Local Elections

[Ethan]

Actually, being ungoverned is not a bad option.

Belgium has barely been governed now since 2007, and they have been doing just fine.

No Government in the UK would have meant nobody destroying the NHS, imposing failing austerity on the ordinary people while continuing to reward their political allies.

Tell me the useful stuff the Govt has done recently.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

I am of the opinion that any person WANTING to be a politician, whether local or national, should automatically be debarred from doing so as they are obviously unsuitable for the position

Johnny Rotten For PM

 

[Doon frae Troon]

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.

Your last para was almost word for word what Farage said when questioned why the Keppers did so well.

 

[Ethan]

Your last para was almost word for word what Farage said when questioned why the Keppers did so well.

Really? Well, sadly it is true. The parties are dominated by professional career politicians who have a few fixed ideas about certain policies and are completely elastic according to political expediency on the others.

The Labour front bench these days could have been a Tory one from a generation ago, and the Tories are dominated by the Eton/Bullingdon crowd. They have gone so far off the rails that the uber-buffoon Boris Johnson is now considered a plausible leader!

However, I bet Farage didn't go on to say what I think UKIP stands for, though, which is a combination of small mindedness, racism and self-loathing directed out at others. Sort of like the Tea Party of the UK, although even less coherent in policy terms.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Isn't UKIP the political wing of The Daily Mail?

 

[wrighty1874]

Martin Mckenzie got my vote for Warwick North.

 

[SocketRocket]

I cant remember saying that.

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

If you would have said that I wouldn't have needed to ask the question.

 

[SocketRocket]

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.

So without Government we would have no laws, no one to stop people doing anything they want, including murder, theft, rape, etc. No one to stop someone taking all you have, including your house. How would food be put on the table if you didn't grow it your self. IMO this type of society cannot function with a population the size of the UK and would lead to anarchy and barbarism.

The Marxist left wing types that speak of such societies do not understand human behaviour or look at history and where such idealism has always failed.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

What is the old saying, something like 'Anarchy rules when good men do nothing'

 

[bobmac]

If you would have said that I wouldn't have needed to ask the question.

You should take more water with it

 

[Hobbit]

So without Government we would have no laws, no one to stop people doing anything they want, including murder, theft, rape, etc. No one to stop someone taking all you have, including your house. How would food be put on the table if you didn't grow it your self. IMO this type of society cannot function with a population the size of the UK and would lead to anarchy and barbarism.

The Marxist left wing types that speak of such societies do not understand human behaviour or look at history and where such idealism has always failed.

I'm pretty sure even you could name a number of countries in the world that don't have elected govts yet they have strict laws and no anarchy. Their political systems may not be to our liking but they do work. Alternatively, you could always walk through any number of dodgy areas in cities in the UK where you'll see the rule of law doesn't exist.

Different forms of govt, whether they be elected, dictatorships or ruled by a Royal family all have their pluses and minuses.

However, you seem to have missed my point. It doesn't seem to matter who we vote for, they all do what they want to do including make false promises in their manifesto...

 

[Sweep]

I have long held the belief that it should be law that anything put in a party manifesto must be carried out by the winning party. The manifesto is the basis of what we are asked to vote on. Not to enact the policies included in a manifesto is just lying to the electorate, the country and Parliament. This is a central part of democracy and it is just ignored. I am quite sure more people would vote if this was brought in.
There is simply no point in politicians whining about the lack of people voting if they ignore the wishes of the electorate and act like they are above the law. Politicians cannot expect people to blindly obey and head down to the ballot box. They have to play their part and start being honest with the public. Dump the spin doctors and start answering serious questions honestly.

 

[MegaSteve]

Local elections shouldn't have anything to do with 'party politics'... Sadly though they do which is [maybe] why more and more see them as a pointless exercise and don't make the the trip to the polling booths...

 

[SocketRocket]

You should take more water with it

At least I will be sober in the morning.

 

[Ethan]

One man's anarchy is another man's libertarianism.

 

[SocketRocket]

One man's anarchy is another man's libertarianism.

North Korea beckons you.

 

[Ethan]

North Korea beckons you.

Don't be silly.

 

[harpo_72]

What happens if there's nobody that you want to vote for?

There should be a Non-of-the-above box.........

Lets put it like this "annihilate all of the above" .... Would generally get my vote most of the time, I would even stand down in the que in the polling station to tick that box ...

 

[harpo_72]

I'm pretty sure even you could name a number of countries in the world that don't have elected govts yet they have strict laws and no anarchy. Their political systems may not be to our liking but they do work. Alternatively, you could always walk through any number of dodgy areas in cities in the UK where you'll see the rule of law doesn't exist.

Different forms of govt, whether they be elected, dictatorships or ruled by a Royal family all have their pluses and minuses.

However, you seem to have missed my point. It doesn't seem to matter who we vote for, they all do what they want to do including make false promises in their manifesto...

I think you'll find dictators generally do what they want, sometimes bad sometimes good.... But in the end it gets done and those that oppose it have to make life choices...
a democracy means nothing because no one agrees on anything and everyone has a valid opinion ... Hence nothing happens and we all are constantly changing direction and never getting to a destination.
whether it be left or right is irrelevant they fail on all levels sadly ... And you the voters are manipulated by Mr Murdoch and his media empire ...
God save the Queen !

 

[SocketRocket]

Don't be silly.

You started it.