Will you be voting at the upcoming elections?

[EvilPie]

I think apathy towards voting is a real shame. Our soldiers are losing their lives in Afghanistan every day fighting to give those people the right to vote, ergo freedom, yet many in this country are so complacent about their own liberty they don't even bother. I think all people should vote irrespective of the area they live in because exercising that right is +1 for democracy.

why do people always assume everyone wants to live in a democracy?

Because it's difficult to oppose the concept that having a choice is better than having no choice

Hmmmm...... Not quite a democracy though is it.

Do we really have a choice on the major things that affect our lives?

There's plenty of things that we don't have a choice in, the main one being that we are forced to pay taxes.

We don't have an opt out policy on tax and then be left to fend for ourselves.

I'm not allowed to buy 20kg of heroin and snort myself to death on it.

Tell me what choices you get to make? Are they really through choice are is it just that you've become part of the system that claims to be a democracy and people just accept?

I'm not knocking this btw. I'll happily go on paying my taxes and living my happy life as part of the rat race but I think if we look deeply there isn't a whole lot of free will going on in this or any other democratic country.

[Royal Flush]

I think apathy towards voting is a real shame. Our soldiers are losing their lives in Afghanistan every day fighting to give those people the right to vote, ergo freedom, yet many in this country are so complacent about their own liberty they don't even bother. I think all people should vote irrespective of the area they live in because exercising that right is +1 for democracy.

Voting isn't freedom.

[MANTIS01]

I think apathy towards voting is a real shame. Our soldiers are losing their lives in Afghanistan every day fighting to give those people the right to vote, ergo freedom, yet many in this country are so complacent about their own liberty they don't even bother. I think all people should vote irrespective of the area they live in because exercising that right is +1 for democracy.

why do people always assume everyone wants to live in a democracy?

Because it's difficult to oppose the concept that having a choice is better than having no choice

Hmmmm...... Not quite a democracy though is it.

Do we really have a choice on the major things that affect our lives?

There's plenty of things that we don't have a choice in, the main one being that we are forced to pay taxes.

We don't have an opt out policy on tax and then be left to fend for ourselves.

I'm not allowed to buy 20kg of heroin and snort myself to death on it.

Tell me what choices you get to make? Are they really through choice are is it just that you've become part of the system that claims to be a democracy and people just accept?

I'm not knocking this btw. I'll happily go on paying my taxes and living my happy life as part of the rat race but I think if we look deeply there isn't a whole lot of free will going on in this or any other democratic country.

We do really have a choice. One of the major things that affect our lives in this country is immigration. People have become disillusioned with the level of immigration and have thus started lodging protest votes with the BNP. This has prompted the major parties to rethink their strategy about immigaration and pledge quotas in the future.

On the subject of tax you have a very clear choice this election regarding NI contributions.

[Bongo]

There's plenty of things that we don't have a choice in, the main one being that we are forced to pay taxes.

We don't have an opt out policy on tax and then be left to fend for ourselves.

Apparently you can do that. Someone I know is trying...

[MANTIS01]

I think apathy towards voting is a real shame. Our soldiers are losing their lives in Afghanistan every day fighting to give those people the right to vote, ergo freedom, yet many in this country are so complacent about their own liberty they don't even bother. I think all people should vote irrespective of the area they live in because exercising that right is +1 for democracy.

Voting isn't freedom.

And not being able to vote is? Voting is a fundamental right of democracy which is a system offering citizens the most freedom.

[Maxriddles]

Haven't read the thread yet only the OP, will catch up though.

IMO voting should be compulsory, if you don't want to vote or there is no suitable candidate you should go and spoil your paper. Voting apathy is the friend of the extremist, small turnouts add more weight to the votes of committed followers of parties that would not have a look in otherwise.

I'd imagine the BNP, SNP, and other assorted minor parties with committed followers will be hoping that a lot of Tory, Labour, and floating voters stay at home.

[kinboshi]

Haven't read the thread yet only the OP, will catch up though.

IMO voting should be compulsory, if you don't want to vote or there is no suitable candidate you should go and spoil your paper. Voting apathy is the friend of the extremist, small turnouts add more weight to the votes of committed followers of parties that would not have a look in otherwise.

I'd imagine the BNP, SNP, and other assorted minor parties with committed followers will be hoping that a lot of Tory, Labour, and floating voters stay at home.

Isn't voting compulsory in Australia?  I remember someone posting about it previously...

[Maxriddles]

Haven't read the thread yet only the OP, will catch up though.

IMO voting should be compulsory, if you don't want to vote or there is no suitable candidate you should go and spoil your paper. Voting apathy is the friend of the extremist, small turnouts add more weight to the votes of committed followers of parties that would not have a look in otherwise.

I'd imagine the BNP, SNP, and other assorted minor parties with committed followers will be hoping that a lot of Tory, Labour, and floating voters stay at home.

Isn't voting compulsory in Australia?  I remember someone posting about it previously...

Yes, it is compulsory in Australia although the penalties for not voting aren't much of a deterrent.

http://www.aec.gov.au/faqs/voting_australia.htm

[77dave]

I think apathy towards voting is a real shame. Our soldiers are losing their lives in Afghanistan every day fighting to give those people the right to vote, ergo freedom, yet many in this country are so complacent about their own liberty they don't even bother. I think all people should vote irrespective of the area they live in because exercising that right is +1 for democracy.

why do people always assume everyone wants to live in a democracy?

Because it's difficult to oppose the concept that having a choice is better than having no choice

Hmmmm...... Not quite a democracy though is it.

Do we really have a choice on the major things that affect our lives?

There's plenty of things that we don't have a choice in, the main one being that we are forced to pay taxes.

We don't have an opt out policy on tax and then be left to fend for ourselves.

I'm not allowed to buy 20kg of heroin and snort myself to death on it.

Tell me what choices you get to make? Are they really through choice are is it just that you've become part of the system that claims to be a democracy and people just accept?

I'm not knocking this btw. I'll happily go on paying my taxes and living my happy life as part of the rat race but I think if we look deeply there isn't a whole lot of free will going on in this or any other democratic country.

We do really have a choice. One of the major things that affect our lives in this country is immigration. People have become disillusioned with the level of immigration and have thus started lodging protest votes with the BNP. This has prompted the major parties to rethink their strategy about immigaration and pledge quotas in the future.

On the subject of tax you have a very clear choice this election regarding NI contributions.

What politicians say is equal to what they do

[ScotlandStu]

   I am 66 and never missed a vote. Unfottunately, not one has been meaningful. I have stayed in five different constituences in this time----everyone solid labour. Bring on the Single Transferable Vote-----in my dreams.

[Dingdell]

Jut a thought. Does anyone ever consider the politics of a town before making a decision as to whether to move there?

[The Camel]

Jut a thought. Does anyone ever consider the politics of a town before making a decision as to whether to move there?

It's really annoying. Everywhere I've lived has been an ultra safe seat.

Tories, then Labour, now Tories again.

It is ridiculously unfair that my vote is less valuable than someone's in a marginal seat.

Proportional Representation is the only answer.

[nirvana]

Whilst I like to think of myself as a faux anarchist because Flux of Pink Indians were, actually I've quite enjoyed voting from time to time - not everytime I've had a chance, but now and then.

In General Elections I have a 100% record in that I've never voted for a winning party. Voted labour when young when they were getting stuffed and switched to Tory when Tony Blair took over.

In local elections I have always voted based on the 'only' rule. If there was only one woman on the ballot, one asian maybe, one one armed person - they'd get my vote.

Whilst I understand the sentiment about how critical it is to use your vote I look at all politicians with such cynicism now that I really can't muster up the energy to vote this time. May change my mind between now and then as, like a few others have said, I enjoy the whole election process because it should be important and reminds me of when I was young and could give a flying one.

[kinboshi]

Whilst I like to think of myself as a faux anarchist because Flux of Pink Indians were, actually I've quite enjoyed voting from time to time - not everytime I've had a chance, but now and then.

In General Elections I have a 100% record in that I've never voted for a winning party. Voted labour when young when they were getting stuffed and switched to Tory when Tony Blair took over.

In local elections I have always voted based on the 'only' rule. If there was only one woman on the ballot, one asian maybe, one one armed person - they'd get my vote.

Whilst I understand the sentiment about how critical it is to use your vote I look at all politicians with such cynicism now that I really can't muster up the energy to vote this time. May change my mind between now and then as, like a few others have said, I enjoy the whole election process because it should be important and reminds me of when I was young and could give a flying one.

He wins all that money last weekend, and it goes to his head

[Claw75]

Live in a "safe" seat  but will be voting, just hoping there's a left of Labour candidate again to register a protest.

that'll be the lib dem candidate then

Isn't voting compulsory in Australia?  I remember someone posting about it previously..

Australia and others http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting

IMO voting should be compulsory, if you don't want to vote or there is no suitable candidate you should go and spoil your paper.

this