Will you vote in the next general election?

[ali_kat]

Plotloss said:

People have died so each of us has a voice in a democratic nation.

Not vote?

Inconceivable.

Very well said Sir

[randomman]

Without a shadow of a doubt. Many of my posts on here are pretty opinionated, and how can I have an opinion if I don't show it at the one place its most important - the ballot box.

edit - managed to spell shadow wrong... or is a it a camal?

Edited by randomman on Wednesday 18th March 12:31

[Fittster]

ali_kat said:

Plotloss said:

People have died so each of us has a voice in a democratic nation.

Not vote?

Inconceivable.

Very well said Sir

People die for lots of reasons not all of them are sensible.

The idea we all have a voice is patent nonense. Go and vote for the conservative in a N/E constituency and see what impact your voice has. Unless you live in one of the handful of constituencies which can change hands on a relative small swing your vote is pointless.

[IforB]

Plotloss said:

People have died so each of us has a voice in a democratic nation.

Not vote?

Inconceivable.

Again have a few more of these

For those that haven't or won't vote. What is wrong with you?

[AJS-]

I won't vote as I didn't vote last time either. Not because I'm apathetic, nor because no party is close enough to my own views to merit a vote. Rather because I actually withold my consent from being governed in the way we currently are, and voting, or even spoiling your ballot lends a certain legitimacy to whatever party wins the election.

It's nonsense to say I have no right to complain if I don't vote. In fact I have more right to complain, because I reject the actions of this government as well as past and future governments. I reject the right of a majority of the population to dictate to individuals through voting, which is the basis of representative democracy, and I reject the right of government to initiate force or use the threat of force against it's citizens to raise taxes and pass regulations.

[DamoLLb]

Nolar Dog said:

I've never voted and won't be doing next time either.

In that case you shouldn't air your opinion on any political matters. What a waste. (unless your unable to vote as you're just a child- in which case, you'll learn)

[Fittster]

DamoLLb said:

Nolar Dog said:

I've never voted and won't be doing next time either.

In that case you shouldn't air your opinion on any political matters. What a waste. (unless your unable to vote as you're just a child- in which case, you'll learn)

So in your opinion political matters are simply and choice between red or blue??

[DamoLLb]

Fittster said:

DamoLLb said:

Nolar Dog said:

I've never voted and won't be doing next time either.

In that case you shouldn't air your opinion on any political matters. What a waste. (unless your unable to vote as you're just a child- in which case, you'll learn)

So in your opinion political matters are simply and choice between red or blue??

nope, like others have said here there are other options.

[ali_kat]

Fittster said:

ali_kat said:

Plotloss said:

People have died so each of us has a voice in a democratic nation.

Not vote?

Inconceivable.

Very well said Sir

People die for lots of reasons not all of them are sensible.

The idea we all have a voice is patent nonense. Go and vote for the conservative in a N/E constituency and see what impact your voice has. Unless you live in one of the handful of constituencies which can change hands on a relative small swing your vote is pointless.

But without their deaths, we would now be ruled by Germany (or worse!).

You have a voice, you don't like Labour (eg) in your area, vote for ANYONE else.

If everyone didn't vote cause they felt like you, and just one person in your ward did, who would win? The person that was voted for by one person.

Who complains about it - everyone when the taxes go up!

[Plotloss]

Fittster said:

The idea we all have a voice is patent nonense. Go and vote for the conservative in a N/E constituency and see what impact your voice has. Unless you live in one of the handful of constituencies which can change hands on a relative small swing your vote is pointless.

What is nonsense is the idea that inaction on a personal level will change anything at all.

[AdeTuono]

oobster said:

I don't care about anything, so I wont waste my time even going along to the local polling station to spoil my vote.

EFA

[Fittster]

DamoLLb said:

Fittster said:

DamoLLb said:

Nolar Dog said:

I've never voted and won't be doing next time either.

In that case you shouldn't air your opinion on any political matters. What a waste. (unless your unable to vote as you're just a child- in which case, you'll learn)

So in your opinion political matters are simply and choice between red or blue??

nope, like others have said here there are other options.

So if I like policy A from party B and policy B from party A but would also like to see policy C that none of the parties on the ballot represent I should simply spoil my paper??

I don't see how you have addressed any of my points.

[hairykrishna]

AJS- said:

I won't vote as I didn't vote last time either. Not because I'm apathetic, nor because no party is close enough to my own views to merit a vote. Rather because I actually withold my consent from being governed in the way we currently are, and voting, or even spoiling your ballot lends a certain legitimacy to whatever party wins the election.

No, spoiling your ballot doesn't do that. In this country spoiled ballots count towards voter turnout. This means that the winning party actually has less of a percentage of the votes cast; if anything their victory is less 'legitimate'. If enough people spoiled their votes it'd be obvious that we think all of the parties are a bunch of s and our current system is stupid.

[Fittster]

ali_kat said:

But without their deaths, we would now be ruled by Germany (or worse!).

You have a voice, you don't like Labour (eg) in your area, vote for ANYONE else.

If everyone didn't vote cause they felt like you, and just one person in your ward did, who would win? The person that was voted for by one person.

Who complains about it - everyone when the taxes go up!

We can argue about the history of WW2 but that would take off topic.

What if I like bits of each party in my area but none full represent my views? It's the system that is the problem more than the politicians. I don't want the current system to continue so by refusing to vote in a small way I delegitimize it.

Take your example, if only one person was to vote there would be a realization that the system was broken and that reform was necessary. I assume from your post that you are planning to vote conservative at the next election. Do all the policies of that party reflect your personal views?

Give me direct democracy and I'll engage with the process, however I want nothing to do with the current system.

[Fittster]

hairykrishna said:

AJS- said:

I won't vote as I didn't vote last time either. Not because I'm apathetic, nor because no party is close enough to my own views to merit a vote. Rather because I actually withold my consent from being governed in the way we currently are, and voting, or even spoiling your ballot lends a certain legitimacy to whatever party wins the election.

No, spoiling your ballot doesn't do that. In this country spoiled ballots count towards voter turnout. This means that the winning party actually has less of a percentage of the votes cast; if anything their victory is less 'legitimate'. If enough people spoiled their votes it'd be obvious that we think all of the parties are a bunch of s and our current system is stupid.

The issue isn't about which if any of the parties we should support but if the current democratic system is the best way to govern the country. Not all of us believe it is.

[Fittster]

Plotloss said:

Fittster said:

The idea we all have a voice is patent nonense. Go and vote for the conservative in a N/E constituency and see what impact your voice has. Unless you live in one of the handful of constituencies which can change hands on a relative small swing your vote is pointless.

What is nonsense is the idea that inaction on a personal level will change anything at all.

Do you believe low voter turn out is healthy for a democracy?

[Ordinary_Chap]

I will vote, but for who is another question.

Right now I believe our two main parties are as bad as each other.

[DamoLLb]

Fittster said:

DamoLLb said:

Fittster said:

DamoLLb said:

Nolar Dog said:

I've never voted and won't be doing next time either.

In that case you shouldn't air your opinion on any political matters. What a waste. (unless your unable to vote as you're just a child- in which case, you'll learn)

So in your opinion political matters are simply and choice between red or blue??

nope, like others have said here there are other options.

So if I like policy A from party B and policy B from party A but would also like to see policy C that none of the parties on the ballot represent I should simply spoil my paper??

I don't see how you have addressed any of my points.

No you should sit back and do fk all about it whilst watching the world float by.

Do something about it. Write to Party A/B asking them why are not using policy c. Tell the party you won’t be voting. But ultimately there is not a party that you wish to vote for. So what better way of representing that? Spoil your vote and write to both parties telling them why you did so. Enough people do it, then policy C may just be implemented.

[Adam B]

I think it should be mandatory as in New Zealand (I think)

...and that peope who don't are worse idiots than even those who vote for stupid reasons ("parents always voted for them")

[Fittster]

DamoLLb said:

Do something about it. Write to Party A/B asking them why are not using policy c. Tell the party you won’t be voting. But ultimately there is not a party that you wish to vote for. So what better way of representing that? Spoil your vote and write to both parties telling them why you did so. Enough people do it, then policy C may just be implemented.

Why can my views only be repsented by a political party? I am able to think and act as an individual so why should we not have a system where the intermediate politicans are removed from the system.

Why are you wedded to the party political system we currently have? Are you happy with the results it produces?