By: charliehunt
- 10th May 2015 at 16:38Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Historically around a third of the UK electorate fails to vote. And most times there is a "what if" discussion. What's the point? No one knows how their votes would have been distributed so it adds nothing to the discussion.
By: bazv
- 10th May 2015 at 17:40Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Trekky - if you want to be taken seriously about politics please do not quote the Huffington post LOL
My political views are that I do not trust many frontline politicians - I think DC may well be the best PM we have had in my lifetime ; ) (62 yrs) BUT the tories have to guard against going too far right !
Sometimes elections are about who we think will do the least damage to the country rather than who will be the best !!
I am ok with DC representing the uk but there was no credible alternative this time round,Labour defeated themselves - they were not beaten by the tories - but by their own skeletons going back to teflon tone.
By: John Green
- 10th May 2015 at 18:03Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Trekbuster,
Only someone who is on the political left would deny the entrenched left wing political bias of the BBC. What is the evidence that turn my opinion into fact ? Where to start ?
I need only mention Question Time. I cannot now watch this dreadful Marxist confection without intending to plant my boot thru' the center of the screen. It is the most shameful denial of the alleged impartial neutrality of the BBC as one could wish for.
The audience is packed with socialist stooges who shout, scream and intentionally drown out any attempt by the panel to give a reply to a question if the reply, in the stooges opinion, contains a right or right of center point of view.
It is my recollection that this has been the format for at least twenty years and it is a wonder to me that they manage to recruit right wing panelists. Every point scored by left wing panelists is enthusiastically applauded and cheered, points of discussion won by the right are dismissed with jeers and booing. Socialist trash have turned this program into a bear pit.
In keeping with the BBC policy of Marxist indoctrination is the undoubted fact - not opinion, that ALL comedians who appear on BBC comedy shows espouse and include a leftist influence in their comedy routines. But then, this is entirely in keeping with that other pillar of leftist dogma that all show business figures are 'champagne socialists'. Helps with the cash flow.
How the BBC have been allowed to get away with their nasty political slant is something which I will never understand, the more especially as it is a public funded body which makes it so vulnerable to control.
By: charliehunt
- 10th May 2015 at 18:45Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I don't spend enough time with the BBC to form an opinion on accusations of bias from all quarters. But I am appalled by their addiction to the blinkered obsession with AGW - an overheard interview the other day with the discredited Lord Stern was a case in point, with the interviewer clearly incapable of putting the opposing argument.
My limited experience suggests that, in general, the BBC's reporters do too little reporting and too much opinionating.
By: silver fox
- 10th May 2015 at 21:57Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Are you suggesting the 'no shows' were mainly Labour voters then?
(Or Liberal-Democrat, or UKIP?)
Not at all, but as usual we get the spiel that the people have spoken, truth less than two thirds have spoken, clearly I'm not happy with the result, but that is what it is and we have to live with it for 5 years, it would be more palatable if more voted even if the Tories still won, at least I would know that my views were in a true minority.
By: silver fox
- 10th May 2015 at 22:04Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
John Green
I didn't think even you were capable of such a pile of right wing dictatorial garbage, anyway you who wish to silence the BBC in favour of the likes of Murdoch, will probably get your wish, I predict that the amount the BBC gets from the TV license will be cut, probably to fund another tax break for hard pressed millionaires.
By: John Green
- 10th May 2015 at 22:39Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
John Green
I didn't think even you were capable of such a pile of right wing dictatorial garbage, anyway you who wish to silence the BBC in favour of the likes of Murdoch, will probably get your wish, I predict that the amount the BBC gets from the TV license will be cut, probably to fund another tax break for hard pressed millionaires.
Yes, I'm pleased to comfirm that my right wing dictatorial garbage is probably equal to your left wing dictatorial garbage. Note my modesty: I'm not claiming that it is better.
By: silver fox
- 11th May 2015 at 08:52Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Yes, I'm pleased to comfirm that my right wing dictatorial garbage is probably equal to your left wing dictatorial garbage. Note my modesty: I'm not claiming that it is better.
One slight difference, I have not and would not attempt to shut anyone or anything down merely because it didn't agree with my opinion, our national broadcaster is probably as independent as we are likely to get, those from the left think the BBC is establishment biased, those from the right think the BBC is biased to the left, must be about right in the middle.
By: John Green
- 11th May 2015 at 10:17Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Nowhere, in any of my rants about the BBC have I ever claimed or, ever will, that the BBC should be closed or, to quote your words; shut down.
On the contrary, as long as it exists and projects its present left wing formula, it reminds us of the durable vein of totalitarianism that lurks not far under the surface of left wing politics.
Here is an admission: As a person with socialist leanings - which might seem to contradict certain perceptions - I loathe the excesses of socialism as I do capitalism.
By: Lincoln 7
- 15th May 2015 at 07:36Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I WAS going to vote UKIP, then remembered that this would have been the 12th Election, (Plus a few more years I have lived through) and after a lot of thought, I decided not to vote for any Party. The reason being, in all my years, I havn't seen any party do an awful lot to improve things for the man in the streets. Taxes will still rise, be it on fuel or anything else they can get out of us. We were promised a referendom on the E.U by Blair, never happened, also the same by Cameron, another lie. No, I am of the opinion, that the fat cats will get fatter, and the rest of us will continue to have to make ends meet. I give it 3 months before they give themselves a pay rise, and an increase in their pension pot, the same pot they all pi** into. I would like to know why we need 650 of them to "Run" this small Island, plus the House of Lords, and laughably the Queen. It's all, and will always be a big Con. Just my take on things.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
By: Moggy C
- 15th May 2015 at 07:56Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Never saw you as a follower of Russell Brand Linc.
Your last point is well made. Of course revising the constituencies was on the Conservative manifesto last time but was lost thanks to a Lib Dem hissy - fit.
By: charliehunt
- 15th May 2015 at 12:52Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Your last point is well made. Of course revising the constituencies was on the Conservative manifesto last time but was lost thanks to a Lib Dem hissy - fit.
Moggy
The Boundary Commission's proposals reduce the total UK constituencies from 650 to 600 comprising England 502 down from 533 currently, Northern Ireland 16 from 18, Scotland 52 from 59 and Wales 30 from 40.
By: mike currill
- 15th May 2015 at 13:12Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Absurd but unsurprising that the UK doesn't have compulsory voting. Democracy in the UK (or in most other places, to be fair) has never really been about allowing ordinary people to run the country, but rather manufacturing the consent necessary for the real powerbrokers to continue pursuing their narrow interests as they always have. For most nations today, democracy is simply a checkbox to be ticked to qualify as a modern state, not an ideological commitment. Same is true here -- our system of compulsory voting is merely a vestige of a more idealistic and egalitarian age.
I agree with your comments. As I always say the difference between democracy and a dictatorship is the a democracy allows you the right to choose which party you allow to do the dictating.
By: charliehunt
- 15th May 2015 at 13:21Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
All that compulsory voting would achieve is to force those who do not wish to vote for some reason or another to vote. They are more likely to spoil their ballot in an act of protest than to register a meaningful vote, so what is the point. In a free democracy each should have the freedom to vote or not. And what would the sanction be if you failed to vote? And how would it be enforced? Say a million people did not vote - can you imagine the time and money involved in collecting fines or prosecuting people through the courts?
By: snafu352
- 15th May 2015 at 17:37Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Labour only have themselves to blame SF - they managed to lose in spite of blatant left wing bias on the BBC - they were really pushing milliband and sturgeon on there - Labour need to select a credible leader with some personality/charisma and even then it will take a while for people to forget the financial sabotage/uncontrolled immigration of the Broon/Mandy years !
rgds baz
I watched the BBC (it is on in our crewroom - so captive audience yawn) - it was blatant Left bias ; ),I do not need anybody from a newspaper to decipher what I actually watch LOL
I never read snoozepapers so cannot comment on them !
Quel surprise that a Radio Times article says no bias at the Beeb - and Alistair Campbell - come on - give us somebody credible LOL
rgds baz
Given your comments re immigration in the first quote your bias is showing, so you'll have to excuse me if I take your following comments re BBC bias as the obviously biased tosh that they are :)
By: John Green
- 15th May 2015 at 19:16Permalink- Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
What is wrong with basv's comment re financial sabotage and uncontrolled immigration ? Where have you been? We all know what has been going on. Or is it more because basv indicts Labour as the culprit ?
Red Ed as good as pleaded guilty, because of his omission of these topics, at the last Labour Party conference. When you don't want to talk about a problem that your party initiated, it is because you feel as guilty as hell.
Posts: 11,141
By: charliehunt - 10th May 2015 at 16:38 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Historically around a third of the UK electorate fails to vote. And most times there is a "what if" discussion. What's the point? No one knows how their votes would have been distributed so it adds nothing to the discussion.
Posts: 4,996
By: AlanR - 10th May 2015 at 16:48 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Possibly true.
Both parties have a lot riding on the outcome of enquiries. If they get to be made public in our lifetime :(
Telfon Tone will no doubt get off with a slapped wrist, I don't know how the Tories will handle their skeleton
in the cupboard though.
Sorry, alleged skeleton.
Posts: 6,044
By: bazv - 10th May 2015 at 17:40 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Trekky - if you want to be taken seriously about politics please do not quote the Huffington post LOL
My political views are that I do not trust many frontline politicians - I think DC may well be the best PM we have had in my lifetime ; ) (62 yrs)
BUT the tories have to guard against going too far right !
Sometimes elections are about who we think will do the least damage to the country rather than who will be the best !!
I am ok with DC representing the uk but there was no credible alternative this time round,Labour defeated themselves - they were not beaten by the tories - but by their own skeletons going back to teflon tone.
Posts: 6,535
By: John Green - 10th May 2015 at 18:03 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Trekbuster,
Only someone who is on the political left would deny the entrenched left wing political bias of the BBC. What is the evidence that turn my opinion into fact ? Where to start ?
I need only mention Question Time. I cannot now watch this dreadful Marxist confection without intending to plant my boot thru' the center of the screen. It is the most shameful denial of the alleged impartial neutrality of the BBC as one could wish for.
The audience is packed with socialist stooges who shout, scream and intentionally drown out any attempt by the panel to give a reply to a question if the reply, in the stooges opinion, contains a right or right of center point of view.
It is my recollection that this has been the format for at least twenty years and it is a wonder to me that they manage to recruit right wing panelists. Every point scored by left wing panelists is enthusiastically applauded and cheered, points of discussion won by the right are dismissed with jeers and booing. Socialist trash have turned this program into a bear pit.
In keeping with the BBC policy of Marxist indoctrination is the undoubted fact - not opinion, that ALL comedians who appear on BBC comedy shows espouse and include a leftist influence in their comedy routines. But then, this is entirely in keeping with that other pillar of leftist dogma that all show business figures are 'champagne socialists'. Helps with the cash flow.
How the BBC have been allowed to get away with their nasty political slant is something which I will never understand, the more especially as it is a public funded body which makes it so vulnerable to control.
Posts: 11,141
By: charliehunt - 10th May 2015 at 18:45 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I don't spend enough time with the BBC to form an opinion on accusations of bias from all quarters. But I am appalled by their addiction to the blinkered obsession with AGW - an overheard interview the other day with the discredited Lord Stern was a case in point, with the interviewer clearly incapable of putting the opposing argument.
My limited experience suggests that, in general, the BBC's reporters do too little reporting and too much opinionating.
Posts: 686
By: silver fox - 10th May 2015 at 21:57 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Not at all, but as usual we get the spiel that the people have spoken, truth less than two thirds have spoken, clearly I'm not happy with the result, but that is what it is and we have to live with it for 5 years, it would be more palatable if more voted even if the Tories still won, at least I would know that my views were in a true minority.
Posts: 686
By: silver fox - 10th May 2015 at 22:04 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
John Green
I didn't think even you were capable of such a pile of right wing dictatorial garbage, anyway you who wish to silence the BBC in favour of the likes of Murdoch, will probably get your wish, I predict that the amount the BBC gets from the TV license will be cut, probably to fund another tax break for hard pressed millionaires.
Posts: 9,780
By: David Burke - 10th May 2015 at 22:06 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
The two thirds that voted wanted to be engaged with the election. The third that didn't had the choice . Therefore democracy worked.
Posts: 6,535
By: John Green - 10th May 2015 at 22:39 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Yes, I'm pleased to comfirm that my right wing dictatorial garbage is probably equal to your left wing dictatorial garbage. Note my modesty: I'm not claiming that it is better.
Posts: 686
By: silver fox - 11th May 2015 at 08:52 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
One slight difference, I have not and would not attempt to shut anyone or anything down merely because it didn't agree with my opinion, our national broadcaster is probably as independent as we are likely to get, those from the left think the BBC is establishment biased, those from the right think the BBC is biased to the left, must be about right in the middle.
Posts: 6,535
By: John Green - 11th May 2015 at 10:17 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Nowhere, in any of my rants about the BBC have I ever claimed or, ever will, that the BBC should be closed or, to quote your words; shut down.
On the contrary, as long as it exists and projects its present left wing formula, it reminds us of the durable vein of totalitarianism that lurks not far under the surface of left wing politics.
Here is an admission: As a person with socialist leanings - which might seem to contradict certain perceptions - I loathe the excesses of socialism as I do capitalism.
Posts: 8,306
By: Lincoln 7 - 15th May 2015 at 07:36 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I WAS going to vote UKIP, then remembered that this would have been the 12th Election, (Plus a few more years I have lived through) and after a lot of thought, I decided not to vote for any Party. The reason being, in all my years, I havn't seen any party do an awful lot to improve things for the man in the streets. Taxes will still rise, be it on fuel or anything else they can get out of us. We were promised a referendom on the E.U by Blair, never happened, also the same by Cameron, another lie. No, I am of the opinion, that the fat cats will get fatter, and the rest of us will continue to have to make ends meet. I give it 3 months before they give themselves a pay rise, and an increase in their pension pot, the same pot they all pi** into. I would like to know why we need 650 of them to "Run" this small Island, plus the House of Lords, and laughably the Queen. It's all, and will always be a big Con. Just my take on things.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
Posts: 16,832
By: Moggy C - 15th May 2015 at 07:56 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Never saw you as a follower of Russell Brand Linc.
Your last point is well made. Of course revising the constituencies was on the Conservative manifesto last time but was lost thanks to a Lib Dem hissy - fit.
Moggy
Posts: 8,306
By: Lincoln 7 - 15th May 2015 at 09:14 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Moggy. I think Russell Brand is the biggest Pillock that ever lived, just cannot stand the man.
Jim.
Lincoln .7
Posts: 4,996
By: AlanR - 15th May 2015 at 10:30 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
...........and so say all of us !!
Posts: 11,141
By: charliehunt - 15th May 2015 at 12:52 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
The Boundary Commission's proposals reduce the total UK constituencies from 650 to 600 comprising England 502 down from 533 currently, Northern Ireland 16 from 18, Scotland 52 from 59 and Wales 30 from 40.
Posts: 8,505
By: mike currill - 15th May 2015 at 13:12 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I agree with your comments. As I always say the difference between democracy and a dictatorship is the a democracy allows you the right to choose which party you allow to do the dictating.Posts: 11,141
By: charliehunt - 15th May 2015 at 13:21 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
All that compulsory voting would achieve is to force those who do not wish to vote for some reason or another to vote. They are more likely to spoil their ballot in an act of protest than to register a meaningful vote, so what is the point. In a free democracy each should have the freedom to vote or not. And what would the sanction be if you failed to vote? And how would it be enforced? Say a million people did not vote - can you imagine the time and money involved in collecting fines or prosecuting people through the courts?
Posts: 2,248
By: snafu352 - 15th May 2015 at 17:37 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Given your comments re immigration in the first quote your bias is showing, so you'll have to excuse me if I take your following comments re BBC bias as the obviously biased tosh that they are :)
Posts: 6,535
By: John Green - 15th May 2015 at 19:16 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
What is wrong with basv's comment re financial sabotage and uncontrolled immigration ? Where have you been? We all know what has been going on. Or is it more because basv indicts Labour as the culprit ?
Red Ed as good as pleaded guilty, because of his omission of these topics, at the last Labour Party conference. When you don't want to talk about a problem that your party initiated, it is because you feel as guilty as hell.