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Block67
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The next general election (hurry up)The next general election, who would you vote for?
The next segment is a generalisation of observations:
In the 80's, the tories screwed the working classes big time with stupid ideas like the dreaded poll tax. They got in with the promise of lower taxes then threw that in your lap, nice.
The labour years then followed, with the excuse that it would take a decade to sort out the tories mess, which has now transpired into a humongous debt problem for the country, that will undoubtedly take the tories at least a decade to sort out.
Lib dems? -who are they, and why do they bother?
Then there are the other parties, some of which are gaining popularity with a disenchanted public as they seem to be offering fresh ideas to the political table.
In my book (and others), there are the two main parties, the wasted vote, and the rank outsiders. Personally I think that not a single political party can help this country and please the majority of the people, purely because of the mess it is in.
With things like jobs, immigration, dodgy politicians to name but three things, and the increased tax bills and rates, I for one will not be voting for labour, and my grandmother would be turning in her grave about now, but for the first time I will be voting conservative.
My reason? I think that they are the only party that can sort out the mess that the country is in due to their number and previous experience, nothing more. The sooner they get started the better, who the hell is gordon brown anyway, was he elected?
Mind you, all said and done, what if the BNP got in, that would be interesting (just a shame about some of the yob members)
The poll question is generalised, if i have missed some, my apologies, but i dont do politics lol
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rosco
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I don't think the poll-tax was all bad: it did try to end some of the injustices of the rates system, where houses were given arbitrary valuations that often ha little to do with their worth or their occupier's ability to pay, and did not reflect the fact that many people used civic services without contributing a bean.
Any party that is elected will always be chosen by a minority of people, because the vast majority don't even bother to vote.
Prime-ministers in the UK have never been elected as such, only as an MP for their constituency and then chosen as leader by their party. I personally don't think we should elect the Prime Minister, because the country is not run by one person.
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Block67
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Rosco | Quote: | | I don't think the poll-tax was all bad |
I beg to differ. While loosely in principal is wasn't such a bad idea, those on low incomes (like myself at the time) were forced to pay what they could not afford, and for their spouses, or risk going to jail. I was fortunate to be helped out by family members at the time, others were not as fortunate.
Still sound fair rosco?
| Quote: | | Prime-ministers in the UK have never been elected as such, only as an MP for their constituency and then chosen as leader by their party. I personally don't think we should elect the Prime Minister, because the country is not run by one person. |
-very true, but had mr.brown been leader of the labour party at the last general election, i dare say that they wouldn't of got in.
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rosco
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| Block67 wrote: | Rosco | Quote: | | I don't think the poll-tax was all bad |
I beg to differ. While loosely in principal is wasn't such a bad idea, those on low incomes (like myself at the time) were forced to pay what they could not afford, and for their spouses, or risk going to jail. I was fortunate to be helped out by family members at the time, others were not as fortunate.
Still sound fair rosco? |
I did say it wasn't all bad - it was however mostly bad and forced through despite evidence of how many protests it would cause.
| Quote: | | Quote: | | Prime-ministers in the UK have never been elected as such, only as an MP for their constituency and then chosen as leader by their party. I personally don't think we should elect the Prime Minister, because the country is not run by one person. |
-very true, but had mr.brown been leader of the labour party at the last general election, i dare say that they wouldn't of got in. |
Not sure I agree with that: Tony's party was re-elected when it was blatently clear he was going to be handing over to Gordon shortly afterwards, not much difference really.
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Peter Dolman
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we seem to forget that todays credit crunch had its roots in the Thatcher/Reagan days of deregulation. The reforms allowed building societies to turn them selves into banks and to do so bribed their members with free shares of cash payments. These members could not wait and a new word was introduced in the finance sector, carpetbagggers. People who would invest a small sum of money into a building society just incase they want to become a bank. MONEY FOR NOTHING
We all have some responsibility for the current problems.
You all know I am a Lib Dem but the principle behind the poll tax was partially right inso far as those who use the services most should pay more. A widow on a fixed pension having lived in her has for 40 years pays more council tax than a married couple with 4 kids, is that right I don't think it is. But the couple may be unemployed so that creates a problem.
I would promote the Lib Dem idea of a local income tax on the basis that everyone pays what they can based on there income. Why a tax should be based on the fluctuating and arbitary value of a house is beyond me. If you are really committed to that system you should reassess values at least every year.
Again as a long term Liberal I would promote a form of PR and idea which some more senior politicians have started talking about.
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