Gordon Brown.....

[jakally]

I'm still undecided as to where my votes going, guess I'm a floater.

Do people vote for the person, or for the party.  In the States, people are definitely voting for the President as a person.  Jon touched on it earlier, but we aren't voting for a president.  But is it important to elect a statesman as well voting for the party who closest represents your views?  If that's the case the Tories and Labour have got it all wrong imo.

I'm pretty negative at the moment with regards to the whole election process.
Just feels like a pretty ineffective way to select the best group of people to run the country.

Lots of people voting for the same group they have always voted for, irrespective.
Some swayed by trivial factors such as whether they like the look of the leader of a party, whether he smiles / waves at the right time.
Some focus on a very small issue that is directly relevant to them, but ignoring lots of bigger factors......
Too much of a popularity contest, to ever be about forming a high achieving government.

I know this isn't anything new............I must just be getting old and grumpy.......

[Claw75]

I'm still undecided as to where my votes going, guess I'm a floater.

Do people vote for the person, or for the party.  In the States, people are definitely voting for the President as a person.  Jon touched on it earlier, but we aren't voting for a president.  But is it important to elect a statesman as well voting for the party who closest represents your views?  If that's the case the Tories and Labour have got it all wrong imo.

I'm pretty negative at the moment with regards to the whole election process.
Just feels like a pretty ineffective way to select the best group of people to run the country.

Lots of people voting for the same group they have always voted for, irrespective.
Some swayed by trivial factors such as whether they like the look of the leader of a party, whether he smiles / waves at the right time.
Some focus on a very small issue that is directly relevant to them, but ignoring lots of bigger factors......
Too much of a popularity contest, to ever be about forming a high achieving government.

I know this isn't anything new............I must just be getting old and grumpy.......

I feel very much the same.  It really does seem more so this time round, but can't put my finger on why.  Maybe I am just getting old and grumpy too.

[Bongo]

Wow I never thought I could lean back towards labour prior to this election but I think it's just happened.

Genuinely interested in the factors that have caused this - given that it is against the tide a little.
 

Even the Guardian gave the debate to Cameron so it sounds a lot against the tide to me!

[Graham C]

Cheer up Gordon, could be worse, could be in the Ukraine

[MANTIS01]

I'm still undecided as to where my votes going, guess I'm a floater.

Do people vote for the person, or for the party.  In the States, people are definitely voting for the President as a person.  Jon touched on it earlier, but we aren't voting for a president.  But is it important to elect a statesman as well voting for the party who closest represents your views?  If that's the case the Tories and Labour have got it all wrong imo.

I'm pretty negative at the moment with regards to the whole election process.
Just feels like a pretty ineffective way to select the best group of people to run the country.

Lots of people voting for the same group they have always voted for, irrespective.
Some swayed by trivial factors such as whether they like the look of the leader of a party, whether he smiles / waves at the right time.
Some focus on a very small issue that is directly relevant to them, but ignoring lots of bigger factors......
Too much of a popularity contest, to ever be about forming a high achieving government.

I know this isn't anything new............I must just be getting old and grumpy.......

Maybe we should give people some credit. Most people wont really cast their vote based upon a wave and a smile, most people will want to learn more about policies. That's why these first election debates have been a real success; being an opportunity to engage more people in politics. Sure, the personality of the leader takes on greater importance as a trade off...so parties need to consider that when electing future leaders. Overall thou it's good to be engaging what was a lethargic and disillusioned electorate. Lots of people voting for the same party they always have? Lib Dem growth suggests not.

[boldie]

People are so unfair on the Labour Party.

They have so many good ideas and policies to bring a brighter future to Britain yet voters seem determined to judge them on their last 13 years of government. 

[jakally]

I'm still undecided as to where my votes going, guess I'm a floater.

Do people vote for the person, or for the party.  In the States, people are definitely voting for the President as a person.  Jon touched on it earlier, but we aren't voting for a president.  But is it important to elect a statesman as well voting for the party who closest represents your views?  If that's the case the Tories and Labour have got it all wrong imo.

I'm pretty negative at the moment with regards to the whole election process.
Just feels like a pretty ineffective way to select the best group of people to run the country.

Lots of people voting for the same group they have always voted for, irrespective.
Some swayed by trivial factors such as whether they like the look of the leader of a party, whether he smiles / waves at the right time.
Some focus on a very small issue that is directly relevant to them, but ignoring lots of bigger factors......
Too much of a popularity contest, to ever be about forming a high achieving government.

I know this isn't anything new............I must just be getting old and grumpy.......

Maybe we should give people some credit. Most people wont really cast their vote based upon a wave and a smile, most people will want to learn more about policies. That's why these first election debates have been a real success; being an opportunity to engage more people in politics. Sure, the personality of the leader takes on greater importance as a trade off...so parties need to consider that when electing future leaders. Overall thou it's good to be engaging what was a lethargic and disillusioned electorate. Lots of people voting for the same party they always have? Lib Dem growth suggests not.

A wave and a smile is an obvious exaggeration..............

But look through this thread, many of the posts are from people arguing from a party perspective..........who are going to argue, and vote that way, no matter what.
The average IQ of people on a poker forum >> the average IQ of people.

If we cannot get more intelligent people to approach this with an open mind, then it is reasonable to assume these issues are more extreme in other 'groups'.

[Woodsey]

People are so unfair on the Labour Party.

They have so many good ideas and policies to bring a brighter future to Britain yet voters seem determined to judge them on their last 13 years of government. 

For sure labour have done some decent stuff over the last 13 years, that said they do waste a lot of money, I see it in the NHS all the time and it pisses me off..........

[Woodsey]

This was a bit slower than normal.

BIGOT

Brown is gone on Thursday

[MANTIS01]

I'm still undecided as to where my votes going, guess I'm a floater.

Do people vote for the person, or for the party.  In the States, people are definitely voting for the President as a person.  Jon touched on it earlier, but we aren't voting for a president.  But is it important to elect a statesman as well voting for the party who closest represents your views?  If that's the case the Tories and Labour have got it all wrong imo.

I'm pretty negative at the moment with regards to the whole election process.
Just feels like a pretty ineffective way to select the best group of people to run the country.

Lots of people voting for the same group they have always voted for, irrespective.
Some swayed by trivial factors such as whether they like the look of the leader of a party, whether he smiles / waves at the right time.
Some focus on a very small issue that is directly relevant to them, but ignoring lots of bigger factors......
Too much of a popularity contest, to ever be about forming a high achieving government.

I know this isn't anything new............I must just be getting old and grumpy.......

Maybe we should give people some credit. Most people wont really cast their vote based upon a wave and a smile, most people will want to learn more about policies. That's why these first election debates have been a real success; being an opportunity to engage more people in politics. Sure, the personality of the leader takes on greater importance as a trade off...so parties need to consider that when electing future leaders. Overall thou it's good to be engaging what was a lethargic and disillusioned electorate. Lots of people voting for the same party they always have? Lib Dem growth suggests not.

A wave and a smile is an obvious exaggeration..............

But look through this thread, many of the posts are from people arguing from a party perspective..........who are going to argue, and vote that way, no matter what.
The average IQ of people on a poker forum >> the average IQ of people.

If we cannot get more intelligent people to approach this with an open mind, then it is reasonable to assume these issues are more extreme in other 'groups'.

Sure some people have fundamental allegiances, but many are still undecided. The TV debates allowed those people to be engaged by the leaders. I think forming opinions from what you see for yourself is better media for progressive politics than reading the papers and the opinions of editors, prob more so for low IQ sheep. We should feel positive about politics opening up. Interestingly enough Gordon Brown scores highest on radio. Must be the smile.

[mondatoo]

Do people still not like to say who they are voting for ? If anyone on here's like that I'd be intersted to know why,well as interested as I can ever be when discussing politics.

[bobAlike]

Do people still not like to say who they are voting for ? If anyone on here's like that I'd be intersted to know why,well as interested as I can ever be when discussing politics.

I don't like telling everyone who I'll be voting for but I can tell you that it wont GB, NC or others.

[thetank]

I'm not always a Conservative but I have to vote Tory this time because of their inheritance tax policy.

Not really a fan of the way they've run their campaign.
Vote for us because we're not Labour.
Then Clegg does his debate thing where he sings his song and remembers people's names.
Then it's all change to Vote for us because a hung parliament will end the world.

[Somerled]

Then it's all change to Vote for us because a hung parliament will end the world.

Thought this was particularly bizarre as they bang on about how hung parliaments don't work and use places like Italy as examples, but they all completely ignore the Scottish Parliament which has had both Coalition and Minority administrations and the sky hasn't fallen in. Yet.

[lazaroonie]

Then it's all change to Vote for us because a hung parliament will end the world.

Thought this was particularly bizarre as they bang on about how hung parliaments don't work and use places like Italy as examples, but they all completely ignore the Scottish Parliament which has had both Coalition and Minority administrations and the sky hasn't fallen in. Yet.

aye but they are talking about real parliaments, not the kiddy on wan that we have.