[Politics] Have you voted today? [EU elections] - Page 2

poprock · 4th June 2009, 11:10am

EU elections are proportional representation so turnout counts, even it’s turning out to register a ‘no vote’.

Look at it this way:

Extremist parties have a pretty much guaranteed number of votes, as all their members will turn up and vote for them.
The lower the turnout, the higher their proportion of the total will be.
Not turning out or not registering in the first place therefore actively helps extremist wanks do better in the election.
That’s not a good idea in anyone’s book.

Zippy · 4th June 2009, 11:12am

30 pages.

Radiohead · 4th June 2009, 11:25am

Years ago, I was seriously thinking about running for local elections dressed as Zod; I have the chest hair, the widow's peak...I even made up posters, until I learned you need a £500 deposit. And you only get it back if you earn a certain amount of votes. Obviously to deter tits like me...

(My policies included kneeling before me, and a quick and painless death to anyone who voted for me. I couldn't see myself getting my deposit back.)

Zippy · 4th June 2009, 11:27am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radiohead

until I learned you need a £500 deposit. And you only get it back if you earn a certain amount of votes. Obviously to deter tits like me...

1st year Modern Studies would have told you that.

Radiohead · 4th June 2009, 11:28am

Yup. The dangers of being caught up in a meme...

Blank_Frackis · 4th June 2009, 11:35am

Voted for the Lib Dems. Don't particularly like them in many respects, but they're the only major party who seems to have any actual interest in European issues instead of a desire to regurgitate myths and scarestories about "Eurocrats dictating all our laws to us" and the EU costing us "20 squillion pounds a second". The EU doesn't enthuse me a great deal so all I ask of an MEP is that they're vaguely sensible and not some pig ignorant populist lunatic.

AWESOMEUS MAXIMUS · 4th June 2009, 11:41am

Quote:

Originally Posted by poprock

EU elections are proportional representation so turnout counts, even it’s turning out to register a ‘no vote’.

Counts for, what exactly?
Stats on a bit of paper, nothing meaningful to the people voting, IMO.

Quote:

Look at it this way:

Extremist parties have a pretty much guaranteed number of votes, as all their members will turn up and vote for them.
The lower the turnout, the higher their proportion of the total will be.
Not turning out or not registering in the first place therefore actively helps extremist wanks do better in the election.
That’s not a good idea in anyone’s book.

I don't buy the "vote anything to keep extremists out" angle, personally.
Prefer to educate myself and other people about these 'extremist parties'.

The problem **I** have, is with all politicians and parties as there is not ONE SINGLE PARTY, that I have looked at yet, who I would want representing myself.

There are ones which have "policies" that are appear better than other "policies", yes, but they also have ones I do not agree with.
The other problem is a "policy" or a "pledge" is a few lines on a bit of paper worth the grand sum of fuck all.

For example, the BNP it will do some nice things for the community and its peoples, but it doesn't tell us that is wants a totalarian state and for us to ultimately have no choice in matter. It also wants to clear out a multi-cultural society of it's multi-culture. Labour looked like a great option when Maggie was in charge, but look at it now? Both are a fucking mess, and it's been historically happens. No party has gotten it right. Saying and doing are different things. All a shower of bent, crooked, power hungry, untrustworthy bastards.

Fuck the lot, don't even give them the satisfaction of a statistic to make more baseless claims with.

Not for me I'm afraid.

metallideth · 4th June 2009, 11:45am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jushin Liger

The trip to Motherwell to deface a ballot or vote Green really isn't worth it.

Change that to "walk down the road" for myself. Never been so unfussed about an election in my life, obviously getting older and realising how unimportant both my own opinions and electoral promises are to 'politics' has chipped away at my youthful enthusiasm.

Gadafti Inc. · 4th June 2009, 11:53am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiona_B

i've had no pamphlets through at all. don't even know where the card is.

Your card isn't a voting ticket - you can vote without it.

Just go along to the polling station and give your details and they'll let you vote.

wee scary burd · 4th June 2009, 11:58am

What time does voting end?

Radiohead · 4th June 2009, 12:05pm

"Key EU laws..."

Mobile phone tarrifs in Europe (an attempt to stop this "roaming charge" pish)

Working Time Directive (a maximum of 48-hours working week.)

All inclusive Air-fares (giving Ryanair a kick up the arse)

And that old chestnut, Immigration Rules

Zippy · 4th June 2009, 12:19pm

Why would they want to limit how many hours people work? They can get to fuck with that.

Blank_Frackis · 4th June 2009, 12:48pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zippy

Why would they want to limit how many hours people work? They can get to fuck with that.

It's supposed to limit the potential for employers to exploit workers. You can still work longer than that if you choose to (by signing an opt out agreement) or if you work in a job that has specific circumstances which require longer hours. The point is that you can't be forced to as part of your contract.