Question time II

[TykeMerc]

Dear Hector,

I forgot to pay tax last year because I was very busy. Now I'll say sorry and pay it. Not that it was my fault. That'll be OK then?

Yours,

Dear Expat,

Sorry, but forgetfulness is no defence, please make your way to the nearest Her Majesties Institution for the Crimanally Naughty, do not pass Go do NOT collect £200.

Yours,

Hector


I'd love to see that charmless, noxious hobbit Hazel Blears get a pasting by HMRC and the legal bodies, but we all know that won't happen.

[cailin maith]

Ok - serious question, I don't trust any of those feckers now... I don't want to not vote (I think thats appalling) however I dont' want to vote for any of them, so what do I do?

[TykeMerc]

Ok - serious question, I don't trust any of those flipers now... I don't want to not vote (I think thats appalling) however I dont' want to vote for any of them, so what do I do?

Return a spoilt ballot as it's the nearest thing to "none of the above" that we're permitted.

That or vote for a fringe party, but be aware that some of the fringe parties have policies that would make Hitler blush.

Quite frankly there hasn't been any democratic choice worth a damn in this country in decades (centuries?) and I lost faith in our democratic system over 20 years ago when I realised just how bent the whole process is here.

[cailin maith]

Return a spoilt ballot as it's the nearest thing to "none of the above" that we're permitted.

That or vote for a fringe party, but be aware that some of the fringe parties have policies that would make Hitler blush.

Quite frankly there hasn't been any democratic choice worth a damn in this country in decades (centuries?) and I lost faith in our democratic system over 20 years ago when I realised just how bent the whole process is here.

The expenses thing has been the end for me. You can't trust any of them and I agree the fringe parties are out... I'd vote green if the asses would sort out recycling bins for our block!

What I really dislike is that councillors and MP's don't seem to canvass at all in this country - at home, they are always knocking on doors. Is it because I live in the city? Actually no, thats not right, before I moved to the city centre I lived in suburbia and they didn't canvass then either

[TimberWolf]

Return a spoilt ballot as it's the nearest thing to "none of the above" that we're permitted.

Would drawing an extra box, ticking it and writing "AndyW" next to it do the trick?

[TheBigD]

What I really dislike is that councillors and MP's don't seem to canvass at all in this country - at home, they are always knocking on doors. Is it because I live in the city? Actually no, thats not right, before I moved to the city centre I lived in suburbia and they didn't canvass then either

That seems true, I've never seen any of them canvassing where I live. However, every MP is entitled to a £10,000 a year communications allowance for this sort of thing, which I beleive most of them claim for. Would be interesting to see a break down of exactly how that money is spent.

[cailin maith]

Would drawing an extra box, ticking it and writing "AndyW" next to it do the trick?

If all of CUK did that - he might become a viable alternative.

[TykeMerc]

The expenses thing has been the end for me. You can't trust any of them and I agree the fringe parties are out... I'd vote green if the asses would sort out recycling bins for our block!

What I really dislike is that councillors and MP's don't seem to canvass at all in this country - at home, they are always knocking on doors. Is it because I live in the city? Actually no, thats not right, before I moved to the city centre I lived in suburbia and they didn't canvass then either

That's the rub, in the UK we haven't had representative government for decades, once an MP has their seat they can happily ignore their electorate until the next election. With our "first past the post" system, Party politics and Whips 45% of the turnout (that's not the electorate as 50%+ don't bother to vote) will typically return a massive, unbeatable majority.

How many people in this country even appreciate that they are electing a representative and NOT a Party? Democracy in the UK is a total farce.

[ASB]

Ok - serious question, I don't trust any of those flipers now... I don't want to not vote (I think thats appalling) however I dont' want to vote for any of them, so what do I do?

If you want to wind up the returning officer go to the polling station, collect you ballot paper but do not put in the box. This will ensure that the number oif papers retrieved from the box differs to that which were issued and will force the first recount....

[ASB]

What I really dislike is that councillors and MP's don't seem to canvass at all in this country - at home, they are always knocking on doors. Is it because I live in the city? Actually no, thats not right, before I moved to the city centre I lived in suburbia and they didn't canvass then either

Mrs ASB canvasses her entire electorate. Though I agree this is unusual.