch. It is the channel which concentrates on the international news rather than the local news so the election material has not been quite as intense. There it was though and it looked wrong.

It looked wrong because it was wrong. It is wrong and I think it is a step too far even for those implacably opposed to anything nuclear. The advertisement is designed in such a way as to give a very strong impression that there is a group inside a major political party which does not support their stance on nuclear power.  The advertisements use the same colour and the statements made in them give the strongest impression that there is strong disagreement within the party concerned.  

Now whatever you might or might not believe about nuclear power it is a debate we need to have. It needs to be an informed debate. It does not need to be the sort of emotionally charged "discussion" which usually takes place. If nuclear medicine could save the life of someone I loved or the life of a much loved child or the life of someone who went on to do great good in the world then I am not about to reject all things nuclear.

The mob producing this advertisement obviously think differently. They also want to try and make sure the party suggesting nuclear might be in the future energy mix never get into power. If you are opposed to all things nuclear then you may feel differently. Look a little closer though. Look at the person who is the "leader" of this group. He apparently has a reputation as a writer of letters to the editor. Those letters are apparently almost always in support of the present government's policies. He writes these and is still pretending to be a member of the opposition's party - a party he has never been a member of. 

He is being funded from other sources. He may be a former builder and have some of his own money behind him but he is definitely not running this campaign without the support of people who have their own commercial interests in seeing that nuclear never becomes a reality. I have no doubt these are people who would support nuclear if they believed there was money in it for them. Yes, follow the money. 

It has taken a while but the media has finally said something. They have said something too late of course. The damage has already been done. Many people will now believe there is a serious rift in the party concerned over their nuclear stance. There are differences of opinion of course - but there are differences of opinion on the other side too.  

It seems the Electoral Commission is powerless to stop this sort of thing. They are already unable to stop even the blatant lies of both major parties. Psychology tells them that trying to prevent this sort of thing is a waste of time. 

It would be good if all political advertising had to cease three months out from an election. Anyone caught advertising should be barred from seeking election or re-election. Anyone attempting to advertise on their behalf should also be penalised.That would still allow for statements of verifiable fact and statements of "intention" or policy. Do that and we might be able to cast our votes in a more informed manner...but it won't happen.