Should Politicians be penalised?

Yes I’ll echo some of that, Linc. I don’t know how old John is but not very au fait with the lives if the silver vote, as he calls it.

[QUOTE=John Green;2070667]The silver vote get free teeth, specs and hearing aids. What is wrong with adding a pc or a mobile to the list plus tutorial ? PCs are also available in libraries and internet cafes

John, I am an ole git, I have to PAY if I need new teeth, I have to PAY, if I need Specs,I also have to PAY, should I need a hearing aid,I think you will find that all these things are Means tested, if not, then where can I obtain these Freebies ?.
Fair comment about PCs in Libraries, but many of the elderly would never get their heads around them, if they spent 24/7. 365days a year trying. My next door neighbour is well into pension age, and just cannot afford a daily newspaper, albeit the Sun or D/snail. Things are not as black and white, as you appear to think.I too have a mobile, and I know there are functions, that I havn’t discovered yet. But as long as I can call and receive calls, it fulfills my needs.

Jim.
Lincoln .7

And union sponsored Labour MPs?

I would also make it an offence for any MP to take up any senior position with any Company post Government for a period of 5 years, or take on positions during service as an MP. That way there would be no conflict of interest.

And postal voting has had little or no effect on turnout.

The silver vote get free teeth, specs and hearing aids. What is wrong with adding a pc or a mobile to the list plus tutorial ? PCs are also available in libraries and internet cafes

I’d add to that a free Daily Mail and Sun to really bring them up to speed.

Electronic voting authenticated by one’s National Insurance No. and quoted at the time that you record your vote, will happen. It will happen because voter apathy will, for more reasons than: ‘I hate all politicians’ increase. We’ve had postal voting – with all its abuses, for years. Electronic voting is merely an extension of that process.

Johns Idea is, in theory O.K. however we have an ageing population. I didn’t even get my 1st Computor until I was 60, and only got a Mobile phone after my three kids badgered me into it. My point being, is that the “Silver haired” Brigade of which there are many, still, and perhaps never will get a Comp or Mobile, but they may wish to vote, they may also be housebound, and unable to get to a Polling Station.
the list is infinite.In theory.What about those?.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

I do however agree about the numbers of MPs and of course Cameron’s gesture to reduce them by 50 was spiked by his lily-livered yellow partners. 250 – 300 is more realistic

+1

With a bit of luck the Scots will do the right thing in their vote and at least that will rid us of some unnecessary politicos.

Moggy

Seconded! Sorry John, I’m a realist and disagree and thankfully it won’t come about before I turn my toes up and head for the oven.
I do however agree about the numbers of MPs and of course Cameron’s gesture to reduce them by 50 was spiked by his lily-livered yellow partners. 250 – 300 is more realistic but since turkey’s don’t vote for Christmas it’s not going to happen.

God help us if it ever does, when people informed by the Mail and the Sun dictate everyone’s lives.

Still it will be good to see public hangings brought back.

Moggy

My point is that our system of Government doesn’t work at all well. We have something like 650 MPs representing a country the size of a large rock. 650 is an excessive number and makes for endless debate about urgent matters that sometimes require swift resolution. But then, they have to be seen to justify their salaries.

Silver Fox makes an accurate point about voter apathy. I think that electronic voting whether by computer or by mobile phone would appeal to large numbers of the electorate and encourage them in the voting process. The debate over HS2 would be speedily resolved without the process of endless planning applications and appeals. If this matter was put to electronic voting we would very quickly get a ‘yes’ or a ‘no’. This unequivocal answer would provide a background of electoral opinion which would influence the outcome when the investigative process began.

Electronic opinion gathering has already started; can voting be far behind?

Charlie, you’re too readily dismissive. The system we have works but, creaks loudly. It isn’t Utopian to talk about a simpler, less expensive, more instant, less tolerant of delays idea that is within the grasp of most of us. Million of us have pc’s. Millions more have a mobile or cell phone.

It will come about.

One man, one vote Trump!!;)

You also have to give the voters a brain as well,lets be honest many of them shouldn’t be allowed a crayon let alone a vote.Whilst you have an adversary type of politics ,rather like a team sport where regardless of how good an idea is the others won’t agree with it.

Was an MP…….:)
You do realise that an MP does a great deal more than sit in the Commons. Some debates as well as PMQT are always well attended, others less so and if the motions are outside an MP’s area of interest he/she probably won’t attend. I am not saying everything in the garden is rosy, just trying to put some perspective on it.:)

O.K. Chas, just to put it right for you, WHEN Kinnock was an MEP. I notice you never commented on the rest of that thread. The only time you ever see the House full is at PMQT.
Jim.
Lincoln .7.

Firstly I think you disparage a great many hard working and unsung MPs in your blanket dismissal of them and secondly Kinnock has not been an MP for years. His wife was an MEP and now sits in the Lords and his son is married to the Danish prime minister. I cannot stand the man but he is not guilty as accused.

I honestly think they are all in the job, for what THEY can get out of it to line their own pockets, inasmuch that how many are on a Companies Board of Directors, and getting shed loads for having their names on said Companies Letterheads. I also believe that Members family should not be employed as “Family” as researchers, etc, for said relatives, Kinnock is a prime example, nearly all his family, are employed one way or the other, as Kinnocks little helpers.
I wouldn’t mind living on what some of them get in expenses alone.They should all get the minimum wage, or what an O.A.P. has to live on, recon we would see some changes then PDQ.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Now Tony is talking sense!

Ah but tony …you are forgetting job creation for the viet taff ; )

And also it is far too easy and no jobs for ex ministers LOL

My concern is in this time when we have austerity cuts, reductions in public spending, roads and rail infrastructure desperately needing development,
WTF do we have four parliaments when we used to have one, 4 sets of civil servants when we had one, offer them independence, if they vote no, shut them sell off the buildings and move it back to parliament… If they say yes then let them find their own way. I would close the car tax dept and stick it on fuel, instantly tax evasion is cured., if needed introduce a car insurance disc provided by the companies. Pollution wise, draw you water from a river, your intake would have to be downstream of your outflow.. I could go on.