[la gran siete]

Wish i could say that I will. Ok I will but only because I believe in exercising my right to the vote but I have little faith in the clowns on offer as most dont even live where I live so why should they care? Liitle of significance changes. We are run a by bunch of stick in the muds who cant even bother to do any canvassing or ask for our opinions. I would like to know what they propose to do to change this town for eg. .They have been jawing about a new indoor swimming pool for years and as yet nothing. They have rejected the possibilty of a new state of the art cinema complex in favour of a housing complex on a site which as yet remains but a pile of rubble. We have one of the worst assembly halls in the country with atrocious acoustics where we are supposed to watch bands, Every summer we have same travelling funfair not once but three times without a hint of something different.
My reason for this bellyache is simple. Is there any wonder there is such massive apathy to local government politics when the clowns involved cant even be bothered to connect with the public? I wonder what your home town is like? Are you happy with it? Do you think we should all be making more of an effort to improve it in some way- even voting? Do your councillors visit other councils to get ideas fro impriovenments say in energy conservation ,waste recycling, entertainment and general facilities including a voibrant shopping centre.? Just a few miles noreth frm me lies a town called Horsham. It was never much of a place only being famous for being between london and the south coast. It was dull and it was dreary. In the last 20 years it has had a rennaissance which has been staggering. A new sport centre, where there was none before, an indoor swimming pool replaced the archaich outdoor one,a new theatre and the whole shopping centre has been completely revamped to a very high standard utilisng natural stone and wrought iron for the hard landscaping, a highly controversial abstract water feature/sculpure desinged to celebrate the life and times of the poet Shelley which attracted a great deal of opprobrium because it was so different. The Gnats wanted a statue .They've got used to it now thankfully.This town is now, in my view a staggeringly pretty place.What the councilors did was involve the private sector for finance by selling prime locations to build new office blocks( Royal Sun Alliance)
Just down the road along the coast lies a town called Brighton. I like this place in fact I do my shopping there when I can. It is bohemian, has an excellent choice of quirky shops, very good night life ,good choice of restaurants , bars and cafes,not one or two but three multiplex cinemas. a wonderful palace called the Royal Pavilion commisioned by the prince Regent. Its also a good place to watch bands, boasting not one but two very adequate venues plus some very quirky spots for watching rather more esoteric acts. It also has an annual festival of the arts plus a gay Mardi Gras for those of that persuasion.My town is about the same size has a good flower display and the countries oldest cinema which has finally been revamped after years of jawing. Apart from that it rightfully boasts the title of Gods Waiting Room . Voting turn out is poor here. Can anyone be surprised?

[Pollywoggle]

I will always try and take part in any election I am elegible, just to celebrate the fact that i can. So many of our forbears died to preserve democracy in this country, I would rather make the effort to spoil my ballot if I do not agree with any of the candidates, rather than just not bother. Dictators and tyranny grow best on apathy.

[CooperUK]

I will vote, though it is hard to decide who to vote for in these days of sleeze ridden politics, even at local levels.

I believe we owe it to those who gave up their lives so we have such freedoms to exercise those rights. An old fashioned view for someone my age, but sincerely held.

[la gran siete]

Its a hard to vote for people who dont even try to gain your vote although I suspect there is an element of fear they might get some abuse.

[Bat-man]

Yes, I'll be voting. Don't think it makes any difference though.
Council tax will still be as high as the Empire State Building to help pay for early retirement and at least 200 jobs that aren't needed.
One of our local councillors has been living in Spain for the last nine months - she returned once to finalise the sale of her house!

[Jenn]

Have you heard that some councils are going to reduce the amount of times the bins are collected ?

In my view once a week was already at the limit so once every 2 weeks is just taking the p***.
And still council tax is going up 4% again.

I'll vote but don't think it makes any difference.

[Razor]

I never vote, I dont like any of them. IMO they are all as bad as each other.

I always get told off for not voting.

[stevegreen]

The apathy thread...........

I can't be bothered to reply

[gazbarber]

People who say that "there as bad as each other" ect, why don't you stand and make a difference, its likly you'd be on better money and you can really make a difference. They are public elelctions, do some canversing and unless you have a strong local issue get affiliated with one of more popular local parties (drop them when you get in if they are being restrictive).

[Bat-man]

why don't you stand and make a difference

When a council is dominated by one party or another you will make absolutely no difference at all.
You'll have to join the party and keep to the party line.
An independent cannot make a difference.

[gazbarber]

With that sort of attitute no one would be able to make a difference, lets give up before trying ...

[Razor]

Originally Posted by gazbarber

People who say that "there as bad as each other" ect, why don't you stand and make a difference, its likly you'd be on better money and you can really make a difference. They are public elelctions, do some canversing and unless you have a strong local issue get affiliated with one of more popular local parties (drop them when you get in if they are being restrictive).

We will never get what we want from politicians.

I want no taxes, free services, longer weekends, no curruption, no homeless, better medical system with no waiting lists, total freedom etc. I think it is unrealistic to think any government could provide this which is why I dont vote. They all want our cash and for us to work our arses off.

[stealther]

I always vote. But I have to admit I have little faith. I would elect myself if I could but my politics would not be popular

[Razor]

Originally Posted by gazbarber

With that sort of attitute no one would be able to make a difference, lets give up before trying ...

Its called life. Tough but true.

[pjclark1]

If you don't like your local council ........ stand yourself

One person can't make a difference UNLESS
Get your friends to stand too. It's free, it's a laugh, it scares the existing peeps s..............

Nothing like fielding a complete team for every council place.
If you get everyone to chuck in £20 you can register your very own political party (£200 ish)

[Bat-man]

Originally Posted by gazbarber

With that sort of attitute no one would be able to make a difference, lets give up before trying ...

I am speaking from experience. Around here it's a closed shop. If you're not 'in the group' you're not listened to. In the council chamber I have witnessed Labour members talking loudly (actually shouting) whilst an Independent was talking so as to drown him out.
It's bl**dy awful.

[gazbarber]

There are 2 type of people in this world
They are either:
Stupid
OR
Lazy

If they are neither then, well they are usualy billionaires, the leaders of countires/companies. Given some will get there by luck or through who you know but the really sucessful, change the world type do it 'on their own' (obviously lackkies and the like are involved).

[Bat-man]

Originally Posted by Razor

We will never get what we want from politicians.

I want no taxes, free services, longer weekends, no curruption, no homeless, better medical system with no waiting lists, total freedom etc. I think it is unrealistic to think any government could provide this which is why I dont vote. They all want our cash and for us to work our arses off.

I want reasonable taxes, some free services (what are the taxes for?) two day weekends, no corruption (not to much to ask), as little homelesness as possible (round my way that has nothing to do with the council and is dealt with by an independent local charity), a decent medical system (again nothing to do with the local council), a decent amount of freedom to use my cash as I want.
The last Chief Executive was got rid of because he was ineffective but was given a £250.000.00 handout of our money to go!
The Police precept has gone 'through the roof' yet most policing is in our county city thirty odd miles away. In the market town where I live there are two police officers (sometimes less).
All I want is a council that represents the people and not a self serving gravy train at our expense.
Not to much to ask.

But I'll still go and vote (I have never missed voting in any election since I was twenty one years of age.

[Razor]

I totally repsect the right to vote, but i just cant see my offerings making the difference especially when I dont agree fully with any party. Like i said in my first post I do get told off for not voting. I personally have better things to do with my life than voting for someone I dont care about or believe in.

Money is the route of all things wrong within the government but at the moment there is no way society can run without money. Look at the amount of wars caused by money. People being robbed, conned, atacked, made homeless, starving, jealousy, greed etc.....

Also I would love to see a 2 day working week. (are we put on this earth to work or to enjoy our surroundings and everything the earth has to offer).

I have an ideal world in my head but I doubt that it will ever happen in my life time, if ever.

[LV426]

Sadly, I won't vote. Not because I don't believe in the democratic process, nor because I am apathetic per se. But because there is absolutely nothing to help me choose one candidate over another. Ditto national politics. They are all equally bad.

I would go and vote if somehow I could express my distaste for all of them. If there were a real plausible alternative. There isn't.

[Razor]

Originally Posted by LV426

Sadly, I won't vote. Not because I don't believe in the democratic process, nor because I am apathetic per se. But because there is absolutely nothing to help me choose one candidate over another. Ditto national politics. They are all equally bad.

I would go and vote if somehow I could express my distaste for all of them. If there were a real plausible alternative. There isn't.

I am surprised Nigel I thought you would of definately voted. I agree with your above comments.

[Battlestar]

Perhaps if voting was made law, and people were fined if they did not vote, then this country as a whole could speak its mind and change the face of the political landscape.

[MartinImber]

Don't know who to vote for - moderate right wing, will be on council tax in the end.

My pay has not gone up anywhere like the CT does

[la gran siete]

We seem to be a passive lot us! We accept whatever is thrown at us . Oh yes we have a jolly good moan as I did but then just shrug our shoulders and become apathetic Is it any wonder we get the local politicians we do? I have never seen any of mine and I have absolutely no idea what they do. What I do know is that they dont LIVE in my town so I have absolutely no confidence that they give two hoots about it. What i do think they do is indulge in damage limitation that is do as little as possible for fear of upsetting too many voters on polling day. I say that because whilst for the most part we have had a Tory controlled council, a few years ago we had a Lib/Dem one. And what did they do?The ONLY change they made? They completely changed parking arrangements thats what. So now we have park and ride schemes and restricted parking in the town centre. It works very well because now everyone gets a chance to park whereas before it was very much first come first serve for the WHOLE day. The change proved a good idea except people bellyached till kingdom come and the Lib/dems got voted out next time People seem to hate change.
In Horsham there were petitions galore against the the new commercial buildings which sprang up eg Sainsburys / Royal Sun Alliance but the good thing about the positioniong of the former is the fact its central and therfore means that shoppers are encouraged to leave their cars in the park after doing their food shopping and going to visit the other shops in the vicinity shops which are situated in a vary smart centre.It worked and the bellyachers have subsequently kept veeeeery quite. The councilors( Tory) had the guts to see their vision through. For me these councillors cared about the town and the community which is more than I can say about the Worthing clowns .

[LFCRules]

Apathy rules , 31 and counting, haven't voted once, ever, for anyone

[Garrett]

Well I be voting although I think it will be a waste of time, the same shower of incumbent poo get in every time. But some people always vote the same idiots in woho seem bent on destroying the town; some people must love to see less and less services for at least 3 times the rate of inflation rise in council tax.

[Seth Gecko]

Originally Posted by LV426

I would go and vote if somehow I could express my distaste for all of them. If there were a real plausible alternative. There isn't.

I concur. The arguement once was made that I should vote for the person I agreed with most, but that never made sense to me as there was either very little I agreed with, or that I couldn't vote for someone with policies I didn't agree with, even if they "won" the most points so to speak.

Put someone in front of me whom I agree wholeheartedly with, I'll vote. But the current batch of gibbering idiots? Not a chance.

[Jenn]

Where I lived before I had the choice between a Labour candidate and a Conservative candidate.
Talk about choice...

[JohnG]

I'm 43 and only ever voted in one local election as I wanted to try and stop them doing a bus lane near where I live. The chap who keeps getting in around here in the local council elections is a waste of space, he never returns phone calls or emails and only phoned me back when I complained to Notts County Council about him He only gets in because he's Labour and Labour always gets in around here, they'd vote for a chimp if it wore a red ribbon
I too think they are all a waste of time !

[PoochJD]

Hi,

Dave you said:

Originally Posted by Dave-S

Perhaps if voting was made law, and people were fined if they did not vote, then this country as a whole could speak its mind and change the face of the political landscape.

Alas, even when people do vote, with our "First-past-the-post" voting system (or "complete farce" as it's more commonly known as), evenb if you people do vote for who they want, you still get s*it-for-brains politicians like Blair managing to win another term as our country's leader... or should that be lemming, seeing as all Blair does is follow Bush around all day long?!

What I'd like is for a politician to promise to do just one thing, and actually bloody well do it, in comparison with someone who promises to do ten things, and does none of them.

Personally, I'd like (in no specific order of preference):
- lower taxes
- more police
- being tough on crime and criminals, and some kind of equality on their punishments, rather than the disparity that you get now
- less Tesco's stores being opened
- a ban on hoodies/chav's and general idiots who loiter around our towns at night, especially in gangs or groups
- improved buses, with reduced fares
- improved railways with much-reduced fares
- make certain services renationalised, e.g. the trains, the electric, the post office, the gas, phones, etc, so that you only need to phone one number (or visit one company) to get to speak to someone who can actually help you
- better customer service at Sky
- more help (financial and physical) for the elderly
- better pensions
- a ban on all politicians from lying to the public (one lie, and that's it - you're out)
- better housing for everyone
- help for the homeless
- a tougher stance on immigration (although only so as we weed out those who should genuinely be allowed to immigrate, compared to those who just want to rip Britain's tax payers off)
- a ban on any child under the age of 18 from being allowed more than one child (If they do, they get no state benefits to help them, thus avoiding younger and younger kids from using the Benefits system to simply sponge off and support them)
- the ability for stores to sell non-BBFC-certificated DVD's
- better education for our children
- more help and support for victims of bullies in schools
- more support and aid for children who are unable to be schooled normally, due to health issues (e.g. disability, et al)
- a shorter working week (no more than 5 days max)
- a proper minimum wage (of at least £5-50 per hour) for everyone
- for anyone who wants to study at university to be able to get financial support, but only if they can prove they are worth giving the money to (and to stop the very few people who just use the money to arse-around for three years)
- better child care support for single parents, and other parents in general
- a tighter limit on what the press (especially the Tabloids) can print, in relation to unproven accusations.

I think that more or less covers my requirements for a better society.

Oh, and although I will be voting, I know that my vote is almost certainly going to be a complete waste of time. But I guess that's British politics for you.


Pooch