this important referendum is nearly upon us and i thought it would be interesting explore the views held by this BB

after much thought, i have decided to vote against AV
i do not dispute that "first past post the post" is in some ways unfair - so is life and golf! - but i am far from convinced that AV is intrinsically much better

i would rather have a stronger gov't of some hue than a weak coalition or mps (and parties) who have felt obliged to trim their sails to offend the least number and thus gain a few more secondary votes

full-blown PR is at least "fair", but even then, there are many examples of horribly weak and unstable gov'ts, which is also pretty disastrous

finally, and of greatest concern, i suspect the turnout for this referendum will be +/-35% at best and probably a lot lower in many parts of the country
it follows that those who vote in this will be (relative) "activists" for lack of a better word, for the run-of-the-mill voter will find the whole thing too complicated and voting on it all, too much of a fag
thus, if there is a change in our voting system, then it is very likely to have been pushed through by <20% of the electorate - is that fair?

fred - i am getting so bored with 99% of your posts that i am sorely tempted to squelch you, where i am afraid you will be on your own, for it is not a function i ever use

C'est la vie!

Cynic.

I found out when I was a young boy, that often those who liked "handing it out" didn't have the "stomach to take it", and often cried "foul play" when the game got rough!

The Labour Party are doomed at present. Ed Millipede is very unpopular with the country in general and his MPs even more so and unelectable.

The Labour Party is broke again. The Conservatives should walk any election during the next year or so. In fact as time goes on they should get a bigger and bigger majority. There have been several suggestion today of an autumn election called by Cameron.

fred - not as many cock ups as labour are responsible for - that would be impossible - europe used & abused labour, so called human rights - what a mess, prisoners claimimg thousands of pounds for falling out of bed! prisoners living in luxury etc, labours stupid targets ruined hospitals with management teams, schooling - oh i know need to hit our targets so lets make the exams easier and lower the goal posts, money wasted not by the million but billion, sickness benefit, single mother benefit, immigrants benefit (note the skewed figures of immigration from labour from the minority they knew and admitted weree here were based on adults coming in only and does not include their brood of kids - and boy do they breed 5 + children a norm), plastic police, police spending more time on red tape and i am not even started yet - cameron has a long way to go to emulate that pile of shat and considering the shat labour left in their wake at least he is getting things done - has to or uk plc is finished eg cameron is tackling the work shy who claim sickness - many have now signed off or been removed - it should only go to the real sick people not the ones that labour did not tackle because they were scared of losing thier votes et cetera et cetera!

oh and bLIAR, friends with the likes of gadaffi!

fred - it's just that i find nearly all your posts thoroughly tiresome and, apart from inside your own head, all too often without proper logic, let alone common sense .... in fact, i think much of what you post is merely for effect and to be contentious with neither cause nor true justification .... if that's what rocks your boat, then good luck to you i guess, though i for one just feel sorry for you and remain very thankful that we do not move in the same circles

Vince Cable's attack on the ruthless Tories is a bit pathetic. The Liberals are playing in the senior playground for once, but they don't seem to know the rules. They are complaining to the teacher that the big boys are too rough for them.

The answer may be to go back to the junior playground where nurse is handy to put some ointment on those grazed knees and give them a comforting hug. It is much safer pretending you want power and knowing you won't get it.

I saw an interview with Max Hasting a few weeks ago where he said, "The Liberals always were the Silly Party and they still are".

Cameron offered them any date they wanted for the AV referendum. They chose the end of the first year when you could bet that they would be unpopular. Had they waited for a couple more years when the economy might have been a lot better then they could have risen in popularity and the public would have wanted to give them a chance. The public knew very well that the Liberals were the only real gainer in a change in the voting system, which is why they voted NO out of spite.

As it is, the Liberal voters feel betrayed, not realising that in a coalition you can't have all your wishes come true.

fred. you are a fool and i expect you are a small time player. so go and play with the children which is about your score

I see the concert party are out again with their mantras.

Tanker, you seem to be sinking again, why not try a little unpaid work for the Cameron society.

It would be interesting to have an election in 12 months time.

As far the financing the political parties is concerned,I think it suggests a corrupt society when a small number of individual similar to Murdock, Aschroft and some others who have their money in overseas tax havens are able to buy political party.

As Vince Cable suggested the tory party is a tribe and tribal and still for many the Nasty Party.

I will watch with interest the demise of the present government.

Great posts guys

bogbrush.

Fred - I don't share your politics but I do enjoy your posts. Please ignore those who can't take a pluralistic view.

Kernow,

Thank you.


It takes courage to question one's own "beliefs" and realising the long term consequences of one's actions.

Some are too frightened to do so.

But my next important question to answer for myself, is whether I cook the mussels before or after the squid.


It is nice now to be only to be responsible for personal decisions actions and consequences.

fred - does one therefore assume that wife and offspring have fled the nest?

The wife hasn't, but my four daughters have, but all enjoy my cooking.

(Generally.)

Ps.

Be careful, when you are in France as I will be arriving there towards the end of this week and I have a new recipe for Octopus.

The other part of my my mission "impossible" is to teach the French to understand my dialect.

not fred the shred by any chance!

joking aside - not too keen on mussels - squid yes pls - like fried, calameres espana or maybe portuegese or even squid in its own milk aka calameres en su tinta - very versatile - enjoy however you prepare / cook

Can't stand this slimey cnut.

tinta = ink!

bernard - your comment smacks of anti-semiticism!

BM i agree . arsewipe is better