"An Etonian should never leave his friends' behind."
Quite a motto. They really know how to separate the men from the boys at Eton (normally with a crowbar).
I for one despise the self-perpetuating elite of this country, and when 20% of the electorate can decide who governs us, other democracies put us to shame - proportional representation is long overdue. Or a revolution, I'm not fussy.
Quote: sootyj @ April 17 2009, 7:18 AM BSTThe thing is we have a pretty decent democratic system (not perfect). It's just that people neither bother to vote nor to educate themselves.
If you don't want Lib,Lab or Con then join a minority party. The Greens may never run the country but they could probably swing some votes and lobby.
Political inertia is the route to dictatorships.
You're asking me to vote for my favourite member of Take That - and I don't like Take That. All politicos are cut from the same cloth, hence the low voter turnout.
The other problem is that there are no minority parties that reflect my political views.
We may not live under a dictatorship, but when a handful of press barons, industrialists and public school boys get to call the shots, it's a depressing state of affairs.
It's this inertia that is so dangerous. Jeremy Corbyn, Ken Livingstone, Tony Benn, Hesseltine, BozzerJ I may not like them but they're all strong individuals with individual visions. And if you look hard enough there's a party out there or a leader who's close to your views and needs your help.
Political inertia like believing in 9/11 conspiracies is a lethal act of surrender. It's saying the whole system is so corrupt I obveate my self of responsibility. Like looking at a messy kitchen and choosing to cook in the toilet, rather than starting with just one cup.
You're not wrong, Sooty. At least there's one good thing coming from the credit crunch – it helps focus our minds on what's important. If a stand-up comic ranted about greedy bankers 12 months ago . . . . . . . . . . tumbleweed . . . . . No one gave a damn as long as the gravy was flowing. Greed wasn't an issue. Now everyone's howling about fairness and greed. Even my mum, who courtesies to the Queen when she appears on TV, is getting radical. She was at the anti-globalisation rally in London last week, with her balaclava and a piece of metal piping.
If the majority who don't vote started you'd be amazed how many so called safe seats would be swept away.
Dave and Gordy are hoping you won't believe you can make a diference.
Disapoint them.
Hell I'd like UKIP to force Labour to be more honest on immigration.
UKIP are idiots. And that bloke running them is an arse.
Well I wouldn't vote for them.
Doesn't mean they don't have a place in government along with the SWP and all the others twits.
Quote: sootyj @ April 17 2009, 10:20 AM BSTIf the majority who don't vote started you'd be amazed how many so called safe seats would be swept away.
Dave and Gordy are hoping you won't believe you can make a diference.
Disapoint them.
Hell I'd like UKIP to force Labour to be more honest on immigration.
Mum? Is that you?
Disturbing.
But no one has yet answered the question of whether we'd be better under DaveyC.
I'm in danger here of moving far away from the spirit of the forum – comedy, but just have to say –
Calculate the loss to the taxpayer of corporate tax evasion and fraud, then compare this to the cost of immigration. Then ask yourself why the corporations are pissing themselves laughing all the way to the bank – while we slag off the Poles.
Absolutely stunning isn't it that if you steal above a certain level no one seems to care.
And frankly these supposed thieving MPs with their expenses are doing little more than pinching pocket change.
I'm a dog with a bone. I'll shut up after this. Grrrrr.
'The money gleaned from reluctant taxpayers, both personal and corporate, has risen from £1.13bn in 1991-92 to a staggering £9.17bn in 2006-07.'
BBC News April 2008
So why are we banging on about immigration?
Does anyone know any good jokes?
They all maybe making different promises but the same mistakes.
I stopped caring about government when they produced plans to move St Georges Day. Scum Scum Scum!
Proportional Representation would be a disaster. Italy has it- hardly a stable political system. Belgium has it- they were without a Government for 18 months at one point... Given that the UK flip-flops between left and right, the likelihood is that we'd be stuck with a permanent 'National Government'. It would also mean that the BNP would have representation in parliament along with lots of other minority groups. Which, on the surface, is fine and democratic, but ultimately thoroughly undemocratic- you end up in a situation where a minority group representing a fraction of the population has influence way beyond what their support warrants, with mainstream parties clamouring for support within Parliament.
As for the coming election- I can't wait. I never could understand what hold Nulab had over the electorate- Blair was a fake and an actor. This Government has introduced, or tried to introduce such fascistic legislation its astonishing. Their record is amazing- they can read all your emails and store them, they hold DNA records for people acquitted or never even charged, they have turned the Police into a branch of social services and criminalised the middle classes, they have smeared anyone who dares disagree, they stifle protest, they try to detain people without charge, they have been complicit in torture, they have supported and orchestrated an illegal war, they have made the UK a massive terrorist target, and strive to keep the population permanently terrified.
The Fraud Act 2006 actually criminalised the intent to commit of a fraud- in other words no 'crime' takes place; they have taken us into a Minority Report world where just thinking about committing a crime is illegal...
They allow Police into Parliament to arrest opposition MP's for leaks- a cursory browse of The Times website looking for references to Gordon Brown in the 1980's leads to a litany of reports of Brown presenting documents leaked from Government. The hypocricy is amazing.
The advent of the career politician has done for democracy- they join the students union, do a degree and then decide to go into politics as the pay is good- where is the desire to help people or serve the country? Its about gaining power and preserving that power. Gordon will NOT quit because its his turn now- the country can bugger off.
As for Labour vs Conservative- what reason is there to vote Labour anymore? Their record is more far right than Mrs T ever was. Many people say the Tories are just mad, evil, far right money-grabbers- even if you believe that, how does that differ to modern Labour? Labour supporters still cite Thatcher and the miners, with an attitude of 'never forget', but to many peoplethat's history and as relevant to the modern voter as Red Robbo at Longbridge, or sleeping bags on the night shift at British Leyland..
'Call Me Dave' says he has changed the Tories into the friendly, caring party and Labourites laugh at this, but its no less convincing than Blair revolutionising Labour.
Rant over.
Quote: sootyj @ April 17 2009, 10:26 AM BSTDisturbing.
But no one has yet answered the question of whether we'd be better under DaveyC.
He's slimmer than Brown so my guess is under Cameron would be preferable. Actually, we'd all be better under Obama, he's a skinny runt.