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The political landscape is utterly dispiriting, but when was it any different? I don't think in my lifetime there has been a leader or party that came close to reflecting or representing my views. Sure, there are elements in the various parties, but it is the very nature of the party system, so akin to a cult, that is a major turn off for me.
For me the entire landscape of politics is ripe for radical reform. The idea that a government should determine so much for so many people based on ideologies rather than practicalities seems ludicrous to me. All a government should do (IMO) is administer the basic practical elements of society effectively, and to do this, we need experts in each field, not these often absurd politicians. If we could vote for independent experts in a field of core options to create an administration, this would be far more preferable: transport, taxation, education, health and so on. The argument against this would be that it would be impossible to reach consensus, but I disagree: if the administration was formed of elected independents, they would reach consensus by a majority amongst themselves, thereby each key area would be discussed and argued for on the basis of necessity, not vested interests.
Anyway, addressing these two 'leaders' I find Johnson repulsive and Corbyn uninspiring. Having to produce overarching manifestos for ta whole spectrum of policies is an absurd idea; break it down into key areas and then vote for those separately. That's my tuppence worth anyway.
Agree that reform is needed in politics. Why is the country being shaped by people with little or no expertise of the issues they govern. In any other profession you have to demonstrate that you have relevant experience and knowledge.
As for consensus, Germany has a long history of coalition governments yet they do pretty well by all accounts. Brexit excepted, I don't understand the perception in the UK that a coalition government is somehow weaker than a majority government. The former has a more diverse range of opinions and will therefore serve the interests of the many better whilst the latter tends to serve only the interests of the government and its supporters.
Equally I don't understand why many voters stick with a particular party for life. Surely it makes sense to understand the problems the country faces and consider voting for the party which, on the whole, is best placed to meet those challenges head on.
[Post edited 20 Nov 2019 18:00]
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Johnson v Corbyn on 17:59 - Nov 20 with 2164 views
No, I'm afraid you're looking at it from the wrong point of view. If JC is a Eurosceptic but the party is remain then there's an obvious conflict of interest that erodes trust, both internally and with the public at large.
The reason the party is staying neutral on Brexit is because their core support is split on the issue. JC doesn't want to risk a split at the ballot box so he's hedging his bets on Brexit and trying to steer the conversation to other issues. The problem with this approach is that it shows a real lack of conviction and leadership. It's all fair and well talking about other issues but we can't even begin to address them until Brexit is sorted, one way or the other. To delay the process further only serves to put other issues on hold.
If, as you say, Labour are concerned about delivering on what the people want then they should simply support leaving the EU as the people decided what they wanted back in 2016.
[Post edited 20 Nov 2019 17:57]
Not true I’m afraid
[Post edited 20 Nov 2019 18:50]
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Johnson v Corbyn on 19:38 - Nov 20 with 2059 views
i live in Richmond Park & N Kingston, where Cons hold a 36 vote majority over Libdems. i have no enthusiasm for Johnson or Corbyn so will only vote based on local MP for the first time ever. Labour have no chance in this constituency.
Zac Goldsmith is marmite, mostly due to his inherited wealth and privelege but god he works hard as an mp - i worked with him on lobbying for a new secondary school and he was tireless in this and also in Heathrow expansion (his green credentials are well known). Sarah Olney is utterly hopeless she was the previous MP and was anonymous from the moment she won to the moment she lost. Check out this car crash interview (with the loathsome Julia H-B) which sums her up beautifully...
However i was a staunch Remain voter which is libdem's sole ticket but believe in the democratic vote.
What the hell do i do. Probably Goldsmith at the moment.
i live in Richmond Park & N Kingston, where Cons hold a 36 vote majority over Libdems. i have no enthusiasm for Johnson or Corbyn so will only vote based on local MP for the first time ever. Labour have no chance in this constituency.
Zac Goldsmith is marmite, mostly due to his inherited wealth and privelege but god he works hard as an mp - i worked with him on lobbying for a new secondary school and he was tireless in this and also in Heathrow expansion (his green credentials are well known). Sarah Olney is utterly hopeless she was the previous MP and was anonymous from the moment she won to the moment she lost. Check out this car crash interview (with the loathsome Julia H-B) which sums her up beautifully...
However i was a staunch Remain voter which is libdem's sole ticket but believe in the democratic vote.
What the hell do i do. Probably Goldsmith at the moment.
Mrs Sheen was going to vote Women’s Equality this time, on the grounds that she didn’t want anyone else. But they’re not standing this time. Pity, they beat Labour into 4th place in our ward in the last council election.
I see there’s an independent standing to oppose the redevelopment of Kingston. No-one on the north side of the park thinks you can do anything to Kingston to make it any worse, so she won’t get any votes round here.
Voted LibDem three times in a row myself, as well as remain. Not this time.
[Post edited 20 Nov 2019 20:00]
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Johnson v Corbyn on 20:23 - Nov 20 with 2002 views
No, I'm afraid you're looking at it from the wrong point of view. If JC is a Eurosceptic but the party is remain then there's an obvious conflict of interest that erodes trust, both internally and with the public at large.
The reason the party is staying neutral on Brexit is because their core support is split on the issue. JC doesn't want to risk a split at the ballot box so he's hedging his bets on Brexit and trying to steer the conversation to other issues. The problem with this approach is that it shows a real lack of conviction and leadership. It's all fair and well talking about other issues but we can't even begin to address them until Brexit is sorted, one way or the other. To delay the process further only serves to put other issues on hold.
If, as you say, Labour are concerned about delivering on what the people want then they should simply support leaving the EU as the people decided what they wanted back in 2016.
[Post edited 20 Nov 2019 17:57]
Obviously we look at it in different ways, I think staying neutral allows him the freedom to resolve the issue either way. If you feel Boris pushing through his deal is what you voted for 3 years ago then that's great but it may not be what all leavers had in mind when they cast their votes.
Johnson v Corbyn on 15:54 - Nov 20 by colinallcars
Blimey, I thought the voucher offer was limited to three pints. I didn't know you could go back for more !
I printed off 3 different vouchers using 3 different emails. Each voucher had 3 drinks on them. I only used two vouchers and gave another one away to one the regulars.
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Johnson v Corbyn on 07:30 - Nov 23 with 1610 views
Look, if you're happy the way our country is going, happy for her to keep going down the road she's going, satisfied the future being shaped for your children and grandchildren is the best they're ever going to get. Vote for anyone but Labour, and the status quo stays in place.
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Johnson v Corbyn on 08:07 - Nov 23 with 1576 views
"By staying neutral on Brexit he's actually more able to deliver on what people want. David Cameron's problem was that he was remain but the vote come back leave and if part of the Labour policy is to have a vote on a new deal, which it is, then it's for the best that he's neutral so he doesn't feel he needs to resign if the vote doesn't go the way of his backing which would just delay things further."
It probably won't cut it with people who have a strong view on leave or remain though as I sense they find it hard to believe that someone could do both as it can be quite polarising.
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Johnson v Corbyn on 08:18 - Nov 23 with 1557 views
"By staying neutral on Brexit he's actually more able to deliver on what people want. David Cameron's problem was that he was remain but the vote come back leave and if part of the Labour policy is to have a vote on a new deal, which it is, then it's for the best that he's neutral so he doesn't feel he needs to resign if the vote doesn't go the way of his backing which would just delay things further."
It probably won't cut it with people who have a strong view on leave or remain though as I sense they find it hard to believe that someone could do both as it can be quite polarising.
No one really should have an issue with it. It’s a perfectly reasonable position to negotiate a deal free of the Tories’ self-imposed red lines and put it to the people who will be informed of what sort of Brexit they’re voting for. Anyone not filthy rich who has been brainwashed into demanding the hardest of hard Brexits without a clue what impact that has need saving from themselves frankly.
I also can’t have a clown like Hancock, who seems to be the fall guy now, mocking Labour’s Brexit position when he’s had every position possible depending on what furthers his career.
There’s nothing to worry about anyway. Labour and Libs’ lack of cooperation will make this a cakewalk for Boris anyway. We get the leaders we deserve.
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Johnson v Corbyn on 08:28 - Nov 23 with 1544 views
Look, if you want Germany, France, Spain, being the biggest shareholders in our privatised railways, siphoning off huge profits here, to invest in their own publicly owned railways there, ensuring their people get significantly cheaper rail travel than we do. Keep doing what you do best, vote for anybody but Labour, and the Germans, the French, and the Spaniards, can keep on laughing at our gross stupidity for a further five years.
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Johnson v Corbyn on 10:08 - Nov 23 with 1486 views
No one really should have an issue with it. It’s a perfectly reasonable position to negotiate a deal free of the Tories’ self-imposed red lines and put it to the people who will be informed of what sort of Brexit they’re voting for. Anyone not filthy rich who has been brainwashed into demanding the hardest of hard Brexits without a clue what impact that has need saving from themselves frankly.
I also can’t have a clown like Hancock, who seems to be the fall guy now, mocking Labour’s Brexit position when he’s had every position possible depending on what furthers his career.
There’s nothing to worry about anyway. Labour and Libs’ lack of cooperation will make this a cakewalk for Boris anyway. We get the leaders we deserve.
So he (Corbyn) negotiates a new deal and then doesn't have the balls to recommend it?
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Johnson v Corbyn on 11:30 - Nov 23 with 1451 views
So he (Corbyn) negotiates a new deal and then doesn't have the balls to recommend it?
That’s how it would be spun, probably. Any deal is effectively damage limitation from the deal we have now. People would have some facts this time to make an informed choice. The Cameron method went horribly wrong so why not be dispassionate about it and let our great electorate decide after the joy of the last three years?
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Johnson v Corbyn on 11:48 - Nov 23 with 1435 views
That’s how it would be spun, probably. Any deal is effectively damage limitation from the deal we have now. People would have some facts this time to make an informed choice. The Cameron method went horribly wrong so why not be dispassionate about it and let our great electorate decide after the joy of the last three years?
1. If you can't recommend your own deal, then you can't believe in it and it is not worth putting to the people.
2. Any deal negotiated would probably include staying in the customs union and therefore would keep us from making the break that the people voted for.
3. The people have already decided and their wishes have been denied by their representatives not accepting the deal that their government has negotiated for them.
4. The referendum was a simple yes or no and therefore you were being asked, 'do you wish your government to negotiate the best possible deal to leave'? All issues about facts are subjective and apart from the fact that it has been very difficult, we don't really have any hard facts, all we have is forecasts of what might happen, same as three and a half years ago.
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Johnson v Corbyn on 20:49 - Nov 23 with 1338 views
What a dispiriting evening. I can understand Corbyn's position but, on the biggest issue for generations, not having a clear position is hardly an expression of leadership. Johnson is a proven liar. The audience laughing at his response to the trust question, shows how little he is trusted. Repeating his slogan to every question makes him seem like Farage Lite. Swinson says anything and her rating goes down. Revoke A50 is, at least, a clear position. If you dont like it you dont have to vote for it. Sturgeon came out as the sanest and clearest. But it is irrelevant for non Scottish voters.
I still have a vote in a Constituency I would expect to result in Con gain from a disgraced Labour candidate. Watching the shambles from the EU side of the Channel is instructive, but nobody understands why the UK is prepared to damage it's own economy. For no quantifiable gain.
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the Earth all one's lifetime." (Mark Twain)
Find me on twitter @derbyhoop and now on Bluesky
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Johnson v Corbyn on 20:25 - Nov 25 with 1183 views
Has anyone asked her this vital question? If they get their 2nd independence vote and 1 or more constituencies vote no while the majority vote yes,would the no constituencies be dragged out of the union against their will?Or would they be allowed to stay?Maybe some constituencies are more equal in Scotland than some others?
I posed it to a few snp mates on fb but nobody seems to have answered me.
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Johnson v Corbyn on 23:03 - Nov 25 with 1650 views
Has anyone asked her this vital question? If they get their 2nd independence vote and 1 or more constituencies vote no while the majority vote yes,would the no constituencies be dragged out of the union against their will?Or would they be allowed to stay?Maybe some constituencies are more equal in Scotland than some others?
I posed it to a few snp mates on fb but nobody seems to have answered me.
Because...unless you are part of a group that is genuinely discriminated against, persecuted and repressed, Nationalism is a load of emotive identity bullshit that won't solve anyone's real life problems.
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