Some of my friends have been inspired by the recent general election (and surprise outcome) to join a political party. I've been thinking about it too, but I have a dilemma. There are two large parties which are the only two real contenders for forming a government in our first past the post system. I naturally lean toward one of them and that is probably the party I would join. It doesn't entirely represent my political views and has done things in government which I have violently disagreed with. But what's the alternative? Joining a party which has no hope of forming a government, or even a coalition, given the tiny number of seats currently held by the smaller parties. And then I pause, and I ask myself, why do you have to join a powerful party? Why join a party which has to develop policies to win votes rather than because they're the right policies for the country? I sound naive even to myself when I ask that question. It's not about right and wrong, E