The difference between ignorance and apathy: I don't know and I don't care

This is from the final episode of The Chaser's Yes We Canberra!, which went to air last night. Crudity and drug references aside, they've hit the nail on the head here. Apart from the record number of votes the Greens received, the other disappointing result to come out of last Saturday's federal election was that the number of informal votes was the highest ever recorded at a federal election. When the result as close as it's turned out to be, every vote counts. Perhaps voting informally is the only way some Australians feel that they can express their disillusionment and sense of being disengaged from the political process.

I can partially understand this, but as a conscientious voter, on the other hand I wonder if this disillusionment and disengagement might better be described as apathy. Even though I'm glad the federal election campaign is over, I also spare a thought for those in other parts of the world who either don't have the right to vote, or have suffered and died to earn this right. When you think of things this way, it changes your perspective on things.