The UK Elections

[Decyferon]

Well it has been announced that the General Election will take place on May 6th. Recieved my Poll card today in the post and have got to decide if I am gonna bother to vote or not. To be honest I have no faith in any of the parties, however I do feel that by not voting it is a waste of my right to vote.

 

Since being on 12oz I spend far too much time looking at American/International news and politics rather than UK politics.

 

I know most of you won't give a shit, considering it doesn't affect you as Americans, however I was wondering if any of the UK heads who may come into crossfire have any opinions on the forthcoming election.

 

I know for sure I wouldn't vote Conservative, but then I have no faith in Labour and I think Gordon Brown is a fucking idiot, but then a vote for the Liberal Democrats always seems like a waste of a vote.

 

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. No one seems to have any policies that seem to get my attention and it is all about taxation and economy, as far as I am concerned I pay enough tax as it is.

[christo-f]

If the Conservatives get in they'll cause a stink within the EU.

[Decyferon]

Not only will they cause a stink in the EU they will also end up fucking over the poorest people in the UK, it is what the tories do.

 

Am still undecided on what to do with my vote, if it wasn't a wasted vote I would vote for the Lib Dems, mainly because there tax proposals would greatly benefit me, but then they don't have enough support to be a realistic player, their only hope is if it is a hung parliment and some power share deal happens, but generally when that happens it means that other countries lose confidence in the country due to it being a split parliment.

 

The problem is I have no confidence in the promises made by the parties and that they will actually follow through on them, I wish there was some kind of legal recourse with politicians in that if they do not fulfil their election promises then they can be legally challenged.

[work yr soul]

this joke has been doing the rounds:

 

While walking down the street one day a "Member of Parliament" is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

 

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

 

'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter. 'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.'

 

'No problem, just let me in,' says the man.

 

'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.'

 

'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says the MP.

 

'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'

 

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course.. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him.

 

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.

 

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne.

 

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly & nice guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

 

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

 

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

 

'Now it's time to visit heaven.'

 

So, 24 hours pass with the MP joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing.. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

 

'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.'

 

The MP reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.'

 

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

 

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.

 

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above

 

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. 'I don't understand,' stammers the MP.. 'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.

 

What happened?'

 

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, 'Yesterday we were campaigning.. ..

 

 

Today you voted.'

[Decyferon]

thats a good one haha

 

I think there was a politician in my town today, whoever it was had a police escort of about 10 bikes and a couple of unmarked cars, seems a bit overkill to me

[work yr soul]

Am still undecided on what to do with my vote

 

unfortunately i live in a Tory stronghold, no joke they've had this seat since the 1950s or something.

 

i'll probably vote Green or deliberately spoil my paper in protest. it all feels like a huge waste of time though. you know half the country doesn't give a fuck either way.

[christo-f]

Yeah I'm not sure how I'll vote in this year's Australian elections either. I can't stand the conservatives, that leopard will have to change its spots before it gets a piece o' me. But Labor are being dicks as well, as usual and this net filter their resident god botherer wants to bring in is seriously out of control.

 

Probably Greens first then independents down the list so the big two are at the bottom.

 

...and WYS, props on the joke. Love it.

[Decyferon]

I'm in south wales so it is quite a strong Labour seat so I can't really imagine the tories taking it so I could probably vote Lib Dems

[christo-f]

Heh, I originally come from New South Wales...

[Decyferon]

oh I'm not welsh tho haha I just live here

[christo-f]

Did you watch the debate?

 

Am I correct in saying that you guys don't have them on the regular during election periods?

[work yr soul]

yeah that was the first one ever. although we do have 'Prime Minister's Questions' on telly once a month which is basically a live feed from Parliament (in other words loads of people shouting petty insults at each other for an hour or two)

 

i didn't watch the debate but apparently Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, killed it. this morning people are comparing him to Obama and shit. :eek:

 

also i've just caught wind of this Facebook group urging people to finally vote for the Lib Dems if they want to, instead of using their vote tactically on the lesser of two evils. its about time too.

[Decyferon]

Yea I caught some of the debate, not all of it though, it just got so tedious and predicatable.

 

Nick Clegg definitely came off a lot better than the other 2 from it though, some parts made me laugh it was Gordon Brown bickering with David Cameron, then the camera would pan onto Nick Clegg and he would say things like 'it doesn't matter what they say, it is the same thing the 2 parties arguing, it doesn't metter the policy it never gets delivered on'. It was like he was a narrator to a marriage counselling course.

 

But even with his claims to what the Lib Dems would do if they got in power, I just don't know if their figures matched up and if they realistically stood a chance of election.

[christo-f]

Yeah, debates usually hold little for actual policy, it's all about composure, good planning, quick thinking and charisma.

 

Surprised you guys hadn't had them before. And yeah, all Australian question time in parliament is all filmed and shown on late night TV. I used to watch it all the time when I was politically motivated and thought that any of that shit even mattered. Like watching a school fucking playground squabble. Utterly repugnant.

[Decyferon]

Yea I am quite surprised that we haven't had them before, but British politicians are generally so uncharismatic that they are painfully awkward on camera.

 

To be honest the only time I like seeing them on TV is on Newsnight with Jeremy Paxman hounding them to within an inch of their lives.

[sneak]

I vote Lib Dem, and was going to again this year. watching clegg kill it on the debate was pretty good too...

 

The election has become a big talking point where i work too....we've been visited by 2 out of the 3 major candidates for our area - Zac Goldsmith from the tories and Susan Kramer from lib dems. Goldsmith is a full blown, lieing, fake, posh boy, twat. words cant describe how much i dislike him.

 

Kramer on the other hand, well she remembered my name from the first time i met her, was really pleasant, asked me questions and what i thought..and for a bonus, after she left she dropped a twitter about the "warm welcome and great service" she recieved from me, earning major brownie points from the boss...

 

some flicks doing the rounds.

 

 

 

[christo-f]

When I finally make it back to Old Blighty if I'm not greeted at the airport by these guys, I'm going to France.

 

 

 

 

That last one with Cameron up thee made me think of Rik.

[i eat babies]

Gonna see whether Lib Dems can deliver a bit more substance before the election before voting for them. They obviously had it easier in the debate, they've never had a chance to fuck anything up!

If Clegg shows he's more than just the underdog who winged it on telly and did well then I'll be voting for them. If not it's a spoiled ballot as usual from me..

[Decyferon]

I have to agree with you on that one i eat babies, I am reading up on Lib Dems quite a bit and checking their local policies as well as national ones, they certainly do have some good ideas, I just hope they can deliver on them.

 

At the moment I would say they are gonna get my vote, but I want to see what they produce of substance, I want to know how they are planning on funding the rises in tax level to 10k and a few other issues.

 

Labour and the Tories have managed to fuck up things enough, why not let someone else have a chance of fucking it up haha My only issue is that if the Lib Dems take a lot of seats and we end up with a hung parliament and then nothing gets done for 4 years,

[sneak]

the issue is whether you use your vote on a national or local scale.

 

ie. national: do you vote anyone bar labour to get rid of brown...or concentrate on the issues your local area faces....

 

for me, the lib dems have made the part of town i live in much nicer since they came to power in the council, and i like what they are doing so my vote will go to them. so im voting locally...

[Decyferon]

see my issue is I live in a labour strong hold (south wales) this is why a vote for the lib dems is really a wasted vote, I know Labour do well here and the area is good and locally the labour MP is spot on, very individual and not so party line as most labour MPs kinda along the Tony Benn line of politician - so I have utmost respect for him, however on a national basis I can't stand labour and would like the Lib dems to take it

[sneak]

 

found this the other day...

[freakeenyc]

the only plus side to the dude is that he knows his math.dude can run a mean bizniz i bet..if im voting for a politician id vote for the dude with the law degree..

[Baron Von Counterculture]

[Waxaddict]

Voted Lib Dem last time, will again this year. Good to see them getting some coverage.

 

While I don't agree with all their policies, I agree with more than any other party by a long shot, and Clegg comes across quite well as seen in the debates so far.

 

The newspapers hate campaign against Clegg this week has been crazy. Rupert Murdoch owns almost all the papers in the UK and is supporting the Tories btw, so they publish what he says basically. A monopoly on the press, both here in the UK and over the pond.

 

The only paper bringing it all up is The Independant, who actually had the son of Rupert Murdoch barge into their office and go crazy at the editor-in-chief.

 

Some serious shit going on.

 

Hurrr : http://twitpic.com/1he6lp

 

The 'wasted vote' argument always gets me. Past elections, if everybody who would've voted Lib Dem but considered it a wasted vote actually voted Lib Dem, they could have been running the country, or at least in a much better position than they have been all these years. A vote is only wasted if it's not used. Hopefully with all the coverage and debates and with Clegg being in the limelight right now, people will reconsider and realise tactical voting isn't how it should be done.

 

Also, a hung parliament isn't the nightmare it's made out to be. Rather than have Labour back in the seat for 4 years, or the Tories and the 'old money' getting fat while the country declines, a partnership with the Lib Dems seems more appealing no? If anything it's a huge step forward. IMO a hung parliament is the next best thing to a Lib Dem win.

[sneak]

^good post...

i agree a lot, the hate campaign has been immense...the mail has completely gone off on a tangent abolut how Clegg is supposedly trying to hide his poshness yet they support Cameron? Fuck me...

 

anyhow, i still have my doubts that the lib dems will actually win this thing. scary thing is only 9million people voted last time round or something like that...out of 60...

[christo-f]

Swastika on Parliament.

 

Wow.

[sneak]

bumping this for tomorrow...

[sneak]

Tories seem to be ahead in most polls so far..then labour, then lib dem.

[Decyferon]

yea seems like the public has decided not to take a chance which is a shame, I just hope that the fucking Tories don't get in, I dont care if Labour win or the Lib Dems, just as long as it isnt the fucking tories, people have a fucking short memory, I grew up under Thatcher (she got in office when I was 1) and I remember how shitty the country was back then.

 

Just disappointing, the US election has hype behind it and actually gets peoples attentiojn, all we seem to have in this country is apathy.