Why do so many people not vote?
Discussion
JB! said:
I spoil my ballot because:
Labour: Wants us back in the 70's
Conservatives: Want to privatize the world at my expense
UKIP: Want us back to some alternate universe 50's
Greens: Want us back to the glorious soviet republic or the stone age
SNP: Want all the things and the south east to pay for them
BNP: Enoch Powell and football holigans
Lib Dems: Happy with any of the above provided they gain in the polls
What are the Conservatives proposing to privatise?Labour: Wants us back in the 70's
Conservatives: Want to privatize the world at my expense
UKIP: Want us back to some alternate universe 50's
Greens: Want us back to the glorious soviet republic or the stone age
SNP: Want all the things and the south east to pay for them
BNP: Enoch Powell and football holigans
Lib Dems: Happy with any of the above provided they gain in the polls
wc98 said:
JB! said:
I spoil my ballot because:
Labour: Wants us back in the 70's
Conservatives: Want to privatize the world at my expense
UKIP: Want us back to some alternate universe 50's
Greens: Want us back to the glorious soviet republic or the stone age
SNP: Want all the things and the south east to pay for them
BNP: Enoch Powell and football holigans
Lib Dems: Happy with any of the above provided they gain in the polls
I don't want a 4 year manifesto, I want to see a 20 year plan for a favourable pound in terms of both import and native labour costs, I want to see a structured plan to improve transport links throughout the UK, I want to see managed migration and active integration into the Great British culture, I want to see education stripped back to basics, and apprenticeships seen as equal to spending time at uni, I want to see fair punishments for crimes, and open policing, scrap plastics and actually make coppers respected, an NHS that isn't a black hole of money, but is a national asset, a welfare system that encourages and rewards you for working when your chips are down, and a general common sense, long-term view of whats best for keeping the British Isles in our unique position. Fair taxes for individuals and big businesses (looking at you Amazon and Starbucks), a healthy tax-free allowance that you could actually live on, and a flat rate that doesn't punish success, actively encourage higher rate taxpayers to stay in the UK and pay taxes into our coffers. ETA - I want business actively encouraged to profit share, and employees encouraged to be partners or shareholders, If you are working hard and the business is making money, why shouldn't you see some of that reward?
I don't think I'm being unreasonable, but i'm sick of "the next 4 years" and lining of pockets. Its pathetic.
did you have a hand in writing the ukip manifesto ? it certainly sounded like it . then i read your comment on ukip and realised you had not even read it. Labour: Wants us back in the 70's
Conservatives: Want to privatize the world at my expense
UKIP: Want us back to some alternate universe 50's
Greens: Want us back to the glorious soviet republic or the stone age
SNP: Want all the things and the south east to pay for them
BNP: Enoch Powell and football holigans
Lib Dems: Happy with any of the above provided they gain in the polls
I don't want a 4 year manifesto, I want to see a 20 year plan for a favourable pound in terms of both import and native labour costs, I want to see a structured plan to improve transport links throughout the UK, I want to see managed migration and active integration into the Great British culture, I want to see education stripped back to basics, and apprenticeships seen as equal to spending time at uni, I want to see fair punishments for crimes, and open policing, scrap plastics and actually make coppers respected, an NHS that isn't a black hole of money, but is a national asset, a welfare system that encourages and rewards you for working when your chips are down, and a general common sense, long-term view of whats best for keeping the British Isles in our unique position. Fair taxes for individuals and big businesses (looking at you Amazon and Starbucks), a healthy tax-free allowance that you could actually live on, and a flat rate that doesn't punish success, actively encourage higher rate taxpayers to stay in the UK and pay taxes into our coffers. ETA - I want business actively encouraged to profit share, and employees encouraged to be partners or shareholders, If you are working hard and the business is making money, why shouldn't you see some of that reward?
I don't think I'm being unreasonable, but i'm sick of "the next 4 years" and lining of pockets. Its pathetic.
Edited by JB! on Tuesday 21st April 10:02
k me, plus they have some very backwards policies mixed in with some common sense stuff.sidicks said:
JB! said:
I spoil my ballot because:
Labour: Wants us back in the 70's
Conservatives: Want to privatize the world at my expense
UKIP: Want us back to some alternate universe 50's
Greens: Want us back to the glorious soviet republic or the stone age
SNP: Want all the things and the south east to pay for them
BNP: Enoch Powell and football holigans
Lib Dems: Happy with any of the above provided they gain in the polls
What are the Conservatives proposing to privatise?Labour: Wants us back in the 70's
Conservatives: Want to privatize the world at my expense
UKIP: Want us back to some alternate universe 50's
Greens: Want us back to the glorious soviet republic or the stone age
SNP: Want all the things and the south east to pay for them
BNP: Enoch Powell and football holigans
Lib Dems: Happy with any of the above provided they gain in the polls
sidicks said:
JB! said:
I cant help but think that UKIP are going to fk me, plus they have some very backwards policies mixed in with some common sense stuff.
Please clarify your strange comment...k me, plus they have some very backwards policies mixed in with some common sense stuff.Shame as I like 80% of their manifesto, just the other bits that concern me.
At the last (2010) election :
Total electorate was 45 million people.
The Conservatives had the biggest vote @ 10.7 million.
That's well under 25%.
We ended up with a coalition government.
So, 75% of the electorate didn't vote for the largest party and 100% of the electorate didn't vote for the government.
People can't be bothered.
Total electorate was 45 million people.
The Conservatives had the biggest vote @ 10.7 million.
That's well under 25%.
We ended up with a coalition government.
So, 75% of the electorate didn't vote for the largest party and 100% of the electorate didn't vote for the government.
People can't be bothered.
JB! said:
I spoil my ballot because:
Labour: Wants us back in the 70's
Conservatives: Want to privatize the world at my expense
UKIP: Want us back to some alternate universe 50's
Greens: Want us back to the glorious soviet republic or the stone age
SNP: Want all the things and the south east to pay for them
BNP: Enoch Powell and football holigans
Lib Dems: Happy with any of the above provided they gain in the polls
I don't want a 4 year manifesto, I want to see a 20 year plan for a favourable pound in terms of both import and native labour costs, I want to see a structured plan to improve transport links throughout the UK, I want to see managed migration and active integration into the Great British culture, I want to see education stripped back to basics, and apprenticeships seen as equal to spending time at uni, I want to see fair punishments for crimes, and open policing, scrap plastics and actually make coppers respected, an NHS that isn't a black hole of money, but is a national asset, a welfare system that encourages and rewards you for working when your chips are down, and a general common sense, long-term view of whats best for keeping the British Isles in our unique position. Fair taxes for individuals and big businesses (looking at you Amazon and Starbucks), a healthy tax-free allowance that you could actually live on, and a flat rate that doesn't punish success, actively encourage higher rate taxpayers to stay in the UK and pay taxes into our coffers. ETA - I want business actively encouraged to profit share, and employees encouraged to be partners or shareholders, If you are working hard and the business is making money, why shouldn't you see some of that reward?
I don't think I'm being unreasonable, but i'm sick of "the next 4 years" and lining of pockets. Its pathetic.
Personally I'm voting for the JB! party Labour: Wants us back in the 70's
Conservatives: Want to privatize the world at my expense
UKIP: Want us back to some alternate universe 50's
Greens: Want us back to the glorious soviet republic or the stone age
SNP: Want all the things and the south east to pay for them
BNP: Enoch Powell and football holigans
Lib Dems: Happy with any of the above provided they gain in the polls
I don't want a 4 year manifesto, I want to see a 20 year plan for a favourable pound in terms of both import and native labour costs, I want to see a structured plan to improve transport links throughout the UK, I want to see managed migration and active integration into the Great British culture, I want to see education stripped back to basics, and apprenticeships seen as equal to spending time at uni, I want to see fair punishments for crimes, and open policing, scrap plastics and actually make coppers respected, an NHS that isn't a black hole of money, but is a national asset, a welfare system that encourages and rewards you for working when your chips are down, and a general common sense, long-term view of whats best for keeping the British Isles in our unique position. Fair taxes for individuals and big businesses (looking at you Amazon and Starbucks), a healthy tax-free allowance that you could actually live on, and a flat rate that doesn't punish success, actively encourage higher rate taxpayers to stay in the UK and pay taxes into our coffers. ETA - I want business actively encouraged to profit share, and employees encouraged to be partners or shareholders, If you are working hard and the business is making money, why shouldn't you see some of that reward?
I don't think I'm being unreasonable, but i'm sick of "the next 4 years" and lining of pockets. Its pathetic.
Edited by JB! on Tuesday 21st April 10:02
JB! said:
Ok, so I'm 26, and easily have another 30 years working left, They already are anti-HS2 which would have a big effect on my current industry of choice, and I'm not seeing a coherent plan for rail expansion from them.
Preventing the mis-use of massive public funds on HS2, the economic benefits of which are far from clear does not really strike me as "strange".JB! said:
The "green belt" they wish to protect is crap, we are the 3rd most populous nation in Europe per sq/mi, plus they have no history of actually balancing the books and making things work.
What is 'strange' about protecting some of the green belt?So you find it 'strange' that they've never managed to balance the books previously? Really?!
They do at least have a plan to balance them going forward...
backwoodsman said:
I am 38, and never voted.
Why?
No party appears fit to represent my ideals.
They should work for us.
Instead, they expect us to blindly follow them.
None of them fit my ideal but I go for the one that is most aligned with most of my ideals, accepting that it's not a perfect world. Why?
No party appears fit to represent my ideals.
They should work for us.
Instead, they expect us to blindly follow them.
budgie smuggler said:
vonuber said:
maxxy5 said:
The first past the post system means a lot of people's votes don't count if it's a safe seat. It's in the interests of the two main parties to keep it that way.
This I suspect is a big driver. 
Absolute load of arse.sidicks said:
JB! said:
Ok, so I'm 26, and easily have another 30 years working left, They already are anti-HS2 which would have a big effect on my current industry of choice, and I'm not seeing a coherent plan for rail expansion from them.
Preventing the mis-use of massive public funds on HS2, the economic benefits of which are far from clear does not really strike me as "strange".JB! said:
The "green belt" they wish to protect is crap, we are the 3rd most populous nation in Europe per sq/mi, plus they have no history of actually balancing the books and making things work.
What is 'strange' about protecting some of the green belt?So you find it 'strange' that they've never managed to balance the books previously? Really?!
They do at least have a plan to balance them going forward...
Its not strange, protecting the green belt, its just pointless. We already dont build enough houses to meet demand...
They are untested. That is a risk. Its down to voters if they wish to accept that risk.
roachcoach said:
Well based on http://www.voterpower.org.uk/
My constituency has an MP NOT wanted by some 65% of the voters.
Furthermore, politicians are so odious, so hypocritical, generally loathsome and dishonest scumbags that there's not a single one I trust.
This image accurately provides a metaphor for how I view them.
Free Landy?My constituency has an MP NOT wanted by some 65% of the voters.
Furthermore, politicians are so odious, so hypocritical, generally loathsome and dishonest scumbags that there's not a single one I trust.
This image accurately provides a metaphor for how I view them.
What about those of that don't want, or need a 4x4? Perhaps we would rather have a saloon or a coupe?
JB! said:
I spoil my ballot because:
Labour: Wants us back in the 70's
Conservatives: Want to privatize the world at my expense
UKIP: Want us back to some alternate universe 50's
Greens: Want us back to the glorious soviet republic or the stone age
SNP: Want all the things and the south east to pay for them
BNP: Enoch Powell and football holigans
Lib Dems: Happy with any of the above provided they gain in the polls
I will vote but the above seems a fairly good approximation of the options. As a young, single, professionally employed, healthy, childless white male (who intends to remain that way) coming from a poor family with no assets there isn't really a party that represents me. Labour: Wants us back in the 70's
Conservatives: Want to privatize the world at my expense
UKIP: Want us back to some alternate universe 50's
Greens: Want us back to the glorious soviet republic or the stone age
SNP: Want all the things and the south east to pay for them
BNP: Enoch Powell and football holigans
Lib Dems: Happy with any of the above provided they gain in the polls
- Conservatives: By far the closest to my leanings, they at least support the idea of working for a living and being allowed to take home some of your pay instead of having it taken away and redistributed to everyone else. The downside is the vested interests and support for property prices to continue rising ever further beyond the reach of anyone who doesn't have a rich family to help.
- UKIP: They make a lot of sense to me in many ways but the image and some of the partys representatives could do with improvement. I am also undecided on the EU issue.
That said my vote will make no difference whatsoever as my constituency is one of the safest Tory seats in the country but I believe in the democratic ideal so I think it is our duty to vote, even if you just mark the ballot as a protest vote. Those who express no opinion waive the right to complain about what they then get.
I will vote this time but understand those who don't.
It's a choice - IMO, persecuting people for not voting is almost as bad as removing the option to vote from them.
It's a little naive to expect there to be a party that is perfectly aligned to your views - there's certainly not one that aligns to mine, but it's a question of whoever fits best.
I have to confess though that my vote is partly going towards ensuring this shining example of leadership, authority, power and charisma doesn't get near No. 10
It's a choice - IMO, persecuting people for not voting is almost as bad as removing the option to vote from them.
It's a little naive to expect there to be a party that is perfectly aligned to your views - there's certainly not one that aligns to mine, but it's a question of whoever fits best.
I have to confess though that my vote is partly going towards ensuring this shining example of leadership, authority, power and charisma doesn't get near No. 10
Personally, I always vote, even in pointless things like the PCC election, because I feel that a) it's my duty, and b) I have no right to complain about the people running the country/council/etc if I didn't bother to take part in the election.
However... I am 31 now, and only ONCE have I felt that my vote actually might have made a difference; last year's European elections. For the first ten years of my adult life I lived in a very safe seat for a party I utterly despise, so it's felt a complete waste of time and all I could do was register a protest vote. Even after I moved, it was to another safe seat, although for a party I don't particularly dislike, at least. So, out of a fair number of elections, I've only once felt like it was worth my while turning up. No wonder most people don't bother.
I think people need to think that their vote will make a real difference for them to get out and vote; the turnout in the Scottish referendum shows that people will vote if it's important enough, but in most elections, it just feels a waste of time, as you're choosing between parties who all seem as bad as each other, and in safe seats, one vote seems very small indeed. Now granted, if everyone got out and voted, a lot of constituencies might well be far closer, but I think people just look at the % and think it's a waste of time, especially with the two-party system it's been for years. Perhaps the rise of the smaller parties will help there, little surprise that the only people I know who are talking about it at all are supporters of Greens and SNP.
However... I am 31 now, and only ONCE have I felt that my vote actually might have made a difference; last year's European elections. For the first ten years of my adult life I lived in a very safe seat for a party I utterly despise, so it's felt a complete waste of time and all I could do was register a protest vote. Even after I moved, it was to another safe seat, although for a party I don't particularly dislike, at least. So, out of a fair number of elections, I've only once felt like it was worth my while turning up. No wonder most people don't bother.
I think people need to think that their vote will make a real difference for them to get out and vote; the turnout in the Scottish referendum shows that people will vote if it's important enough, but in most elections, it just feels a waste of time, as you're choosing between parties who all seem as bad as each other, and in safe seats, one vote seems very small indeed. Now granted, if everyone got out and voted, a lot of constituencies might well be far closer, but I think people just look at the % and think it's a waste of time, especially with the two-party system it's been for years. Perhaps the rise of the smaller parties will help there, little surprise that the only people I know who are talking about it at all are supporters of Greens and SNP.
iphonedyou said:
JB! said:
I spoil my ballot because:
Conservatives: Want to privatize the world at my expense
Presuming you're not referring to the NHS here, what in particular is your concern?Conservatives: Want to privatize the world at my expense
Edited by JB! on Tuesday 21st April 10:02
I'm worried it will be sold to the highest bidder, for a nice backhander or contract for someone's chum, and sod all concern as to whats right for UK PLC in the long term, and sometimes, what's right financially isn't right ethically.
TurboHatchback said:
JB! said:
I spoil my ballot because:
Labour: Wants us back in the 70's
Conservatives: Want to privatize the world at my expense
UKIP: Want us back to some alternate universe 50's
Greens: Want us back to the glorious soviet republic or the stone age
SNP: Want all the things and the south east to pay for them
BNP: Enoch Powell and football hooligans
Lib Dems: Happy with any of the above provided they gain in the polls
I will vote but the above seems a fairly good approximation of the options. As a young, single, professionally employed, healthy, childless white male (who intends to remain that way) coming from a poor family with no assets there isn't really a party that represents me. Labour: Wants us back in the 70's
Conservatives: Want to privatize the world at my expense
UKIP: Want us back to some alternate universe 50's
Greens: Want us back to the glorious soviet republic or the stone age
SNP: Want all the things and the south east to pay for them
BNP: Enoch Powell and football hooligans
Lib Dems: Happy with any of the above provided they gain in the polls
- Conservatives: By far the closest to my leanings, they at least support the idea of working for a living and being allowed to take home some of your pay instead of having it taken away and redistributed to everyone else. The downside is the vested interests and support for property prices to continue rising ever further beyond the reach of anyone who doesn't have a rich family to help.
- UKIP: They make a lot of sense to me in many ways but the image and some of the partys representatives could do with improvement. I am also undecided on the EU issue.
That said my vote will make no difference whatsoever as my constituency is one of the safest Tory seats in the country but I believe in the democratic ideal so I think it is our duty to vote, even if you just mark the ballot as a protest vote. Those who express no opinion waive the right to complain about what they then get.
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