Enemies Within, so who do I vote for?

[Otis]

Oh Dear, the Labour Govt. has been a dismal failure, unless you are an MP on expenses. According to the National Press they have been promoting immigration to swell the ranks of their supporters. So bypassing us locals who have lost faith in them after many decades of abuse, and who's views count for nothing.

The Govt. in waiting, are apparently made up of members of the Bullingdon club, champagne quaffing Toffs who can't wait to join up with the Bollinger Brigade of Bankers, who are noted for quaffing 007's favourite drink as reward for all their efforts in reducing the rest of the country to poverty. Here too, the future of the country appears to lie in the hands of people who don't actually live or pay taxes here..

That leaves the Lib Dems. A group of people who we have never trusted enough to vote into power. The one bright light is Vince Cable, Perhaps we could vote for a dictatorship, let Vince take over and sort the Bankers out, stabilise the country, and then hand it over to the EU,

Yes that should restore democracy into the hands of the people.

[StephB]

[Welcome back 'Night-owl' Otis, from your self-imposed exile!]
Whilst agreeing with the bulk of your posting above, I have a problem with agreeing with it in total.
Over the recent years [how long, no-one has told us!] MPs of all the main parties who could have been 'honourable' and prevented it, have been re-arranging and distorting the expenses system to their individual and collective advantage. The 'cool, fresh, mountain-spring' of our pockets was open to them drinking as deeply as they wished, despite the opening pages of the famous Green Book, which expressly warned that the responsibility for all claims remained with the MP making it, regardless of the advice recieved, or authority he/she delegated to another party.
Such claims also had to be, according to that famous tome, expressly and solely for expenditures which were necessary for the performance of their duties as MPs. Now, to me, that is specific enough, sufficiently so as to constitute the basis of an enforceable contract. If not legally, then certainly morally and 'honourably'!
I simply wish to hold them to account. And for all other electors to do the same!
I know this is all old stuff, but in the face of an imminent general election, I am not prepared to give my vote to any of the main participants in this gadarene gold rush. The Lib/Dems did nothing public to denounce the iniquity of that system, and indeed, a similar percentage of their MPs were probably as deep into the trough as the others, although I have seen no detailed figures, but they were implicated by their continuing silence on the subject
Therefore I will only have the choice of either specific interest candidates, who are often merely poorly camouflaged party members, or genuine independents, who interest me much more..
These will be 'quizzable' on the hustings, to determine their attitudes on genuine public representation, and accountability to their constituents, and their agreement to standing as MP down if properly censured by them, not merely 'transfering their allegiance to others' and continuing drawing the salary!
How's that for an argument

[Otis]

You must have a better memory than I have Steph, I am afraid I can't remember "genuine public representation" In fact every party has done it's best to dispossess the public of this by first promising a referendum on a number of serious concerns and then cheating us out of any chance of making our voices heard by simply ignoring us and substituting their own parties decision.

Unfortunately the stakes are so slanted towards the two main parties that in effect and regardless of how we vote the outcome like so many tin pot dictator countries is a foregone conclusion. You are either Hung or Drawn, you don't even have the option of being Quartered.

It is this long established tradition which those in power, like aforementioned tin pot dictators, claim to be Democratic which ensures that the baton is simply passed from Labour to Conservative or vice versa. We have the system which suits our MPs not the voters, it's nowt to do with us really.

I sympathies with nearly all that you have said but I am afraid the chances of things changing for the better are slimmer than Mrs Beckhams ankles.

ps. Thanks for the welcome back.

[StephB]

That's the [perfectly understandable!] 'counsel of dispair' Otis! My wish is for a resentful and revengeful tidal wave of sufficient voters to 'give the b'stards a kicking' BY voting 'none of the above', [meaning the 'buggins-turners' of the two main and one hopeful partys' candidates] and pick and elect genuine independent MPs!
Otherwise, well, Otis, it's back to those barricades, for which action I expect there would be just as powerful a tsunami of supinely complacent apathy!
By the way, I notice that your postings are mainly in the 'wee small hours' these days! Is 'herself' an early to bed lass? Or do you have attacks of 'diplomatic insomnia' to sneak away and 'log-on'

[Dave50]

I propose only those who pay tax, whether it be income tax or national insurance should be able to vote. It's only fair that only those who contribute should have a say in where our money is spent. After all, if you pay nothing in why should you have a say? You are bound to vote for the party who will promise you ever increasing handouts without the responsibilty of paying in.

[StephB]

You are bound to vote for the party who will promise you ever increasing handouts without the responsibilty of paying in.

Only if you believe them Dave50! ONLY if you believe them, otherwise you will continue to look like a gullible pratt, which is what successive administrations have shown us collectively to be! Time for the 'worm to turn'!

[despondent]

Is the Looney Party standing or is that a collective name for the big 3

[StephB]

Is the Looney Party standing or is that a collective name for the big 3

Sorry Dessie, I must be a bit tired today! [All that serious political stuff over the past couple of days, perhaps!] But "..a collective name for the big 3.." Gone right past me that one has....