D.e.m.o.c.r.a.c.y (((((((((dicttor))))))))))

[ilw]

errm the 50% comment was supposed to be tongue in cheek, though i suppose it could have been median average

While i agree testing is very open to abuse, I think its valid. Basically my argument for it is that I can't see why we don't let children vote. If the reason is that we consider them unable to make a valid and informed choice then i think that argument applies to a much greater percentage of the population, myself probably included.

If we had a referendum on going into Europe, everybody would vote because it's such a topical subject.

I was thinking about bringing referendums up, for instance the vote on the Euro which the UK government have long been side stepping. I really don't understand how the public is supposed to decide on a subject as complex as joining a single economic policy. I feel the public will end up basing the vote primarily on short term financial gain and a bizarre assortment of patriotic/nationalistic pride and prejudice. I suppose democracy does give people power over their own destiny, but are they capable of handling the responsibility.

I don't care about voter apathy/turnouts, as long as those who do vote know wtf they are actually voting for. I would never have a system of forcing everyone to vote, as this would not make the decision reached any more intelligent or reasoned (imo the reverse would be true).

If 50% of people are below average that is half the population that needs to be represented.

Surely you don't really mean this? If you do then i sincerely hope you are never involved in electoral reform

[Rat Faced]

If people were forced to vote in the UK, then the Monster & Raving Loony Party would have seats in the commons....almost certainly.








This may not be a bad idea

[clocker]

Originally posted by Rat Faced@29 December 2003 - 10:59
If people were forced to vote in the UK, then the Monster & Raving Loony Party would have seats in the commons....almost certainly.

I have no idea what their politics might be but they have my vote based solely on the name.

[ilw]

Alan Howling Lord Hope is the current Leader of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party. Until recently, Alan shared the Party Leadership with Cat Mandu, his cat. Sadly, Mandu was killed in a tragic road accident in 2002.

Didn't someone say that they actually won a seat once and weren't half bad? I think we could do worse...

The Natural Law Party offers a simple formula to create a perfect government capable of satisfying everyone. The formula is: establish A Group for a Government. The first act of the Natural Law Party when it takes office will be to establish a group of 7,000 Yogic Flyers in Britain, who will create a highly coherent national consciousness, bring the support of the evolutionary power of Natural Law to national life, and create an atmosphere in which everything will be right, positive and harmonious in our government. ... [then] we will have a clear sky and a new sunshine to make successful policies and programmes for all good to the nation.

[Sid Hartha]

Originally posted by ilw@28 December 2003 - 02:15
I've actually never voted...

I stopped reading after that.

[Rat Faced]

They've won a couple of council seats in local elections, and were quite good...except for the main parties "Ganging up" against them, from what i have heard.

Unfortunatly, ive never had the opportunity to vote for them myself, as they've never stood in this location..shame

The Natural Law Party offers a simple formula to create a perfect government capable of satisfying everyone. The formula is: establish A Group for a Government. The first act of the Natural Law Party when it takes office will be to establish a group of 7,000 Yogic Flyers in Britain, who will create a highly coherent national consciousness, bring the support of the evolutionary power of Natural Law to national life, and create an atmosphere in which everything will be right, positive and harmonious in our government. ... [then] we will have a clear sky and a new sunshine to make successful policies and programmes for all good to the nation.

Sounds like New Labour, except for the yogic flyers....give 'em time though.............


@ Clocker Here's their website

[ilw]

Originally posted by Sid Hartha+29 December 2003 - 17:56--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Sid Hartha @ 29 December 2003 - 17:56)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-ilw@28 December 2003 - 02:15
I&#39;ve actually never voted...

I stopped reading after that. [/b][/quote]
perhaps you should go back and try again, I did give vague details on why i tried & missed out on voting at the only general election i&#39;ve been eligible for.
I&#39;m also curious as to why my not having voted matters, as far as i can tell it has no bearing on the value or level of interest of my post&#39;s content except that i might know the joy of making a fairly insignificant (considering the distance between the two main parties in the constituency i live in) contribution to who will govern the country I live in.

[Sid Hartha]

So - in other words - you have never actually voted.

[Biggles]

Despite my cynicism I invariably plod down to the poll booth. Sadly, more in hope than any real expectation that anything much will change.

Although far from perfect, what could one have other than a representative democracy. Although benign dictatorships tend to get things done there are far too few safeguards to prevent the "benign" part being dropped.

There is a school of thought that suggests that countries run best when politicians do least. But then a cynic would say that wouldn&#39;t he?

A quote I rather like is "It doesn&#39;t matter who you vote for - the government always gets in" - not that I am suggesting we all rush out and read Gramsci - he was a little too earnest for my taste. I prefer my anarchists to be more of the Tooting Popular Front variety. However, there is a sense of everything pretty much going on as normal regardless of the party in power. Despite all her dislike of public spending, Mrs T did not really make much impact on the % of GDP spent on public services.

[ilw]

Originally posted by Sid Hartha@29 December 2003 - 19:04
So - in other words - you have never actually voted.

Wow, theres no sneaking things past you, whats your nickname... Razor?

Do you perhaps have a point? and if so, would you mind sharing?