Politics...

[thermidorthelobster]

Right, let me first state that I'm *not* a Tory voter, and neither would I vote for the current right-wing Labour party, particularly with the schemeing, duplicitous scumbag Blair at the helm.

But, having listened to various news items and interviews with David Cameron, I'm shocked to find myself thinking that at last we might actually have a thoughtful, credible opposition leader?

[TimM]

The past few have been a disgrace, almost laughable.

[dracula]

I would wait and see what his policy on "green issues" is before making
my mind up.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4512202.stm

[thermidorthelobster]

The discussion on the radio this morning was that he thinks we should plan our economic development whilst making sure we keep an eye on the environment.  I think that's fair enough.

[PUX]

hey ther wot happend to ur post ref peoples jobs cant see it anywhere :?:

[thermidorthelobster]

Unless it's been moderated off (and I can't see why that would be the case) then it's been disapparated by gremlins.  I've recreated the thread.

[Berliner Beer]

He's only been there 2 days!

[TUFFTEE]

They just said on the Itv News That Cameron is going to be the GREENIST Tory party Leader to Date?

I guess it will be "Watch this Space"?

[datalas]

They just said on the Itv News That Cameron is going to be the GREENIST Tory party Leader to Date?

I guess it will be "Watch this Space"?

well, we've had black, grey and translucent... green might make a change.

[thermidorthelobster]

Don't forget John Major gradually turning blue on Spitting Image.

[muddyweb]

The discussion on the radio this morning was that he thinks we should plan our economic development whilst making sure we keep an eye on the environment.  I think that's fair enough.

Thing is... talk is cheap.. think back to some of the classic promises that have been made by our leading politicians over the past 20 years.

Cynical ?  Me ?

[thermidorthelobster]

Still, he was talking a lot more sense than any other politicians I've heard spouting in the last few years.  And he gave Jim Naughtie a run for his money, which is always nice to listen to.

I'll still never vote Tory, but it's heartening to hear somebody who doesn't come across as an idiot, a pillock or a lying cheating bar steward.

[Bulli]

Why not vote Tory?
I just dont see what party loyalty has to do with anything. I'd vote the monster raving looney party if i thought they would do the best job.
Im not having a go but its about time everyone who wont vote against that weasel shut up moaning about him. He is like a cancer and people are too dyed in the damn wool to get him out!
Im 34 and the ONLY prime minister i have any respect for was Thatcher. I come from a mining area and a lot of people i know and care about had a very bad time so dont come that one with me. The reason i respect her was she said it , then she did it. Non of this beating around the bush she did exactly what she believed in.
So forget about the Tory monster and vote with your concience whichever way you choose, but dont allow an idiot to screw us for every tax possible and then complain.

[Range Rover Blues]

an idiot, a pillock or a lying cheating bar steward.

AKA the labour party.  If any of you had had the missfortune to grow up in a labour 'stronghold' you'd know that corruption was invented by the labour party.  Remember Donnygate?

The whole of the last 7 years has been a history of lies and broken promisses, U turns and down right incompitance.  In fact every thing we were encouraged to vote the Tories out for, the labour party have excelled at themselves.  I had a good job 'till these useless b****ds were let in.  Try telling the guys who used to work in the steel industry what the labour party has done for them.

[Bush Tucker Man]

I thought Dennis Skinner  (the Beast of Bolsover) was funny the other day, with his (under 'Parliamentary Privelidges') comments about a certain Tory MP

[Bulli]

nose candy anyone?

[Range Rover Blues]

Why not vote Tory?
I just dont see what party loyalty has to do with anything. I'd vote the monster raving looney party if i thought they would do the best job.
Im not having a go but its about time everyone who wont vote against that weasel shut up moaning about him. He is like a cancer and people are too dyed in the damn wool to get him out!
Im 34 and the ONLY prime minister i have any respect for was Thatcher. I come from a mining area and a lot of people i know and care about had a very bad time so dont come that one with me. The reason i respect her was she said it , then she did it. Non of this beating around the bush she did exactly what she believed in.
So forget about the Tory monster and vote with your concience whichever way you choose, but dont allow an idiot to screw us for every tax possible and then complain.

 =D>  =D>  =D>

There's a man who thinks like I do.  I liked some of the previous Conservative leaders, not really a usefull quality in a politician though  :roll:

[thermidorthelobster]

Why not vote Tory?

Well, actually because I'm somewhat left of centre.  The trouble is, there isn't a left-of-centre party any more.  The straight-down-the-middle Lib Dems are probably ideologically closest at the moment, but although I've voted for them in the past, I really can't see Kennedy running the country!

That's why I'm interested in David Cameron.  I don't generally believe in his party's values, but if he gives Blair good going over then that's better than nothing.

[Bulli]

I know where you are coming from an my Mum was an sdp and then independant councillor for years. I live in Rotherham (Sheffield born and bred) and if a sheep had a red rosette it would get in. Im not colour blibd and would simply like to see someone HONEST running Britain. I love being English and fear that the fool in power are eroding our nations values. Im not giving a racist speech here but if some looney mayor can ban a carol service because he isnt Christian then where are we really?
I am not fool enough to think anyone getting into power would be 100% truthful but 20% would be a good start. Labour are dinosuars making jobs for the sake of red tape. Sorry but get rid of the softy jobs for the boys and get Britain building and manufacturing again.
rant over!

[datalas]

Non of this beating around the bush she did exactly what she believed in.

To be honest, I'll be happy when they get back to beating around the bush rather than trying to botty kiss one...

[V8MoneyPit]

Non of this beating around the bush she did exactly what she believed in.

To be honest, I'll be happy when they get back to beating around the bush rather than trying to botty kiss one...

 :lol:  :lol:  =D> Very good.

I have to agree about Thatcher. She may have made many enemies, but she did actually get things done. Not always to everyones benefit, but at least there was movement. These days, everyone's just too scared of 'consequences' to actually get of their backsides and make changes.

I haven't voted in a general election for years. I simply haven't seen anyone who I think stands out from the crowd as a born leader. And I'm certainly not a believer in protest voting.

[datalas]

sadly the problem with not voting is that it tends to be dismissed as "voter apathy" which is, at least by the sounds of it, entirely not the reason you aren't voting.

It used to be accepted practice that in occasions where you didn't like any of the candidates particularly you could register as a protest vote.  AFAIK these are now discounted.

It's a bit of a shame, but at the end of the day the vote is the only real power you have to affect change, it might not be much.. but every little helps.

[thermidorthelobster]

sadly the problem with not voting is that it tends to be dismissed as "voter apathy" which is, at least by the sounds of it, entirely not the reason you aren't voting.

I was thinking of setting up the "None of the above are fit to run a country" party.  I'd certainly vote for that option.  However, I'm not quite sure what I'd do if I got in  :lol:

[littlepow]

I was thinking of setting up the "None of the above are fit to run a country" party.  I'd certainly vote for that option.  However, I'm not quite sure what I'd do if I got in  :lol:

Give all the green lanes back!

Vote thermidorthelobster"None of the above are fit to run a country" party.

 :lol:

[Bulli]

Hmmm, i'll be the local candidate in my area....the money is damn good if you get in.
Apathy really is the problem, what about the vote rigging that went on , its like being in a banana republic!

[V8MoneyPit]

..... It's a bit of a shame, but at the end of the day the vote is the only real power you have to affect change, it might not be much.. but every little helps.

But there is no way of voting if you cannot see an advantage between parties. It's not that I don't want to vote, it's simply a problem recognising any advantage in a specific party over another.

But I like TTL's idea  :lol: Or you could name it "No idea what I'll do if I get in, but vote for me anyway party". At least it would be more honest than any of the others. Now that's an advantage straight away!

[dimoven]

All politicians flatter to deceive,Blair was deceived by ( the  flattery. of George Bush).

[thermidorthelobster]

Apathy really is the problem

Yeah...  spose...

 :lol:

[muddyweb]

It is correct that 'spoiled' ballot papers are no longer counted.  It used to be the case that you could put a vote in all the boxes..  all these spoiled papers would be voted and would give the opportunity for people to tell the politicians that we didn't like them.   Sadly, these are now just ignored.


In my view, part of the public disillusionment with politics these days is what can only be described as playground behaviour in the commons.  The issue the Conservatives have had in the past is that pretty much every leader they have elected since Mrs Thatcher has had virtually nothing to say, and has been very good and standing in the house saying "yah, boo sucks" at the other side.

Would I want to go back to Thatcher-esque politics ?   Never in a million years.   I can't accept that just because she did what she said she was going to that somehow that excused the way her goverment systematically destroyed the country for the benefit of themselves and their friends.  Definite action is all well and good, provided it isn't carried out for personal gain and with no regard to the welfare of the populous... which in my view, was one of the main driving forces behind much of the Thatcher administration.

There are only a few politicians I have respect for....  the first is Boris Johnson.   He's a bit flakey, but he actually has the guts to come out and tell some hard truths about the world, and refuses to apologise for them just because other people disagree.

The second, is a local man for me... Paddy Ashdown.   I met him a couple of times through work, and came to have the utmost respect for him.  He had integrity, compassion and more than anything had lived in the real world, and really did listen to his constituents.   He would, in my view have made an excellent PM, but became the victim of yet another tabloid 'hit'

One of the main things Ashdown didn't do, was spend all his time saying... "Well, we're better than them", "We're not as bad as this lot"  or  "That wasn't our fault, that was because the other lot messed it up"...   when he thought government policy was good he publically agreed with it.... when he thought it was bad, he explained *why* and put forward his views on how it could be made better...  wouldn't that make a nice change in today's commons.

Stuff party politics... we want politicians who will represent our views, and campaign for the people who elected them.


One more thing in my rant :-)

I get *very* upset when people say "I couldn't be bothered to vote"... without wanting to sound cliched, it is one of the most important rights we have in society... people died (literally) for the privilege....  and people around the world are still dying just to get the right of some form of democracy.   Use your vote... even if you vote for a complete outsider candidate...  if the electoral turnout continues to fall, then the consequences could be unthinkable.

Also...   whilst debating on forums like this is all very theraputic.... in isolation it is completely pointless.    If all you do is moan and whine on a forum, then you deserve everything you get....   Make your voice heard where it actually matters... write to your MP, and let him / her know your grievances.   Yes, they may not always reply but they will know we are here.

If we want our country back, then we must go out there and get it