General Election Date
Replies (8)
Please login or register to join the discussion.
I am currently more using my vote to punish rather than to reward, this has become a stronger impulse as I have become older, and likely more cynical, with less belief in a Brave New World and more in , stop them doing any more damage.
Labour got my vote last time not because I approve of them, although there were one or two policies with which I agreed, but to punish the Conservatives for inflicting an EU referendum on the country which was not in the national interest but because of internal party political issues and their own self interest;a term in office is a mere five years, Brexit is for life.
Do I revert to the Conservatives (my party of choice in recent years), I do not think so on current performance, they are not impressive and look like a vacumn of intellect and vision.
Do I revert to the Liberals (my party of choice in the 1980s), well, hard call, their EU ref2 idea appears to mean an even longer period of uncertainty, I like the sentiment but pragmatism says we are where we are, make the best (or worst) of Brexit and lets get it over with rather than prolong the agony.
The most annoying thing is going to be that we really will not know the real Brexit outcome for 40-50 years, doubt I will live long enough to read the history books re 2016 that tell us the real ending.
What I would like to see is Brexit sorted (one way or another) a schism in the centre with a stronger centrist party and the Looney Tunes of left and right cast into the wilderness, but I do not really expect to see this; the catch is electorates around the world find the centre boring, these days they want the impact politician promising the earth and I suspect will discard their new Messiah after a very limited time, the days of building stable political platforms are maybe over.
Yes, German elections plus Le Pen in France and of course Trump in US give pause for thought.
I suspect it is the side effect of the world's media losing control of the message to the masses and our (and I
do at times include myself in the our) belief at times that we understand problems just as well as the experts; it is a dangerous world where everyone believes their opinion is as valid as one formed by an individual with a lifetime's experience in the field.
Re this latter point the politicians are significantly to blame. If the political conversation is dumbed down to the lowest common denominator (and it is, Strong and Stable, anyone) , so that everyone can play the politics game by mouthing platitudes, what do they expect.
Great example, Emily Thornberry on Radio 4 news at lunchtime re the great Labour bodyswerve of an EU/Brexit debate. Yes, honest, they all wanted to discuss housing etc, this is how Labour decision making re conference works, there was no arm twisting-she must take the electorate as total plonkers and is brazen enough to spout such nonsense.
Am rather puzzled at a punishment vote against the Conservatives for calling a referendum - it was after all a 2015 manifesto commitment.
The prospect of a far left government is indeed quite terrifying not just economically but on the world stage politically as well. can you imagine JC having a cup of tea with Rocket Man?
Unfortunately many of Corbyn's proposals(Rail nationalisation, business taxation, ending PFI) actually have popular support and mainstream parties(in reality just the Conservatives) must do more to dispel the myths of state ownership and control.
Indeed. Behind the new found optimism and smiley smooth talk from the left wing clowns there is an ugly politics based on spite,envy and revenge lurking just behind the veil. Fantasy politics but not in a good way.
Like the discussion! For me it all comes down to the system, which although not explicitly 2-party, effectively is that; so it all ends up being a cat-fight between two bloated incumbents who trade insults and play politics with the things that matter. Such as the health service, taxation policies, education, crime, etc.
Just as every other aspect of modern life in the 21st century is changing (and usually rapidly), why isn't the political system changing. So the big question.
Would we get better outcomes from politics if we reformed the whole system for the 21st century? If you think we might, hop over to www.60months.uk and support my movement for change.