Off Topic The Politics Thread
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Good post Ubes. Im sure no party %100 represents each individual voter. None certainly do for me. I disagree with a lot of what Labour does/doesnt do. I presume its the same with every party. Im sure all those who voted for the current lot didnt vote because they wanted higher taxes, lower standards of living, little to no help with the cost of living, lies, wasted billions etc etc (or maybe some did).
It's a fair question, Goldie, but any alternative is likely to be imperfect too, although may not be "as" imperfect and doesn't mean something else isn't worth a try.
But, for me, it's about changing the attitude of the electorate, which I think has actually shifted in recent years anyway. Whether this shift is part of a longer trend or not, I have no idea. I think the Brexit vote, attitudes to infringement on civil liberties over Covid-19 measures, immigration and all this gender-identity stuff transcends traditional voting boundaries to some extent. We are also seeing fewer of the younger generations taking up political party membership and instead preferring to campaign/protest on specific issues at a time. All encouraging stuff in my book.
My disquiet isn't really about Parliamentary regulation or systems, and certainly not MPs' pay. Although, having never really been a fan of PR, I might be tempted to give it a go sometime.
What I would like is for voters to reject the main parties and demand better. I'm an idealist, I know, so what I'd like is unrealistic and probably will never happen, but I'd like the electorate to stop voting for the 'least-worst', because that's what delivers the same old rubbish all the time. I've said a few time before on here that I'd like a 'none of the above' box on the ballot paper so people like me can exercise their right to vote AND to reject all of the slimy twats put before us. At the moment, and despite the main parties saying otherwise, voter apathy and low turnout generally helps maintain the status quo. That's why, together with FPTP, in 2019 we got the Conservatives with a huge majority when they only had 43.6% of the vote on a 67.3% turnout, i.e., 29.3% of those eligible to vote chose this government*.
As time goes on, I find myself more and more wanting greater local representation too. I'm warming to the idea of being able to elect (say) a mayor, or US-style DA, or your local NHS chief, or your local education chief etc. because the problems that are mounting need local solutions if the national government isn't going to fix things.
I'm still a fan of small government, so the above will seem a contradiction. But I think governments should take care of our armed forces, emergency services, health and education and pretty much stay out of the rest of our lives.
All of the above probably ill thought-out - I am supposed to be working after all - but there's a germ of an idea hidden in there somewhere. I accept, however, that there'll be some on here that would find such things horrific and prefer what we've got. Hey, that's democracy!
[*I hold my hands up. I voted Conservative in 2019 because of Brexit and (as it turned out unrealistic) fears of a Corbyn government. I can't see myself doing so ever again.]
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I'd probably settle for one that 10% represents me right now, but Screaming Lord Sutch is no more.
I know what youre saying. Party manifestos (as currently shown) mean **** all. Promises mean **** all.
Great post, Ubes. I'm sure a lot of people will be sympathetic. I think the reason the Tories got an 80 plus majority at the last election was those voting seeing the chaos in Parliament and court challenges over Brexit, wanted to get through the period of uncertainty to the other side. I'd say that has to a large extent been done, although there is the N Ireland issue to be dealt with.
But the problem with a government with such a huge majority, particularly one that has been in power for some time, is that arrogance and contempt and complacency can creep in among the leader and MP's of the governing party. That in part resulted in Partygate. On the whole, sleaze does not seem to have crept in, at least on a large scale so far. There were payments out to third parties during the pandemic but that was more in panic than in deceit - the current inquiry will determine that. But this is the time of this parliament when sleaze might raise its ugly head, and government must always be wary of that and accountable.
Personally, I would pay MP's more. I think it would encourage talented people. And I'd clamp down on expenses and taking jobs after periods in office. Above all, there must be transparency.
As to FPTP, it certainly doesn't encourage new parties to come to the fore. The German system may be closer to what you'd be interested in, although it does at times to coalition governments which can become deadlocked. I can't see a system around the world, that I could point to and say - let's adopt that. I think there is voter apathy, particularly among the young, who get stuff off their chest by using social media. I agree with you about the need to decentralise. If you ask the Scots or the Welsh whether they would give power back to Westminster, I doubt you'd get many takers. That was the idea of Brexit - have decision makers answerable to an electorate that was close to them. Regional England may now be ready for something similar.
We have a slightly different system up here for Scottish Parliament elections, and it's stopped the SNP getting majorities in at least the last two governments....
Scottish Parliamentary elections use the Additional Member System (AMS). Under this system, voters are given two votes: one for their constituency, which elects a single MSP by first-past-the-post; and one for their region.
The Parliaments democratically elected body comprisese of 129 MSPs elected under the additional member system: 73 MSPs represent individual geographical constituencies elected by the plurality (first-past-the-post) system, while a further 56 are returned as list members from eight additional member regions.
It isn't perfect, and I don't know how it would work on a national level for General Elections but it's definately a step away from FPTP.
I couldn't name you one person I know who'd like to give control back to Westminster, regardless of whether they are nationalists or unionists.
Plan to. Certainly won’t be looking for work, but possible that I’ll be asked to help out here and there, which I might do if it doesn’t take up too much time.
I'm still doing bits and pieces, but it's great - no pressure and I work when I feel like it.
My car needs a wash and polish.
£250 an hour pro rata. Your Cinquecento will take about 3 hours, I expect it’s really filthy. Nothing I can do about those stains on the seats though.
Done, but I expect you to be topless and to clean it with your tongue.
I was giving this some further thought as I dragged my green recycling bin the three miles to the end of the road where the council dustmen are prepared to contemplate emptying it...
Local council elections are no better than parliamentary elections. If your council is **** - and, let's face it, it will be - there isn't anything that'll help you change things. Whether its a red-, yellow- or blue-led administration nothing much changes. The inexorable chunder towards green policies continues unabated. Instead of local councillors representing different wards, I'd like to see them all turfed out and replaced by a mayor, council leader or "what's in a title?" who campaigns with a team comprising a deputy and names for a number of key roles within the administration. That way, there's a much better opportunity to clear out the whole sorry lot of the (pauses to look up an appropriate term) ****s and replace them with another team every (say) 4 years. That team could hire and fire their own administrative teams that run the bins, street lighting, grass cutting and prostitution services etc.
Such a (poorly thought-out) structure would give apolitical teams the opportunity to run for office alongside the usual Adolfs, Josefs, Benitos and Vlads of the tired old existing lot.
If you don't like them mid-term, there's always Serbian hitmen.
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Im certainly hated by the local Tory Councillers around here. They are ****ing useless and I have the greatest of pleasure in saying that on various local Facebook groups. Adding to that I like to also point out the vast amount of expenses they claim to perform such a **** job.
The only one who I have anything like respect for is the LibDem fella who I often see litter picking and did his best to sort out one of the pavements recently.
Until we get rid of party politics in local government, things will always stay the same around here……..put a blue rosette on a dog turd and the idiots around here would still vote it in.
For those on a variable tariff……has anyone else sent or phoned in their gas/electric meter readings today ?
I wasn’t gonna bother but as I’m due a bill on each in the next few weeks, it seemed a good thing to do.
I wasn’t gonna bother but as I’m due a bill on each in the next few weeks, it seemed a good thing to do.
I'll have a go. Enforce a zero tolerance policy of honesty. Increase their pay to a set level and then outlaw canvassing for private vested interests. Somehow get to vet independently the quality of our elected reps. There are far too many brain dead morons in there who nobody would trust to organise a piss up in a brewery and cannot argue their case.
It should not be about wearing the party's colours but rather their dedication and performance under the spotlight. The much derided Beast of Bolsover, Dennis Skinner is a shining example. Always first in to the chamber, always read the papers and never claimed any dodgy expenses. Many would not agree with his views and occasionally, how he expressed them but think how much better Parliament could be if there were 634 others with differing political views who had the same dedication to duty and their constituents as opposed to their paymasters.
When the doors open to Utopia I'll be the first in the queue to get in. Until then I'll settle for cloud cuckoo land.
My wife has. Is there something she needs to tell me about that very nice man in Staines?