I said that I would take my time about starting a debate on this new blog of mine (well, my first ever!), but temptation has got the better of me. The impending General Election seemed too hot a topic to ignore. When I discuss it with people, I find a mixed sense of cynicism and apathy, and have to say that I share that feeling to some extent. However, if we let our understandable distrust of politicians and the political system lead to abstaining from voting, then I believe we put democracy at some risk. Remember also that there is one political party that would like to abolish elections altogether - even though they are coy about saying so.
So, here goes: I shall vote on May 6 - without much enthusiasm, but I still give three cheers for democracy.
What do others think? All contributions welcome.
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Within and throughout the many years that I have lived in the UK, through the hard times in the late 80's, when I lived in a tiny flat, surviving on chicken paste sandwiches and oranges juice, to the late 90's, when I bought my first home and then later divorced and made a nice profit on that home. I continued to create children and introduce them into good schools, while also finding good higher education for myself. In all this time, I have never once voted, I have no respect for any such MP’s
ReplyDeleteNor have I ever been interested in this countries government, it really has had no influence on my life at all.
I think there is a moral imperative for us to vote, being mindful of the many battles fought and lives lost over the centuries to secure this basic human right which isn't enjoyed in every country. Like Geoff though, I'm not inspired and the constant 24/7 coverage on radio and TV is starting to wear me down!
ReplyDeleteI'll be going for Lib Dem. I know this is a 'heart-not-head' decision and Vince Cable whilst having some sound points to make, scares me but let's give someone else a chance to f**k things up for a change!
I agree with Clive. No matter how dire individual politicians, parties, or policies may be, we must be glad that we have the freedom to have a say. Unfortunately though the first past the post system does not accurately reflect the wishes of the people.
ReplyDeleteWell, I think it's easy to leave politics alone, but politics will not return the favour. Jay rightly referred to hard times in the 1980s. These were largely the result of Mrs Thatcher's deliberate attacks on trade unions and organised working people, even if that meant destroying our manufacturing base, wiping out whole industries and throwing millions onto the dole. I know personally: after lengthy spells on the dole myself, I managed to get a job with the DHSS in Liverpool and began dealing first-hand with Thatcher's cast-offs. Political decisions drastically affecting ordinary people's lives in the 80s.
ReplyDeleteThe amount the war in Afghanistan will cost us over the next year will be roughly the same as the amount being cut from the NHS budget - a political decision, worth remembering if the health service can’t help you as you’d like in future. At a time when our finances are in a mess, the Government plans to replace our Trident nuclear weapons at the cost of approximately £100,000 million - a political decision. And don't forget: this is our money, not theirs. This decision will require increases in taxes and drastic public service cuts - political decisions that directly affect everyone. This is true even if you don’t give a toss about politics, and affects everyone who works for or uses public services, which is all of us at one time or another.
The enthusiasm that greeted ‘New’ Labour's landslide election victory in 1997 shows that most people do care about politics, although 'New' Labour has squandered that good will. Labour promised something different from Tory sleaze, but recent events concerning expenses shows that some politicians in all parties didn’t learn the lessons from that time. Most people are not apathetic about politics (well some are, but that's always been so), but rather feel betrayed. Let's not fall into the politicians' trap of confusing the two terms. But also, let’s not fall into the trap of following the media’s lead of tarring all politicians with the same corrupt brush – most MP’s and peers didn’t fiddle their expenses, but enough did to make it a major scandal.
I shall vote, because people fought and died for many generations for our right to vote, and it will be Labour, although if the Greens were standing locally, I'd put my vote their way instead. If I really didn't want to vote for any of the candidates, I'd spoil my paper, because then the politicians couldn't label me as apathetic.
If I were standing, I’d advocate proportional representation, an elected House of Lords (with a new name), an elected President, scrap nuclear weapons, no more invasions (no one appointed us the world’s police force - that’s the UN’s job), and investing the money saved directly in the British people’s health and welfare, including in the long term, which means we’d have to look at environmental sustainability as a priority. Limit public and private top salaries (by taxation if necessary), ban bonuses paid for by the taxpayer and impose high taxes on the rest, bring in compulsory codes and regulation for businesses and the financial sector, with prison terms for in extreme cases for those who break the rules.
I can’t see many parties putting forward anything like this programme, which is why I’ll vote with little enthusiasm.
One opinion poll places the LibDems in first place. Should we take this seriously, or is it a flash in the pan?
ReplyDeleteIt should be taken as a serious indication that we may end up with a hung parliament, but not that we are likely to have a LibDem government.
ReplyDeleteI do not think we should scrap Nuclear Weapons at a time when Iran is aquiring them. I like to feel safe !
ReplyDeleteSo do I ~ that's why I want them scrapped.
ReplyDeleteI shall vote ith a sense of foreboding on May 6th. This afternoon, our Head told us that the LEA which employs us is set to make a 20% cut in services - whichever political party is returned to power. Whoever is the next PM, he will preside over massive public spending cuts. We public sector workers will be turkeys voting for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteThe whole system is currently a complete debacle. Nothing inspires me with any confidence.The volcanoe effect has created havoc with the economy which was already in tatters however the good news for Brown is that he has an excuse in that the wild spending may have worked if the volcano hadn't erupted!!! well you know!?
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