Need some advice

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Ramrod

I'm not sure if (while the labour party is a brand) we are consumers of that brand. Consumers have a choice and can buy something else, we have no choice in the matter (while they are in power).I'm not sure we consume or use goods or servises that the labour party supplies. We just do as we are told.

Well, you have a choice at elections, much like you have a choice at the supermarket. The only difference is you can decide to get a kebab on the night if you don't like what you bought at the supermarket.

Oh, and the amount of products to choose from in this country is dismal (in politics, not the supermarket (necessarily))

[MovedGoalPosts]

Yep the choice of the voter (consumer) in this argument, may not be about what the voter thinks is best - because the parties are each saying they want to do so much about so many things - but which is the lesser of evils, not just in whether or not the voter agrees to higher / lower taxes but better / worse government services, regulation and so on.

Originally Posted by MovedGoalPosts

Yep the choice of the voter (consumer) in this argument, may not be about what the voter thinks is best - because the parties are each saying they want to do so much about so many things - but which is the lesser of evils, not just in whether or not the voter agrees to higher / lower taxes but better / worse government services, regulation and so on.

Exactly, which is all part of the conumer Decision making process. Yes the lesser of two evils it may be, but a decision still has to be made

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by col d

A lot of us don't personally pay for services like hospitals, education, police even bin men, but they do come out of our taxes.

But thats why the NHS is in the state it is---because we have no say about how our money is spent, thus we are not true consumers. We put our money/votes in but what we get out isn't influenced by that.

Originally Posted by Ramrod

But thats why the NHS is in the state it is---because we have no say about how our money is spent, thus we are not true consumers. We put our money/votes in but what we get out isn't influenced by that.

Yes, i know what you mean, the thing is i want to write the theory behind voting to match it with consumerism. I don't really want to write a political review of the Labour party. Do you see what i'm saying?

[MovedGoalPosts]

Originally Posted by col d

Exactly, which is all part of the conumer Decision making process. Yes the lesser of two evils it may be, but a decision still has to be made

So on that basis your subject matter might be viable, but you need to demonstrate that for a proportion of the market the brand is trying to attract, the consumer choice is not the usual promotional strategy of making your product the most attractive, but showing that the alternatives are less palatable than your own.

Originally Posted by MovedGoalPosts

So on that basis your subject matter might be viable, but you need to demonstrate that for a proportion of the market the brand is trying to attract, the consumer choice is not the usual promotional strategy of making your product the most attractive, but showing that the alternatives are less palatable than your own.

YESsssss, Thank you. You have just given me a basis for part of it. I think that what i have to do is not base the assignment on the Labour party of now, but in 1997 and 2001. I will have to talk about the Tories as well, and their consumer (voters) behaviour at that time

[MovedGoalPosts]

Well I don't know how wide the scope of your essay's coverage, but you have a wealth of subject matter even dealing with both elections where not a great deal had necessarily moved on in terms of voter choice. The Labour party were still making promises of action, whilst attempting to discredit the Tories, yet the Tories wernt really in the fight of suitable answers or credibility. The Liberal Democrats and others were just trying to throw spanners in the works. You may find your self better off limiting your subject to just one election, and even then you'll have a wealth of research to do to proove your argument accurately.

I suspect a lot of voter behaviour is about their perceptions and thus the aim of the brand is to create the perception that the choice of one party will be better, or do you less harm, than choosing another.

How you relate such behaviour / perceptions and influence of branding to the traditional consumer "purchasing decision" could well be the interesting bit.

Originally Posted by MovedGoalPosts

Well I don't know how wide the scope of your essay's coverage, but you have a wealth of subject matter even dealing with both elections where not a great deal had necessarily moved on in terms of voter choice. The Labour party were still making promises of action, whilst attempting to discredit the Tories, yet the Tories wernt really in the fight of suitable answers or credibility. The Liberal Democrats and others were just trying to throw spanners in the works. You may find your self better off limiting your subject to just one election, and even then you'll have a wealth of research to do to proove your argument accurately.

I suspect a lot of voter behaviour is about their perceptions and thus the aim of the brand is to create the perception that the choice of one party will be better, or do you less harm, than choosing another.

How you relate such behaviour / perceptions and influence of branding to the traditional consumer "purchasing decision" could well be the interesting bit.

MovedGoalPosts i think you are right. Maybe just choosing the 1997 as that was 'The year of change' You have been really helpful, and may have just saved my arse. Cheers

[MovedGoalPosts]

Originally Posted by col d

MovedGoalPosts i think you are right. Maybe just choosing the 1997 as that was 'The year of change' You have been really helpful, and may have just saved my arse. Cheers

Glad to be of assistance, just hope that your lecturer likes the idea and I havent lead you up the garden path

Originally Posted by MovedGoalPosts

Glad to be of assistance, just hope that your lecturer likes the idea and I havent lead you up the garden path

I've just emailed her, will wait for a response tomorrow. I don't think you've lead me up the garden path at all, you really have been very helpful. Think i can actually sleep now, without this bleedin' assignment going through my head. thanks again mate

Right, off to bed. Looks as though i have an early start tomorrow with this. Want to thank everyone who posted for the advise, i know i was a bit stubborn, but i think i can make it work.
Col

[MovedGoalPosts]

So when do we get to find out, if the ideas, and your assignment once submitted, met with approval?