The Fringe

I always had this thing against fringe parties. In my head they just seemed like a waste of a vote. In Canada I vote Conservative, in the states Republican and I always just imagined I would vote Likud when I finally became Israeli. But, if yesterday's election results proved anything, it is that in the Israeli political system there are no obvious outcomes.

Yisrael Beytenu out performed Labour. In my head this just seems crazy. I mean don't get me wrong, I am happy with those results. I am just surprised. I now have to rethink my voting strategies, or at least re-define my idea of fringe parties. I mean Israel has always been very different than Canada and the States. It is a younger more reactive country. It is possible that in 100 years from now the political landscape will be different and that there will be more obvious front-runners. Until then I guess I should just be a little more open minded at the polls.

Maybe if it weren't for my conformist attitude Bob Barr could have been president...