Ugh. It's going on a bit. So I shall too.
LibDems have still not made up their mind. LibDems and Tories can't agree, they are poles apart on beliefs. Yeah, a tempered Tory government would be a great thing and LibDems would have achieved a miracle if they got concessions towards their policies under Tory rule. But for an entire term, could a coalition between Tories and a party that the majority of voters presumably see as primarily Not Tory ever work? I don't see how.
Yet, a coalition of all those that lost the election is wrong, even if it does make a infinitely more palatable government. I don't often agree with David Blunkett, but I do on that.
Whatever happens, the Tories will want what they want, and the others will want what they want.
Letting the Tories form a minority government is fair, albeit vile, and then the parties have their usual voting power. Which after all, is the whole point of MPs and parties having seats and whatnot, each seat should represent a vote on issues in the Commons.
Simplistic, yes. Am simple.
Should a coalition go ahead, then at least two parties are in a position where they have to compromise their principles. Which means all who voted for them are being let down. Should the LibDems ever abstain on anything the Tories propose, they are not doing what they were voted in to do. Should the Tories make concessions to the LibDems, they are not doing what their voters believed them to do. If the Tory voters are opposed to PR and tax relief for the poor (which is hard to comprehend, but they did vote in the - presumed - knowledge of the policies) then they are being denied that by the very party they voted for.
It's not democracy, it's compromise all round and nobody getting what they wanted. Parties sticking to their beliefs and a fair vote (if such a thing does exist) is how it should be. The distribution of seats should mean that the Tories can't push through things the others would oppose. Should.
Naive, yes, everyone's for pretending it's not all corrupt.
I wish they'd just decide to do nothing.
For posterity, for the 18th time, the leader of the Labour Party? DavEd Milliballs.
Yeah. I know.
Showing posts with label election 2010. Show all posts
Showing posts with label election 2010. Show all posts
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Friday, 7 May 2010
And the result is... pending.
How disappointing. The people of England voted for the smug one. Presumably they're either bigots at heart or swayed completely by the media.
The people of Scotland did not. One Tory seat in Scotland. One. Which actually makes me proud to be Scottish, and newly open to the idea of independence.
I had a moment of over excitement at 1am and trotted off to the college at which the Kirkcaldy result would be declared. And stood outside for a while, got fed up, came home, and watched as Gordon Brown overwhelmingly held on to his seat. It looked promising for a while, as the seats that were always going to be Labour came in as Labour holds. But this morning, the news was bleak. Admittedly less bleak than it might have been, given the media annihilation of Brown/Labour, the people didn't actually all vote Tory. So there is a streak of independent thought throughout the electorate. Conservative do not have the majority, Smug Cameron isn't PM and there isn't a result yet.
Nick Clegg is the man of the moment. Who probably should/would be PM if we had a fair voting system and a less mogul controlled media.
Initial shock as Clegg stated that Cameron should have the first opportunity to form a government, spent some time feeling let down and appalled that he could even consider any co operation with the Tories. It seemed that anyone that had voted Liberal Democrat had in fact voted for a Conservative government. How disappointing to discover that the hero who championed what I believe in (mostly, but it's nice not to be a freak that thinks differently from the entire population on all issues) had sold out in the name of having power.
But then it dawned (admittedly probably NOT "today") that he may in fact be the ultimate hero. He could in fact be the key to the party who received the most seats getting to form the government, which is after all "fair" under the current system, but be in a position to get them to rethink some of their policies.
Except, Smug's comment on Electoral reform stated quite categorically that they don't want Proportional Representation.
PR seems to be the issue most people (that aren't Tory) care about. I am certainly furious that voting for what I believe in is akin to not voting, because the vote would count for nothing in the constituency of the PM.
So, it remains to be seen. The only "fair" outcome would be for the Smugs to govern, but fingers are crossed in fervent hope that a Tory government is avoided. Alex Salmond has stated firmly that a) they support Labour and will do anything to help Labour remain in power and b) that Scotland will not willingly support a Tory government.
If Nick Clegg gets a Tory government that backs down on some issues, he will be a hero after all. And he will allow the Tories to be the most unpopular government in history (again) and thus safeguard against any future Tory rule. Much as I hate to admit it, I think that would be the fairest and most logical solution. A Labour government that so many people voted against would have no chance against the media and public opinion would swiftly fail to support them. Which isn't exactly healthy, even if it keeps the b'tards out.
Why am I writing this? One thing I have learned this week is that nobody fully agrees with anyone else on political matters, and nobody should talk about politics. I think that may be it.
Ha!
The people of Scotland did not. One Tory seat in Scotland. One. Which actually makes me proud to be Scottish, and newly open to the idea of independence.
I had a moment of over excitement at 1am and trotted off to the college at which the Kirkcaldy result would be declared. And stood outside for a while, got fed up, came home, and watched as Gordon Brown overwhelmingly held on to his seat. It looked promising for a while, as the seats that were always going to be Labour came in as Labour holds. But this morning, the news was bleak. Admittedly less bleak than it might have been, given the media annihilation of Brown/Labour, the people didn't actually all vote Tory. So there is a streak of independent thought throughout the electorate. Conservative do not have the majority, Smug Cameron isn't PM and there isn't a result yet.
Nick Clegg is the man of the moment. Who probably should/would be PM if we had a fair voting system and a less mogul controlled media.
Initial shock as Clegg stated that Cameron should have the first opportunity to form a government, spent some time feeling let down and appalled that he could even consider any co operation with the Tories. It seemed that anyone that had voted Liberal Democrat had in fact voted for a Conservative government. How disappointing to discover that the hero who championed what I believe in (mostly, but it's nice not to be a freak that thinks differently from the entire population on all issues) had sold out in the name of having power.
But then it dawned (admittedly probably NOT "today") that he may in fact be the ultimate hero. He could in fact be the key to the party who received the most seats getting to form the government, which is after all "fair" under the current system, but be in a position to get them to rethink some of their policies.
Except, Smug's comment on Electoral reform stated quite categorically that they don't want Proportional Representation.
PR seems to be the issue most people (that aren't Tory) care about. I am certainly furious that voting for what I believe in is akin to not voting, because the vote would count for nothing in the constituency of the PM.
So, it remains to be seen. The only "fair" outcome would be for the Smugs to govern, but fingers are crossed in fervent hope that a Tory government is avoided. Alex Salmond has stated firmly that a) they support Labour and will do anything to help Labour remain in power and b) that Scotland will not willingly support a Tory government.
If Nick Clegg gets a Tory government that backs down on some issues, he will be a hero after all. And he will allow the Tories to be the most unpopular government in history (again) and thus safeguard against any future Tory rule. Much as I hate to admit it, I think that would be the fairest and most logical solution. A Labour government that so many people voted against would have no chance against the media and public opinion would swiftly fail to support them. Which isn't exactly healthy, even if it keeps the b'tards out.
Why am I writing this? One thing I have learned this week is that nobody fully agrees with anyone else on political matters, and nobody should talk about politics. I think that may be it.
Ha!
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Election Day!!
Never in my life have I cared so much about an election result.
Why? Because I wholeheartedly do not agree with Tory policies. Because I don't want what they propose for the country, for the economy. Because I really really dislike David Cameron and feel ill at the prospect of seeing his smug inhuman face pulling his "Sincere" expression every time I turn on the TV. I hated it when Tony Blair was plastered all over everywhere, and he wasn't hell bent on implementing everything I despise.
David Cameron stated that he "shares values with Sun readers", which makes me think:
1) No he does not, he has very little in common with any Sun readers.
2) What a blatant bid for Sun readers' votes.
3) If that is in any way true, then he's lied so far about his values. Either way, lies.
4) Ugh. It's that face again.
I have liked the various parodies of the nauseating Sun front page.
It is somewhat reassuring that everyone I have contact with (apart from some relatives!), or have had the opinion of, will not be supporting the Tories. But will that be enough? I sincerely hope so.
I voted today. I hope everyone else did too. I hope they voted with their brain intact and didn't listen to the media...
Why? Because I wholeheartedly do not agree with Tory policies. Because I don't want what they propose for the country, for the economy. Because I really really dislike David Cameron and feel ill at the prospect of seeing his smug inhuman face pulling his "Sincere" expression every time I turn on the TV. I hated it when Tony Blair was plastered all over everywhere, and he wasn't hell bent on implementing everything I despise.
David Cameron stated that he "shares values with Sun readers", which makes me think:
1) No he does not, he has very little in common with any Sun readers.
2) What a blatant bid for Sun readers' votes.
3) If that is in any way true, then he's lied so far about his values. Either way, lies.
4) Ugh. It's that face again.
I have liked the various parodies of the nauseating Sun front page.
It is somewhat reassuring that everyone I have contact with (apart from some relatives!), or have had the opinion of, will not be supporting the Tories. But will that be enough? I sincerely hope so.
I voted today. I hope everyone else did too. I hope they voted with their brain intact and didn't listen to the media...
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Voting sickness
I feel ill. Literally ill. I am so very nervous about the result of the election. And so this is going to be mostly a flow of incoherent consciousness...
I found this interesting website today: votematch.org.uk (handy how I don't make links be links, huh?) which has taken up a large chunk of my day.
Unsurprisingly, I came out as matching Liberal Democrats. I think they're rather marvellous, I like pretty much all they say and, erm, yes they could promise the moon on a stick. But still.
Unsurprisingly, I don't agree with the Conservatives at all. 6% concurrence, and I can be sure that the matter on which we agree (for there is but one) is that it'd be nice if people started to get married again. Unlike them, I'd extend it to any couple, but that wasn't asked.
Surprisingly, I matched rather well with the Green Party, other than on the small issue of environmental issues.
SNP also, except I'm not passionate about getting rid of Trident and don't particularly have a burning urge to be independent.
Labour: mostly I agree, but I don't have the anarchist streak required to be a true Labour supporter.
UKIP: relatively sensible on SOME things. Don't agree with them on, erm, Europe, which is a bit of a sticking point.
BNP: I am convinced they must be a joke party. Really. Have a read of their manifesto, it's amusing.
Or, it's quite terrifying that people think like that, get away with it and have supporters. They make appalling statements and actually seem to think it's ok. They use the term "from the third world" as if this is the most despicable thing of all. Some people clearly don't realise that some immigrants actually came from parts of the world we wouldn't want to go on holiday to!!! And I'm not entirely sure where they draw the line at who they classify as immigrants. Anyone who isn't caucasian and a native English speaker is my guess. And I think "from the third world" is a search-and-replace effort for a nonPC term.
But they say it. And get votes. Not very many. But here's the scary bit. On many issues, the Tories share the exact same viewpoint as BNP.
For example, they both think that anyone convicted of a crime that wasn't born in this country should be deported. I have heard this genuinely justified, without even qualifying "crime" as serious.
Tonight I listened to a Tory MP state that we "have to stop Labour's open door policy".
Why is this?
I haven't actually heard a single reason why it is a bad thing that we have immigrants in this country, legal or not. It is merely stated that they are here. They use our health service! As they would expect to. As they should. They take our jobs! And pay taxes. I don't see the problem. I don't understand why it's a key issue.
Ok, I am from Scotland and any incomers are welcome due to our declining/aging population. We have NHS dentists again! We have cool delis! Alex Salmond loves stating how cool we are about immigrants.
Most of us.
So, maybe it's different down south. But it would be nice if people could explain the problem, I just don't get it.
Aside from immigration and the BNP/Tory crossover, I don't agree with anything else the Tories say (apart from marriage). I don't want a Tory government. I detest David Automaton Cameron.
And people are going to vote for them, because they have been brainwashed by the media into hating Labour. Who aren't that bad. Really, they're not.
There's a LOT of "anything but Labour" about. Which is why I feel kinda sick. If we don't vote Labour then that means...
I dream (in a futile manner) of a Liberal win, (in a hopeful
manner) of a Labour win or (in a semi-realistic manner) of a hung parliament, and console myself that if the Tories do win, Scotland will be swiftly independent.
Wittering over. I remember now I'm not meant to talk about politics because I'm an idiot. Ah well.
I found this interesting website today: votematch.org.uk (handy how I don't make links be links, huh?) which has taken up a large chunk of my day.
Unsurprisingly, I came out as matching Liberal Democrats. I think they're rather marvellous, I like pretty much all they say and, erm, yes they could promise the moon on a stick. But still.
Unsurprisingly, I don't agree with the Conservatives at all. 6% concurrence, and I can be sure that the matter on which we agree (for there is but one) is that it'd be nice if people started to get married again. Unlike them, I'd extend it to any couple, but that wasn't asked.
Surprisingly, I matched rather well with the Green Party, other than on the small issue of environmental issues.
SNP also, except I'm not passionate about getting rid of Trident and don't particularly have a burning urge to be independent.
Labour: mostly I agree, but I don't have the anarchist streak required to be a true Labour supporter.
UKIP: relatively sensible on SOME things. Don't agree with them on, erm, Europe, which is a bit of a sticking point.
BNP: I am convinced they must be a joke party. Really. Have a read of their manifesto, it's amusing.
Or, it's quite terrifying that people think like that, get away with it and have supporters. They make appalling statements and actually seem to think it's ok. They use the term "from the third world" as if this is the most despicable thing of all. Some people clearly don't realise that some immigrants actually came from parts of the world we wouldn't want to go on holiday to!!! And I'm not entirely sure where they draw the line at who they classify as immigrants. Anyone who isn't caucasian and a native English speaker is my guess. And I think "from the third world" is a search-and-replace effort for a nonPC term.
But they say it. And get votes. Not very many. But here's the scary bit. On many issues, the Tories share the exact same viewpoint as BNP.
For example, they both think that anyone convicted of a crime that wasn't born in this country should be deported. I have heard this genuinely justified, without even qualifying "crime" as serious.
Tonight I listened to a Tory MP state that we "have to stop Labour's open door policy".
Why is this?
I haven't actually heard a single reason why it is a bad thing that we have immigrants in this country, legal or not. It is merely stated that they are here. They use our health service! As they would expect to. As they should. They take our jobs! And pay taxes. I don't see the problem. I don't understand why it's a key issue.
Ok, I am from Scotland and any incomers are welcome due to our declining/aging population. We have NHS dentists again! We have cool delis! Alex Salmond loves stating how cool we are about immigrants.
Most of us.
So, maybe it's different down south. But it would be nice if people could explain the problem, I just don't get it.
Aside from immigration and the BNP/Tory crossover, I don't agree with anything else the Tories say (apart from marriage). I don't want a Tory government. I detest David Automaton Cameron.
And people are going to vote for them, because they have been brainwashed by the media into hating Labour. Who aren't that bad. Really, they're not.
There's a LOT of "anything but Labour" about. Which is why I feel kinda sick. If we don't vote Labour then that means...
I dream (in a futile manner) of a Liberal win, (in a hopeful
manner) of a Labour win or (in a semi-realistic manner) of a hung parliament, and console myself that if the Tories do win, Scotland will be swiftly independent.
Wittering over. I remember now I'm not meant to talk about politics because I'm an idiot. Ah well.
Saturday, 10 April 2010
Gordon Brown in Kirkcaldy
So, Gordon Brown visited Kirkcaldy today.
The town he grew up in.
So he's not going to be convinced by:
the shiny shiny litter free streets
the jolly happy people
the spirit of joy captured by the marching band
But still, nice to make the effort. Security at its finest: bin bags over bins. Without meaning to be picky, could a potential assassin/terrorist wanting to place a device in a bin possibly overcome a binbag? Maybe not. Maybe if they see a bin bag over a bin they move onto the next one, then the next one, then the next one, then get narked and give up the whole idea and have a cup of tea and a piece of shortbread instead. Maybe.
There was much muttering of "last time you'll see him as PM".
Yes, because the people of Kirkcaldy are really going to vote for anyone else. The last tory vote in Kirkcaldy was recorded in 1765.
The choices of the candidates will be:
Sonny Somebody from the Liberals.
Thingy Smugbutquite-Scared from the Tories
GORDON BROWN, your local Prime Minister
Weirdy Funny Party Candidate from a party that you've never heard of
You wouldn't sleep if you voted for the BNP candidate
Oh that one. What's UKIP all about again?
ISN'T SCOTLAND NICE?? Scottish McScot from the Lovely SNP.
So, two candidates have a fighting chance, and 90% of the voters (aka 16% of the entitled to vote population) just trog on down and stamp their X next to Labour Regardless.
I know who I want as PM, and it annoys the HELL out of me that if I can't just vote for him. No, I can vote for a candidate, and if he/she doesn't win this seat, my vote counts for NOTHING.
Bah.
I am sorry to say that if I had bumped into Snr Brown in Kirkcaldy today, my actions would have been sycophantic. And I may have told a big fib. But I didn't bump into him.
The town he grew up in.
So he's not going to be convinced by:
the shiny shiny litter free streets
the jolly happy people
the spirit of joy captured by the marching band
But still, nice to make the effort. Security at its finest: bin bags over bins. Without meaning to be picky, could a potential assassin/terrorist wanting to place a device in a bin possibly overcome a binbag? Maybe not. Maybe if they see a bin bag over a bin they move onto the next one, then the next one, then the next one, then get narked and give up the whole idea and have a cup of tea and a piece of shortbread instead. Maybe.
There was much muttering of "last time you'll see him as PM".
Yes, because the people of Kirkcaldy are really going to vote for anyone else. The last tory vote in Kirkcaldy was recorded in 1765.
The choices of the candidates will be:
Sonny Somebody from the Liberals.
Thingy Smugbutquite-Scared from the Tories
GORDON BROWN, your local Prime Minister
Weirdy Funny Party Candidate from a party that you've never heard of
You wouldn't sleep if you voted for the BNP candidate
Oh that one. What's UKIP all about again?
ISN'T SCOTLAND NICE?? Scottish McScot from the Lovely SNP.
So, two candidates have a fighting chance, and 90% of the voters (aka 16% of the entitled to vote population) just trog on down and stamp their X next to Labour Regardless.
I know who I want as PM, and it annoys the HELL out of me that if I can't just vote for him. No, I can vote for a candidate, and if he/she doesn't win this seat, my vote counts for NOTHING.
Bah.
I am sorry to say that if I had bumped into Snr Brown in Kirkcaldy today, my actions would have been sycophantic. And I may have told a big fib. But I didn't bump into him.
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