Why I didn’t vote.

[Trippledence]

Voting is an act of democracy? No, not really. I feel a democracy is a situation where a pluralistic collection of groups shape policy, rather than a central government. The fact that we have no power to change our minds during a term just shows how Britain has an electoral dictatorship rather than a true democracy, and thus, it is a typical western state.

Now several of my friends are trying to give me a hard time over this, and lump me into the ‘I don’t care’ pile of people that don’t vote. There reasoning is I should have submitted a spoilt ballet paper if I didn’t want to choose a representative. Well what kind of message does that send? That I am some kind of retard who cant use a pen and paper?

I see that there are three reasons to vote.
- To encourage democracy, which is a fallacy.
- Because you feel pleasure [gain utility] from the act of voting.
- Or because you feel your vote will change the outcome of the election.

Gaining utility from voting is a personal equation, how hard is it for you to vote? If it’s a pop down to the shops, then it’s not costing you a lot. For me on campus it would take 10 minutes of my time, and a short walk on a nice evening that I would gain utility from. But the act its self would give me no pleasure, only a hollow feeling that I was been sucked into the system.

And finally, the chance of your vote changing the outcome is very low. If you constituency has a strong minority party, perhaps not. But for most places, Exeter included its pretty cut and dry, as a student here I feel isolated from the community that the MP will deal with any way.

So my vote, is a vote for anyone who reads this to at least spend the time that it would have taken them to vote to think about what democracy is in this county, and how they would like to see it unfold.

[No.72]

TORY ftw!

[No.72]

wops wrong thread

[unreal]

I don't vote because they're all friggin the same.


(Note: I know barely anything about politics because it does not interest me. Infact the whole world of politics is kinda depressing in our era, I'd rather leave it at the mo thanks)

[SiM]

Why don't you run for a political position then? If you make it to the top you can implement a online decision making system or something...

IMO, I'd rather let a central government make decisions on my (and the country's) behalf as they are educated to do so and I'm not (unless its a decision about statistics... well they do use statistians to help make their decisions)... But then again, I don't really care who is in power as long as its not an extremist. Labour/Tories are same thing in my book.

[dave87]

I didn't vote at home, because I wasn't there. I didn't vote at Uni cause I was doing other things.

Don't get me wrong, I've voted in every election since I was 18, each time a cursory glance at their manifestos reviled they had basically the same policies, and that no matter who won, nothing much would change anyway.

That, and the Conservative candidate in my area made the mistake of trying to start a conversation with me, whilst I was at the polling station. In about 3 sentences he managed to make himself look like a fool, so he wasn't getting my vote. Local Residents Association it is then (well, it was that or the Greens, and I want to be able to drive when I eventually get round to getting a car).

[Trippledence]

Policy is often decided from opinyon polls. Not for best effect, but so polititions will get the best chance of re-election.

All you have to do is like or dislike what they do to change govement in its present fickle state.

[SiM]

I didn't vote because I forgot... Thats what not sleeping does to you

[Elspuddy]

i did not ote becasue i had to send out all these joost invite
or for the real reasion, i was too bizzy with my cleaning job.

[Stewart]

I voted Tory, because anything else would be dirty and wrong.

[SiM]

I voted Tory, because anything else would be dirty and wrong.

It might be dirty, it might be wrong, but it feels sooo good

[TiG]

I have to say i hole heartedly agree, however i wanted to vote tonight but sadly i had no polling station within walking distance, and i'm sorry but i refuse to drive and waste petrol to register a vote in a sure seat.

Personally politics at the moment is driving me nuts, i have no idea how the labour party can just agree Brown will be prime minister without having a new general election.

I feel the waste generated in the public services is ridiculous, I'm fed up with Targets, Focus groups, Spin, Nanny state.

I don't feel that a vote for any of the major parties will change anything, Tories will cut spending and try and reduce red tape, but will most likely cut things too hard, Labour have made red tape go through the roof, and i'd love to see where all the money has actually gone. Bill of reciept for the NHS please.

Government initiatives to improve things by lateral thinking, development of alternative power, not by going and buying other countries technologies, but investment in british engineering firms to improve technologies, create jobs and create new industries to replace the old failing ones. Put money into new things, not the ones like Rover where the writing was on the wall.

People say fix the public transport system, i say look for ways to revolutionise the whole concept.

I'll get off my soap box but.....










Vote for TiG heh

TiG (for a brighter hexus future)

[No.72]

Tory! Tory! Tory! Tory!!!!

[Trippledence]

Tory! Tory! Tory! Tory!!!!

Are you sure you are old enough to vote, prehaps they should do it on mental age.

[SiM]

Are you sure you are old enough to vote, prehaps they should do it on mental age.

rofl... does that apply to all tory supporters?

[Trippledence]

rofl... does that apply to all tory supporters?

Just ones that post the word again and again for no reason.