Davegtst
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 08:34 AM |
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Why vote today in the local elections?
Can someone give me a brief rundown of how our political system works please. I went to vote today and there were only 5 parties on the ballot paper,
2 I had never heard of before so I spoiled my paper.
In laymans terms how do local elections ultimately affect which party is in government?
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MakeEverything
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 08:49 AM |
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It doesnt really matter. Theyre all full of S.h.i.t.e
Kindest Regards,
Richard.
...You can make it foolProof, but youll never make it Idiot Proof!...
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plentywahalla
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 08:50 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Davegtst
In laymans terms how do local elections ultimately affect which party is in government?
They have no effect at all on which party is in national government.
But local government has more influence on your daily life, schools, police, rubbish disposal, planning, roads, social services, parks, trading
standards etc.
If you want to know who the candidates are and what they stand for do some research. A spoilt vote is no vote at all.
Rules are for the guidance of wise men ... and the obedience of fools. (anon)
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Davegtst
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 09:04 AM |
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I know a spoiled vote is no vote but i'm not going to vote for a party that I don't agree with or one that i've never even heard of.
The party I wanted to vote for wasn't even on the paper. Seemed like a ghost town outside the polling station, I guess no one is really
bothered.
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nick205
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 09:08 AM |
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As above, local elections are just that, a vote for who and how your area is run. Certainly in our area, the candidates are quite visible and
there's plenty of PR on their policies and direction. It still takes some research though if you want to make a really informed vote.
I believe spoiled votes are counted as such and in some way may register as discontent. Ultimately (again as above) a spoiled vote is no better than
not voting at all....even if you vote based on a single policy!
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nick205
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 09:10 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Davegtst
I know a spoiled vote is no vote but i'm not going to vote for a party that I don't agree with or one that i've never even heard of.
The party I wanted to vote for wasn't even on the paper. Seemed like a ghost town outside the polling station, I guess no one is really
bothered.
I suspect more and more people are using the postal vote system. They send you a ballot paper, you complete and post back. Ideal if it's not
practical for you to attend the polling station and should help increase the number of voters by making it easier.
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Not Anumber
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 09:35 AM |
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You shouldn't give up your democratic right to vote- or duck the responsibility. If you aren't interested in party politics and cant
see the party you want on the ballot paper then go for tactical voting every time.
Look at the bunch that are running your local council; are they doing a passable job or could they do better ? If you think it's time for a
change then just vote for the party who are the next strongest locally, irrespective of whether you support them or not.
Round this way the Tories have dominated the local authority for decades. Most are actually agreed they aren't doing a bad job locally but I
just don't think local councillors should be there for life as they all tend to lose touch with reality over time, lose their ability to think
outside the box and become institutionalised whatever their stance and politics. Labour would be my personal choice but as they dont get a large
share of the local vote I will put a cross in the box for a Liberal, Independent or UKip candidate if that's the best way of chipping away at
the Conservatives local majority.
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scudderfish
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 09:43 AM |
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If you don't vote, you have no moral right to complain about the government you are given by everyone who did vote.
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MK9R
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 09:54 AM |
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Our local councillor is a total tool, only in it for personal gain. I am voting purely to try and get him out. Its got to be tactical like post above.
Cheers Austen
RGB car number 9
www.austengreenway.co.uk
www.automatedtechnologygroup.co.uk
www.trackace.co.uk
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MakeEverything
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 10:06 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by scudderfish
If you don't vote, you have no moral right to complain about the government you are given by everyone who did vote.
hahahaha, you mentioned "Moral" and "Government" in the same sentence....  
Kindest Regards,
Richard.
...You can make it foolProof, but youll never make it Idiot Proof!...
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nick205
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 10:32 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by MakeEverything
quote:
Originally posted by scudderfish
If you don't vote, you have no moral right to complain about the government you are given by everyone who did vote.
hahahaha, you mentioned "Moral" and "Government" in the same sentence....
Reminds me of one of my favourite bumper stickers...
"Don't steal, the government doesn't like competition"
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BenB
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 11:03 AM |
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Our local counsellors are totally useless and ignore the wishes of the constituents who voted them in. I'm thinking of standing in the next
elections...
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RK
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 11:08 AM |
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This is apparently universal. I even think Herman Melville had something to say about them in one of his books. However, I believe voting is
necessary, if only to allow one to complain to one's heart's content once the leeches get in. Do you want a dictatorship? Wait, we have on
in Canada now!
BTW Ben, I think you should go for it. I have even thought of it myself, but don't know where I would get the time to work on my cars if I did.
Also, it is a lot of time spent being excessively polite. That's a lot of work.
[Edited on 2/5/13 by RK]
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onenastyviper
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 11:36 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by RK
This is apparently universal. I even think Herman Melville had something to say about them in one of his books. However, I believe voting is
necessary, if only to allow one to complain to one's heart's content once the leeches get in. Do you want a dictatorship? Wait, we have on
in Canada now!
BTW Ben, I think you should go for it. I have even thought of it myself, but don't know where I would get the time to work on my cars if I did.
Also, it is a lot of time spent being excessively polite. That's a lot of work.
[Edited on 2/5/13 by RK]
Hmmm, isn't it funny that there are no true democracies.
Fundamentally, there are two classes of people: the Rulers and the Ruled.
A vote is purely an illusion inflicted whereby the Ruled believe that they have the opportunity to change events by voting in a new series of
Rulers.
The average person only has basic needs - roof over their heads, hot/cold running water, clean toilets, safe working environment etc etc.
What does it matter what colour the badge of the Ruler, in fact what would be wrong with a dictatorship if the populus got what they wanted and their
needs catered for, would people complain?
The problem is that politics is corrupt and it continues to corrupt. It relies and feeds of the fears of the populus rather than acting to support
them.
"If I knew what I was doing then it wouldn't be called research would it?...duh!"
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v8kid
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 12:23 PM |
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Crikey you lot must have had some bad experiences!
When I've been to ask my local councellors for help they have been excellent. I had problems with a vindictive neighbour objecting to planning
permission and my councellor lobbied the planning committee on my behalf - sucessfully.
Also with the school band the councellors in the school catchment area got a load of silly regulations "overlooked" when our fund raising
efferts were stymied.
Further when my handicapped daughter was getting the runaround from the housing dept local councellor intervention got social services to fill the
forms in a day after fannying about for months.
Works for me - I guess you must get a few bad apples but I never met them.
Perhaps you guys are not asking correctly?
Cheers!
You'd be surprised how quickly the sales people at B&Q try and assist you after ignoring you for the past 15 minutes when you try and start a
chainsaw
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splitrivet
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 01:07 PM |
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Our local parish independant is a great guy. We live on a private road with 4 houses on one side, the guy who lives on the main road opposite whose
back garden runs down our road put planning permission in to build a house effectively on the road we own and have to pay for.
He fought it tooth and nail when it went to district council and it got rejected.
Sadly 12 months later he managed to bypass parish and got it passed (we suspect with a backhander).
Cheers,
Bob
I used to be a Werewolf but I'm alright nowwoooooooooooooo
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 01:24 PM |
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There was a local election?
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 03:07 PM |
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Is, not was - they're open until 10:00pm! This is if you're in the areas where elections are being held, of course - not all local seats
are up for renewal on each occasion.
The candidate I've just put my "X" next to is someone I know very well, as he lives in my village. He hasn't been a
councillor before but I know he has a good character, is very intelligent and is not the sort of person to be trampled by bullies (he's an
ex-surgeon from the NHS, so has lots of practice in being political!). I am quite certain that he would be an asset on the council.
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mark chandler
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| posted on 2/5/13 at 04:50 PM |
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I've always voted, millions of people have died to give us this right.
As usual it was a pleasant experience, no-one with an AK47 by the door or assisting me with my ballot paper, I really do not understand those who
cannot be bothered its insulting.
Does it make a difference, yes it does even if you do not feel it directly as they influence outcomes and understand local needs far more than
national government.
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v8kid
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| posted on 3/5/13 at 07:26 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mark chandler
As usual it was a pleasant experience, no-one with an AK47 by the door or assisting me with my ballot paper, .
says it all
Cheers!
You'd be surprised how quickly the sales people at B&Q try and assist you after ignoring you for the past 15 minutes when you try and start a
chainsaw
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onenastyviper
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| posted on 3/5/13 at 09:08 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by mark chandler
I've always voted, millions of people have died to give us this right.
As usual it was a pleasant experience, no-one with an AK47 by the door or assisting me with my ballot paper, I really do not understand those who
cannot be bothered its insulting.
Does it make a difference, yes it does even if you do not feel it directly as they influence outcomes and understand local needs far more than
national government.
Unfortunately, millions of people died believing that they were giving us the right - based upon instructions given to them by unelected officials
under political guidance from a ruling class.
We offload our "democratic" responsibilities onto politicians so we can all get on with our lives without interference. However, it is
through this process that the political processes interfere with all our futures.
We want cheap goods, electricity etc. but we don't want to pay for it - it is always better if we can get someone else to pay for it or do it
for us.
We (collectively) do not take any responsibilities for our actions at any time, perhaps a symptom of our times?
"If I knew what I was doing then it wouldn't be called research would it?...duh!"
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dhutch
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| posted on 3/5/13 at 09:24 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Davegtst I went to vote today and there were only 5 parties on the ballot paper, 2 I had never heard of before so I
spoiled my paper.
Only 5? How many where you expecting, we had four.
- UKIP
- Conservative
- Labour
- Local Independant
Im not a huge political follower but I voted for two reasons, one being that I feel if I have not voted I have no leg to stand on should things be run
in a away I disagree with, and secondly because if a decent majority of people do not vote, there scope for a small number of minoraty extremists to
gain control of the seat.
Daniel
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