Who here has voted (ever)?

jimbob23

Official 1000th poster
Sofa said:
So get out and vote whenever you can, because otherwise you don't have the right to complain when anything the politicians decide affects you in a way that doesn't suit, so "NO VOTE - NO RIGHT TO COMPLAIN"
While I agree to your argument on the whole, I'd say that even when you do vote you end up complaining anyway, as I have done frequently since helping Mr Blair obtain his current status, because most people's votes are based on the bullshit they're fed by each party during the pre-election campaigns, so everyone has a right to complain in my opinion.

And throwing people in jail for not voting sounds every bit as dictatorial as the things you seem to be speaking out against. Sounds like something only a Tory could dream up.
 

BBC

You knows it
rich upsetter said:
Sofa said:
Hey Rich Upsetter - didn't you say you fancied running as a councillor? I'd vote for the "Stafford Forum Party".

.
yeah man watch this space, im gonna infiltrate the upper echelons of stafford society :ninja:
and make some changes!
Go Rich, Do it for the kidz!! I'll vote for you for sure :)
 

Sofa

I'm a Staffooooooordian
Just throw them in for a couple of hours and show them videos explaining why the vote is so important. Then give them a balloon.
 

BBC

You knows it
jimbob23 said:
Sofa said:
So get out and vote whenever you can, because otherwise you don't have the right to complain when anything the politicians decide affects you in a way that doesn't suit, so "NO VOTE - NO RIGHT TO COMPLAIN"
While I agree to your argument on the whole, I'd say that even when you do vote you end up complaining anyway, as I have done frequently since helping Mr Blair obtain his current status, because most people's votes are based on the bullshit they're fed by each party during the pre-election campaigns, so everyone has a right to complain in my opinion.

And throwing people in jail for not voting sounds every bit as dictatorial as the things you seem to be speaking out against. Sounds like something only a Tory could dream up.
 

BBC

You knows it
Sofa said:
Just throw them in for a couple of hours and show them videos explaining why the vote is so important. Then give them a balloon.
I'd vote for anyone that handed out free balloons :)
 

jimbob23

Official 1000th poster
rich upsetter said:
i aint sayin that one policy makes me vote labour - far from it, im using it as one example of my reasoning. im basically saying that not understanding or feeling confused as to which party to vote for is just lazy. people need to find out for themselves...it is confusing but not an excuse.
I realise that, as I was using it as an example to state my case.

And it's every bit as much of a valid excuse as the multiple other excuses I could come up with.

I'm not saying it's right or wrong. Firstly I'm not sure any one of us is qualified to make that judgement, and secondly I can't make my mind up anyway, but it's there regardless.
 

jimbob23

Official 1000th poster
Anyway, one last point, as I can't be bothered to argue till I'm blue in the face to have it make absolutely no difference to:

a) people's opinions
b) the world

One of my major concerns with politicians is that their policies are only a means to an end, the end being that they remain in gainful employment for another 4 or 5 years.

I will probably vote next time round, but I will do so with a now ingrained sense of caution and dread. I wish we lived in a world where a candidate could just invite Bono round for tea and it'd mean he'd instantly become Prime Minister and go on to deliver every wonderfully utopian election promise, but until that happens I suppose I'll just have to wade through the sea of party political bullshit like every other poor sod.
 

Sofa

I'm a Staffooooooordian
I won't sleep easy until I see Rich Upsetter installed in Number 10 Downing Street. Then we'd be able to get good t-shirts on the NHS.
 

db

#chaplife
Sofa said:
I won't sleep easy until I see Rich Upsetter installed in Number 10 Downing Street. Then we'd be able to get good t-shirts on the NHS.
after witnessing his behaviour on saturday night, i support this notion.. he would be a paragon of virtue and an excellent influence on british society :uk: :v:
 

db

#chaplife
jimbob23 said:
I will probably vote next time round, but I will do so with a now ingrained sense of caution and dread. I wish we lived in a world where a candidate could just invite Bono round for tea and it'd mean he'd instantly become Prime Minister and go on to deliver every wonderfully utopian election promise, but until that happens I suppose I'll just have to wade through the sea of party political bullshit like every other poor sod.
let me know if you actually manage to get to the bottom of it and i'll just vote the same as you next time round :up: so far i've agreed whole heartedly with everything you've had to say, and frankly i doubt i'm ever going to vote if our political structure remains the same..
 

TENSHON

4000th post? Whatever, I'm nonchalant..
BBC said:
Yeah I saw that and it ist complete bollox to be honest. Why should the onus be put on the man? Women can make up their own minds.

I think our Labour MP David Kidney does a good job for the borough and is genuinely concerned and passionate when it comes to looking after his constituents. He even somehow managed to hold off phoney Cameron in the 97' election when he was running for Staffords tory mp. Could you imagine if that twat had been reprazenting the ford? Unsafe.
i'd agree kidney has been a good MP but have major issues with the blair/brown combo.
 

Tommy T

A few posts under my belt
Now you're getting down to it. Voting once every four years is never going to help you get the country you want - there is no system for ensuring parties are held to account for manifesto promises. I voted Kidney, despite major misgivings about Labour. Kidney was our only real candidate, the other are numpties - as witnessed at the Stafford Make Poverty History question time.
Not that you shouldn't vote, just that you shouldn't stop at voting. If you want to be counted as a citizen then regular contact with your MP is the way forward. His job is to represent your views - even when they are not those of his party. Many of us harrassed the man on the whole iraq issue. He upheld our views and voted against war, even though he knew it would cost him his job. Trooper.
Blair has actually lost commons votes - something that is almost unheard of in this and the last century - proving that your MP can make a difference.
I regulalry write / speak to him about what i think should be done and i truly believe he takes it on board (along with everyone else's views). He'll reply to every email, which means you can debate with him and stand a good chance of convincing him if your arguement is well thought out and not just a rant. He holds drop in surgeries on a Saturday once a month, so if you want to ask / tell him anything you can do it face to face. He's got a new better job now - i think it is under-secretary to David Milliband, the environment dude. Which is nice. We're lucky to have a representative with at least a smattering of power.
The point is that democarcy in this country kind of works, but only if you use it. Don't have a no vote = no complaints attitude. If you disagree with something, let parliament know.
Ranty-rant-rant.
 

rich upsetter

Cuffy is the new skill
Tommy T said:
Now you're getting down to it. Voting once every four years is never going to help you get the country you want - there is no system for ensuring parties are held to account for manifesto promises. I voted Kidney, despite major misgivings about Labour. Kidney was our only real candidate, the other are numpties - as witnessed at the Stafford Make Poverty History question time.
Not that you shouldn't vote, just that you shouldn't stop at voting. If you want to be counted as a citizen then regular contact with your MP is the way forward. His job is to represent your views - even when they are not those of his party. Many of us harrassed the man on the whole iraq issue. He upheld our views and voted against war, even though he knew it would cost him his job. Trooper.
Blair has actually lost commons votes - something that is almost unheard of in this and the last century - proving that your MP can make a difference.
I regulalry write / speak to him about what i think should be done and i truly believe he takes it on board (along with everyone else's views). He'll reply to every email, which means you can debate with him and stand a good chance of convincing him if your arguement is well thought out and not just a rant. He holds drop in surgeries on a Saturday once a month, so if you want to ask / tell him anything you can do it face to face. He's got a new better job now - i think it is under-secretary to David Milliband, the environment dude. Which is nice. We're lucky to have a representative with at least a smattering of power.
The point is that democarcy in this country kind of works, but only if you use it. Don't have a no vote = no complaints attitude. If you disagree with something, let parliament know.
Ranty-rant-rant.
top comment tommy, i like your pro active stance.
 

db

#chaplife
Tommy T said:
despite the fact i'm a daily star reader, and thus borderline nazi, every time you wax lyrical about politics i'm entranced and become thoroughly convinced.. seriously.. you should become an MP yourself, innit; you could sell ice to an eskimo i reckons (sorry - "inuit" for you PC goons :v: )

oh, and sorry for saying your mum reminds me of margaret thatcher on saturday night lol..
 

victoriab

victoriaboyle.co.uk
dirtybobby said:
jimbob23 said:
I will probably vote next time round, but I will do so with a now ingrained sense of caution and dread. I wish we lived in a world where a candidate could just invite Bono round for tea and it'd mean he'd instantly become Prime Minister and go on to deliver every wonderfully utopian election promise, but until that happens I suppose I'll just have to wade through the sea of party political bullshit like every other poor sod.
let me know if you actually manage to get to the bottom of it and i'll just vote the same as you next time round :up: so far i've agreed whole heartedly with everything you've had to say, and frankly i doubt i'm ever going to vote if our political structure remains the same..
Hear hear. And that comment about the rape laws...I am ashamed of my sex.
 

MISS T

Forum user & abuser
noir2985 said:
Hear hear. And that comment about the rape laws...I am ashamed of my sex.
This law will not change a great deal, the 'chinawhite' girl has been doing it for years. You read that story every week in the News of the world, usually linked to a footballer or Dean Gaffney.Why they'd admit to that . . .
So don't be ashamed you're not the same breed.
 

Sofa

I'm a Staffooooooordian
Tommy T - I commend your position, however, I still feel that "no vote = no right to complain" has some grounding, as it is one thing to actively express your opinion, but if you can't be arsed to express your opinon at the ballot box why should you bother complaining. It is one thing to complain about or to the government, but another to make your small contribution to changing who governs.
 

jimbob23

Official 1000th poster
MISS T said:
noir2985 said:
Hear hear. And that comment about the rape laws...I am ashamed of my sex.
This law will not change a great deal, the 'chinawhite' girl has been doing it for years. You read that story every week in the News of the world, usually linked to a footballer or Dean Gaffney.Why they'd admit to that . . .
So don't be ashamed you're not the same breed.
But now they'll be more likely to have their cries of "wolf" not only heard but also upheld. If it goes through that is.
 
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