A lot of people are pissed off with our two party system.Young people want more exciting choices. Idealogues say they're much the same as each other. Many people think both have failed while others don't want to be shoved into one of two unattractive boxes and a few who can't make their minds up but want top be right all the time will vote Lib-Dem. I can't even say I'm a hundred percent happy with it myself; anyone of intelligence is bound to feel some reservations about some aspects of a party's policy and there aren't many people left who say "I'd vote for a pig if my party put one up" though there are many who have the opportunity.
Yet for all its faults the choice between two parties able to form a government is the basis of our democracy and even if we were able to give a more nuanced vote through proportional representation one of the two majors would still provide the core of government the other the core of opposition.
So there's no escape from the two government providers the big party.We have to vote. Not to do so is an abdication; no vote no voice is correct. Only twitter is left to twits. To vote is to choose and that we all must. Which party suits us? Which best serves our interests? With which do we have the most affinity? Neither brand can satisfy us in every respect, but which satisfies most?
Pick it. Grit your teeth and vote for it. Parties will tell you that if you have doubts you should join and change them. Fat chance. Life is too short to try and change party policy. It'll change with time and circumstance but not for you. Labour has been pro common market under Wilson, then anti, then doubtful, now vacuously enthusiastic. All that will change it back is experience in office. The Tories believe in money and hope to get their hands on more of it but under Macmillan they put growth first then monetarism then when the banks betrayed them they toughed up on them and will always put dosh before people
So it's voter give an honest curse. Defend the bad against far worse.That's a rational and sensible position between the passion of parrots and the abdication of abstainers. Both make more noise But you're right. Even if you're intending to vote for the wrong party !
Voting for a party doesn't mean supporting every policy or agreeing with everything it says. A party that doesn't argue is dead and those who mindlessly support its every passing policy are parrots.
These days no-one is loyal to 100% of anything. Not even spouses. All rational judgements are "on balance" judgements. Hundred percenters are discounted as fanatics or simple minded. Even unfashionable and boring. What could be worse than that?
The right to vote is also the right NOT to vote.
ReplyDeleteIn order for a democracy to flourish, it is essential for there to be a plurality of views, else democracy is dead.
However, after Blair and Brown had accepted all of Thatcher's reforms the election of a so called Labour government came to signal a change of "personnel" on the government benches rather than any change in "policy"
Those who had profited most under Thatcher continued to prosper most under New Labour.
The inequality between the "haves" and "have nots" continued to accelerate under Blair / Brown and New Labour.
The decline of manufacturing industry accelerated under Blair / Brown and New Labour.
After taking up office, both Blair and Brown invited Thatcher round to number 10 and were happy to be photographed with her on the steps of number 10, smiling broadly.
Even Thatcher described her greatest political legacy as the creation of New Labour.
So, what choice for somebody who is unhappy with the direction taken by the Coalition?