Local Elections

[Doon frae Troon]

If HID votes for Party A and I don't vote and Party B (who I wouldn't have voted for anyway) get in, why does she have more right to complain than I do?

Just the basic logic.

I worked for 20 years as a local government office.
People would come into my office and totally slag off the party in power.
I would ask them if they voted in the last local election and was invariably told NO.
In my view if you chose to ignore the system you lose your right to discuss it.

 

[bigslice]

Just the basic logic.

I worked for 20 years as a local government office.
People would come into my office and totally slag off the party in power.
I would ask them if they voted in the last local election and was invariably told NO.
In my view if you chose to ignore the system you lose your right to discuss it.

a tad harsh, even though they didn't vote. the person elected is still their elected member.

 

[Hobbit]

Just the basic logic.

I worked for 20 years as a local government office.
People would come into my office and totally slag off the party in power.
I would ask them if they voted in the last local election and was invariably told NO.
In my view if you chose to ignore the system you lose your right to discuss it.

CHOOSING not to vote as a political statement is just as much a right as voting. The can't be bothered is probably more in line with with your thinking.

However, surely everyone who pays into society in one form or another has a right to moan about their society?

 

[Imurg]

Just the basic logic.

I worked for 20 years as a local government office.
People would come into my office and totally slag off the party in power.
I would ask them if they voted in the last local election and was invariably told NO.
In my view if you chose to ignore the system you lose your right to discuss it.

So voting for the Party that doesn't get in gives you more "power" than not voting at all....?
As I said in my first post on this thread - what if there's nobody standing that you feel you can legitimately vote for?
According to you I am to be cast out from Society and made to live in a field between Council boundaries because I can't bring myself to vote for any of the Self-Promoting, Egotistical, Megolomaniacs that want to become Local Politicians......

 

[MegaSteve]

Too many vote for the colour of the rosette rather than the person wearing it...

No wonder we are in deep doo dah ...

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

Too many vote for the colour of the rosette rather than the person wearing it...

No wonder we are in deep doo dah ...

I would argue that these days, it doesn't matter who the person representing you is, as a very high amount of politicians just toe the party line on the vast majority of issues.

 

[MegaSteve]

I would argue that these days, it doesn't matter who the person representing you is, as a very high amount of politicians just toe the party line on the vast majority of issues.

Exactly... Around here whoever is wearing a blue rosette gets in... Completely ignoring decent candidates who are, maybe. not wearing the right colour rosette or no rosette at all... Particularly galling at local elections where party politics should have way less value...

 

[In_The_Rough]

Yep wear a Red rosette in Chesterfield and you will nearly always get in. Libs got in for a couple of terms put that is only because there had been some wrongdoings in the local Labour party. Paul Holmes the Liberal MP was then implicated in the expenses scandale and shock horror it went back to Labour. Unless there is some sort of financial wrongdoing that comes to light Labour will be in for as long as I live. As my Dad says you could send a Donkey out to campaign with a Red flag stuck up it's rear end and it would get elected. Pathetic really.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

So voting for the Party that doesn't get in gives you more "power" than not voting at all....?
As I said in my first post on this thread - what if there's nobody standing that you feel you can legitimately vote for?
According to you I am to be cast out from Society and made to live in a field between Council boundaries because I can't bring myself to vote for any of the Self-Promoting, Egotistical, Megolomaniacs that want to become Local Politicians......

Only if you moan about your elected members or group.
If you do not moan [unlikely] then that's ok.
Otherwise.......start a party that everyone will vote for.
That is probably how your elected member started off.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Exactly... Around here whoever is wearing a blue rosette gets in... Completely ignoring decent candidates who are, maybe. not wearing the right colour rosette or no rosette at all... Particularly galling at local elections where party politics should have way less value...

Is that not a good reason for standing as, or supporting, an independent councilor.
Lots of poor excuses for not voting coming out now.
I haven't heard the 'I'm too busy' one yet though.

 

[Imurg]

Only if you moan about your elected members or group.
If you do not moan [unlikely] then that's ok.
Otherwise.......start a party that everyone will vote for.
That is probably how your elected member started off.

But neither of us voted for the Lizard that got in so if I hadn't voted and my bin wasn't collected or I found a pothole you're saying I have no right to complain.....?
And I have no intention of starting a party, living in prime Toryland unless you're a blue lizard you need not bother.
And my local representative joined the Tories at school so has been Blue for over 40 years.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

But neither of us voted for the Lizard that got in so if I hadn't voted and my bin wasn't collected or I found a pothole you're saying I have no right to complain.....?
And I have no intention of starting a party, living in prime Toryland unless you're a blue lizard you need not bother.
And my local representative joined the Tories at school so has been Blue for over 40 years.

How many other folk in your ward think like you.

A wee story.
My wife and daughter are English living in Scotland and SNP supporters.
I am a centre left social democrat [labour /liberal]
We walked down to the poll station to cast our votes and I changed my mind at the very last moment and voted SNP.
[I am not an Independent Scotland supporter but concluded that Scottish Labour were a bunch of numpties and the SNP were doing a half decent job of running the country.]

SNP candidate won the ward by one vote.
Every vote counts.

 

[Imurg]

Come and live in leafy Buckinghamshire.
The Tories are pushing ahead with HS2 that will rip the countryside to shreds
They'll still get in at every election.

What would you do if the 5 candidates put in front of you cannot convince you that any of them are capable of doing the job they are asking you to vote them into..?
Do you vote for the best of the bunch or do you simply not vote?
In any election, Golf Committee, Local/County Council, Police Commisioner or General, if the candidates don't convince me of their capabilities I'd rather not vote than stain the system voting for someone I don't believe in.

 

[SocketRocket]

I like the OZ system where you have a legal obligation to vote but there is a space on the paper where you can vote for none of the contenders. Being too lazy to vote is an abdication of your civil responsibility.

 

[Liverbirdie]

I don't believe in the party system, myself.

 

[bobmac]

Being too lazy to vote is an abdication of your civil responsibility.

If I was to vote it would be an informed decision.
I would examine the candidates and their policies and decide based on that research.
As I have no interest in politics or the people who want to be politicians, I would consider that a waste of time.
Therefor I exercise my right NOT to vote.

 

[SocketRocket]

If I was to vote it would be an informed decision.
I would examine the candidates and their policies and decide based on that research.
As I have no interest in politics or the people who want to be politicians, I would consider that a waste of time.
Therefor I exercise my right NOT to vote.

You could do that in Oz but you would have to register it on the voting paper.

You have a right to your opinion Bob but would you be contented if the state removed your right to decide who governed you. Someone has to do it, or would you suggest that we would be better ungoverned ?

 

[bobmac]

or would you suggest that we would be better ungoverned ?

I cant remember saying that.

I dont vote and I explained why
Nothing more to say really

 

[Ethan]

Bob is perfectly entitled not to vote.

I am against compulsory voting. There are many people whose understanding of politics is so uninformed or twisted and I am rather happy when they don't use their ignorance or prejudice to influence the choice of government.

There are also those, like Bob, who don't care or are disillusioned and don't vote. That is fine too, if more of a pity than the former group. The truth of politics these days, at least at the national level, is that all the politicians are the same Oxbridge PPE/Special Advisors/lobbyists who move into a career in politics as a prelude to a well paid directorship with some of the companies they have helped while politicians. Disillusionment with politics is a rational reaction.

 

[Hobbit]

would you suggest that we would be better ungoverned ?

Sorry for the cut and paste, hopefully not too out of context.

But are we governed, or are we dictated to? There's been no end of broken promises by successive govts, who only for them to go on to do their own thing under the guise of its best for the country.