The General Election - Who Are You Voting For?

[Benji]

[BoneDog]

slightly more left wing than Hitler

I would no more vote for UKIP than the BNP to be honest. <_<

Racist might be a bit strong but they are definitely to the right of the Tories.

They want to be tough on immigration, certainly tougher than any of the mainstream parties. I do seem to remember them getting all menstrual when Honest Dave called them a bunch of closet racists though.

Personally I wouldn't vote for them because as frustrating as some EU policy can be, I believe membership of it is a good thing.

I knew there would be a drawback! I might just go Green although I know nothing about them either, apart from they don't like nuclear bombs or hunting Whales. I agree with both those policies so maybe they are the ones for me

[BoneDog]

Did you see Nigel Farage's attack on the new EU President though? That was priceless and almost a vote winner for me.

I saw that and thought it was pretty good! Although he is probably just as big a twat as the guy he was slating.

If thats what wins votes Im voting for Finnegan and Lisa then!

I always thought I was the best debater on FT ?

[Guest Bilo]

If thats what wins votes Im voting for Finnegan and Lisa then!

Apparently Lisa's 32% Tory. That's only 68% behind Tony Blair.

I'd vote Finners but Plaid Cymru aren't standing in my constituency. Or the Socialists.

Damn them.

Vote for me instead. I'd be a brilliant MP.

[Guest Bilo]

I always thought I was the best debater on FT ?

I thought I was.

You voted for me you shit!

[BoneDog]

I thought I was.

You voted for me you shit!

yeah but I couldn't vote for meself !

I don't rate meself really, I think I mostly end up making meself look a bit stupid and regretting it, which is why I try to hold it down a bit nowadays

No doubt something will pop up on here again that I can't help getting involved in!

[Benji]

yeah but I couldn't vote for meself !

I don't rate meself really, I think I mostly end up making meself look a bit stupid and regretting it, which is why I try to hold it down a bit nowadays

No doubt something will pop up on here again that I can't help getting involved in!

If you're phishing for nicities don't hold your breath, you all equally suck

[FoxyPV]

I've just heard that UKIP are going to pull Britain out of the EU if they get power!

Very big if, but they might get a vote from me just for that reason. Are they a bit racist though cos I know nothing about them?

The only difference between the two is that one stems from the working class and is vilified by all whereas the other stems from the upper class part of the tory party and therefore has some respectability.

[Jon the Hat]

My bugbear is that the public sector always takes the blame when the private sector fails - the only reason the deficit is so big is because the fooking banks played god and lost and the govt had to step in to stop us all getting fooked. (I'm not saying Labour didn't have a rather large hand in allowing this to happen)

The cuts that will be made will be in things like Surestep - a small but invaluble maternity provision that allows women to go and get help (financial and counselling etc) and other small semi community based projects that make a real difference.

Taxes should be increased anyway to accomodate spending on essential items such as Health, Education etc and they should cut Trident and all the rest of the military bollox, get everyone out of Iraq and Afghanistan and save a fortune.

The government has been spending more than it earns from Tax for years - this is what they call the structural deficit - ie it is not due to the recession. All those years Brown kept telling us he was prudent, in fact he was borrowing money all over the place, not to mention raiding pensions for windfall tax, and increasing taxes left right and centre. This is how you get in this mess, not the banks, not the recession, but spending beyond your means when times are good. Heard the phrase "make hay while the sun shines" ? well Gordon didn't, instead he borrowed other peoples hay to feed that fat cow that is the public sector he created, and now when it is pissing down he needs to pay it back, but the cow is still hungry.

Oh yes, I went there. a cow analogy.

[BoneDog]

If you're phishing for nicities don't hold your breath, you all equally suck

Ha, no I don't expect any nicities, I have made myself sound like a right nutter in many debates on here with talk about Jesus coming back in a UFO etc. ! I am not quite clever enough to be a quality debater, I do give it a good go though

The only difference between the two is that one stems from the working class and is vilified by all whereas the other stems from the upper class part of the tory party and therefore has some respectability.

That sounds about right. Oh I don't know what to blummin do. To vote, or not to vote, that is the question!

[lildave3]

Polling card came today, me being able to vote

Definitely going Lib Dems although that Vote Match told me to vote Conservative.

[FoxyPV]

The government has been spending more than it earns from Tax for years - this is what they call the structural deficit - ie it is not due to the recession. All those years Brown kept telling us he was prudent, in fact he was borrowing money all over the place, not to mention raiding pensions for windfall tax, and increasing taxes left right and centre. This is how you get in this mess, not the banks, not the recession, but spending beyond your means when times are good. Heard the phrase "make hay while the sun shines" ? well Gordon didn't, instead he borrowed other peoples hay to feed that fat cow that is the public sector he created, and now when it is pissing down he needs to pay it back, but the cow is still hungry.

Oh yes, I went there. a cow analogy.

Love the cow analogy and agree with the general sentiment of the post. The govt lived beyond its means for years BUT the recession came about from the banks fooking up and losing everyone's money.

Public sector is the stick with which the political parties use to beat each other with (which pisses me off) but none of them are going to really address the inequalities in it (Cameron's 20x doesn't go far enough- if I earn £10k at the bottom it's alright for my boss to earn £200k - away and fook!)

I wish Brown practised frugality when he was Chancellor.

Finally did the vote match:

Party

Green Party: 66% Labour Party: 64% Liberal Democrats: 56% Conservative Party: 25

[l444ry]

Love the cow analogy and agree with the general sentiment of the post. The govt lived beyond its means for years BUT the recession came about from the banks fooking up and losing everyone's money.

Public sector is the stick with which the political parties use to beat each other with (which pisses me off) but none of them are going to really address the inequalities in it (Cameron's 20x doesn't go far enough- if I earn £10k at the bottom it's alright for my boss to earn £200k - away and fook!)

I wish Brown practised frugality when he was Chancellor.

Finally did the vote match:

Party

Green Party: 66% Labour Party: 64% Liberal Democrats: 56% Conservative Party: 25

I'd like to know where the money has gone.

Money does not evaporate - it travels from one place to another and it's only in the transaction that it has any meaning in contact with real lives.

Banks lent heaps of money to the US sub-prime mortgage market. Borrowers (presumably) used it to buy houses from developers and other vendors. The vendors delivered value to the borrower so in my mind are entitled to their money.

The defaulting borrower on the other hand has basically stolen our cash. No doubt the mortgagor will re-possess the homes and sell them at whatever (low) price they can get to help offset the defaulted loan.

So another US home-owner gets a cheap home - hopefully this time able to sustain their mortgage.

Where did the money go? It disappeared into homes that a lot of US citizens got for a lot less than they should have paid. Or to put it more simply the world just built a lot of houses in the US for free.

I think we need to ask the US government how they intend to repay the world.

[act smiley]

Money does not evaporate

It does when its made out of thin air to start with.

[l444ry]

It does when its made out of thin air to start with.

All money is made out of thin air!!!

[Jimothy]

[DJ Barry Hammond]

I have been thinking about the Conservative manifesto and its general message, and although I don't have an incline to vote Tory, I have to say it's a work of genius, and I will go on to say why.

The main theme of, vote us, we give you the power, will resinate well with people who intend to vote, but are disalusioned with the current polictical system. If beleivable, and some of their policies are moderately, I sense this will provide a swing of votes enough to get them into power. It really entices those who feel they could do a better job than the current encumbants to take a stand.

But I here you say, what about those who wouldn't want the power, couldn't be bothered - well in a way, a lot of these people won't be inclined to vote anyway, so its not a bad thing.

And when I consider, if the Torries got in and put their policies into practice, and they didn't work, who can they blame - you the electroate, as it's you that have the power! We gave you it, you failed!

So there we are - a bit of genius from the Cons!

Whilst posting, my I add one thing that has annoyed me during the election so far - politcial commentators, slating the Liberal Democrates chances of winning. Ok, it's a long standing joke, but to keep putting this question to Nick Clegg and the party is really damaging their chances of receiving votes and is in a lot of ways unfair and biased commentating as they have a good chance to pick up votes.

I fear the damage has already been done to their hopes in this election, but I think they should put in an official complaint, because I think without this 'wasted vote' 'they can say what they want, they're never going to get in' statements they could end up in second place!

[Daggers]

[DJ Barry Hammond]

With being in a complete void as to who to vote for - I thought I'd ask the candidates themselves;

Dear potential MP's

Following the release of your appropiate mainfestoe's I have decided rather than myself trawling through each, I would contact each party to ask you to pick out the highlights of your pledges of how to shape Britian from May 2010 onwards and if you can personalise your responses based on my voter profile below;

I am a employed, 27 year old male, currently living at home with my parents.

I have asperations of purchasing a house some day, but don't feel it will be in the next 5 years as my financial position is not great, and I don't have a great deal of savings.

I am currently in a relationship with a 'single mum' who has two children, one of whom is in primary school, with the other in secondary school.

I am employed by AXA, who I am sure you are aware are part of the financial services sector, and the squeeze can be felt within the company, although fortunately it seems my personal position in the company appears to be safe. I have been contributing to the company pension scheme since I joined AXA, and have previous pension contributions following my employment with Britannia/Bristol & West.

My girlfriend is currently employed in the financial services sector within Bristol, by the Co-operative group who recently merged with the Britannia (who took over Bristol & West previously which was both our original employers) but has had recently been given the disapointing news that she will be made redundant at some point in 2010.

I hold a driving licence and own my own car, but I am concerned by the state of local roads following the period of cold weather and numerous private companies digging up roads willy nilly. My main use for the car at present is to and from work and social activities, it is noticable that i do not drive for pleasure as much as I used to.

In my spare time, I enjoy a pint of cider (10% increase in duty!) and I smoke. Despite the unhealthy initial opinion I have given, I also spend a lot of my time playing football locally and of course enjoy watching it on the TV along with many other sports.

I hope thats given you a picture of who I am, now it is up to you to pursuade me to vote for you! I voted in the last election for Roger Berry, and although I beleive Roger has done a good job for Kingswood, my overall perceived performance of the labour party in general has left me open to ideas.

If i'm honest, I was not aware of the other main candidates in my area, having only found the names of Chris Skidmore and Sally Fitzharris from the BBC election website, so I'd would be interested to learn more from each of you.

One final point I would like to add is that I have always had a keen outside interest in politics, and sense that I would be interesting in taking my participation further. If you can provide any advice or guidance or how this can be achived and what would be involved in becoming an MP (or possible just a story of how you came to represent your party in this area) would be very interesting.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Regards

Alex Cook

(potential Kingswood voter)

P.S. Chris has not been added to this email as his email address was difficult to locate, so I've used the online form. Not a good start for Chris!

So this is the email I have sent to each candidate. Will be interesting to see what I get back, if anything! (True Kingswood, Bristol constituency is not much interest for you leicestershire folk, but I would encourage you to do the same!)

[Fosse Boy]

I did something similar this afternoon actually (though a bit less generally), I just basically asked them for their opinion on standing at football, policing of fans and so on. Had one response so far, from the English Democrats. The guy seemed pretty sound. Might post his response in a bit if I can be arsed.

[Daggers]

I did something similar this afternoon actually (though a bit less generally), I just basically asked them for their opinion on standing at football, policing of fans and so on. Had one response so far, from the English Democrats. The guy seemed pretty sound. Might post his response in a bit if I can be arsed.

Did you ask him his policy on donkey fucking?

For me it is the only issue worth addressing.

[FoxyPV]

UKIP announced a flat tax rate of 31% - going to get a lot of votes from rich disaffected tories....oh wait that's who set up the party

[Jon the Hat]

Whilst posting, my I add one thing that has annoyed me during the election so far - politcial commentators, slating the Liberal Democrates chances of winning. Ok, it's a long standing joke, but to keep putting this question to Nick Clegg and the party is really damaging their chances of receiving votes and is in a lot of ways unfair and biased commentating as they have a good chance to pick up votes.

I fear the damage has already been done to their hopes in this election, but I think they should put in an official complaint, because I think without this 'wasted vote' 'they can say what they want, they're never going to get in' statements they could end up in second place!

In my constituency, the Lib Dems are telling everyone that a vote for Labour is a wasted vote, so they get no sympathy from me. No

[Jon the Hat]

UKIP announced a flat tax rate of 31% - going to get a lot of votes from rich disaffected tories....oh wait that's who set up the party

A flat tax rate would work if you abolished all other taxes - no more NI, VAT, Council tax etc. Then you would actually pay based on your means. Sadly, this is never ever going to happen, as the populace wuld then understand how much of their money the Government is actually getting, and start burning MP's council offices etc...

[FoxyPV]

A flat tax rate would work if you abolished all other taxes - no more NI, VAT, Council tax etc. Then you would actually pay based on your means. Sadly, this is never ever going to happen, as the populace wuld then understand how much of their money the Government is actually getting, and start burning MP's council offices etc...

Surely a flat tax rate means that everyone pays the same rate regardless of their earnings or am I missing something here?