The 2006 elections epitomize the severe breach of trust between the voters and the elected representatives. Broad strata of the nation – the elderly, single parent families, Arabs, new immigrants and many religious and ultra-Orthodox – have collapsed under the burden of economic distress and are disappointed with the callous violation of the promises showered by politicians in the past. Back then people still believed that the right politics could change their lives, but now they are fully conscious and angry, because politicians pulled the wool over their eyes and their lives are much worse than they were.
The despair, loss of hope and self-dignity have resulted in total disinterest in the coming elections or in the elected representatives among many voters – who do not intend to vote at all. They don't care who will be in power, because in any case they don't believe that their situation will change for the better.
