to tell the local Lib Dems where to stick their requests for help with leaflet distribution?

[kveta]

I used to be a Lib Dem supporter - every election, I voted for them as I thought they had integrity, and felt that they were the party with the lowest number of utter pillocks in their ranks. I thought Nick Clegg was a decent bloke with some morals, I considered Vince Cable an honest and sensible politician. I helped to campaign for them in the recent elections, and used to help my parents deliver Focus for them when I was younger. Last night I got a phone call and an email from our local branch asking for my support in the local council elections.

Since they have clearly just lied themselves inside out, and couldn't give even the tiniest of shits about their supporters, would I be unreasonable to tell them to stick their request for help somewhere the sun don't shine, and never to darken my doorway again?

The Lib Dems have been able to offer all kinds of moon-on-a-stick policies that are, in practice, unworkable - essentially because they never expected find themselves on power with voters expecting them to deliver on their promises.

Politics is the art of the possible. Sometimes what's possible changes. IIRC Clegg promised to vote against an increase in student fees, which presumably he did. If the increase went through anyway, because a majority of MPs voted the other way, what on earth do you expect him to do? Set himself on fire in protest?

potto, Clegg voted in cabinet for the increas all the LD ministers did, what i expected him to do is vote against it but he likes his new power to much.

If you want to vote Green, and there's no candidate, can't you join up and stand yourself? Is that naive? Better than spoiling the ballot, and proactive.

OMG I'd LOVE to see Nick Clegg set himself on fire. He's so oily he'd burn for ages!

YADNBU. A friend of mine was stopped by his lib dem councillor on the weekend asking people to sign a petition against cuts... WTF?!

The lib dem policy of raising the threshold on income tax for people earning up to 100 000 may have been affordable if some of the other policies like the mansion tax had been adopted.

However it appears their measures have been adopted if they can be adjusted to squeeze the middle classes and help the poor but abandoned if they would have hurt the rich (Clegg and Cameron). Funny that.

sorry I meant to say raising the personal allowance threshold..

I am angry with them too, especially over the fees as this was a particular pledge they made. I think LD MPs should vote against it as they pledged, hopefully labour would see a political victory in also voting against the policy and in this way it wouldnt pass. But if the lib dems abstain, the conservatives could not be outvoted.

However I support the AV referendum, as this will correct a major problem in our voting system: That an MP can be elected when a minority of the people support them.
For example if you take the witney constituency, where there were 10 candidates, it means that someone could get elected by only gaining 11 % of the vote.
Supporting the AV referendum means that your vote will always count. It means you dont have to guess who is most likely to win in order to make your vote count. You can vote for the party that best represents your wishes even if they are a minor party, and your 2nd choice will count if they dont get in.
It means that every politician will have to gain the support of the majority of their constituents.

YANBU - and I'm a lib dem member who is strongly thinking of leaving. Only I don't like any of the parties, I like the old lib dems who had values.

might look at greens actually.

Look at Greens!

I nearrrrly voted Lib Dem at last election but at last minute decided to follow my conscience anf vote Green. So glad I did.

Lots of countries eg Germany have v strong Green parties, and their policies extend way beyond environmental issues and are generally more sensible than the main parties, partly because they're not lumbered with traditions and long-term promises and expectations, so can actually do some blue-sky thinking about what would really work.

Plus far less likely to be people who went into politics in order to make loadsamoney or for career success - they're people who genuinely care about making the world a better place. And we all know Parliament desperately needs more of those.

YA Definately NBU

The only thing the Lib Dems ever wanted was power and they have a history of doing whatever it takes to get it.

here

LibDems get into power and find its not as easy as it looks in opposition.

Well who would have thought it?

Policies have to work when they are put to the test, not just sound good to the masses.

Maybe everyone should go back to voting for Labour, because lets face it they didnt create these problems did they?

Bit ambivalent here. On the one hand, I think you're not being unreasonable, and on the other hand, I think you should vote in the Local Election according to how you feel about the party at a local level and their candidates for Councillors.

It does annoy me how people frequently vote on national party lines, totally ignoring what has happened locally, and how the councillors have done.

Yes thats a good point wassa. Also your local council will decide how to cut the cuts and where, so could make a big difference to the effect in your local area.