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Nick Clegg is my local MP. I saw him the other day skipping down the road to get his newspaper and egg mayo sandwich. Seems like a genuinely nice chap.

I agree with Grimshaw (and others) that it is certainly time for a change... and I am shocked to find myself siding towards Nick Clegg. Now, I've no idea if this is just because he came across as the most genuinely likable of all the three leaders or whether it's just because I've not taken much (any!) notice of him in the past and he just seemed like a breath of fresh air.

I just cannot trust Cameron - the whole Eton/Bullington Axis thing doesn't sit with me at all. We may live in a *ahem* classless society but that doesn't mean that there are still posh gits trying to make sure they look after themselves primarily!

The one thing the struck me about Clegg during the debate was his use of the word 'Fair': fairer society, fairer taxes, fairer politics. Now, this may have just be spin on his part but the really struck a chord with me. In my experience, people don't mind paying taxes (or council taxes, community charges, or whatever you call them) so long as they appear to be fair. Maybe I've been swayed by a good PR man but I'm very much looking forward to next week's debate.


Sean

Vote Dalek!

TheStoner wrote:Vote Dalek!

Now that would make a good addition to Thursday's upcoming debate!

I did note that everyone seemed to be aoiding saying anythng negative about EU politics and how they are, and will continue to have a governing say in whatever government we end up with after the election.

I'm a believer that Brussels have a lot to answer for when it comes to the state that this country is in.

dat8962 wrote:I'm a believer that Brussels have a lot to answer for when it comes to the state that this country is in.

Me and you both sir.

Whatever happens, i do not wish to be a part of it and so i am not voting.

I know that this just adds to the current governments vote's but i really don't want any of the governments in and i feel better if i ignore it completely than make a vote that means nothing; i know that is a very ignorant and selfish opinion to take but i have my reasons.

I hate labour just as much as the next person but all of the parties have one huge problem with them and there just isnt any point in me contributing to one of them.

It just depresses me how low and degraded this country has become, more and more things seep out and there is nothing that can be done by any of the parties as the people who advise and persuade, and in some cases control, the elected government will always cause them to make the mistakes that are constantly made - it will not change.

As soon as i leave Uni, i will try my best to stay as far away from the greedy hand of our government as i can.

Sk8r St3v3 wrote:Whatever happens, i do not wish to be a part of it and so i am not voting.

I know that this just adds to the current governments vote's but i really don't want any of the governments in and i feel better if i ignore it completely than make a vote that means nothing; i know that is a very ignorant and selfish opinion to take but i have my reasons.

I hate labour just as much as the next person but all of the parties have one huge problem with them and there just isnt any point in me contributing to one of them.

It just depresses me how low and degraded this country has become, more and more things seep out and there is nothing that can be done by any of the parties as the people who advise and persuade, and in some cases control, the elected government will always cause them to make the mistakes that are constantly made - it will not change.

As soon as i leave Uni, i will try my best to stay as far away from the greedy hand of our government as i can.

that's cool if that's what you really think is best however...

If you do decide not to vote, you do realise that means you can never ever again complain about the state of the country or how terrible you think politicians are. If you're not gonna to make the effort to fix something you think is broken, nobody wants to hear you whine about it. If your foot hurts but you don't want to see the doctor about it, people will get sick pretty soon of listening to you complain about it. Democracy only works if people actively participate in it. If you don't vote, then the country ends up being run by the people who do vote. If you want a better world, get off your cynical *rse and try to fix it. Otherwise, shut up.


Sorry to be blunt, but it's that thinking that gets the BNP elected.

I knew i would be interpreted in that way.

What i meant to say is that i just don't think it will achieve anything, none of the parties are, in my opinion, going to change the state we got ourselves in, and so therefore why should i bother?

Although, on the other hand it would do me some good if i did take part, as it is my first time. I know that all i have just said may seem like immature bull**** but i have always had a strong belief that if i vote i will always end up regretting it. Therefore i don't wish to.

And as far as whining about the state of our politics, that is not the case. I do not whine about our country, i criticise. If it wasnt for the selfish decisions of high end officials, then we wouldnt be in this hopeless war, we would have survived the recession far better than we have, and our social services would have better funding. Changing political parties, will, yes have an effect, but in the long run there is nothing we can do in relation to the officials that are not susceptible to the election.

I apologise for saying this, but people who believe that this country has a chance to improve drastically, in our generation at least, are rather optimistic.

Sorry if i have touched any nerves.

Yet another reason for that extra box on the ballot form - 'None of the above'....

But it's that exact voter apathy that leads to a stagnent political system. Maybe we won't see any change in this election but if nobody attempts to change things, there never will be any change. If only the bankers vote, guess what, the bankers will allow themselves to get bonuses when they screw up. If only dumb rascists vote, then they country will end up being run by Nick Griffin. Our choices of candidates aren't brilliant but they could be a lot worse. We're not living in Iran or Zimbabwe or North Korea but we might as well be if you're going to voluntarily gag yourself.

All that evil needs to prevail is for good men to stand aside and let it happen... Or something like that.

If the country is really as bad as you think it us, it's because people have forgotten that they have a responsibility towards the country. It's our job as voting members of this society to not stand by and let it go down the toilet.

It doesn't matter who you vote for or even if you just walk into the polling booth and wipe you bum on the voting slip, as long as you are making the effort to be involved in the process, then you're making a stand for what you believe is right.

Mandrake wrote:Yet another reason for that extra box on the ballot form - 'None of the above'....

I completely agree. On condition that the election be nullified and re-run if 'None of the Above' gets more than a certain percentage of the overall vote. It would be a pointless task if NOTA won and its seat was handed to the runner up.

Pete

Sk8r St3v3 wrote:I apologise for saying this, but people who believe that this country has a chance to improve drastically, in our generation at least, are rather optimistic.

Firstly, if you believe in what you're saying, never apologise for it.

Secondly, you do realise there's generations after us yeah? It doesn't just end with us. I have a seven year old, and want only the best for him.
So if my vote doesn't fix MY generation, then i hope it does some good for him and all that's to come.

Not entirely sure what people with this opinion actually want to hear from politicians. Sad truth is if they told you everything you wanted to hear, you'd probably still think they were lieing and again, not bother to vote.

As Iain rightly pointed out earlier in the thread, people died for their right to vote, it's not something you should just dismiss lightly.

I couldn't look you in the eye and say that i agree with every aspect of a particular party's manifesto. I just know that the current party have a leader who was not elected to power, and is making one big c**k up of the whole thing. As such, i....as a citizen of this country.....want him to bu**er off. Seeemples.

Grimshaw wrote: I just know that the current party have a leader who was not elected to power.

Actually, we have to be a bit careful here - the way our electoral system works doesn't actually vote anybody into the position as prime minister. We (should) simply vote for our local candidate based on the policies that we believe will best serve our needs. Then, once all the votes are in and the seats are won, the prime ministerial position goes to the leader of the winning party. So, in essence, in 1997 the only people who elected Tony Blair to power were the people of Sedgewick, his constituency.

Now, I'm all for a complete overhaul to the electoral system (NOTA, Proportional Representation, etc.. let's have a look at all the options) but I really must disagree with Sk8r - I think the right to vote is incredibly important. As Grimshaw says, maybe not for this election (or the next or the next) but for future elections. We've already seen a big sway towards the Lib Dems after the TV debate - whether that will hold up over the next few weeks remains to be seen. But if more people start voting against the incumbent government then we will see changes in the mid/long term. Majorities will be cut, bills won't be passed, etc, etc...

Nothing will change overnight, or even in the term of one government, but we should never lose sight of the danger that apathy can bring (just look at the gains that the BNP have made recently for that very reason.)


Sean

pcwells wrote:

Mandrake wrote:Yet another reason for that extra box on the ballot form - 'None of the above'....

I completely agree. On condition that the election be nullified and re-run if 'None of the Above' gets more than a certain percentage of the overall vote. It would be a pointless task if NOTA won and its seat was handed to the runner up.

Pete

The basic idea would be to declare that ballot a non event and rearrange it so is unlikely to ever be tried out, however the watered down version wold just be a statistic showing the majority didn't like any of the candidiates and Bill Bloggs (or whoever!) got in by having the most votes of any candidate. Even if it were only a small percentage of the total vote.