MPs Expenses & Voter Apathy

[magneze]

Simple question really.

Has the MPs expenses scandal made you more or less likely to vote in a general election?

Poll to come!

 

[kabbes]

No. It hasn't.

 

[quimcunx]

I will vote as I always do.

I'm soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo fucking bored of expenses scandals though.

 

[dennisr]

Simple question really.

Has the MPs expenses scandal made you more or less likely to vote in a general election?

Poll to come!

I suppose you could argue that it may well stop even more voters from bothering if they see no alternative. and a low vote is likely to be a plus for the likes of the bnp

 

[magneze]

It's about the same for me too really. I would have voted anyway, but I'll be checking out my MPs expenses!

 

[Minnie_the_Minx]

I will vote as I always do.

I'm soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo fucking bored of expenses scandals though.

Oh, I think it's quite interesting reading how MPs are claiming 5p for a carrier bag or male MPs claiming for tampons

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I'm MUCH more bothered how they voted over Iraq, student fees, ID cards, 42-day imprisonment without charge, Trident ...

Give me a money-grabber who voted against the Iraq War over a squeaky-clean warmonger.

 

[danny la rouge]

I won't vote, but wouldn't have anyway. Not in the least bit surprised that we're being robbed by robbing bastards.

But don't call me apathetic.

 

[magneze]

This scandal really shows how disconnected MPs have become. The way some are trying to blame "the system" and saying it's all "inside the rules" etc. Bollocks.

It'll be interesting to see the correlation between election results and expenses in next years election!

 

[DotCommunist]

Camerons called for 'more honesty in politics'


nice paradox here, he's lying about truth

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

I won't vote cos I never do.

I'll be keeping an eye out for my MP as he was one of only three who voted against axing the second homes allowance, so he's bound to have his snout in the trough.

If it turns out he's squeaky clean, I shall just make up some rumours against the miserable tory twat.

 

[Zachor]

Its made me MORE determined to vote. Apathy will only benefit the more motivated voters of the fash parties.

 

[danny la rouge]

Its made me MORE determined to vote. Apathy will only benefit the more motivated voters of the fash parties.

What constituency are you in?

 

[El Jefe]

But don't call me apathetic.

quite.

"turning away in disgust is not the same thing as apathy".

 

[kabbes]

Smug cunt Sir Craphead the Tory Bastard had a completely safe seat in our ward even in the heady, optimistic times of 1997. He's got no chance of being unseated. It's very nearly not worth bothering in any general election on that basis alone.

In other elections, though, there is more motivation. Local ones are much closer (DYSWIDT?) whilst Euros have some unfathomable proportional representation rule that leaves me with the hope that my vote might actually matter.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Smug cunt Sir Craphead the Tory Bastard had a completely safe seat in our ward even in the heady, optimistic times of 1997. He's got no chance of being unseated. It's very nearly not worth bothering in any general election on that basis alone.

In other elections, though, there is more motivation. Local ones are much closer (DYSWIDT?) whilst Euros have some unfathomable proportional representation rule that leaves me with the hope that my vote might actually matter.

Exactly the same situation with my Tory MP.

Borough and council on the other hand, both my borough and county councillors are independants, well independant within their local society thingy. And they are very good for the area too

 

[magneze]

... what does not voting achieve? Turning away in disgust will only work if everybody does it. We already have had minority governments for years and it's not changed a thing - isn't part of the solution more people voting for what they actually want?

 

[danny la rouge]

isn't part of the solution more people voting for what they actually want?

That isn't one of the options on offer.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

... what does not voting achieve?

Enough people do it their lack of mandate to rule becomes too big an issue to be ignored.

 

[magneze]

That isn't one of the options on offer.

There are no candidates that you would vote for?

 

[danny la rouge]

There are no candidates that you would vote for?

Correct.

 

[El Jefe]

... what does not voting achieve? Turning away in disgust will only work if everybody does it. We already have had minority governments for years and it's not changed a thing - isn't part of the solution more people voting for what they actually want?

so i should vote for a party i actively oppose for the sake of exercising mt deomcratic right?

i can't in good conscience do that,

 

[magneze]

Enough people do it their lack of mandate to rule becomes too big an issue to be ignored.

What's "enough" I wonder?

Interesting graph here:
http://www.ukpolitical.info/Turnout45.htm

Massive downturn in turnout after 1992, which was when a lot of other similar scandal broke at the end of the Tories IIRC.

If the same thing happens next year, it could dip below 50% ...

 

[danny la rouge]

If the same thing happens next year, it could dip below 50% ...

Good. Keep it coming.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Good. Keep it coming.

Nah. That will never make any difference.

In the US, right-wing types make a virtue out of low turn out: 'Look, our system's so good, most people aren't even bothered who runs it."

In places like Colombia, turn out can be very low indeed – down to around 20%. Doesn't stop a government being formed.

 

[danny la rouge]

Nah. That will never make any difference.

Not on its own, no.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Nah. That will never make any difference.

In the US, right-wing types make a virtue out of low turn out: 'Look, our system's so good, most people aren't even bothered who runs it."

In places like Colombia, turn out can be very low indeed – down to around 20%. Doesn't stop a government being formed.

Maybe not, but by voting you are giving them a mandate. Fuck 'em, I ain't playing their silly games.

 

[_angel_]

Nah. That will never make any difference.

In the US, right-wing types make a virtue out of low turn out: 'Look, our system's so good, most people aren't even bothered who runs it."

In places like Colombia, turn out can be very low indeed – down to around 20%. Doesn't stop a government being formed.

Yes, but they are pricks.

 

[Idaho]

... what does not voting achieve? Turning away in disgust will only work if everybody does it. We already have had minority governments for years and it's not changed a thing - isn't part of the solution more people voting for what they actually want?

The current system isn't designed for me to vote for what I want. It's designed to give the current political consensus and politcal class some popular authority. I hope the turnout drops to 20% - then we can start ambushing MPs with single issue candidates in particular areas.

 

[danny la rouge]

Here's my choice in the forthcoming Euros:

BNP - fascist scum
Scottish Christian Party - religious nuts
Conservatives - neoliberal elite
Labour - neoliberal elite
Liberal Democrat - woolly neoliberal elite
Jury Team - Sir Paul Judge fanclub
NO2EU - bad platform, contains Sheridan the backstabber
Greens - woolly liberals
Scottish National Party - tartan neoliberals
Scottish Socialist Party - tartan trot rump, may contain some decent people, but I can't work up any enthusiasm for them
Socialist Labour - irrelevant quasi stalinists
UK Independence - Torygraph Colonel Bore and the golf club committee
Independent, Duncan Robertson - who?

Spoilt for choice.