Alright Dave?

All that compulsory voting would achieve is to force those who do not wish to vote for some reason or another to vote. They are more likely to spoil their ballot in an act of protest than to register a meaningful vote, so what is the point. In a free democracy each should have the freedom to vote or not. And what would the sanction be if you failed to vote? And how would it be enforced? Say a million people did not vote – can you imagine the time and money involved in collecting fines or prosecuting people through the courts?

Absurd but unsurprising that the UK doesn’t have compulsory voting. Democracy in the UK (or in most other places, to be fair) has never really been about allowing ordinary people to run the country, but rather manufacturing the consent necessary for the real powerbrokers to continue pursuing their narrow interests as they always have. For most nations today, democracy is simply a checkbox to be ticked to qualify as a modern state, not an ideological commitment. Same is true here — our system of compulsory voting is merely a vestige of a more idealistic and egalitarian age.

I agree with your comments. As I always say the difference between democracy and a dictatorship is the a democracy allows you the right to choose which party you allow to do the dictating.

Your last point is well made. Of course revising the constituencies was on the Conservative manifesto last time but was lost thanks to a Lib Dem hissy – fit.

Moggy

The Boundary Commission’s proposals reduce the total UK constituencies from 650 to 600 comprising England 502 down from 533 currently, Northern Ireland 16 from 18, Scotland 52 from 59 and Wales 30 from 40.

………..and so say all of us !!

Moggy. I think Russell Brand is the biggest Pillock that ever lived, just cannot stand the man.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Never saw you as a follower of Russell Brand Linc.

Your last point is well made. Of course revising the constituencies was on the Conservative manifesto last time but was lost thanks to a Lib Dem hissy – fit.

Moggy

I WAS going to vote UKIP, then remembered that this would have been the 12th Election, (Plus a few more years I have lived through) and after a lot of thought, I decided not to vote for any Party. The reason being, in all my years, I havn’t seen any party do an awful lot to improve things for the man in the streets. Taxes will still rise, be it on fuel or anything else they can get out of us. We were promised a referendom on the E.U by Blair, never happened, also the same by Cameron, another lie. No, I am of the opinion, that the fat cats will get fatter, and the rest of us will continue to have to make ends meet. I give it 3 months before they give themselves a pay rise, and an increase in their pension pot, the same pot they all pi** into. I would like to know why we need 650 of them to “Run” this small Island, plus the House of Lords, and laughably the Queen. It’s all, and will always be a big Con. Just my take on things.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Nowhere, in any of my rants about the BBC have I ever claimed or, ever will, that the BBC should be closed or, to quote your words; shut down.

On the contrary, as long as it exists and projects its present left wing formula, it reminds us of the durable vein of totalitarianism that lurks not far under the surface of left wing politics.

Here is an admission: As a person with socialist leanings – which might seem to contradict certain perceptions – I loathe the excesses of socialism as I do capitalism.

Yes, I’m pleased to comfirm that my right wing dictatorial garbage is probably equal to your left wing dictatorial garbage. Note my modesty: I’m not claiming that it is better.

One slight difference, I have not and would not attempt to shut anyone or anything down merely because it didn’t agree with my opinion, our national broadcaster is probably as independent as we are likely to get, those from the left think the BBC is establishment biased, those from the right think the BBC is biased to the left, must be about right in the middle.

John Green

I didn’t think even you were capable of such a pile of right wing dictatorial garbage, anyway you who wish to silence the BBC in favour of the likes of Murdoch, will probably get your wish, I predict that the amount the BBC gets from the TV license will be cut, probably to fund another tax break for hard pressed millionaires.

Yes, I’m pleased to comfirm that my right wing dictatorial garbage is probably equal to your left wing dictatorial garbage. Note my modesty: I’m not claiming that it is better.

The two thirds that voted wanted to be engaged with the election. The third that didn’t had the choice . Therefore democracy worked.

John Green

I didn’t think even you were capable of such a pile of right wing dictatorial garbage, anyway you who wish to silence the BBC in favour of the likes of Murdoch, will probably get your wish, I predict that the amount the BBC gets from the TV license will be cut, probably to fund another tax break for hard pressed millionaires.

Are you suggesting the ‘no shows’ were mainly Labour voters then?

(Or Liberal-Democrat, or UKIP?)

Not at all, but as usual we get the spiel that the people have spoken, truth less than two thirds have spoken, clearly I’m not happy with the result, but that is what it is and we have to live with it for 5 years, it would be more palatable if more voted even if the Tories still won, at least I would know that my views were in a true minority.

I don’t spend enough time with the BBC to form an opinion on accusations of bias from all quarters. But I am appalled by their addiction to the blinkered obsession with AGW – an overheard interview the other day with the discredited Lord Stern was a case in point, with the interviewer clearly incapable of putting the opposing argument.

My limited experience suggests that, in general, the BBC’s reporters do too little reporting and too much opinionating.

Trekbuster,

Only someone who is on the political left would deny the entrenched left wing political bias of the BBC. What is the evidence that turn my opinion into fact ? Where to start ?

I need only mention Question Time. I cannot now watch this dreadful Marxist confection without intending to plant my boot thru’ the center of the screen. It is the most shameful denial of the alleged impartial neutrality of the BBC as one could wish for.

The audience is packed with socialist stooges who shout, scream and intentionally drown out any attempt by the panel to give a reply to a question if the reply, in the stooges opinion, contains a right or right of center point of view.

It is my recollection that this has been the format for at least twenty years and it is a wonder to me that they manage to recruit right wing panelists. Every point scored by left wing panelists is enthusiastically applauded and cheered, points of discussion won by the right are dismissed with jeers and booing. Socialist trash have turned this program into a bear pit.

In keeping with the BBC policy of Marxist indoctrination is the undoubted fact – not opinion, that ALL comedians who appear on BBC comedy shows espouse and include a leftist influence in their comedy routines. But then, this is entirely in keeping with that other pillar of leftist dogma that all show business figures are ‘champagne socialists’. Helps with the cash flow.

How the BBC have been allowed to get away with their nasty political slant is something which I will never understand, the more especially as it is a public funded body which makes it so vulnerable to control.

Trekky – if you want to be taken seriously about politics please do not quote the Huffington post LOL

My political views are that I do not trust many frontline politicians – I think DC may well be the best PM we have had in my lifetime ; ) (62 yrs)
BUT the tories have to guard against going too far right !
Sometimes elections are about who we think will do the least damage to the country rather than who will be the best !!
I am ok with DC representing the uk but there was no credible alternative this time round,Labour defeated themselves – they were not beaten by the tories – but by their own skeletons going back to teflon tone.

Equally, if Chilcot had been published before the election, the Tories would have had a landslide.
.

Possibly true.

Both parties have a lot riding on the outcome of enquiries. If they get to be made public in our lifetime 🙁

Telfon Tone will no doubt get off with a slapped wrist, I don’t know how the Tories will handle their skeleton
in the cupboard though.

Sorry, alleged skeleton.

Historically around a third of the UK electorate fails to vote. And most times there is a “what if” discussion. What’s the point? No one knows how their votes would have been distributed so it adds nothing to the discussion.

Comments made by many of those who voted SNP, indicate that not all of them want independence.

I also wouldn’t mind betting that “Dave” was also aware that if certain facts about the goings on in Westminster
during the 70-s and 80’s had hit the fan before the election. The Labour party may have well had a landslide victory.

Equally, if Chilcot had been published before the election, the Tories would have had a landslide.

It beggars belief that once again Nu Labour is raiding its ugly head. The legacy of a very dark period in the hitory of the party, and the UK as a whole.

If only the no shows would get out and vote not only in Scotland, but across the UK

Are you suggesting the ‘no shows’ were mainly Labour voters then?

(Or Liberal-Democrat, or UKIP?)