Bollitics: VT General Election Poll #3 - GE Week One

[wiganvillain]

Have we actually discovered what any of them stand FOR yet or is it still we're not the other guys

[leviramsey]

The reason the USA has no VAT is that the right wing opposes it because it raises massive sums of money while the left wing opposes it because it's regressive.

Hang on a minute. The USA may have no national equivalent of VAT, but when I was last there (admittedly some years ago), there were local (state) purchase taxes in place - certainly in Maryland. Quite annoying, as they tended not to be included in the "ticket price" in many shops.

Same thing, n'est ce pas?

Similar, but sales taxes, being out in the open are harder to raise without provoking outcry from the citizenry.

[LJRM050389]

The chancellors had a discussion on the Beeb at lunch.

That was fun.

Once again it amounted to, effectively, 'NO YOU!'.

And the amount of backing up and evidencing of the figures they both come out with they may as well say we should mine Perry Barr as the latest energy source, naturally occuring masala, has been discovered.

On the subject of Perry Barr had Khalid Mahmoods leaflet come through today, its very well put together!

[Chindie]

I had the Mahmood leaflet come today as well. I thought it was addressed to the household but no, apparently it's specifically for me.

Not a chance in hell I'd vote for him. Anyone who's Wiki page has a referenced quote saying he's a bit thick, and also effectively says how high when the Labour says jump is someone I don't think I'd vote for.

[LJRM050389]

I had the Mahmood leaflet come today as well. I thought it was addressed to the household but no, apparently it's specifically for me.

Not a chance in hell I'd vote for him. Anyone who's Wiki page has a referenced quote saying he's a bit thick, and also effectively says how high when the Labour says jump is someone I don't think I'd vote for.

I sent all the PPC for Perry Barr the Power 20 Pledges or what ever they are called, only the Lib Dem took time to reply to me...

Dear Lee,

Thank you for writing to me about the Power 2010 campaign, I am delighted to

support the campaign for a reforming Parliament and have signed the pledge.

Liberal Democrats have been calling for wholesale reform of our

Parliamentary system for a long time and I am pleased to say that it is

already our policy to:

Introduce a proportional voting system.

The Liberal Democrats will change politics forever and end safe seats by

introducing a fair, more proportional voting system for MPs, and for the

House of Lords. By giving voters the choice between people as well as

parties, it means they can stick with a party but punish a bad MP by voting

for someone else.

Scrap ID cards and roll back the database state.

Liberal Democrats would scrap ID cards. Getting rid of this illiberal,

expensive and ineffective scheme, will free up money for thousands more

police on our streets. We will also get innocent people off the DNA

Database and scrap the intrusive ContactPoint database which will hold the

details of every child in England.

Replace the House of Lords with an elected chamber.

Liberal Democrats will replace it with a fully elected second chamber with

considerably fewer members than the current House.

Draw up a written constitution.

Liberal Democrats believe that people should have the power to determine

this constitution in a convention made up of members of the public and

parliamentarians of all parties, and subject to final approval in a

referendum.

The only part of the pledge with which I do not agree is the call to "allow

only English MPs to vote on English laws". We need a wider look at the

constitution and our electoral system, rather than creating two types of MPs

at Westminster. I believe that the better approach to solve the anomalies in

the current constitutional settlement is to address the status of England

within a Federal Britain, through the Constitutional Convention set up to

draft a written constitution for the UK as a whole.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact me.

Karen

-----Original Message-----

From: Lee

Sent: 06 April 2010 16:24

To: karen@karenhamilton.org.uk

Subject: A Reforming Parliament

From:

Lee

Dear Sir or Madam,

I live in the constituency you wish to represent in Parliament. As a

candidate in the election you are asking me to vote for you. But I would

first like to know if you understand the need for real change at this

election - or instead want to continue with politics as usual.

Our political system is broken. It has failed its people and its purpose.

But there is a way for you to show that you want change - by signing the

POWER Pledge.

POWER2010 ran the UK's largest ever democratic consultation. Tens of

thousands of people were involved in identifying the people's priorities for

cleaning up and reforming our politics - and over 100,000 votes were cast.

The five most popular reforms became the POWER Pledge. These are:

1. Introduce a proportional voting system

2. Scrap ID cards and roll back the database state

3. Replace the House of Lords with an elected chamber

4. Allow only English MPs to vote on English laws

5. Draw up a written constitution

To sign the POWER Pledge you don't have to agree with all five reforms. All

you have to do is back a majority of the ideas - and then join our call for

a reforming Parliament that will act on them.

If you support at least three of these ideas I urge you to click the link

below to sign the POWER Pledge:

http://www.power2010.org.uk/PPCpledge

If you sign the Pledge your name will be added to a list on the POWER2010

website of PPCs who are willing to stand up for change.

Thank you!

[LJRM050389]

Also I find it so hilarious how my Uni Sabbs have all of a sudden joined Vote Tory groups on Facebook, there all private school boys. It just makes me laugh they campaign about tuition fees, the environment and fairness yet they are voting Tory and actually all been appointed to the local Conservative Future campaign team

[Gringo]

1.) You cut the number of Mp's down.

Why does everyone seem to think this is a good idea? Surely that makes the parilament less representative and it's not a solution for fiddling / corrupt MPs which seems to be the problem that led dave to this solution at least.

[LJRM050389]

1.) You cut the number of Mp's down.

Why does everyone seem to think this is a good idea? Surely that makes the parilament less representative and it's not a solution for fiddling / corrupt MPs which seems to be the problem that led dave to this solution at least.

This way the Torys would get more share of the vote in their favour as the large number of city constituinceys get broken down.

I disagree with it strongly

[Chindie]

Trimming MPs is a cost cutting idea isn't it? Less MPs, less cost.

And right now we all know cheaper is better.

[Rodders]

but the large city blocks already skew it in Labour's favour anyway?

in terms of voting numbers, the tories scored higher in england than the other parties yet that is never reflected in the votes. Same as the number of LD votes should translate to about another 30-40 more seats iirc.

[LJRM050389]

but the large city blocks already skew it in Labour's favour anyway?

in terms of voting numbers, the tories scored higher in england than the other parties yet that is never reflected in the votes. Same as the number of LD votes should translate to about another 30-40 more seats iirc.

Hence the Alternative Vote, but reducing the number of MPs no way!

[Gringo]

Trimming MPs is a cost cutting idea isn't it? Less MPs, less cost.

And right now we all know cheaper is better.

Why not get rid of the lot.

How much does it save?

Does it serve democracy?

dave first announced this during the duck house days - so it's a bit like the id cards for labour (a solution looking for a problem) - it won't solve corruption, so we'll find another reason to pursue it then.

Might as well cut councils in half.

[Chindie]

Thats more or less my point Gringo.

Every party is telling us how much money they're going to save (and they do need to do it, of course). But they don't seem to be telling us that there are some cases where trying to save money will be to the detriment of the country.

[CarewsEyebrowDesigner]

1.) You cut the number of Mp's down.

Why does everyone seem to think this is a good idea? Surely that makes the parilament less representative and it's not a solution for fiddling / corrupt MPs which seems to be the problem that led dave to this solution at least.

I don't think Parliament is that representative as it is.

[thetrees]

in terms of voting numbers, the tories scored higher in england than the other parties yet that is never reflected in the votes. Same as the number of LD votes should translate to about another 30-40 more seats iirc.

Which is why the present government have removed democracy from our society.

Scots, Welsh and N.Irish vote for their own government, and then vote for ours as well.

[Gringo]

1.) You cut the number of Mp's down.

Why does everyone seem to think this is a good idea? Surely that makes the parilament less representative and it's not a solution for fiddling / corrupt MPs which seems to be the problem that led dave to this solution at least.

I don't think Parliament is that representative as it is.

So making it less representative would not be the ideal way forward

[CarewsEyebrowDesigner]

I don't think Parliament is that representative as it is.

So making it less representative would not be the ideal way forward

By that I mean, an MP isn't really representative of their constituency. How many people here feel truly represented in parliament?

Although I am talking from my experience, although it could be as bad in England with the diversity within the country these days.

So really, it doesn't matter if there is more or less MP's, as the system is flawed so you may aswell save a few bob while your at it.

[Chindie]

I really don't think 'It's poor, might as well save some cash and make it worse' is a good maxim.

[Gringo]

I don't think Parliament is that representative as it is.

So making it less representative would not be the ideal way forward

By that I mean, an MP isn't really representative of their constituency. How many people here feel truly represented in parliament?

Although I am talking from my experience, although it could be as bad in England with the diversity within the country these days.

So really, it doesn't matter if there is more or less MP's, as the system is flawed so you may aswell save a few bob while your at it.

Maybe having more MPs could make the system less flawed - less people who were beholden to the party line.

[CarewsEyebrowDesigner]

I'll be honest, I couldn't give a **** how it's done as i don't have faith in the system in place full stop.

Edit: Well the more MP's is my other arguement, but it relies on the breaking up of petty party politics and well all know that won't happen.