General Chat

Like Huia, "I stood for parliament on a couple of occasions".

So Mick -- you talkin' 'bout us??

My opponent on both occasions, the incumbent, was an honourable enough man -- although I would vote for his party only in dire straits. His party itself, the Liberal Party, is thoroughy corrupt. As is the Conservative Party.

That happened in the last provincial election here, when the need to oust the Thatcher-style Conservative government was so overwhelming that I just voted for whoever was most likely to win in my riding. The old "strategic voting". It's going to be a factor in the election we have coming up in Canada in October too now. Vote Liberal or NDP, whichever seems most likely to defeat the Stephen Harper candidate in the riding, rather than split the anti-Conservative vote and let the Conservative win.

(We can't call our Conservatives Tories these days. They're a renegade band of neo-con right-wingers who took over the long-standing "Progressive Conservative" party a few years ago and eliminated all traces of traditional Canadian Red Toryism and decency.)

So anyhow: no. Not all politicians are whatever that was.

In Australia voting is compulsory.

You get fined if you dont vote.

What sort of a democracy is that?

Of course they're not. Apart from the fact that we'd have to know *every* politician to answer that fairly, they are just people and there are good and bad and many in between.

I can't imagine how hard a job it is but I do admire many of these people who get off their backsides and try to do something to make a difference. How many people who knock politicians have actually given it a go? Very easy to sit in your armchair and criticise them.

Yes, referenda and right of recall would cost money, but money is a man-made object and should be our servant as it was designed to be, not our master as it has become.

Huia.

The Swiss use a citizens referenda system.

If people dont like something which a government is proposing they should have the right to say 'Wait' and if enough people agree to a referenda then one is held on the subject. Also a right of recall. If you are unhappy with the way your MP has voted on something you get enough signatures calling for a new election in your area. The MP might get back in, of course, but if enough people in the constituency were angry with the way he/she voted then he wont. It might make a few more of them careful how they vote.

Huia.

Like Kate, I think most young MPs start out with genuine beliefs that they can change things for the better, but that is because their party has indoctrinated them with its policies and they havent got around to thinking deeply about it all. It is actually the money barons who rule the world. Without money the governments cannot do anything. How often have you heard a government or local body say 'Sorry, but we cannot do this as there is not enough money'? It totally ignores the fact that the materials, machinery and manpower might be available, but the only way they can be used is to borrow 'money' which the banks have created out of nothing so they can charge you an arm and a leg in interest to make themselves richer. Once upon a time it used to be the crown, on our behalf, which created the money we needed, backed up by the real wealth. It is the biggest scandal ever that the right to create money was given to private entities.

Huia on her soap box.

I have always believed that when our lot reach Westminster they lose commonsense and for many of them (as has been proved lately) it is wahee - piggies at the trough!" But I have to say that , in my opinion, amongst the worst are MEPs and that the European Parliament is biggest money waster - moving every six weeks - how about that for time wasting?

What a sweeping statement.

Of course they are not .. no more than all policemen are crooked or all hoodies are thugs.

Good and bad in all walks of life.

Jean x.

Much of government is too central. I realise there has to be a central government, especially to deal with international issues, but I really feel more emphasis should be put on resolving local issues, many of which are different for different areas. I mean Norwich does not suffer the same issues as say..Newcastle, or Liverpool, or Bristol areas.

I don't know what the future holds for 'democratic politics' but we must not step backwards..

Nilhist phylosophy "if voting meant anything it would have been banned years ago"
there are two sorts of fairy tales those that begin "once apon a time---"
and those that begin
"vote for me and I'll----"
Democracy is an awful form of goverment, the problem is that all the others are even worse

There have been many times when a referendum shoudl have been held when major policies have had to change...but the ideal is that the MP will represent their electorate at such times.

I think if a referendum had been held on every policy change in the last ten years we would all be complaining about the amount of tax-payers money being spent on them. When it comes to money and where it is spent they can't win anyway LOL

Easier said than done Snowie. A party is in government for a minimum of four years (barring votes of no confidence etc), and anything could happen in that time. Tony Blair, or any of his cabinet were not elected last time on the basis of what he would do with this current forthcoming recession. Gordon Brown wasn't elected at all. The economy had steady growth at the last general election.

I have been in contact with my own MP and my daughter's. They have both been as helpful as they can be within their limited capabilities within the 'party' they represent.

I assume you are referring to cabinet ministers, well you aren't going to change their ways to anything outside the whip's line. In following the line I am afraid they all appear to be grasping/evasive individuals.

What a pity we couldn't clone 600 plus Claire Short MPs.

Dame - I can only assume you never met his father?

Omg Julian McMahon,I'm in love...vote him in, I could look at him all day..

They are the champions of ---------


-**-Goal Post moving, as and when it suits their own means and ends,......

Our present PM in UK didnt get voted in !!!,he accepted after the other last lost cause put him forward,,
But 18years under an Iron lady did so much damage to this country that its never going to recover,,,,,,,,,plus if we stop hosting to be mother earth for all and sundry we may have a little more in the kitty for our own.!!

Not sure that they are all thieves but I'd agree that they are, more often than not, extremely economical with the truth xx

How many politicians do we really know by name? I wonder how many are quietly getting on with the job in hand but never make the news.

It seems that power can and does corrupt and that the more forceful individuals are the ones who tend to rise to the top but politics goes on at all levels of society not just governmental.

Having served on a few committees I've seen how difficult it can be to get any decisions made. Quite often the same people turn up to do all the work and others are quite happy for them to get on and do it yet they are often the first to complain if things aren't done the way they like.

I wonder sometimes what sort of person starts being a politician then I remember I do actually know a bit about a couple. Michael Foot is a distant cousin of my late mother-in-law and she knew him and respected him when he was young. I went to school with the present MP John Denham and remember him in the 6th Form at the same time as me. He seemed a nice and decent bloke then.

Sweeping statements about a whole section of society are risky really. Are we going to assume that all the MPs, all County Counsellors, District and Parish Counsellors etc are automatically bad? If so that gives us no-one to vote for.

So if you don't like what is going on in your area perhaps you should get involved yourself.

Sue

Ye gads Mick, as if you or me have a say..The money balance in is the hands of our oil bearers and the chinese, lol democracy, what a joke, we out sourced lollol is any body in control, check your stock market reports...And we should all be concerned...Keep eatin them wallaby's..

When we vote for the person of our choice, most of us, take little active interest in the government of the day. It is only when they are caught with feathering their own nests or caught out in a blantant Lie to cover a wrongdoing, that we take note.
If we all became active members of the parties of our choice and attended meetings to give our voice on policies, our fragile democracies, would I think be a little stronger.
I agree with Harry - Human Nature when not out in the open can go awry at times.