General election
Posted by: TomK on 06 May 2015
We have a general election today yet there's barely been a word spoken about it. Why is this? And what does the team think about it?
Since you British from time to time comment on American politics let me return the favor with warmest regards:
An occasional dust-up aside, we really like you folks. Please don't do anything you will regret.
Cheers
Dear Clay,
Voted, and just to confuse the election analysts, I voted for one [main] party's candidate for MP, and another [main] party's for the local election.
I doubt either candidate will be the cause of regret!
I voted for the individuals quite as much as for the parties that they represent. I tend to disregard political promises made during election campaigns, or even details of this mistake or that sparkling bit of debating and look at the history in party terms.
Individuals whom one finds personable are good because one can have a discourse with them, and even have some effect on their decisions, and actions. Parties - as such - are political machines that take no notice at all of the individual.
ATB from George
....... just to confuse the election analysts, I voted for one [main] party's candidate for MP, and another [main] party's for the local election.
I will always vote for my prefered political party in a general election but not always the same party in county council elections, these I consider my preference for local issues & the individuals track record. In the very local town/parish elections I will always vote for a person with a proven track record & who I feel confident is able to follow through & deliver on my local issues, irrespective of political leanings
Clay, I am fearful that I will regret the outcome early tomorrow morning & that many more will grow into those same regrets over the next few years.
I think its important to vote, regardless of whether you are in a "safe" seat or not.
The case for change (or no change) can be supported by the distribution of actual votes. But if only 50% of the electorate turns out, then this sample is too small IMHO to be representative of the overall voting population.
How about since we have aminimum voting age (18), we introduce a maximum voting age, say 50 ?
I think its important to vote, regardless of whether you are in a "safe" seat or not.
The case for change (or no change) can be supported by the distribution of actual votes. But if only 50% of the electorate turns out, then this sample is too small IMHO to be representative of the overall voting population.
How about since we have aminimum voting age (18), we introduce a maximum voting age, say 50 ?
Not that a maximum age would happen, but I think I'm right in believing that if there were a cutoff at 50, the result would be very different indeed. From statistics I've read, pensioner turnout is comparatively high, and heavily weighted towards the Tories.
1) IQ
2) Social skills
3) Personal taxpayers only
4) Not a nutter
5) Whether you're a male
6) Whether you 'tweet'
My wife for the first time ever didn't vote Tory as in her words we never saw the guy in our town and who the hell is he anyway?
Mind you it will be somewhat of a miracle if the one Tory MP in Scotland holds on to his seat but you never know.
1) IQ
2) Social skills
3) Personal taxpayers only
4) Not a nutter
5) Whether you're a male
6) Whether you 'tweet'
Good idea ! especially option 1 - IQ
Only those with a First in Politics from either Oxford or Cambridge.
OOpps ! this seems to be in conflict with Option 4.
I think its important to vote, regardless of whether you are in a "safe" seat or not.
The case for change (or no change) can be supported by the distribution of actual votes. But if only 50% of the electorate turns out, then this sample is too small IMHO to be representative of the overall voting population.
How about since we have aminimum voting age (18), we introduce a maximum voting age, say 50 ?
Not that a maximum age would happen, but I think I'm right in believing that if there were a cutoff at 50, the result would be very different indeed. From statistics I've read, pensioner turnout is comparatively high, and heavily weighted towards the Tories.
I think you are right.
What does that say about older people ? and the Tories ?
1) IQ
2) Social skills
3) Personal taxpayers only
4) Not a nutter
5) Whether you're a male
6) Whether you 'tweet'
Good idea ! especially option 1 - IQ
Only those with a First in Politics from either Oxford or Cambridge.
OOpps ! this seems to be in conflict with Option 4.
...and Option 2.
G
1) IQ
2) Social skills
3) Personal taxpayers only
4) Not a nutter
5) Whether you're a male
6) Whether you 'tweet'
Good idea ! especially option 1 - IQ
Only those with a First in Politics from either Oxford or Cambridge.
OOpps ! this seems to be in conflict with Option 4.
Errr, Jamie's suggested criteria didn't actually specific whether the IQ should a minimum. It could be a maximum. The inane behaviour and utterances of some of our parliamentary candidates suggests that some selection processes might already have introduced a maximum IQ score and set the bar rather low!
I hardly think the SNP are 'far left'. Had you been to a WRP meeting in the late 70s you'd have seen what the far left looked like. The parties are all pretty centrist these days, but with critical differences around the size of the state and the level of redistribution. The next few days will be interesting!
Is that a vote for Citizen Smith of the Tooting Popular Front, HH?
The point about democratic votes is that these represent as far as possible the whole population, being clever or stupid, lesbian/gay or straight, black or white, male or female. Etc. ...
Of course any minority can object to another minority, but then it is no longer democracy ...
While there is a real case for preventing really stupid people from driving, there is no case to stop the really stupid being represented in an election. And for the really clever, most really stupid people do not vote ...
ATB from George
Unfortunately there wasn't a candidate from Screaming Lord Sutch's Raving Looney Party in my ward this time, so I voted for the one with the biggest boobs.
And for the really clever, most really stupid people do not vote ...
You mean Russell 'Wolfy' Brand?
I suspect that he will vote, but mine cancels one idiot out, fortunately!
ATB from George
Unfortunately there wasn't a candidate from Screaming Lord Sutch's Raving Looney Party in my ward this time, so I voted for the one with the biggest boobs.
We had a 'Cannabis is less Harmful than Alchohol' option on our ballot paper...
G
From statistics I've read, pensioner turnout is comparatively high, and heavily weighted towards the Tories.
I'd say that most pensioners, realising their (future) reliance on the NHS, will be casting their vote with the party they consider will best protect it from decline and from privatisation.
That's what I did 
We had a 'Cannabis is less Harmful than Alchohol' option on our ballot paper...
G
Crikey. No wonder the SNP is so popular in Scotland! 
Unfortunately there wasn't a candidate from Screaming Lord Sutch's Raving Looney Party in my ward this time, so I voted for the one with the biggest boobs.
Yeah... that's her, Jamie !
We had a 'Cannabis is less Harmful than Alchohol' option on our ballot paper...
G
Crikey. No wonder the SNP is so popular in Scotland!
'Alchohol is Less Harmful than Heroin' got my vote though.
G
The Yougov poll is different - according to Paddy Ashdown.
If the Exit Poll is accurate (Cons 316; Lab 239; SNP 58; Lib 10; DUP 8 etc) then another Con/Lib-Dem/DUP coalition seems likely. But it's very early days !!
And Nicola Sturgeon's dream will have come true - ie the ability to display a significant amount of vocalising from the safety of opposition. Able to demand "everything" for Scotland and hoping for "nothing", so that another referendum can be "justified" for the hard-done people north of the border.
In this respect, I hope that whoever forms our next government, looks at the whole of the UK with a view to improving the lives of all of us, within a much fairer and more just society. And for the avoidance of doubt that means England sharing the wealth of oil in the Weald and fracking gas in Cheshire with all of us in the form of a better health service, infrastructure and education.