|
- Companion Fellow PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 1137 posts
|
Just because it is voting day tomorrow. Just thought I would throw this is as topical debate for discussion
I have always been very interested in politics and have always cast my vote , even if when I feel my vote is wasted.
I am looking forward to the Scottish Elections tomorrow.
It is a personal view , but I am going to vote for it so it gives a mandate that I would like a different system, even though AV is not quite want I wanted.
If you vote no and you would eventually like to see proportional representation. I think voting no to AV they will never give us an opportunity to change again.
I think it is really sad that a lot of the youth feel their vote is wasted in the Westminster elections.
I hope everyone that can vote does in Scotland Holyrood, Welsh Assembly , Northern Ireland Asembley , Englands Councils regardless of what party they vote for or for AV or not. There are countries where people have killed to get a vote. So I am planning to use it . The more people that vote the the more representative the vote will be regardless which way you decide.
Do you think it is a waste of time to vote ?
Edited at 04 May 2011 10:44 PM GMT
Edited at 05 May 2011 06:57 AM GMT
|
|
- Fellow PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 115 posts
|
I'm voting for AV because we need a change in the system to get people voting.
I'm not sure which of AV or PR is best but both are better than FPTP, but I think we ought to adopt the Australian system and make it a legal requirement to vote or you get a fine. You can still not vote by ruining your ballot paper if you so wish, but you fulfill the legal requirement just be turning up at the voting station or sending a postal vote. I'm sure most people would vote once they got there. I am always astonished at how low the turnout is at every election, less than half the country have decided who will form the Government in recent years.
Mike
|
|
- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 481 posts
|
If they had an AV style vote with AV and PR and status quo as the options I might vote (2, 1, 3) but at the moment I think AV is just like voting yellow for the colour of paint for the hut. (Auf Weidershen, Pet).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uet4f3QwRQw
|
|
- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 115 posts
|
A right pain that I'm not voting for the council, seems an effort to get to the polling station but I will be voting!
Edited at 05 May 2011 12:12 PM GMT
|
|
|
Voted :-)
Love it - cant wait to see results - I'll be up all night again watching.
p.s. my hubby doesnt vote and never has - it really really annoys me.
I still kind of wish I had studied politics at Uni as I was supposed to do.
I like the thought that my vote might count for something - am getting rather fed up knowing that when I vote in Westminster elections my vote goes out the window because of the area I live in!
|
|
- Companion Fellow PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 1137 posts
|
Thanks for all the interesting views .
Hi
I am glad to see so many people voting. James and Mikee I think both your fews are excellent so I am more confused now.
Liz I am glad to see I am not the only who loves to stay up late and watch the results.
It still worries me though that people feel so disengaged from the community and leaders that they do not vote. I maybe wrong but just as some people vote for the same way as their family always did regardless with out doing the research as James as mentioned . Adults not voting are in a funny way not showing their kids that voting is important.
I still believe in the young and this will also be their country in the future. My mum and Dad always encourage us as a family to be interested . So much so every member supported something different it made teatime very interesting.
I have a wee boy who seems really interested in politics and everything thing going on in the world. His school have also told us that. It is Newsround where he gets most of his info . He told his Dad he was to young to vote today. But he wanted to know who we were voting for.
If only we could bottle that enthusiasm , so it could stay with right through till their adults . I know we can,t, but one thing I can do, is to give my child as many views as I can about the world and hope that he continues to be interested and cares about the world and where he lives when he is old enough to vote.
|
|
- Fellow PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 115 posts
|
James @ ICB said:
“Personally I am voting No for AV, but wouldn't mind PR.
I do not agree with the forced vote, fining people if they don't etc.
If people don't vote its probably because they don't know what they are voting for, or care. If we force them to vote then they might just pick randomly, some of them might actually do the research though.
This would water down the vote from the rest of us who are interested, have done the research, and vote based on our beliefs etc.”
I can't diagree with you more there James. I think it is everyones duty to vote, but their right to vote for whoever they please or ruin their ballot paper. People can choose by whatever means they want, at random, because one candidate has a nice smile ... To say it is watering down the vote for others who carefully research before voting is undemocratic.
A similar argument was used by men who didn't want women to vote prior to 1918 - 'they wouldn't know who to vote for and this would be unfair to the men voting'
cheers
Mike
|
|
- Companion Fellow PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 1137 posts
|
Hi Mikee
That is also a good point . On James side . Everyone has the opportunity to do their research.
But just for the sake of discussion how do you cater for people who vote the same way as their families always have regardless if it is Elephant standing and they don,t know their name.
Also is that fair on a whole generation where their parents did not bother voting and have not thought them the importance of voting. If you look at two people brought up with one family encouraging you to vote and another family that does not . It is sad to say but the trend follows.
What I feel is there is now a whole Generation disengaged from their parents not having thought them the importance of voting. My mum believed in you did not vote then you had no right to complain. I agree but that does not take into consideration my above point about a generation that has been thought to be disengaged.
Edited at 05 May 2011 04:26 PM GMT
|
|
|
I believe voting should be compulsory, in fact if you don't vote then in my opinion you've lost your right to complain about "the state of the nation". I also think that ballot papers should include a "none of the above" option. That seems an equally valid vote to picking a party.
While AV is less than ideal, it is a step in the right direction but I can't see PR happening in the UK. The two main parties would only lose out so are naturally against it.
First past the post, just isn't democratic. Where I live it's a waste of time voting Conservative, just as in other areas a Labour vote is pointless. So, people are effectively disenfranchised based on geography. I don't see that as remotely democratic. Ideally all votes would rank equally.
imho...
|
|
- Fellow PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 115 posts
|
Hear Hear!!!
Although I think you should always retain the right to compain, political debate starts with ballot box but it doesn't finish there. Whilst it might seem silly to vote for a candidate then write to them afterwards complaining about their policy, it is what we are perfectly entitled to do and should always remain. Politcians should always appear to be consistent, it is part of the game they play, but the electorate can be as fickle as we like.
cheers
Mike
|
|
- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 481 posts
|
Tony said:
“I believe voting should be compulsory, in fact if you don't vote then in my opinion you've lost your right to complain about "the state of the nation". I also think that ballot papers should include a "none of the above" option. That seems an equally valid vote to picking a party.
While AV is less than ideal, it is a step in the right direction but I can't see PR happening in the UK. The two main parties would only lose out so are naturally against it.
First past the post, just isn't democratic. Where I live it's a waste of time voting Conservative, just as in other areas a Labour vote is pointless. So, people are effectively disenfranchised based on geography. I don't see that as remotely democratic. Ideally all votes would rank equally.
imho...
”
I remember one election when not one Conservative MP got elected in Scotland but we still had to suffer years of Tory rule because the English voted Tory.
|
|
|
Oh dear Peasie
you'll get in trouble again for that comment - lol
honestly though - really enjoying this forum.
Thanks
Liz
|
|
- Member PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 481 posts
|
If you think that comment's bad you should have seen it before I cut a section out about Maggie Thatcher.
If you want a clue, put "a generation of scousers" into Google images.
|
|
|
Peasie
You've got me giggling again! I'm way to old to be giggling like a schoolgirl 
|
|
|
Isnt this exciting :-) annoying that the results take so long to come in though
|
|
- Companion Fellow PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 1137 posts
|
James @ ICB said:
“A quick extra thought, I think the schools should do a bit more to teach kids about the politics, history and also other countries that don't have the benefit of the vote etc etc...”
Hi James
I could,nt agree with you more about schools, an extremely good point raised. Its been interesting to find out what people think about voting.
Tony I voted earlier in Scottish elections on the regional list I had an option to vote for the party BAN BANK BONUS . I think that is better then none of the above at least it is a statement.
I am not joking either it made me have a good laugh . It will be interesting to see how many Scottish voters voted for them out of protest, and used them as none of the above option.
Edited at 05 May 2011 11:03 PM GMT
|
|
- Companion Fellow PM.Dip
- Practice Licence
- 1137 posts
|
Hi
Still up. As I said I am quite political . My husband is a SNP councillor so he is excited tonight . My sis is also standing in local elections in England and I hope she does really well my fingers are crossed. She is also a fellow of the ICB. As I said before my family will always be interested in politics.
I think the thing about elections is to be be interested. The main thing is I love them both and respect their views regardless that they support two different parties. No matter what the end result may be. I proud of them both. PS I admire anyone who stands for any party.
Edited at 06 May 2011 02:43 AM GMT
|
|
|
Peasie said:
I remember one election when not one Conservative MP got elected in Scotland but we still had to suffer years of Tory rule because the English voted Tory.
”
That's exactly what I was thinking of. But do us a favour and remember there's a distinct North / South divide politically in the uk.
In Liverpool last night the Liberals lost all but 2 seats in the council, which they controlled up to a year ago and former leader Lord Storey lost his seat to an 18 year old.
|
|
|
Wow! - stayed up till 3.30am absolutely hooked to the Scottish Election Results on BBC.
Tons of surprises (apart from where I live at which point I went to bed deflated) - so proud of the people living in Scotland for having the gumption to change their minds and vote in a different way.
Still early hours though as the list vote might bring more labour seats.
Cant wait to see the result of the AV referendum
Feel desperatly sorry for the Lib dems though, I was really excited for them being a part of the Cabinet in London but so many people have taken so much against them - at least they are in the position now that they can help change the UK - incredible considering they came third last year. - Give them a break folks.
|
