The 2010 General Election Thread: Week 2

Loved GB's quote from your link, Maggy

Meanwhile, Mr Brown told the Sunday Telegraph the prospect of a first Conservative budget "sends a shiver down my spine".

Well, it would, wouldn't it - I would mean he would no longer have a taxpayer fully funded London residence....

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

Loved GB's quote from your link, Maggy Well, it would, wouldn't it - I would mean he would no longer have a taxpayer fully funded London residence....

He may have to go into the private sector, where overspending by billions a year for years on end has such consequences as bankruptcy or being kicked off the board by a shareholder revolt. Regrettably the UK population seem a tad more gullible and willing to forgive.

It is amusing to note all this nonsense is over about 1% of the entire budget - clearly total destruction of life as we know it. Reflects on how left-wing Brown is that he is making such a big deal out of such a relatively small sum, and indeed on how lightly Conservative Cameron is that that is all he advocates initially.

I do wonder when we became so scared of such a small reduction in the budget, 1%, 6bn, while most apparently have no issues with Labour planning on only running deficits of 5.5% of GDP, >80bn/year in 4 years given the positive reaction to Labour's economic plans.

To hell with the bills, let's see if we can get our sovereign credit rating into the B's before 2020, AAA is far too elitist for the reverse snobbery that seems to pervade right now.

[Big]

I love his nick name

Nick C-legg over!

[Osem]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

Loved GB's quote from your link, Maggy Well, it would, wouldn't it - I would mean he would no longer have a taxpayer fully funded London residence....

For someone who's so concerned about a relatively minor cut in public spending, it's a pity the possibility of financial meltdown didn't galvanise him to better regulate the banking sector during all those years of supposed 'prudence' when he was dining out on City tax receipts. If it had, we wouldn't be in this mess!

If anything shows the folly of judging things by opinion polls, this (imho) is the perfect example - Times

NICK CLEGG, the Liberal Democrat leader who until a few days ago was little known to voters, is now the most popular party leader since Winston Churchill, a new Sunday Times poll reveals.

A note of caution, again imho, from further down the article

Churchill had an 83% approval rating in 1945, just a few months before he lost the general election.

btw, I think it is a good thing to get away from the duopoly of modern-day politics - gives the voters more choice, and hopefully more will vote/get involved.

Originally Posted by foreverwar

If anything shows the folly of judging things by opinion polls, this (imho) is the perfect example - Times
A note of caution, again imho, from further down the article

btw, I think it is a good thing to get away from the duopoly of modern-day politics - gives the voters more choice, and hopefully more will vote/get involved.

Mind Churchill lost out because everyone who came back from the war was disillusioned by what they found when they got home.Lack of housing,old workplaces gone,schools destroyed,ruined cities,food shortages and rationing continuing on for years.Having gone through the fighting I think they just wanted something different for their children and Winnie was part of the old ways..

[Osem]

Who came out on top of this particular debate is one thing but the fact that so many people* can, apparently, decide they're now going to vote for the Lib Dems on the basis of a few minutes exposure for Clegg on TV baffles me. I can fully understand people who're mightily fed up with the current state of affairs might just want to try another way but surely the time to make such a decision is poling day when all the policies have been better scrutinised and the arguments had.


*I'm referring to the many people I've heard on the TV and radio over the last few days who've said they've now made up their minds to vote for the Lib Dems having previously not done so.

Oooh i can hear a squeaking sound . Few bottoms squeaking isn't there and not just on here .

[Osem]

Originally Posted by bjorkiii

Oooh i can hear a squeaking sound . Few bottoms squeaking isn't there and not just on here .

Well I'd imagine that'll be the 3 party leaders you can hear. Brown and Cameron did not do well and Clegg now knows the gloves will be off next time and that his days out of the spotlight are over..

Does anyone else think voting should be mandatory ? it doesn't take long does it , I have got leaflets here off a captain someone an independent might give him a bash

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by bjorkiii

Does anyone else think voting should be mandatory ?

Yep.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting

Failing that a ban on whining about politics if you didn't vote will do.

Originally Posted by bjorkiii

Oooh i can hear a squeaking sound . Few bottoms squeaking isn't there and not just on here .

Your private life is entirely your own business....

[Angua]

Another mandatory fan here.

Was in Greece during an election one year & the enthusiasm & commitment to the election was brilliant, even if your morning coffee was disturbed by the sound of loud speakers blaring out Kappa Kappa Epsilon (A Greek Communist party)

Originally Posted by bjorkiii

Does anyone else think voting should be mandatory ? it doesn't take long does it , I have got leaflets here off a captain someone an independent might give him a bash

the right to vote is as important as the right to not vote if you don't want to
so it's a no for me

But you can "not vote" by spoiling the ballot paper or putting a blank vote - by not turning up to vote, you are (imho) not participating, and disenfranchising your/oneself. It depends if you believe that voting is a civic duty, rather than a civic right.