Decisions, decisions: Making my mind up about who to vote for

The big day to vote is almost upon us but I am still not sure which party I should pick, although the names of a couple of them have been buzzing in my head.

Well, how could they not, as I am besieged from all sides by a blitz of party slogans, carefully couched message and other examples of not so slick politicking.

Switch on my TV, and I see a report showing President Megawati Soekarnoputri, smiling broadly in her all-red party uniform, dancing before her faithful Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) supporters.

There is no respite from her during a break, as she belts out her now famous (and much lampooned) party slogan of, "coblos moncong putih (vote for the white muzzle) number 18" in a party ad.

I feel like I am an actor in a horror movie where the victim comes up against her worst nightmare every where she turns, except it's on the TV. Gone are my peaceful nights watching Fastlane or Alias.

There is former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid of the National Awakening Party (PKB) promising "to hear" the voice of the people, or Vice President Hamzah Haz solemnly reminding people to vote for No. 5 on April 5.

I cannot deny that I feel the fatherly charm of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in his ad promising "change", or when National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Amien Rais is shown visiting a slum area and lets a man cry on his shoulder.

In the morning, when I scan my morning papers, it's much of the same. For instance, there is a large front page ad showing the smiling face of former president Soeharto's daughter Siti Hardiyanti "Mbak Tutut" Rukmana, encouraging voters to choose her for a return to the "good old days" of her father's rule.

Even when I step outside my home, there are the faces of the candidates plastered over my wall, imploring me to vote for them.

I just cannot make up my mind amid the sustained bombardment.

Actually, I had made a decision earlier but something I witnessed during my drive to work changed that in a second.

During a street rally of my chosen party, I was shocked at seeing many children riding on motorbikes with their parents.

In many cases, there were up to three very little children squashed together on one motorcycle, while their fathers and mothers laughed and smiled at onlookers. Forget helmets or other safety precautions, the message was clear: They are above the rules and don not dare to stop them, however foolhardy their behavior.

It occurred to me that how can a party that ignores the most basic traffic regulations and endangers children -- who still have years to go before they can exercise their voting rights -- be trusted to take care of the whole nation?

It's true that maybe it's the parents as individuals who are to blame for letting their children take part, but if a party cannot control their own followers, what will happen when they are given the authority for the country's 215 million people?

I have decided that I have to be a bit more discriminating. After all, as my friend put it, this is the first time -- if things go smoothly and as planned -- that we will directly elect our representatives and, in June, our own president.

But if I decide to take part in the election, I certainly want to vote for a party that will not give empty promises -- we know them only too well -- and ignore women's and children's rights. On my checklist of priorities is better education, health care and, of course, economic and political stability as well as security.

At the very least, I want a government that pays attention to its people, a government with a heart.

I know I might be asking for way too much. But there's no harm hoping that, this time around, we will get a fit and proper leader. It's our choice, after all.

-- Stevie Emilia