Do they think we're morons?

Yes and the Australian PMs chief propaganda creator / spin doctor is
over there helping your Howard turn into a **** like our Howard

It feels like deja vu all over again, don't under estimate the power of
stupid people and racists

JL
-
Poor fellow my country.
Australians do not care that their PM is a liar.
http://www.johnhowardlies.com/

 

That's one of the things that really annoys me about politicians. The
constan harping on about what they've spent and what they did. Surely what
*really* matters is what was acheived? How much better the kids can read
and so on?

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 155 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

<Marks thread 'Watch even more'>
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 155 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

I'm not sure I can buy into that. I *did* once refuse to vote, simply
because I had only recently reached majority, and had nothing to compare
the tories with. I felt that since all the major parties spent all thier
time telling everyone that the others were lying, it was impossible to make
any kind of informed decision. On that basis, I reckon anyone has a
perfect right to moan, especially if none of the parties offer what one
would think as an acceptable way of running a country.
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 155 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

Variation on a theme. A few years ago, my lad was sledging down a nearby
hill, along with all the other kids in the village. A local extended family
of [what I later discovered were] Plymouth Brethren - who make the JW look
like dangerously dissolute and godless liberals - showed up with a massive
home-made toboggan. A 14/15yo took his turn and ploughed into my boy, who
was then aged 6, badly breaking his arm. The entire PB crowd shimmered away
in the noise and confusion, without showing any interest in the boy's
condition. Love thy neighbour, eh!

 

I actually interpreted it as moral right. If both choices are (or seem to
be) as shit as each other, then I think you have the right to bitch as long
and as loud as you want. Under certain circumstances I do not want any
politician thinking that he has some kind of madate from me, IYSWIM

Indeed so. However,if the other **** was as much of a thief, would you want
either of them claiming that you supported them?
--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 155 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

http://www.operationchristianvote.org.uk/site/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=2

Well, I would, but I'm getting nothing ATM

How does that compare to the general populous?

--
Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3
Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply)
Alfa 116 Giulietta 3.0l (Really) Sprint 1.7 155 TS
Triumph Speed Triple: Black with extra black bits
www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk

 

I was thinking about this just last night, and I decided that I think
compulsory voting is a *very* bad thing.

Imagine if the 50% (or more) of the populous who don't vote were forced
to go into the booth. They'd hold no valid opinion of who to vote for,
and either spoil the ballot (the best option), vote for whoever looked
the most palatable on tv (not good) or, most worryingly, vote for an
outrageous candidate as a protest.

I can't think of any way in which *any* of the above would be beneficial
to the democratic process. If you want more people to vote, then find a
way to engage more people in the political system. Find out why so many
are disenfranchised and try to do something about that. Legislation isn't
the answer.

 

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

I'm very well aware that there are many ways in which to view the
world. I'm probably much more of a relativist than most. I'd just
like to hear the argument behind the quoted JW viewpoint.

 

Those buggers have opened a school on the corner of our road (converting
an ex-filling station). The first thing they put up was an 8' high
spiked steel fence, followed by shutters on all the windows ('there's
faith in action'). For a group that's supposed to shun technology, they
sure like their MPV's.

Tiff

 

Quite. ISTR he lasted 5 years longer than his dad had (who had the
same condition), so a result, I think.

 

They're wrong.

 

And, boyoboy, he's going to have to fight, isn't he! His legal immunity
expires as soon as he's out of office, and he'll then get hit with a barrage
of corruption charges. His only way out is to die in office. Or does Super
Menteur have a back-pocket sinecure as Mayor of Petit-Ambridge-sur-le-Loire
or somewhere, to keep him safe until he croaks?

 

The Tories would do this differently? How exactly?

Bear in mind it was the Tories who centralised education and brought in
testing to satisfy the demands of 'concerned parents' etc. etc.

I agree with many of the points you make but which of the parties would
make it (a) better or (b) less worse.

It's worth remembering that there's more to education than just the
school.

 

sweller wrote

They can't help but be noted.

When I see my parents my rows with my father are no longer about how his
precious party has sold out thier working class roots to the capitalist
running pigs dogs but instead a rather sad inquisition into the reasons
why so many people are no longer voting and/or deliberately spoiling
their voting papers and it's effects on the outcome of the elections.

So at least two labour party activists are aware of it.

 

Nope.

It goes like this: "The Most High rules in the kingdoms of men and
gives them to whoever he wills" - which is the Bibles way of saying
that God is in control of human affairs and works to ensure that his
plan comes to fruition.

Now given that I believe that (and I also believe that humans beings
are not infallible and are in fact very bad at working out the fine
detail of Gods plan) it probably becomes more clear.

There is also the other factor of "being in the world but not of it"
which leads to not being part of the human political process.

Phil

 

I'm sure the state affects enough people that various benefits could be
earned by registering and actively voting - tax breaks, not having your UB
cut by 10%, pension increments and the like.

Soy.

 

And it was they who arsed about with schools' catering arrangements,
reducing schools' autonomy and turning cooks into microwave reheaters of
gloop, indirectly furthering the rise to sainthood of Jamie O - for which
consequential crime, if nothing else, they should be shot. They also
sanctioned the selling-off of school playing-fields, limiting the
opportunity for kids to run off the excess calories. Of course, the Bliars
said they would stop this policy but it has continued; accelerated, even.

 

genuine_froggie wrote

I used to think that but having seriously considered the idea of taking
my protest a stage further, in General Elections[1] and not spoiling my
paper, which would be my first choice candidate this time but instead
not turning out to vote. Either of the two[2] choices will be made
freely as my part in the Democratic process.





[1] It would take a revolution that is not going to happen in the next
few weeks for my vote to be influential in the outcome of the result in
Billericay. The lack of my vote will have weight noticed across the
whole political spectrum. The manner of the lack of my vote may or may
not make a difference, how I am not going to cast it is a difficult
decision.

[2] There may be a 3rd way. There remains the possibility of going to
the polling station taking the ballot paper and simply ripping it up and
throwing it in a waste bin in the presence of a BBC film crew. That
would get the point home.

 

Yes. For similar reasons.

"Being in the world but not part of it" just about sums it up.

Hence the commandment to pay taxes, to obey the ruling authorities and
the like.

Think of it like this: if you went to live in the US you would be
subject to the local laws, pay the local taxes and the like. As a
non-citizen you would not be entitled to vote or to take part in the US
political process.

Now add that Christians are supposed to be citizens of Gods kingdom and
are living as ex-pats in human society and you get closer to the
reasons why I act as I do.

It also means that Christians are not at liberty to serve in forces
where an oath of allegiance is required (like the armed forces or the
Police) because (as people who have already given their oath of
allegiance to another master) they are no longer free to swear such an
oath to anyone else.
The same principle holds with giving evidence in court if required - I
will not swear on the Bible but will instead use the alternative form
of "I affirm that I will speak the truth etc"

Phil.