Do they think we're morons?

1789. Do they really send you to prison in France for getting your
tenses confused in a foreign language?

 

My involvement has been as observer and as candidate - not as a counter.

You're entitled to do so - you're wrong though.

Why didn't you adress that question in your posting then? It's a
bollox question though - Free speech still applies so of course they've
got a right to whinge. Anyone can express a view on almost anything.
So that's the end of that arguement.

It would lead to an expensive and time wasting series of TV
informercials on "how to fill in a ballot paper for mongs" - no one
(who matters) would use it as a mandate to chage the system in any way.
And it may not need changing - it might just need people to understand
it better.

I'm not a fan of Blair, and he's done some terrible things IMO, but in
the estimation of other people the good outweighs the bad. Same goes
for all the parties. If you or I stood and proclaimed that we'd make
everything right, we might get in, but there are people who would not
like some of the things we did. That's democracy for you.

Ah - there we reach the nub of it - you're one of those saddo's who
rejoices in the misfortune of others. That's why you wont get off your
arse and work to help improve things and would rather just piss about
with spoiling your ballot paper. Explains a lot, and I genuinely feel
sorry for you.

And BTW the times I stood I was elected (District Council only, but I
felt I was doing my bit).

Obviously unlike you, I have a job.

You know the answer - stand for election - and I think you'll find that
most of the current parties aren't as all controlling as you like to
imagine.

 

Spoil your ballot paper.

Turning up counts.

Not turning up is lazy and pathetic.

 

What do you think of Christians who do vote, then?

 

Stop that, you sound too much like Des.

It's an opinion not an argument.

Would it really lead to that? It seems a rather negative opinion in that
you appear to conclude that all those who desire to express themselves
in a particular way are "mongs".

Is it really democracy when my elected representative is forced by a
three-line whip to vote on a particular matter contradictory to his/her
previously published views and/or the majority feeling in the
constituency?

I do not rejoice in anyone's misfortune. So **** right off. You know
full well that it is very rare for an independent to get elected. You
have to be either a personality (e.g. Bell) or in such an odd situation
where the major parties do some deal and withdraw their candidates.

For you information, Mr Know-it-all-and-know-****-all, I always go and
vote. I don't spoil the paper. I actually take an interest in the
standpoints of all the candidates and then make my decision as I see
fit. So take you sympathy and use it for someone who needs it, perhaps
starting with yourself.

What the **** are you on about? So you don't agree, like wow isn't that
a surprise. Good for you. But why the silly comments? If this is the
calibre of your response you'd never survive the cut and thrust of a
parliamentary seat.

You'll have to take it on trust that I know some people in one of the
main parties. It would be entirely wrong to identify the people or even
the party. You'll just have to live with the disappointment that I
disagree,

 

For someone who's reasonable literate, and holds down a decent job,
I'm starting to wonder if Phil isn't just a bit dim.

 

Fair point - well made.

Why did you say it was an argument then? I appreciate you have issues,
but try to stick to one POV at a time.

All it's expressing is a lack of ability to express a choice. Simple
as that - it's a ballot for a job - nothing more or less - you can vote
and show that you want Mr (or Mrs) A, B or C or you can stand yourself
if you think you can do a better job.

I'm puzzled by this. You (presumably) can read? You can read the
manifesto of the party and the promises of your candidates and can ask
them if they intend to bow to the party whip on issues where they
disagree with the party line.

The party manifesto will never be 100% in line with the beliefs of
every candidate - and that's understood by most people. The candidate
will then (usually) be happy to express their views as to whether they
will toe the party line, vote against the party (not that unusual) or
try to change the party line from within.

Why stand as an independant? Why not find the party that has the
manifesto that most closely matches your views and join it? You'll
find that actual activists are in short supply and a sensible voice is
usually listened to.

Have you considered some sort of anger management course? Is this why
you spoil your ballot paper? You are so consumed with inner rage that
you just want to tear it up?

<snigger>

I'm not the one frothing at the mouth here. Calm down, have a nice cup
of tea (is there not some 'special milk' that matron should put into
it?) and try again.

Obviously it's not the same party that I was involved in during the
1980's. I found our then Prime Minister perfectly approachable and
very reasonable to talk to - even when I (and others) disagreed with
her. Maybe we didn't change anything, but who knows? Maybe some of
what was said made a minor difference.

I still get a birthday and Xmas card - even though I was a lowly local
councillor who only met her a dozen or so times.

 

No you miss the point, "the argument" referred to dichotomy under
examination. This is a discussion. Although why you are motivated to
introduce insults as it weakens your point.

Stop mixing issues. There is a difference between standing for a public
office and the method of recording your choice in the ballot. The two
are not inextricably linked. Otherwise you would be able to reproduce
the statute that effectively states "vote or stand, these are your
choices". It does not express any inability, it shows that the person
has chosen none of the above. We are rightly not able to disclose their
motivation of choosing a particular outcome as that would jeopardise the
democratic process.

Leave the insults at home, they weaken your case. The manifesto is akin
to the MoT certificate, i.e. only valid on the day it's printed. As we
have no legal recourse should it be proven that a party reneged upon
their manifesto promise, the manifesto only serves as landfill. Asking
the candidate is indeed an option and I suspect the answer will always
be "it depends on the motion before the house".

Because if you accept that parliamentary democracy is dead (or at least
seriously unwell) because of the way MPs are controlled by the party the
only way to get a voice is to either join a single issue party or go
independent. The balance between following the party policy and yet
being able to vote according to conscience or local demands has been
lost.

Err no. Attack me and get a response, fair's fair after all.

See, rudeness again. I despair for you.

[snipped]

 

ah ok, yes

 

Tim wrote:

I'll wait until someone who knows what they are talking about and
understands the issues comes along if it's all the same to you.

I gave up on trying to polish turds a long time ago.

 

That probably does not arise. At a geuss Phil doesn't regard them as
Christians.
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As do many millions of others with no intention of serving. Might be a bit
different under the draft, I grant.
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Cos he's more of a mimic than an impressionist IMO.
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ROTFLMAO
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There do seem to be plenty of them, though.
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I wondered why you had your hand stuck up your arse.

 

Watching Bullshit talk of 'intelligence' is akin to watching a paraplegic
gazing enviously at an Olympics 100m team, but still..

If you're not happy with the way the country's being run, vote. Otherwise,
shut the **** up.

 

How sweet. Thoughts from Legoland.

 

*You* are.

 

You've not exactly come up with an superb argument, yet.
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