The missing candidate...
Posted by: Mike Dudley on 01 March 2010
There's one candidate who'll be missing from the voting slips come May (or possibly sooner, if Boring Frown goes for it early). His/Her inclusion would save SO MANY spoilt ballots.
Who?
Why, "None Of The-Above", of course...
Who?
Why, "None Of The-Above", of course...
Posted on: 01 March 2010 by Bruce Woodhouse
Perhaps it is indicated by those who choose not to vote? One argument that we should not have compulsory voting maybe-although I can see both sides of that.
I suspect the next General Election turnout will be realy low.
Bruce
I suspect the next General Election turnout will be realy low.
Bruce
Posted on: 01 March 2010 by JWM
Well my 18yo is desperate to vote.
Not all of the young, or the British public, are apathetic.
The right for free and deomcratic elections for all adults, regardless of class, gender, education etc, is hard won. When you see the travesties that go on in other parts of the world, and that in places people are willing to risk violence and/or persecution against themselves or even death in order to vote, the British apathy is both shamful and pathetic.
And anyone who doesn't vote (within which I include making the effort to spoil a ballot paper) has no right to complain about what they get.
Not all of the young, or the British public, are apathetic.
The right for free and deomcratic elections for all adults, regardless of class, gender, education etc, is hard won. When you see the travesties that go on in other parts of the world, and that in places people are willing to risk violence and/or persecution against themselves or even death in order to vote, the British apathy is both shamful and pathetic.
And anyone who doesn't vote (within which I include making the effort to spoil a ballot paper) has no right to complain about what they get.
Posted on: 01 March 2010 by Bruce Woodhouse
I have no idea how turnout is split by age but a general dissatisfaction with the electoral system seems to be a trend.
2005 61.4
2001 59.4
1997 71.4
1992 77.7
1987 75.3
1983 72.7
1979 76
1974 Oct 72.8
1974 Feb 78.8
1970 72 7
1966 75.8
1964 77.1
1959 78.7
1955 76.8
1951 82.6
1950 83.9
1945 72.8
As for 'no vote:no voice' I think that is an oversimplification. My vote does not count for much where I live, in one of the safest seats in the UK. I vote in local elections and I have been involved at a local level with my MP and local politicians. I have contributed to the political process on issues of relevance or that feel important. If I chose not to vote in a GA I can still have a voice.
Bruce
2005 61.4
2001 59.4
1997 71.4
1992 77.7
1987 75.3
1983 72.7
1979 76
1974 Oct 72.8
1974 Feb 78.8
1970 72 7
1966 75.8
1964 77.1
1959 78.7
1955 76.8
1951 82.6
1950 83.9
1945 72.8
As for 'no vote:no voice' I think that is an oversimplification. My vote does not count for much where I live, in one of the safest seats in the UK. I vote in local elections and I have been involved at a local level with my MP and local politicians. I have contributed to the political process on issues of relevance or that feel important. If I chose not to vote in a GA I can still have a voice.
Bruce
Posted on: 02 March 2010 by Mike Dudley
Mucky stuff, politics. I watched the news on the BBC this morning and heard a reporter lie, or at best, be ambiguous.
She was outside number 10 and said that Loed Ashcroft "Doesn't pay his UK taxes"...
Given that he does pay taxes on his UK earnings as a non-domicile, pefectly legally and given that the BBC is pursuing this non-story avidly whilst giving not a breath of a mention about Labour Party donations of EXACTLY THE SAME nature, one might be inclined to ask - does the BBC have an agenda and who is pushing it?
She was outside number 10 and said that Loed Ashcroft "Doesn't pay his UK taxes"...
Given that he does pay taxes on his UK earnings as a non-domicile, pefectly legally and given that the BBC is pursuing this non-story avidly whilst giving not a breath of a mention about Labour Party donations of EXACTLY THE SAME nature, one might be inclined to ask - does the BBC have an agenda and who is pushing it?