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Milly Jones
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« Reply #45 on: 15:19:08, 03-05-2008 » |
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I have to agree with Richard on this. There is an expression "People get the Government they deserve" and I think if you haven't exercised your right to vote then it's no good complaining of the result.
If I did live in London, much as I quite enjoy watcing Boris on HIGNFU, I would have voted for Brian Paddick.
Yes but Anty, what it it is never going to be the government you deserve. What if you don't agree with any of them? My point is, do you just pick the one you think is the least objectionable? Great! Then if you voted for the party that was supposed to be for the people - you'd have voted for war in Iraq!!! Either that or its the fascists - or else the Lib Dems, which counts for nothing at all. Complete waste of time in my view. Milly, I have to totally disagree about a Lib Dem vote being a waste of time. We are discussing local elections here not national. The Lib Dem vote in Merthyr totally overthrew Labour (gaining 6 seats from having none before) with the help of 3 Independents being elected. Plus, certainly in Wales, the Independents are gaining more and more ground. Have a look at the Welsh stats for the Lib Dems and Independents and then say it's a waste of time. People are so tired of the same two parties slogging it out between them, it really is time for a change but if people can't be asked to vote then it won't ever happen will it? I think some countries have a law where it is compulsory to vote? With regard to local councils you seem to have a bit more action with the different parties where you live. Here they all seem either totally apathetic, make promises they have no intention of keeping - and some are just darn corrupt. As far as I'm concerned, they're all out to line their own pockets and little else. In this area we are gradually having everything taken away from us. Leisure facilities are demolished to make way for blocks of flats and more blocks of flats. Whenever a large old house is sold, it is demolished and a block of flats is built. There is a huge increase in council taxes received thereby - because where there was only one council tax for the house, there are at least six in the same band on that one plot. They never have any money though! They're hugely in debt in fact. How strange! We have just lost our local swimming baths for sure. This is a holiday resort for god's sake! I voted Lib Dems in the last election because the numpty who came to the door promised me faithfully that if he got on to the council he would personally address our sand problem, even if it mean him coming and clearing it himself with a wheelbarrow and shovel. All along here, including myself, voted him in and would you believe it? The grand total of zilch has been done. What a surprise. |
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We pass this way but once. This is not a rehearsal!
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Antheil
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« Reply #46 on: 16:18:16, 03-05-2008 » |
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I'm sorry Milly, if you don't agree with your local Council then vote them out or become a Councillor yourself.
If people can't be bothered to vote then that is a sad reflection on The Suffragrates who sufffered prison and death to get the vote for women, remember the Liberal Party Cat & Mouse Act?
Oh dear, no doubt I will now be thought of as a Feminist wearing Doc Martins and baggy jumpers ............
Oh, The Shame! The Horror!
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Reality, sa molesworth 2, is so sordid it makes me shudder
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Milly Jones
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« Reply #47 on: 16:25:09, 03-05-2008 » |
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I'm sorry Milly, if you don't agree with your local Council then vote them out or become a Councillor yourself.
If people can't be bothered to vote then that is a sad reflection on The Suffragrates who sufffered prison and death to get the vote for women, remember the Liberal Party Cat & Mouse Act?
Oh dear, no doubt I will now be thought of as a Feminist wearing Doc Martins and baggy jumpers ............
Oh, The Shame! The Horror!
Sorry Anty. That's absolutely ridiculous. "Vote them out or become a councillor yourself". I'm surprised at you! I did vote them out. I voted the others in. It didn't work. And how on earth could I possibly become a councillor when I have a child to look after full-time? What a silly, simplistic thing to say. The suffragettes did what they did, to give women a CHOICE. They had no choice before. They just weren't allowed to vote. Now they're allowed to vote or not as they please. I did vote. I was as disappointed as I've ever been and if I decide I don't want to vote next time then that's my prerogative. They're all just a load of lies and broken promises. |
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We pass this way but once. This is not a rehearsal!
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Mary Chambers
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« Reply #48 on: 16:35:54, 03-05-2008 » |
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Now, now, Milly, calm down  . I do understand anyone not wanting to vote at the moment - I would find it very hard to decide who to vote for if there were a general election now. I find it gets harder as you get older. It's easy to be idealistic when you're young, to think that this or that politician will change everything for the better, but eventually it dawns on you that it is ambition that fires most of the ones that get to the top. The true idealists probably get mown down before that. Nevertheless, I think one should always vote, for the reasons everyone else has given - and if you're a woman, somehow I think it's especially important, because it was so recently, really, that we won the right at considerable cost. Voting for the least awful is better than not voting at all. Spoiling a ballot paper? I've wondered about that, but it doesn't seem much different from not voting. |
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Milly Jones
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« Reply #49 on: 16:39:08, 03-05-2008 » |
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Now, now, Milly, calm down . Ohhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I am in the lotus position as I type!  Well ok if it will make everybody happy I'll just go in next time and spoil the ballot paper. As you say, surely that's the same as not voting? Perhaps merely putting in an appearance will suffice? I actually have better things to do with my time though. love and peace, Milly xxx |
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We pass this way but once. This is not a rehearsal!
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Antheil
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« Reply #50 on: 16:42:26, 03-05-2008 » |
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I'm sorry Milly, if you don't agree with your local Council then vote them out or become a Councillor yourself.
If people can't be bothered to vote then that is a sad reflection on The Suffragrates who sufffered prison and death to get the vote for women, remember the Liberal Party Cat & Mouse Act?
Oh dear, no doubt I will now be thought of as a Feminist wearing Doc Martins and baggy jumpers ............
Oh, The Shame! The Horror!
Sorry Anty. That's absolutely ridiculous. "Vote them out or become a councillor yourself". I'm surprised at you! I did vote them out. I voted the others in. It didn't work. And how on earth could I possibly become a councillor when I have a child to look after full-time? What a silly, simplistic thing to say. The suffragettes did what they did, to give women a CHOICE. They had no choice before. They just weren't allowed to vote. Now they're allowed to vote or not as they please. I did vote. I was as disappointed as I've ever been and if I decide I don't want to vote next time then that's my prerogative. They're all just a load of lies and broken promises. Oh, The Suffragettes gave women A CHOICE did they Milly? I rather think they gave them civil liberties and an equal footing with men not just simply A Choice. "Now they're allowed to vote or not as they please" you say. Ehh?  If they please? |
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Reality, sa molesworth 2, is so sordid it makes me shudder
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ariosto
Gender: 
Posts: 33
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« Reply #51 on: 16:43:25, 03-05-2008 » |
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Mary Chambers
Spoiling a ballot paper? I've wondered about that, but it doesn't seem much different from not voting. Well, I have to admit I did this for the first time on May 1st. I just could not bring myself to vote for any of them. It is better than not voting as the spoilt ballots all get counted. |
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Ariosto
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Milly Jones
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« Reply #52 on: 16:47:55, 03-05-2008 » |
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Yes. As they please. It's a democracy we live in with supposed freedom of speech and action. Nobody is going to dictate to me what I should do. I'm pleased that women have the vote and the choice of whether to do it or not. It should have always been that way. I appreciate that they tied themselves to railings and got trampled by racehorses for that very cause and I'm extremely grateful. Now I shall exercise my choices.
Anyway, I don't know what you're going on about because I told you what happened last time when I did vote. It's not as if I've never done it. I'm just totally disillusioned and brassed off with the whole palaver and feel that the less I have to do with it, the less I'm responsible for the ensuing debacle that erupts throughout.
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We pass this way but once. This is not a rehearsal!
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Mary Chambers
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« Reply #53 on: 16:48:36, 03-05-2008 » |
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Mary Chambers
Spoiling a ballot paper? I've wondered about that, but it doesn't seem much different from not voting. Well, I have to admit I did this for the first time on May 1st. I just could not bring myself to vote for any of them. It is better than not voting as the spoilt ballots all get counted. How does one spoil it? Could I draw little ballet dancers all over it as I used to do with my maths books? I'd probably get into less trouble than I did then. |
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Milly Jones
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« Reply #54 on: 16:50:04, 03-05-2008 » |
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I suppose you could just put Not Applicable in all of them? Or draw little ducks. |
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We pass this way but once. This is not a rehearsal!
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ariosto
Gender:
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« Reply #55 on: 16:54:39, 03-05-2008 » |
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I just wrote "crap" on the 3 ballot papers and put them in the box with a smile on me face. I notice they only use cardboard ballot boxes now, put together from a kit. Nice and easy to break into, but I must admit I didn't see Bliar, Brown or Boris hanging around ...
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Ariosto
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Mary Chambers
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« Reply #56 on: 17:01:39, 03-05-2008 » |
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I can see that spoiling ballot papers could be quite creative.
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Daniel
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« Reply #57 on: 17:54:51, 03-05-2008 » |
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I do believe strongly in using one's vote, and I do think that spoiling ballot papers is a very different thing from not voting.
If enough people did it, I think it would register a large sense of disillusionment/disgust that would contain an active message which would be hard to ignore along the lines of - I am so dissatisfied with the status quo that I have gone to the trouble of coming the polls to actively destroy my vote.
I think that would say much more than just not voting, which would be interpreted by most candidates/parties as passively accepting the situation as it is.
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Don Basilio
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« Reply #58 on: 18:06:05, 03-05-2008 » |
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Oh dear, no doubt I will now be thought of as a Feminist wearing Doc Martins and baggy jumpers ............
But I always thought you were, anty. Do you wear one of those black conical hats with a red shawl and long plaid dress instead? |
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To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance
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burning dog
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« Reply #59 on: 18:29:42, 03-05-2008 » |
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London had a full list of groups and candidates to vote for from Left List and the Greens to Neo Nazis as well as the three main parties. I;d have thought most could find someone to vote FOR. It's in the general election that I find it hard to be positive and can sympathise with people spoiling ballots.
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