lloyd
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The Potting Shed Elections 2009With so much talk about elections right now in the media, how would it be if I set up an election of major political parties in here, including a few marginals. Voting obviously would be anonymous, but we could all chip in where we chose ............whotcher reckon?
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Jacky
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 Didn't realise about election talks in the media
I can honestly say I have only ever voted once in my life:
Now some will be cross and say ' I should vote what ever as woman fought for woman to have this right. '
I (and this is my personal thoughts) have simplified leading the country to this:
I believe that which ever government is in, they all have a similar amount of money to spend, however one group take it from this pot and another group take it from a different pot and they spend it on all things we need but just have different priorities about how it should be spent.
So I feel that as long as I do not moan about what each group are doing. Then I am not being hypocritical. But also, I do not really understand what each group want from their spell as leaders, they all seem to change theirs minds half way through, moving away from their original manifests. 
I do not mind debating politics, in fact I find it fasinating, so if you think I am not really 'taking this seriously' or 'off my rocket' or 'maybe right' then please feel free to give me your thoughts 
Lloyd, I wanted to answer your question fully and not just say 'can't be arsed' 
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Kathy
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I'm like that too Jacky, don't read papers so didn't realise there were election talks.
None of them seem to really know what they're doing and go with what is going to lure the voters. All I see is more and more stealth taxes creeping in and more Big Brother tactics. I can't see that voting for one over the other is going to make much difference in the long run.
Sorry Lloyd, I don't debate well but will read with interest other people's thoughts. 
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Lizzie
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I *always* vote, but I understand why some people don't (my OH, for instance, has only ever voted once in his whole life, and that was for Thatcher  ).
In general and local elections, I tend to vote for the person rather than the party - we have an excellent MP here and I'd like him to stay as long as possible. His political party isn't the most important thing for me, it's more that he actually does what he says he's going to do when you take a problem to him, and he represents his constituents very well indeed. And he's a thoroughly nice bloke! In European elections, I vote Green - it does no good at all, but I like to register my opinion anyway 
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Libby
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what has got up my nose is the two policewoman who mind each others children being prosecuted!!!! I think this is ridiculous.
They are my children and if I say, wanted to job share with say Jacky and we minded each others children surely thats between us!!! 
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Jacky
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| Libby wrote: | what has got up my nose is the two policewoman who mind each others children being prosecuted!!!! I think this is ridiculous.
They are my children and if I say, wanted to job share with say Jacky and we minded each others children surely thats between us!!! |
This has also made me cross, two woman who have trained hard (with tax payers money) and have gone back to work, for themselves and family (but again not wasting the tax payers money) and made a good deal, not an easy deal, looking after someone elses child is not easy. So these two woman have had to work out rules and guidelines about how these children will be brought up/treated basically what is exceptable in language / table manners / sharing / TV watching etc. How the dickens did Ofstead get involved and more importantly why? This is not a 'reward', in my mind it is negated by the swap!
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Jacky
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Kathy, you are right about the extra taxes but honestly every government since government has started has taxed people and every King before them. How would we feel now about paying taxes for glass / windows 
Also Big Brother, as soon as birth / marriage / death certificates came about, we have been followed, that's why we can do our family trees.
However I do understand where you are coming from, but I don't mind really, as long as I am good, I have nothing to worry about
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Jacky
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Lizzie, what makes you want to vote? You don't have to answer but if I was sitting having cake and a cup of tea with you, I would still ask, so that I may understand. However I understand about the good MP, a very good reason for voting.
The poor old Green Party have had all there good ideas knicked over time
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lloyd
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Hm...Interesting responses. i won't bother with a forum elections then.
I also only vote if I can have faith in my local mp. We have an excellent one so will be voting for him. If Paddy Ashdown was standing for PM though, I'd vote for the man, not the politics. I think he's totally never been self-seeking, and have a lot of time for him.
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agapanthus
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Our mp is.....Gordon Brown!!!! 
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lloyd
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[quote="agapanthus"]Our mp is.....Gordon Brown!!!! [/quote]
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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nanny-now and forever
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i do vote and make as much of an informed decision as i can however i really don't understand politics and if i can vote green i do
all politicians are opposite sides of the same circle as far as i can see..they are all shysters .....
however i vote for the reason you said jackie, not having a go at you at all but we have that right and so many people in other countries don't...it is a democratic thing and i feel we should use it....
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Becki
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I have no idea about politics, I just don't understand it all. I vote because Mark says I have to and it makes my life easier. I try and make the best choice I can.
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Libby
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I do vote, you never know one day it might count
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Lizzie
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| Quote: | | Lizzie, what makes you want to vote? |
Because I'm bl**dy grateful to live in a society where I can - remember the first South African elections after aparteid? All those hundreds of thousands of people queueing at the polls for the very first time? Some of those people had lived almost their entire lives without being about to register their opinion and now that they could, they almost all did so. Thats' why - because I can and I feel a responsibility to do so.
I find the very low turnouts in our elections here in the UK to be one of the most depressing things about living here...
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Jacky
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| nanny-now and forever wrote: | | however i vote for the reason you said Jacky, not having a go at you at all but we have that right and so many people in other countries don't...it is a democratic thing and i feel we should use it.... |
I completely agree with why you vote, which is why I put that sentence in, so I wouldn't think you were 'having a go', I did suggest we all debate it
Perhaps I am 'lazy' and can't really be bothered about what each party wants/to give. The only reason (excuse) I can think of, my life was very difficult until I was 40 and trying to keep the politics correct at home, took all my energy ... but now life is so much more settled ... what is my excuse now
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Libby
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isn't there a country where its the law to vote??
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Becki
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I know I said Mark makes me, but I probably would anyway. His reasons are because of the people who died for this country so that we could have the freedom to vote. He is quite right and it is something I agree with.
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Cabbagepatch
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I vote because I am lucky enough to be able to although I do admit to the "really can't be arsed" times! Not sure I would be brave enough to chain myself to a fence or chuck myself under a horse to make a bold statement.
It seems to me that the majority of MPs spout forth whatever they think we the general public would like to hear and change their tune accordingly
So, I vote for our local LibDem MP who has been in seat for many years and is fantastic. If we contacted him tonight with a big problem, he would respond. And have a genuine interest.
General elections I vote either Green or Raving Mad Stupid Looney Party...
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sparhawkiw
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[quote="Lizzie"] my OH, for instance, has only ever voted once in his whole life, and that was for Thatcher ).
Lizzie, have you read your signature lately  ...
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Lizzie
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Harrumph
Libbiy, I *think* voting is compulsory in Australia....
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Libby
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if they made it compulsory here I wonder how that would change things???
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Jacky
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It would be interesting to see
Would people take more interest, would that mean more door knockers?
My front door hasn't been found yet however one of my neighbours is hoping to become our local MP 
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Libby
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would the BNP get in???
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nanny-now and forever
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| Libby wrote: | | would the BNP get in??? |
god i hope not......so far to the right they are out of sight....don't agree with them at all
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Libby
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I agree but if voting was compulsory?????????????????????
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Lizzie
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I think they'd be less likely to get in if everyone had to vote - amongst my friends and family, I'd say about 25% are voters but I don't know anyone who has any time at all for the BNP...thankfully...
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Kathy
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Just off to find out what BNP is.
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Lizzie
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British National Party, a nasty, racist bunch of thugs (in my opinion!).
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