Allotments 4 All
General => The Shed => Topic started by: PurpleHeather on April 15, 2010, 22:50:18
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I am not going to make any remarks about party politics because that is a matter of personal choice.
What I am going to say is
I feel very strongly about the fact that we, in our democratic society are very lax in using the freedom we have of the ballot box.
I agree that the choice is limited in the UK and that often there is little or nothing gained by most of us, no matter who 'gets in'.
I respect the fact that over the course of time a lot of people all over the world have fought for all of us to have THE RIGHT TO VOTE. many have lost their lives for it.
Out of respect for that. I always vote. To me it is no different from respecting those who died in wars.
The fight for democratic freedom we take too lightly.
OK, so you think that voting will make no difference to your life (and you are probably right)
I always vote and I ask those who say it is 'a waste of time' to make a mess of their ballot paper rather than not vote at all.
I feel sure if enough of us did that it would eventually expose to the parties that there is an area of voters they need to suit.
Personally, I think most people are just too lazy to bother to get off their btm and use the democratic right they are fortunate to have to get to a polling station . Most people just want to complain instead
Am I wrong?
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Am I wrong?
No.
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I agree I always vote and encourage others to do so .While I'm sure it makes absolutely no difference ........... :(
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If you don't vote then you have no right to moan!
Ninny
PS I only once spoiled my ballot paper on purpose and that was for the Euro MP elections and I'd like to know how many were spoiled, but they don't tell you that do they.
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There are millions of people throughout the world who would love to have the opportunity to vote for their chosen method of government.
As a woman I would feel very ungrateful to those who fought for my right to vote if I didn't use it.
Therefore I will be voting at the next election, even though I, like many others , often feel confused about which way TO vote!
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There was a decent bloke, an MP who had a column in the Daily Mirror, Joe Ashcroft was his name.
He once said something I wont forget. (In those days, you must remember, we did have industry and manufacture and council house tenants did not have the right to buy)
The Ordinary working man ( he would have included women if they were equal then) Confuses the political parties thus:-
At the General Election they vote Conservative to keep down Income tax
At the Local Elections they vote Labour to keep the council house rent down.
At the Union Elections they vote Communist to get the best wage deal.
Indeed we vote for what suits us personally at the time. Times have changed but personal values do not.
I always make it a point to vote too and get annoyed when people make excuses not to.
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I registered for a postal vote a few years ago. We do not miss any nowadays even if I am working away. Voting is far too important to ignore.
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Always vote, always will ;D
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I've been voting ever since Maggie got in the first time... don't think I've ever missed a local or National Election... equally I don't think I've ever actually elected anyone.... but it's very important to vote if only to make a "minority report" to prevent them thinking they have a "mandate"... :-\
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Some of us really value our vote: My mother is 87 and in hospital after suffering a stroke two weeks ago. She can barely move her right arm or leg or get out of bed and her speech is seriously affected. But when I asked her, a couple of days ago, whether she would like a postal vote, she said, loudly and clearly: "Yes, I do."
My eighteen-year-old daughter is equally proud of her franchise and it's fantastic to watch her researching the parties and making her choice. She became even more motivated when I told her what my mother once said to me, that her vote carried exactly the same power as Gordon Brown's vote, or David Cameron's.
We all have the power to elect a new government. What is sad is that some people seem to think they're powerless. It ain't true.
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PS I only once spoiled my ballot paper on purpose and that was for the Euro MP elections and I'd like to know how many were spoiled, but they don't tell you that do they.
Ninnyscrops
IIRC if you look at the official returns on your council website you will find the number of spoiled ballots provided by the returning officer.
OC
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I'm definitely in agreement with PurpleHeather et al. I realised that when my grandmother was born, she would not have had the expectation of being able to vote & it was such a sign of how women were treated as their husband's lesser in what was then, living memory. My mum votes the way my dad told her to vote and still does even though he's been dead 5 years. For me it's all tied up with equality and value and as someone said, if you don't vote, you can't complain.
I also signed up for postal voting when I was away a lot for work. The advantage now is that as soon as the postal votes are issued, I can get rid of all the canvassers by telling them they're too late, it's in the post!
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I think it is important to vote. But we are in a very very safe Tory seat so we get ignored. No signs, no canvassers, nothing. ::) ::) All we will get is a set of one page flyers delivered to every house.
Our MP lives about as far away in terms of travelling time from the constituency as he can get without falling into the sea, and hardly ever visits and if you write to him you get a rather simplistic or fatuous answer.
I do not think he fiddled his expenses I would like instead to see his time sheet so see just how long he actually works as an MP. From his website he has make all of 7 speeches in the house in the past six months.
I would just like to feel that my vote counted for something.
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" Don't vote it only encourages them" was a piece of graffitti on the side of a house in Leeds in the early '80's... so nothing new there then... :-X
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" Don't vote it only encourages them" was a piece of graffitti on the side of a house in Leeds in the early '80's... so nothing new there then... :-X
:D :D :D
We are marginal and there's been a big row about local housing so I got our current Conservative MP on the doorstep a couple of Saturdays ago.....so I think I'll vote Lib Dem ;D
Always vote, you might help someone get their deposit back ;)
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My local butchers permanently have political signs in the window.
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ciPwFNoQM4s/SpKNGhuP5QI/AAAAAAAADYw/CXpNgGizcxs/s320/Only+2+mps.jpg)
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How true LOL ;D
Nearly all of them have had their snouts in the trough.
With respect to the Pankhurst's I am afraid I can not vote for any of them.
A vote has to be for someone or something you believe it.
No one does my type of politics anymore >:(
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Watching 'Tweedledum and Tweedledee' last night and with the other puppy dog thrown in, It's bloody FIxeddddddddd, ;D
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There are millions of people throughout the world who would love to have the opportunity to vote for their chosen method of government.
As a woman I would feel very ungrateful to those who fought for my right to vote if I didn't use it.
Yes I agree. I always vote too and encourage others to do the same.
G x
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PS I only once spoiled my ballot paper on purpose and that was for the Euro MP elections and I'd like to know how many were spoiled, but they don't tell you that do they.
Ninnyscrops
IIRC if you look at the official returns on your council website you will find the number of spoiled ballots provided by the returning officer.
OC
Thank you for that, after a bit of navigation I found I was amongst the 12,002 spoiled slips out of 2,219,239 that voted, so a drop in the ocean way back in 2004, but at least I "turned out".
Ninny
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Thank you for that, after a bit of navigation I found I was amongst the 12,002 spoiled slips out of 2,219,239 that voted, so a drop in the ocean way back in 2004, but at least I "turned out".
Ninny
Glad to help - when we had the first London Mayor and Euros with different voting systems on the same day I seem to recall the numbers of genuinely spoiled ballot papers, as opposed to deliberately spoiled like yours, were high.
OC
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My vote goes to...
http://www.noneoftheaboveparty.org.uk/
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This is an interesting link but be careful to read the questions carefully as it is easy to answer them the wrong way round. The result was not what I expected.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/elections/party-matcher
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This is an interesting link but be careful to read the questions carefully as it is easy to answer them the wrong way round. The result was not what I expected.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/elections/party-matcher
75% Lib Dem
63% Labour
45% Tory
Good job I'm a member of the Lib Dems!
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This is an interesting link but be careful to read the questions carefully as it is easy to answer them the wrong way round. The result was not what I expected.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/elections/party-matcher
I got 71% Labour
71% Liberal Democrats
46% Conservative
I'm not confused though, I know who I'm voting for. :)
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A lot of those questions are quite ambiguous. My result came out as
59% Conservative
50% Labour
40% Liberal
I don't have much faith in any of them to be honest :-\
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I thought that but looking back if you choose the areas that you are most interested in on the first page (your 20 votes) they will ask you more questions on the areas that are of concern to you. My brother did it and got back the completely opposite of what he thought. He is going to do it again with more thought to his first page interests.
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55% labour
53% lib dem
49% tory
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80% Lib Dem
70% Labour
40% Conservative
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68% Lib Dem
65%Labour
51% Tory
I probably will vote Lib Dem as the Labour candidate won't have a chance now they've changed the boundaries. >:(
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my holiday has been re scheduled for that week but we are going to vote even if by post :-X
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??? How can I use 20 choices when there arre only 13 to pick from?
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I am sure who I will vote for, it's the current MP who is a good bloke and works hard, so that is why I am avoiding all the debates and contant bickering and pointless chatter about it
I was fed up 2 minutes after it was announced
marg
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??? How can I use 20 choices when there arre only 13 to pick from?
. Click + on the topics that matter to you until the counter reaches 20, it is shown on the upper right of the screen. Not that easy to understand but this then generates the next page which asks you more about the topics you are intersted in.
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75% Labour
58% Lib Dem
39% Conservative
I have signs in my garden in support of our Lib Dem candidate, but it is tactical as it is a straight race here between the Conservatives and Lib Dems.
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If Screaming Lord Such was around still, he would get my vote.
Bin all the out dated laws and start again with up dated ones. :-X
As far as todays pick of the bunch I am :-\
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well i'm :-\ as they all seem to p*ss in the same pot once there in.
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I think disenchantment with all politics is very sad.
I don't think the parties are all the same (although if you were to only listen to the televised debate the other day, you'd think so, as the Cameron and Brown both sounded the same. )
But in reality, I think the political philosophies of those two parties are very different, and that's reflected in how they govern and spend our money when they're elected.
I think inspite of how awful the stupid expenses scandal was, our politicians are not corrupt, when you compare them to politicians in many countries. I'm very anti-Tory myself, but I even respect people who stand for election as Tories, because at least they're doing something about the world we live in.
If you let people stand for parliament or council, some of them will be crap. That's the way it goes - same as some postmen are crap, some accountants are crap etc.
If we gave up on postmen and women no letters would be delivered, and in the same way, how would we manage without politicians? (well okay if there are anarchists on here, they might have an answer for that! ;D)
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Our present man is George Osborne. No one has been round canvassing & no fliers through the door so far. We haven't even been accosted when out shopping. Martin Bell used to be our man. The one time I regret not putting a bet on ;D.
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we're been canvassed by a chap that lives 2 counties away!! (essex) talk about 'keep it local, keep it real', eh?
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I did that quizz and am still awaiting the results.........Must be a busy time on the web.
My question to start with was based on my thoughts that many of the people in the UK are not aware that others, possibly their own ancesters gave their life and linberty to make sure that we all have a right to be part of the political decision making.
I am delighted to note that so many came back to say that they were. I realise that it is confusing and some think that it is too complicated.
All I ask is, if the politics are not suitable. Spoil the ballot paper.
DO make the effort to mark your ballot paper.
If you do not turn up and claim your right to vote it registers as 'I do not care, anything will do.'
If you do not like the politics available, your only alternative is to show it by turning up and spoiling that ballot paper.
If enough people did that, the media would pick up on it and it would change politics.
I just cannot believe that there are people without the intellect to realise this. We do not have the people on the ballot paper to choose from. We also have the option of 'none of these.'
Turn up please and put an X on the sheet given to you. Fold it amd place it in the box provided.
Personally I am torn. Do I give the Conservatives my vote
The Labour Party that nice chap from the Lib/Dams
Or do I stay at home?
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68% Liberal
64% Labour
44% Conservative
Interesting.
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PurpleHeather, you make an excellent point, but it's not just out of a debt of gratitude to our ancesters, we maintain a free and democratic society by holding the powers-that-be to account with our vote. What you say is right, we do change politics with our vote, and if we stop being bothered we'll lose that freedom.
But I wish more people would take an active interest in politics, particularly local politics. A lot of the decisions that affect our daily lives, for example, schools, roads, parking, allotments; they're governed locally, but our local politicians are not held to account by Paxman and Humphries and you'd be shocked at the tricks they get up to without that public scrutiny.
How many people have been to a council meeting to see what local democracy looks like in action?
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I am sure who I will vote for, it's the current MP who is a good bloke and works hard, so that is why I am avoiding all the debates and contant bickering and pointless chatter about it
I was fed up 2 minutes after it was announced
marg
Snap - but a different bloke!! Also hardly listening to the radio at the moment, its a reporters wet dream!
Also think Pigeonseed is spot on - they are all different, it's wading through the tripe to find the differences that is a chore!
Back on topic - Always voted, always will, and especially since postal votes were started it's meant I could work and not miss a vote!
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We have all been very good lately in keeping politics out of A4A and even this thread has been very neutral.
However, it would seem from the photo of David Cameron below that we are are taking adverts from political parties. Surely that goes against everything that has been done to keep A4A non political. Someone must have given permission for that advert. >:(
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We have all been very good lately in keeping politics out of A4A and even this thread has been very neutral.
However, it would seem from the photo of David Cameron below that we are are taking adverts from political parties. Surely that goes against everything that has been done to keep A4A non political. Someone must have given permission for that advert. >:(
use firefox internet browser, with 'add-blocker plus' = no adverts!! yay!
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... Surely that goes against everything that has been done to keep A4A non political. Someone must have given permission for that advert. >:(
Although I totally agree with you most advertising on web sites is content aware. That's why you get shed ads on threads about sheds, cannabis seeds ads on herb seeds threads and political ads on politcal threads (just seen one for the lib dems on this thread)...
In general you can opt out of certain categories but you dont get to approve individual ads before they appear
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Oh! He's been replaced by a shed now. ;D ;D ;D
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You might have a shed Pauline, I have Sarah sodding Palin in all her ignorant, repulsive, bigoted glory.
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Why do you get a different picture to me then Ollie? The shed was still there when I hit the reply to write this thread!
If I mention the words Tory, Conservative or political party, will that bring him back again or has he been sent packing for good? ;D ;D ;D
Nope, I am still getting sheds! LOL ;D
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Not being a member of any political party but having always voted, I find the complacent comments about not being bothered to vote pitiful, look what the suffragettes went through just to get the vote for women back in the 1900's, but my point is the SNP and Alex Salmond always bloody crowing about the part of the UK called England and ripping off Scotland always these digs about if Scotland went it alone how better off they would be, totally agree Alex I will be heading your way when it happens, :)
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I deliberately started this to be non political. It was to expose the fact that a lot of us are becoming so complacent with our political freedom. Some of us make silly remarks like
It is not my type of politics so I won't bother to vote.
Thankfully most responses have partially restored my faith in good sense and agreed that they too always make use of their democratic right.
Has any one noticed that when we read these manifestos that there are things missing?
The example I am keen on is the identity card. Personally I can not see any need for one if you have a passport (which you need to have to apply anyway). Fine for foreigners who want to live here to have one (it could clearly show their status of visitor, student or restricted worker) Europeans with the right to live and work here should not need one, should we?
Last election there was no mention that the pubs and clubs would not be allowed to let smokers have a place to enjoy a drink and a smoke. Now we have loads of them closing because smokers wont go to them and the non smokers who were going to use them if smoking was banned never ventured forth. Make nicotine illegal by all means if it is as bad as we are told, it should be. Simple enough surely. Why allow it to be sold at all? No need for anything else just ban the manufacture and sale.
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So do you vote for politics that don't suit you then PH ?
I presume your remark was aimed at me.
Just give your opinion on using your vote or not but cut the snide remarks please :P
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Have always voted and the spoiling the ballot - register your opposition has always been what I have implored the apathetic to do. My rather surprising results (not!) although I am worried I may be too Tory! ;D)
How you compare
* 1 Liberal Democrats 76% similarity
* 2 Labour Party 71% similarity
* 3 Conservative Party 45% similarity
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Well there's a surprise; you're more Tory than me Redclanger. ;D ;D ;D
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I know - the shame.... :-[
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I love the whole idea of voting and love when the candidates knock on the door especialy when it's the BNP yes last time they knocked on my door asking if they could count on my vote. Said it would help support White, English women like me. I of course smiled sweetly and told him to get knotted that I was not English and to take a eunning jump. :)
I have been a parish councilor (first woman elected into the council) and meet people like andrew landsley and others and in my youth was an active member of the student union and listened to Paul foot and other deep thinkers I love being able to impact my suroundings. More and more however I realise that the people we elect actualy don't impact our lifes as much as we think and that it's high level civil servants who weild the power pretty much like an episode of yes minister. Still not going to stop me voting as I want to ensure that at least we have the most compitant shower of idiots are at the head of the boat.
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I have always voted Labour in the past but I do not have much confidence in our Labour MP.
On the other hand, the Lib Dem candidate is someone I have had a lot of contact with over the past few years as she is one of our local councillors.
She will make an excellent MP if she gets in but she needs to overturn the majority of around 7,000 that the current Labour MP got last time.
So I'm voting for the person rather than the party this time.
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Would you vote for the 'Independent motorist party' I would, I have not heard one bl--d- politician speak up for the vast majority of the population the motorist, :)
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Oh! He's been replaced by a shed now.
;D ;D ;D
Wonderful quote Paulines7!
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I am really glad that I posted the link for everyone to checkout their political stance. The results have been very interesting.
The irony is that although I am still a British National and therefore entitled to vote I think it would be wrong as I do not live there and pay my taxes etc here in in France.
As a resident here we are allowed to vote in the EU elections ??? and the local mayoral elections. Our mayor basically runs what goes on day-to-day. We voted for the candidate we knew, the sitting mayor, it is great because we can choose the best person to run our commune.
Happy St. George's Day.
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Hmmm... does it matter who you vote for, it's all the same team in different shirts.
I've never voted as I believe it would change nothing, except a different (or same) bunch of piggies at the trough in what must be the ultimate in non-jobs. Who do MP's really represent except for themselves?
Do you think that suffragettes and those who have died fighting for our right to vote would be satisfied by the current cash for questions, cash for honours, illegal wars, expenses scandals, rich/poor gap, chavs running riot.... etc etc etc.
Just my opinion of course!
Jon
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I started the thread and feel responsible for where it goes. Whilst as you all have taken on board the sentiment of the ideal rather than the ideology that it was not to promote any political party and indeed I am proud of most of you for the intelligent responses.
I am getting into a bit of an argument with OH here. We both recall a general election years ago where the liberals were miles ahead in the polls but seem to come second in most seats so ended up in third place. Obviously one of the others Lab Con got in. Yet neither of us can recall which Liberal leader it was or who seemed popular at the time.
From what a lot of polls indicate, we could get what is called a hung parliament and the media bosses don't like that. (are they in charge?) Yet a lot of healthy democracies manage very well with a coalition. It is the nature of the beast surely that a cross section of beliefs should offer a variety of thoughts and that the best idea should be used rather than the biggest bully wins.
Personally I would like to see a fair representation of all where the politicians have to agree rather than an overwhelming majority of one lot where we end up with a lot of rules and laws, most of us disike.
There are good points and bad points on all sides.
As a Victorian Nanny would say.....To all the parties...You lot want your heads bashing together.
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@Jonny - I find it a bit frustrating when people say they're all the same... If you think that, you haven't put much effort into finding out about their different ideologies and different "solutions". I understand the complacency but it is nothing more than laziness. It may be a case of the best from a bad bunch (personally I don't think that's true but I respect the fact that some people think that way), but even then this election will have a huge impact on the way we live for a long time.
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jonni221 and betula
Stop making excuses.
Look at it as it is and get down the the pollinmg station and register a vote..
You are both the people who complain most about what happens yet sit on your btms and do nothing.
Waste of space.
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I posted my vote yeaterday :-X
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We have already sent off our postal votes, it gives me the right to moan for the next five years, ;D
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Did the yahoo quiz thingy and ended up with near identical scores for all three parties. Well that clears up the confusion then ;D
We have national and local elections next week, don't know if everyone does or if that's just us. Can't remember from previous years. Anyhoo, we haven't seen anyone round here at all apart from one of the local green councillors. No-one bothers week to week, month to month apart from the greens. I know they only manage low level stuff, like getting a few potholes filled in or whatever, but at least they live round here and care enough to go see people. Oh apart from the woman who I'm convinced must have been out canvassing for the 'parcel force knock and run' party last week. By the time we got off the sofa, she was half way back down the path! Very dedicated.
Nationally I haven't got a clue, although I will admit to not having done my research very well. Am fairly aware that the media take their own stance on these things so trying not to just look at the papers. You'll always get a skewed perspective.
I'll always turn out an vote, not just because I'm aware how much others went through to force votes for women, but also because there are a few parties who I do NOT want in around our area. Not going to start arguing parties as that's not the point of this, but there are a lot I'd rather see in than some. As has been said a few times, if you don't register an opinion then you can't complain about what you get.
Happy voting all :-*
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A couple of years before I could actually vote I ended up having a discussion with my grandmother, then aged 87, regarding voting. At the time I didn't see any point in voting and saw it more of a nuisance than anything.
Oh,boy! Oh, boy, oh boy, oh boy did I say the wrong thing!!!!! Up until this point of my life I had always known my grandmother as a quiet, unassuming, delicately-built lady (four foot eleven tall, size eight clothes) who doled out copious amounts of sweets etc. Until she did a Mount Vesuvius on me.!!!!
I'll forget her stood toe to toe with me, barely reaching my nose, forcefully waving a finger at me, whilst delivering a fifteen minute lecture on why I should vote and be grateful for the opportunity to vote and how she had had to fight for the right to vote and how not voting was to throw all her and all the other suggragettes hard work back at them!!!
I hadn't even known grandma had been involved in the suffragetter movement, even to the point of chaining herself to railings and getting arrested etc. etc.
Ever since I have always made sure I've voted, regardless of whether it's local, national or european elections. I only regret that grandma died before I was able to vote for the first time because, by gads, her lecture made quite an impact on me. I'm now pushing forty and find myself in an almost similiar situation with my niece so the next couple of years could prove interesting.
CC
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jonni221 and betula
Look at it as it is and get down the the pollinmg station and register a vote..
You are both the people who complain most about what happens yet sit on your btms and do nothing.
Waste of space.
Have we met? No don't think so but thanks for the analysis.
Yes we could find out what the parties represent throught their manifestos etc, but promises are easily made and broken. Labour now say they'll keep childcare vouchers which is a u-turn but I bet the scheme will still be scrapped at some point once the election has passed.
In fact just downloaded and browsed the Labour and Tory manifesto's and guess what... pretty much the same main points, create a green economy, increase lending to small businesses, new banking regulations, new high speed rail lines and more equpiment for the army (but still keeping out nuclear detterent).
So the two main parties have the same objectives, to win the election and keep their nice jobs. This is what makes me cynical of the whole process.
Jon
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@ Jonny. I have blisters on my feet and am 2 weeks behind on my coursework because I want to see an end to Labservative... You do have a choice!
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Hasn't Screaming Lord Such passed on though?
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jonni221 and betula
Stop making excuses.
Look at it as it is and get down the the polling station and register a vote..
You are both the people who complain most about what happens yet sit on your btms and do nothing.
Waste of space.
I don't vote for politics I don't believe in.
And no I am not wasting my time by going to spoil a ballot paper.
I do not have to explain myself to the likes of you but for the record I have spent many years working on behalf of the Labour party......the real Labour party that is not the pretend one.
Some people vote without the slightest idea of what they are voting for and I am not one of them.
So I would consider you a waste of space too. :P :P :P