[Anonymouse]

For years I've followed Heinlein's advice: 'There may be no parties or policies you want to vote for...but there are certain to be ones you want to vote against. In case of doubt, always vote against. By this rule you will rarely go wrong.'

Heinlein, however, never had to vote in a British election, and so never had to face the issue of what to do if there are no parties you want to vote for because you don't trust any of them. I last voted in 1997...but as I've said before, I did not vote for Labour; I voted against the Tories because I was sick of 'em (I didn't count the Lib Dems as a serious political party, and I still don't - if they were serious they wouldn't have needed a coalition, would they?). I never trusted Bliar; there's something about that smile of his that just totally gets my back up.

But this is not apathy. This is not because we don't care - we do, very much. This is not because we "can't be arsed". This is, quite simply, a totally justified lack of faith in the entire political system and the politicians who run it.

I for one want to see 'None Of The Above' on the ballot papers - in that incredibly unlikely event I definitely would vote. The political parties would then know beyond question what we really think of them.