[Politics] Have you voted today? [EU elections]

[poprock]

Originally Posted by Jaemi

Someone's going to have to explain to me how they got that seat?
Did they not have less than 10% of the vote?
[Ive not read a thing on this yet, too lazy]

It’s because of proportional representation and how many Euro seats were available.

The vast majority of people simply didn’t vote, there was only just over 30% turnout in the area. There were six seats available; 10% of the vote was enough to get them one seat. Fucking UKIP scored a seat in the region as well.

[Potatojunkie]

So it's Chris' fault.

[princessoPUNK]

I voted, and it makes me sick that people have such flimsy 'reasons' for not doing. If you're going to be working all day on the day, or you have moved, you vote by mail. You don't need a polling card to vote, it just helps them find you a bit quicker. You can find out where and how to register with a very quick Google search. All of these 'reasons' are a bit " someone didn't put instructions in front of me in giant capital letters, so I just won't do it".

I hate voter apathy.

[Dec]

"Apathy" frames the argument in the wrong way, it's a lot more complicated than people simply not caring.

Originally Posted by McClernon

including at a wrestling show where there was a guy with a rich indian prince gimmick with a broad english accent who people were shouting "go home" at

I was gantin for some BNP members to be outside the polling station canvassing, with the intention of singing "Whitey go home" at them. Alas, there was no-one from any party outside the place all day. Surprising.

[Zippy]

Originally Posted by Dec

I was gantin for some BNP members to be outside the polling station canvassing, with the intention of singing "Whitey go home" at them. Alas, there was no-one from any party outside the place all day. Surprising.

Aye, there was no one outside my polling station and the only leaflet I received pre-election was from the local Lib Dem councillor. It seems that apathy stretches right up to the people who are trying to get you to vote for them. What happened to the canvassing and the general 'putting a bit of work in' for the votes?

[poprock]

I was wondering whether it’s because there’s traditionally been less of that sort of canvassing for the European elections, and it generally only happens for the UK elections and local Council ones. Dunno though, still felt a bit fishy turning up to vote and only seeing one canvasser outside. Definitely gives an odd impression when you only receive flyers from half the parties, too.

Y’know, the only party I saw handing out flyers in the street the weekend before was the BNP.

What a state to end up in.

[metallideth]

The other thing to remember is that people who would vote far-right, will vote far-right - anti-immigration tack and all that comes with it is pretty mainstream as far as politics in this country goes. Class warfare and smashing the state isn't though, so it's far more likely for someone of a left-wing position to be entirely disenfranchised with 'the system' and just figure on opting out.

Got to admit, though, that I'm glad the Greens are on the up, even if it is ever so slowly. Hope as well that the continued SSP wipeout makes Fox et al give up the ghost and seek a sort of workable Green-Left alliance like a few of the major European countries have got going on.

[LesMTS]

Originally Posted by metallideth

Got to admit, though, that I'm glad the Greens are on the up, even if it is ever so slowly. Hope as well that the continued SSP wipeout makes Fox et al give up the ghost and seek a sort of workable Green-Left alliance like a few of the major European countries have got going on.

I wish the green party knew their arse from their elbow when it came to science matters, then I might consider voting for them, but currently they're completely inept. Their opposition to animal testing in medical research (and policy of banning it) is fuelled by misconceptions and lack of basic understanding of med research (they parrot the old "there are more effective alternatives like cell culture and computer modelling!" canard). They're also vehemently opposed to nuclear energy, which I can't agree with.

[bugpowderdust]

Originally Posted by LesMTS

I wish the green party knew their arse from their elbow when it came to science matters, then I might consider voting for them, but currently they're completely inept. Their opposition to animal testing in medical research (and policy of banning it) is fuelled by misconceptions and lack of basic understanding of med research (they parrot the old "there are more effective alternatives like cell culture and computer modelling!" canard). They're also vehemently opposed to nuclear energy, which I can't agree with.

Indeed. Their entire science policy is naive to the point of being harmful, as is their healthcare policy. Article

Alas voters are dumb on both sides of the political spectrum. Obviously the right wing can go fuck themselves, but the results all round in this election are pretty poor.

[metallideth]

Originally Posted by LesMTS

I wish the green party knew their arse from their elbow when it came to science matters, then I might consider voting for them, but currently they're completely inept. Their opposition to animal testing in medical research (and policy of banning it) is fuelled by misconceptions and lack of basic understanding of med research (they parrot the old "there are more effective alternatives like cell culture and computer modelling!" canard). They're also vehemently opposed to nuclear energy, which I can't agree with.

See, I vaguely agree with those sentiments because I'm a sap/luddite. Also I think there's an important point to be made about control of resources as far as scientific testing and nuclear energy goes, but that's an economic matter rather than a moral one. Yet I doubt the GP would have much luck getting any of these proposals through even if they did have their foot in the door; far more chance of their more 'sensible' policies being pushed forward at the expense of the more flimsy ones.

[Dec]

Just found out the greens would ban zoos. Good guys.

[erithromycin]

Originally Posted by Dec

Just found out the greens would ban zoos. Good guys.

But...

If you ban zoos, then only criminals will have zoos.

[djtoast]

there'll be illicit back-alley penguin parades without proper regulation, who the hell will THAT be better?