Elections, Shifting Sentiments, and What They Really Tell Us About Ourselves
Published by Ryan Gollan / 30 April 2025
Beyond politics, elections mirror our collective hopes, fears, and evolving dreams - A personal view on society’s quiet shifts and a future shaped by the next generation.
Many of my friends might think that I don’t have strong political views, because I rarely engage in political conversations.
It’s not because I don’t have opinions - I simply prefer not to enter into potentially confrontational debates. LOL. After all, we live in democratic societies where every voice matters, and I respect that deeply. But silence doesn’t mean absence of reflection.
Sometimes, silence is just a way to observe more thoughtfully.
I love reading about global events.
But I've learned to navigate today’s information landscape carefully.
In a world filled with bias, misinformation, and carefully crafted narratives, reading only one outlet gives you only one version of the “truth”. Each media outlet carries its own perspective, and to find clarity, I’d say we should read broadly, comparing different viewpoints, then we can find a balanced, middle ground. This approach provides a clearer picture of what's really happening beyond the noise.
And what fascinates me most about elections - whether in the U.S., Canada, Singapore, or Australia - isn’t the political contest itself.
It’s what elections reveal about society’s emotions, shifting values, and human behaviour at a particular moment in time.
The World Through the Mirror of Elections
Take the U.S. elections over the past decade.
Consider the surprising and highly debated outcomes, particularly Donald Trump's victories, loss, and return. Trump’s campaigns and presidency revealed deep societal shifts and stark divisions, bringing to the surface powerful emotions like economic anxiety, identity politics, and fear of cultural displacement.
His approval ratings and election outcomes weren't just about policies - they illustrated broader feelings of disenfranchisement, mistrust in traditional institutions, and a profound craving for authenticity (whether or not one agreed with his style).
Similarly, looking at Canada’s recent political transition, we see reflections of another kind.
After years under Justin Trudeau’s leadership, Mark Carney is the new Prime Minister.
Trudeau's early popularity was built on messages of hope, inclusivity, and generational change - yet over time, public trust shifted, and new leadership emerged.
This transition reflects how quickly public sentiment can evolve, how ideals can clash with reality, and how deeply society now demands authenticity, competence, and fresh direction from those in power.
Singapore (voting on 3 May), with its predictable yet evolving political landscape, offers yet another perspective.
Stability, economic success, and pragmatic leadership have long been the cornerstones of its elections.
But the upcoming generational transitions raise important questions about continuity, trust in younger leadership, and evolving voter priorities - especially among the next-gen voters who increasingly value transparency, openness, and global connectedness.
Australia’s Moment
Now, as Australia approaches its next election (voting on 3 May), I find myself wondering:
Not about who wins or loses - but what the outcome will quietly reveal about the Australian society today.
Different age groups, education, locations, and socio-economic backgrounds all shape how people feel and how they vote.
Politicians know this well. During campaign seasons, they tailor their promises carefully to address the particular hopes, and fears, of different communities.
Urban voters often prioritise climate change, diversity, and future innovation.
Regional voters may focus more on economic security, community stability, and infrastructure needs.
Older generations tend to seek continuity and protection, while younger generations seek change and opportunity.
And this leads us to something I find particularly fascinating:
The Rise of the Next-Gen Voter: A Different Kind of Future
The most profound shift in global elections isn’t just about policies.
It’s about the emergence of a completely different generation of voters - with different values, different expectations, and a very different relationship with power, technology, and society itself.
Today's next-gen voters: Millennials and Gen Z, are shaped by a world vastly different from the one older generations knew:
They grew up digitally connected, globally aware.
They see issues like climate change, social justice, and mental health not as political slogans, but as personal realities.They are less loyal to traditional institutions.
Trust must be earned - it is not given automatically to governments, corporations, or media outlets.They value authenticity over authority.
A leader’s ability to “feel real” often matters more than their years of experience.They expect speed, transparency, and action.
Patience for slow bureaucracy and political spin is wearing thin.They define success differently.
Purpose, impact, and meaning are often valued more than mere economic growth.
This is not rebellion, it is evolution.
In the next 5–10 years, as this generation becomes the dominant voting and economic force, we will likely see seismic shifts in what leadership, success, and progress truly mean. Elections are simply the early signals.
Elections as Human Stories
At the surface, elections are contests of power.
But at a deeper level, they are reflections of what societies are feeling and fearing at that moment in history.
They reveal our trust levels.
They show where hope lives - and where it struggles.
They uncover the dreams that drive us - and the fears that hold us back.
When I look at elections around the world, including Australia’s upcoming one - I try not to get caught up in the lines of party politics.
I try to observe the human stories unfolding underneath.
Because ultimately, beyond votes and campaigns, we are all seeking the same things:
Security in uncertain times.
Hope in the face of fear.
Leadership that feels human, not distant.
A future where we can belong, believe, and build something meaningful.
Regardless of political leanings, I believe that the most important work of all lies in staying curious, staying kind, and never losing faith that societies, just like individuals, can evolve for the better.
