The Politics Thread

[RAIDER32]

39 years old and I've never voted,

This is the first time I've ever wanted to vote, there seems to be a choice this time.

[Incontro]

Charge drunks who visit A&E £200 on the spot. Problem solved.

[Goodkat]

The world is full of idiots, but what I find strange/frustrating is how these people got past reception!

You give your name and a summary of your complaint, so surely even a receptionist could tell someone with a cold or paper-cut to p*off.

Have signs at the door stating this isn't a place for minor ailments, and charges will apply if you proceed.

On a policy note, I think anyone draining the NHS due to stupidity (drinking) or criminality (cut while robbing a house) should have to pay the cost of their treatment.

Like benefits, it's there for when it's needed, not there to be abused when you can't be bothered to look after yourself.

Compensation culture is what makes them. If a paper cut went septic the person would sue..

Sent via the 'Clacks'

GNU STP

[JackR]

Labour, I'm a proud Labour Party member.

Firstly, I agree that there is a need for a "long-term economic plan" but it is my personal belief that EVERYBODY should contribute to this plan. I don't believe that high earners should get a tax break while working families are having to pay the disastarous Bedroom Tax.

Secondly, as a student, I believe that Labour policies are far better. The Liberal Democrats promised to cut tuition fees in 2010 but actually HAD to vote to rise them. The Rt. Hon. Mr Cameron often uses the phrase "earning or learning" when realistically, we as young people can do neither. We can't learn because Micheal Gove ruined the education system and we can't earn because we don't have the qualifications due to Mr Gove ruining the education system. The education system now only appears to work for those who can afford the £12,000+ a year for private education (Which may I add, is counterintuitive to the entire system.)

The "self-servatives" are sticking to this absurd policy of austerity when the Institute of Fiscal Studies has show that Labour could increase spending while decreasing the deficit at the same rate as the Tories. The Tories clearly don't care about austerity as they have enough money to cover their privately educated, nice and warm backs throughout any economic crisis.

To me, as a member of a working family, there is a clear cost of living crisis. Energy bills are way too high, companies shouldn't be profiting on such a vital service. Similarly, a higher minimum wage needs to be paid, or even better, give companies that pay the Living Wage a tax break because the Living Wage will actually bring in more tax in other forms such as VAT. Cuts to the welfare budget SHOULD NOT happen, instead of forcing people into work by decreasing benefits, make work more attractive by increasing wages. It's alright for those who have had their backsides wiped their entire life but some people actually NEED benefits.

Bankers bonuses SHOULD be taxed, if they're going to be paid for ruining the country, the least they can do is pay tax on their huge bonuses. A Mansion Tax is fair and just, these people are far better off than those living on the breadline. It is their duty as a citizen of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to pay their fair share. More money = higher taxes. Non-domicile statuses should not be exploited anymore. We are NOT a tax haven, pay up or go elsewhere.

Immigration is another key issue. However, leaving the EU is not an option, we could not survive without the European Union. I believe for a government to leave the decision up to the sort of people who say "BRITISH JOBS FOR BRITISH PEOPLE... But not that job, I ain't doing that" is completely irresponsible.

Britain only succeed when working families succeed. Conservatives don't understand this concept.

Why I'm not voting:

Conservative: They're in it for their own kind. George Osbourne's best man made tens of millions through the sale of a beloved public service, the Royal Mail.

Liberal Democrats: I can't really trust them, they break their promises and sold their soul for the very little power that the coalition government offered them.

UKIP: The EU is vital for trade and business as well as our NHS, to leave the Union is this party's only policy.

Green: Their policy contains holes in the mathematics. There are far more important issues than global warming.

THESE ARE JUST MY REASONS FOR SUPPORTING THE LABOUR PARTY. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and beliefs. These are mine and I thought long and hard before joining the Labour Party 18 months ago.

Britain can be better. Under a Labour government.

[MONDEO TXS 2.2]

Socialists run out of ideas when they run out of other peoples money to spend ,or rather, waste.

[Stoney871]

The conveniently forgotten fact is that Labour got the country into debt trying to buy votes including throwing away gold reserves just before the price went up.

They created quangos and government agencies that do nothing but produce pointless statistics then base poor policies on these worthless figures.

Conservatives come back into power and get pilloried for cutting costs because Labour p****d it all away.

It's like praising the litterbug that throws crap everywhere then whining at the road sweeper that has to pick it up.

[Goodkat]

JackR, I applaud you for your conviction.

However, I am with Stoney here, Labour royally ruined the economy. I spoke to a member of a quango (can't remember which) at a wedding, and she told me in all seriousness, if I presented her team with a jokey research project, as long as I could prove it had purpose and something vaguely resembling a point, they'd fund it happily. New Labour was a load of crap. Apparently now it is another Labour, not sure I can give them another shot at the title.

Sent via the 'Clacks'

GNU STP

[MONDEO TXS 2.2]

Rather be brown bread than red . . :)

[jeebowhite]

I don't trust any party, they all have some "good idea's" which at the end of the day show up as little more than an "un-promise".

I dont trust politicians because no matter who they are, they are all so far from reality, and out of touch with the real world that I cannot find faith in any of them. However, I am on the fence at the moment.

UKIP at the end of the day say what everyone is thinking - thank goodness for that! about time a poltician actually said what the rest of the UK thinks, and dares to challenge the publics opinion to the overpaid grade A muppets who think the best way to make everyone feel better, is to bend everyone over in equal measure. That I agree to an extent is necessary, but I applaud those parties who want to bend over those who somehow always have a sick day at the time the "distribuition" occurs. However an enforced abortion for any child with down syndrome? I don really want to stick my X to that!

Labour are the muppets who got us into this financial crisis, and quite frankly I wouldnt trust them to manage my childrens pocket money. However, overall they tended to have the best of the British population at the root of what they do, however they threw our soldiers into commitment of war for however many years they fancied without asking the people who they were putting into the stray of bullets! I dont trust them in the slightest.

Lib Dem's- Led by a Robin wannabe who doesn't appear to know how to stand up for anything, they haven't kept any real promises worth anything. If he grew a pair and stood up and really pushed his parties morals then we would have a slightly (marginally) more appropriate party. I still dont trust them though.

Conservative - well.... look how well that has worked for us so far. I dont believe a party should stand up for the people who can afford everything, and keep sticking it to the people who actually need help! Its another moment I wonder how many times I have been bent over, as I really do not recall how many it has happened so far!

Green - the surprise in the game. I never thought I would pledge allegiance to a group who want to kill the car! but, I find their manifesto these days is much more about the population! NHS First, Fairer Economy, Decent homes and then their green guff.... whilst I know we need to protect the planet, I dont think it should be first and foremost on a manifesto, I believe personally that should come after the country is stable. I did a quick quiz (http://www.whoshouldyouvotefor.com/index.php) and I know these things are not always based fully on fact and are normally written by a randy teen in the bedroom who has just discovered the internet holds access to bussoms...

I actually think that (once I have read their manifesto) I could well be voting green this year. I don't trust anyone else, and right now, I would rather trust someone I dont know, but who seems to have my best interest at heart, and who haven't stuffed it up yet, rather than a bunch of gutless and out of touch political wallies who barely know that the daily necessities actually needed cost money, and don't just magically appear in your fridge, whilst your pocket is lined with expenses that half the country wouldn't earn in a couple of years!

[Goodkat]

Well done so far on avoiding the lock/dust up, this thread is now in for a shot at the World Record for longest running political thread without lock or 'Your mum' insults.

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GNU STP

[jeebowhite]

I must admit I am surprised it has been kept for the most part mature!

Having now skim read the green party manifesto, whilst there is some bits I dont agree with, out of an 80 page manifest I only found grumble on about 15 to 20 points.

Though wish they were more restrictive of migration.

[SeanW]

The world is full of idiots, but what I find strange/frustrating is how these people got past reception!

You give your name and a summary of your complaint, so surely even a receptionist could tell someone with a cold or paper-cut to p*off...

I wouldn't be so sure. I turned up at A+E with my (now ex-) girlfriend who started with an asthma attack whilst in the car. As I was near the hospital anyway, I drove her straight there.

Got to the desk (it was early AM - we'd been up at tbe beach for sunrise) and the receptionist was arguing with me about how it cannot be that bad - afterall, we hadn't called for an ambulance...meanwhile my girlfriend was starting to show cyanosis of the lips. Stupid on the desk told me there would be a 2-3hr wait. At this point the Triage nurse came out to call in her next patient, took on look at my girlfriend and whisked her straight through with the aide of a Paramedic who appeared to book a patient in.

I was going to lodge a complaint - but the Triage Nurse & the Sister on duty tore the receptionist a new one!

My point is that I would never trust an un-trained receptionist. Realistically, I think A+E waiting times can be improved by changing the triage system.

As for the erection, I'm leaning towards the Conservatives. I really don't trust that wassock running Labour. Cameron was honest in the run up to the last election...he said difficult decisions would have to be made, and he has. I also recall an apology in advance if it turned out any were wrong.

He isn't much of a talker, but he sure does have the balls to make some tough decisions.

I might comment more later if I can be bothered lol

[jeebowhite]

I'm presuming you mean election as opposed to an erection lol

[SeanW]

Whoops - yes, I did mean eLection...although I'm sure there's a joke in there somewhere lol

[MONDEO TXS 2.2]

One thing's for sure, should, God forbid, Labour resume wrecking the country, we'll be residing in Portugal as we did between the nightmare years of 1997 - 2010.

[Phil 87]

I'm very much on the fence at the moment. The last time I put any serious thought into politics was before the last general election when I was still at uni, and I voted Lib Dems mainly because they seemed to be the most student friendly. Needless to say I won't be voting for them this time.

I ruled out UKIP the moment I found out they think that man-made climate change isn't a thing. They have plenty of other problems but that was enough to stop me from considering them.

Apart from that I need to start reading some manifestos I suppose, but from what I remember they are just documents designed to tell you how bad the other parties are.

[Goodkat]

I'm very much on the fence at the moment. The last time I put any serious thought into politics was before the last general election when I was still at uni, and I voted Lib Dems mainly because they seemed to be the most student friendly. Needless to say I won't be voting for them this time.

I ruled out UKIP the moment I found out they think that man-made climate change isn't a thing. They have plenty of other problems but that was enough to stop me from considering them.

Apart from that I need to start reading some manifestos I suppose, but from what I remember they are just documents designed to tell you how bad the other parties are.

Man made climate change isn't a thing... :P

However, UKIP reckon the world is flat, that all people without 5 generations of ancestry (provable) born in the UK, or anyone who is a 'funny colour' should be booted out of the country, but they will get the vote from the people who are sick of Conservative or Labour as a you to them.

[jeebowhite]

Lol. I must admit, greens manifesto said little about how rubbish everyone else was but I thought read relatively well.

[Ru4hie]

If there is a candidate for these on the ballot sheet they will get my vote..... http://www.yorkshirefirst.org.uk/.

Essentially they want good old Yorkshire to become independent ala the Welsh and the Scots we sounds stupid until you realise Yorkshire has a population that is similar in number to Scotland and economy that is double that of Wales. They want tax money to be spent at a local rather than national level and to sort local issues locally.

[jeebowhite]

The day nears, and I think I just swapped seats... UKIP, here I come.

I agree with pretty much everything they have said so far, I think its reasonable and sensible, and having researched my only real concern (the mandated abortions) it was confirmed it was a special case who proposed it and was one mans point of view and not the manifesto.

I am feeling more so confident that a vote for UKIP is not likely to be wasted....

[alexp999]

Shame you feel like that James.

I have tried to keep out of this so far, but really disappointed that people are being pulled in to the extreme right wing views of the mild BNP, they seem like the English version of the republicans, clearly stuck some 100 years in the past.

I can just about understand the older generation (like my grandparents) falling for their scare mongering, as they are from a different era, which didn't even consider racism an issue.

Still everyone is entitled to their opinion and all that. You managed to get me to come and say my piece, lol :P

[RAIDER32]

Shame you feel like that James.

I have tried to keep out of this so far, but really disappointed that people are being pulled in to the extreme right wing views of the mild BNP, they seem like the English version of the republicans, clearly stuck some 100 years in the past.

I can just about understand the older generation (like my grandparents) falling for their scare mongering, as they are from a different era, which didn't even consider racism an issue.

Still everyone is entitled to their opinion and all that. You managed to get me to come and say my piece, lol :P

No one is being 'pulled' to UKIP's views, they are just agreeing with the 'facts' they see every day that no one else will talk about.

Anyone who thinks they are all lies and propaganda are lucky enough to live outside those facts.

The team I work with has dropped from 8 full-time locals to 3 (inc me),

Agencies phone up daily to offer (European) workers, which we take all the time, they are usually very nice, but wouldn't a British person be?.

Any help we get from the job centre is usually British, working for nothing.

As house demand goes up house prices & rent stay high, as the work force increases wages stay low.

Every Politician is banging on about building hundreds of thousands of new homes rather than address the over demand.

Also sick of hearing it's 'Good For The British Economy'

Was it good for the 'economy' to send call centre jobs to a foreign country? I'm sure the businesses will do well, but British people won't benefit.

Was it good for the 'economy' to flood the country with cheap labour? I'm sure the businesses will do well, but the British people won't benefit.

Was it good for the 'economy' to send manufacturing jobs to another country? I'm sure the businesses will do well, but the British people won't benefit.

It's not being racist to think there needs to be a re-balancing of how this country works, after years of systematic abuse from bankers & businesses,

I've said for years that Accountants have ruined this country, everything is about saving those pennies, it's only benefited the top dogs and hurt the people.

I think all these leftist students going on about how foreigners do the jobs we don't want to do are the real 'racists',

How can someone think someone from another country is better suited to do the !Removed! jobs, while they go to coffee shops with their iPhones.

Britain wasn't built on what we did and didn't want to do, that would be America.

My British Asian neighbour is concerned with all the Romanians moving in, lots of stuff being nicked apparently, is he racist? I think he's moving soon.

Meh, but what do I know,

I live in the 1920's and believe the world is flat :P

[jeebowhite]

I must admit, I am between green and UKIP, however, UKIP I believe (whilst the odd member may be outspoken and idiotic - name one party who doesnt have at least one of those people lol) are becoming more the voice of the britsh people, saying what people think, want to spend "British" money on Britain, rather than the EU (I may be under-informed about the EU etc, however I do feel its a sensible idea to pull out of the EU, and focus on our own debt and problems, take control of our own law's etc).

I did only skim read their policies, but I honestly think these days UKIP are focusing on the sense of dealing with british problems, in a way that does not stifle us all.

Then again, I voted for them last year as a protest vote lol.

I honestly am still on the fence though, but unless someone can give me an opinion to dissuade me back to the greens, I dont trust any of the main parties, labour, conservative or liberal democrats. I see it this way, I think all the governments of the last 10 years have stuffed up royally in many ways. If I vote UKIP, or Greens, at least they have a first chance of stuffing it up lol.

I am no political expert, but I dont trust anyone! If I sit back and refuse to vote I have no right to complain, but so far te numbers of how they want to spend on the NHS (I use it enough, its important to me!) and how they want to have GP's in A&E to "queue bust" effectively, combined with building cost effective housing, focusing on keeping our borders closed on the free and open basis it has been (yet still allowing talent in), spending the money we fork out day after day on clearing up the debt but keeping frontline services as they are, I really think that makes sense.

I dont want to stuff the country by voting for UKIP if they are underlying to stuff it up even more, but so far, the numbers and the headlines speak to me as important facts, and keeping the right things in focus...

Then again, politics is all about saying what you want the people to hear, UKIP are as viable to do this as any other party :)

[RAIDER32]

I don't think for a minute that UKIP will win and run the country,

I think things have improved over the last few years, and I like the idea of coalitions,

My (first ever) vote will go to UKIP, but a Conservative/UKIP coalition would be my only realistic outcome.

Too many people vote like picking a Football team, they vote for who will likely win, not for who they want.

Someone needs to make Cameron keep his 'promise' lol.

[Stoney871]

In a nutshell-

Labour waste our money trying to buy votes and are way too easily manipulated by unions for their own gains.

Lib-Dems are leaches that have no original policies, they just parrot other parties policies with a twist.

UKIP are just saying what we want to hear but don't have the credibility to carry it off.

Green Party just want to ban anything they deem bad for the ecology (cars, nuclear power, etc) and won't be happy until we all have a bird mincer in our gardens and cycle to work.

Tories aren't brilliant by a long chalk but have been hamstrung by having to bow to LibDem nannying and having to claw back the squillions Labour pis**d away on bad policies.

TBH I'd rather not vote for any of them but must admit that the Tories are the best of a bad lot.