The poll we publish today, indicating sitting Liberal member Joanna Gash will retain her marginal South Coast seat of Gilmore, reveals some of the issues at play for voters that students of politics enjoy dissecting.Most notable is the hip-pocket - or put crudely, and in a Clintonesque way: "It's the economy, stupid." Health is also a significant factor for voters and, clearly, Mrs Gash carries strong personal appeal for many constituents.Perhaps at a more subliminal level, however, we suspect one of the key issues across all electorates is whether this Rudd-Gillard government should be cut off at the knees just yet.It has been a long time since Australians have thrown out a federal government after only one term. We last did this in 1931 to the Scullin government.Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, aware of the reluctance for change, makes the valid point we do not need to be beholden to history. If a government is bad, change it. And, of course, we should.But, we would contend, while this is not a great government, it is not a bad one either.Like many of our readers, we found the knifing of Kevin Rudd distasteful, even for the brutal world of modern politics and for a party that has a tradition of devouring its own. Julia Gillard was selected not elected, a reality she acknowledged from day one in the job.However, this is history. And, while we feel neither major party or leader has been able to articulate a clear vision for the country we can become - and, crucially, will become under them in the next three years - we are curious to what a Gillard government could achieve.Significantly, if the economy does rate so highly for voters, credit must be given to the Labor Government for its handling of the global financial crisis. It is peculiar for a Labor government to so astutely navigate its way through the grim times of a downturn. Nonetheless, the ship, while battered, returned successfully to port - mission accomplished.The alternative to re-electing this Government would seem to us a regression. Tony Abbott is making a virtue of spending less and taxing less, which surely amounts to doing less.The rolling back of GP super clinics, the Liberals' B-grade national broadband proposal and the toughening of language over asylum seekers is hardly visionary.The importance of the NBN to our future prosperity and well-being - socially, economically and globally - cannot be downplayed. The Illawarra is representative of the change that is occurring in communities across the world. Once centred on hard-core manufacturing, regional economies like ours are quickly diversifying and becoming sophisticated in the services they offer. But it will be technology that unlocks their true potential.In many policy areas, it is hard to split the main parties. They have each given thoughtful consideration to what matters to Australians in regard to health, education and running the economy.This said, after 11 years of the Howard government, the Australian people were keen for a change and three years on we cannot see the need to step back.In the Illawarra, voters in Cunningham and Throsby may wonder why it is worth turning up at the ballot box. The sitting ALP member in Cunningham, Sharon Bird, and the new ALP candidate in Throsby, Stephen Jones, who replaces Jennie George, are guaranteed victory.Ms Bird and Ms George have served the interests of the region well. Mr Jones, a man with good connections in the party, is perhaps on the verge of a great new career.It will not be lost on many voters that the promises made in these electorates were few and far between. Sadly, that is the political reality in safe seats.It is why voters in Gilmore have a lot more to think about as they cast their vote. It is why we believe Joanna Gash should be returned.Why would we say elect a federal Labor government but a Liberal member in Gilmore?It is true that if both should transpire that Mrs Gash's promises - some $70 million, depending on whose figures you rely - could amount to nothing. However, with all state seats held by Labor and the other two federal seats to be held again by Labor, there should at least be a lone voice in the south to push a competing view.With Gilmore now taking in Barrack Heights, Warilla, Shellharbour and Shell Cove, the dynamics of local politics is suddenly more interesting. As well, Mrs Gash - as even her opponents would concede - has been a good representative.Of course, you may well disagree with us on some points here - or all of them. But that is the beauty of living in a democracy.We should not take the right to have a say - to vote - lightly. It may sound trite, but it is true that our forebears fought and died for this right. It is a right that Australians still defend today in Afghanistan and one we should reflect upon as we vote.