QUOTE OF THE DAY. TRIPPS ORIGINAL

[Stanley]

With Brexit on my mind...
"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof"
Matthew 6:34.

[Tripps]

SCG "David, forget logic and vote Labour."

[chinatyke]

SCG "David, forget logic and vote Labour."

Nowt between lugs?

[Stanley]

No China, simply recognition that in a matter as complicated and horrendous as our present situation none of us has 'enough between our lugs' to be capable of assessing the choices with accuracy. So, to preserve sanity go with the gut and lifelong loyalties.
In my book, anyone who votes for the Bullingdon tendency is mad. Mad I tell you!

[Tizer]

Stanley, if you look at Tripps's post again you'll probably see that it was tongue-in-cheek humour. An good example of taking words out of context.

[Tripps]

anyone who votes for the Bullingdon tendency is mad. Mad I tell you!

I don't disagree with that. . . What's a chap to do?

[PanBiker]

Vote for the Socialist who promotes:

socialism
/ˈsəʊʃəlɪz(ə)m/

noun
noun: socialism

a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.

[Stanley]

Tiz, I got that, I was aiming at China.

[Tizer]

anyone who votes for the Bullingdon tendency is mad. Mad I tell you!

I don't disagree with that. . . What's a chap to do?

Vote for one of the smaller parties, not one of the two big ones. It's time to give others a chance to show what they can do. I know folk often end up voting for the big two because they say: `The others will never get in', but that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. How can they ever get in if we don't vote for them.

[PanBiker]

Unfortunately any votes for the smaller parties will just end with more chance of another term for the Tories. We have Liberal, Green and Independent candidates in Pendle.

[plaques]

The Tory / Lib-Dem coalition was initially based on the hope of proportional representation. This tacit agreement was soon forgotten and the whole show as far as the Lib-Dem's where concerned went down like a lead balloon. Ian raised this point on his wish list but until common sense prevails and while some Party's still think they can win outright, it will never happen. Its a bit like peace talks, they don't start until both sides realize they can't win.

[Stanley]

Very true P. Problem is that entrenched politicians and Joe Public don't like leaps in the dark! They would far rather go back to Rotten Boroughs. (LINK)

[Tizer]

Unfortunately any votes for the smaller parties will just end with more chance of another term for the Tories. We have Liberal, Green and Independent candidates in Pendle.

And also unfortunately, the only way for me to vote to show that I want to get Article 50 immediately revoked is to put my cross against a smaller party. For me and many other people in the UK that's the most pressing need at the moment. We may not be able to put a smaller party into power but at least we can show what we want doing. Otherwise, what's the point of voting?

[PanBiker]

You vote Labour to get rid of the biggest threat, then you vote to leave the EU in the final referendum which will be actioned by Labour. More chance of getting the result you want. It will take slightly longer but a lot better than giving your vote to a no hope party just in protest.

Don't forget the Tories are not bothered whether they leave with their bad deal or non at alll but they will leave, so that is the worst scenario for you I would surmise. Tactical voting has it's advantages and you certainly have more chance of your preferred outcome with Labour than anyone else.

[Tripps]

The Tory / Lib-Dem coalition was initially based on the hope of proportional representation. This tacit agreement was soon forgotten and the whole show as far as the Lib-Dem's where concerned went down like a lead balloon.

Really? That's not quite how I (vaguely) remember it all.
Wasn't there an Alternative Vote Referendum ?

[PanBiker]

Tiz, I should add that you could also join the Labour Party, even as an ordinary member you have the chance of forming party policy. It's like the EU you cant change anything unless you are in the club and I know you are all for that.

Tripps:

AV referendum, only a 42% turnout. 62% No. You know my view, compulsory voting, you will get proper mandates then.

I don't seem to remember any concerted effort of explaining the pro's and con's of AV. I think it was an odd government leaflet. Not really explained properly.

From the Wiki:

"Ten of the 440 local voting areas recorded "Yes" votes above 50 per cent: four were Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh Central and Glasgow Kelvin, the remaining six being in London.

The campaign was described in retrospect by political scientist Iain McLean as a "bad-tempered and ill-informed public"

[Tripps]

internet politics.jpg

[plaques]

plaques wrote: ↑21 Nov 2019, 11:38
The Tory / Lib-Dem coalition was initially based on the hope of proportional representation. This tacit agreement was soon forgotten and the whole show as far as the Lib-Dem's where concerned went down like a lead balloon.
Really? That's not quite how I (vaguely) remember it all.
Wasn't there an Alternative Vote Referendum ?

I was referring to the book by David Laws on the why the Lib-Dems chose the Conservatives rather than the 'failed' Labour. A lot of the background discussions involved the question of proportional representation which they thought was more likely with the Cons' than with Lab.

See this snippet from your reference.
The plans to hold the vote on 5 May faced criticism from some Conservative MPs as distorting the result because turnout was predicted to be higher in those places where local elections were also held. It also faced criticism from Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs for the effects it would have on their devolved elections on the same day, while Clegg himself faced further criticism from Labour, and implied lessening support from Liberal Democrat MPs, for backing down on earlier Liberal Democrat positions on proportional representation.[26]

Actually I'd forgotten about the AV system until you reminded me. Very complicated, boiling down to concentrating your vote or spreading it out. Didn't like it.

[PanBiker]

In my view what we need is to take the first step of introducing compulsory voting. Once that is in place you could then have a proper grown up conversation of the various PR systems against FPTP the latter always supported by the right wing as adversarial (us and them) politics, always suits their purpose. It would take a few years but we should break the log jam of elections being run with less than half the electorate turning out. This never gives a proper mandate and is no way to run a country.

[Pluggy]

PR gets my vote, but compulsory voting flies in the face of democracy IMO.

[PanBiker]

Not with abstain on the ballot. I don't think expecting folk to take an interest and turn out once in a while is too much to ask or undemocratic. Plenty of other countries in the world would agree, Australia for one. Lets hear it from Maz, Cathy and Liz.

[Stanley]

They will be complaining about allowing politics to spill over into this topic. Be careful!

[Tripps]

They will be complaining about allowing politics to spill over into this topic. Be careful!

Noted - but a quote from the comments in another site. Could be either of the main leaders, but it was actually about Boris

"They might yet blow this, you know. It is getting harder and harder for anyone with a brain and a moral compass to vote for this man."

[Stanley]

[Stanley]

I suspect that like most people I have odd bits of verse floating around inside my brain and occasionally I scratch the itch by doing a search on tinternetwebthingy. Here's this morning's crop.
"Lookie Lookie, balls on hooky". See THIS, it turns out it's a corruption of a quote from a Spielberg film 'Hooky' (1991). It should be 'Lookie Lookie, I've got Hookie'.
'I'm coming but my head is bending low'. I remember Paul Robeson singing the song and it turns out is is from 'Old Black Joe' (LINK) by Stephen C Foster.

Old Black Joe
By Stephen C. Foster
Gone are the days when my heart was young and gay,
Gone are my friends from the cotton fields away,
Gone from the earth to a better land I know,
I hear their gentle voices calling “Old Black Joe.”

I’m coming, I’m coming, for my head is bending low:
I hear those gentle voices calling, “Old Black Joe.”

Why do I weep when my heart should feel no pain
Why do I sigh that my friends come not again,
Grieving for forms Now departed long a go?
I hear their gentle voices calling “Old Black Joe.”

I’m coming, I’m coming, for my head is bending low:
I hear those gentle voices calling, “Old Black Joe.”

Where are the hearts once so happy and so free?
The children so dear that I held upon my knee,
Gone to the shore where my soul has longed to go.
I hear their gentle voices calling “Old Black Joe.”

I’m coming, I’m coming, for my head is bending low:
I hear those gentle voices calling, “Old Black Joe.”

Not earth shaking but very satisfying!