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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be completely horrified at my neighbour's nonchalance?

96 replies

ILoveDrKarl · 05/05/2011 13:25

So I'm heading down the street this morning and bump into one of my neighbours...

She asks if I'm off to the park with the kids. I reply that I'm actually just heading out to vote.

AIBU to be completely horrified that her response was "oh right! Bit of a pain with all the kids isn't it? (I had my 3 pre-schoolers with me) It'd be easier not to bother!"

I replied that it was no different to going to the shops or doing the school run or nipping down to the post office - and obviously much more important!

She then said "Do you think? Well I'll not be bothering anyway - kids are off school today so we'll enjoy it rather than doing pointless errands"

I was in such shock I just smiled and walked on, but now I'm thinking I should go round and speak to her about why it's so much more than a "pointless errand"!!!!

OP posts:

limitedperiodonly · 05/05/2011 16:26

dickiedavis

snort

xstitch · 05/05/2011 16:27

'Everyone should be taught about the Chartists and the women's movement at school. Almost everyone would vote then.'

We were taught this at school yet many of my former school mates don't vote.

Pesonally I believe that the belief that your votw won't count actively contributes to the existance of safe seats. In many areas the turnout can be 40%. If a large proportion of the 60% support the same party it could potentially change the result. It could at the very least reduce the majority f the winning candidate andd keep them on their toes and working hard for the constituents, that really can't be a bad thing.

emptyshell · 05/05/2011 16:32

I've actually gone down before and spoilt my ballot paper to register my disapproval with all parties when I couldn't make a choice (party of my choice hadn't fielded a candidate in my ward).

Some people don't want to, some people don't see the point - my mother would have killed me if I took that line.

Plus if you don't vote I think you lose all rights to moan about what the politicians do for the next few years.

emptyshell · 05/05/2011 16:33

As for turnouts - I poll clerked a few times, on one local govt. election we had a turnout for the ward of 15. Three of them were my family.

xstitch · 05/05/2011 16:33

AV is quite simple. The current system, first past the post you choose your preferred candidate and the one with the most votes wins.

With AV you get an alternative vote, ie you mark your favourite candidate with 1 and then your next preferred candidate with a 2, then 3 etc. Initially the votes are counted as normal and if one candidate has a majority ie over 50% they win. Alternatively if no candidate has a majority then the candidate with the least votes is eliminated and the second votes on those papers are distributed and recounted. The candidate with the lowest votes will continue to be eliminated and the votes redistributed until one candidate has a majority and can be declared a winner.

londonone · 05/05/2011 16:38

I don't always vote. I don't care whether we have AV or FPTP I think the difference is marginal, if there was a third option of "something else" I would vote.

I personally don't think democracy as we have it is a particularly great system. I also never understand why people bang on about how people "died" for it as if that means it is by default something great. Millions died for nazism, doesn't make it a great thing!

xstitch · 05/05/2011 16:40

The right to vote is great because the alternative is living in a dictatorship. Shit though it may be at times it is by far my preferred option.

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 05/05/2011 16:42

I think millions of people died because of Nazism rather than 'for' it, londonone ...

As for democracy as a system, I'm with Winston Churchill: 'It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.'

Personally I'm quite glad we don't have a feudal system or a dictatorship.

Surely AV does give you the option to vote for 'something else'?

Scholes34 · 05/05/2011 16:52

LeroyJethroGibbs and LoveLeonardCohen - I'll send my ten year old and his mate round to explain AV if you really don't understand it.

londonone · 05/05/2011 16:55

ladyclarice - I think you'll find that the nazis died for Nazism, people die for unpleasant causes as well as good ones.

londonone · 05/05/2011 16:56

I mean something else rather than AV or FPTP

colditz · 05/05/2011 17:36

I exercised my right to vote after reading this thread at 4.30. And I REALLY didn't want to leave the house again (had forgotten it was voting day), but the way this cou7ntry is going regarding the feminist movement (backwards), in 80 years women will find themselves without the right to vote 'because it's not fair on the poor dears'. So I'll vote.

hairylights · 05/05/2011 17:42

YABU. a low percentage of people ever actually vote.

wotnochocs · 05/05/2011 18:01

i can't see the point of making voting compulsory.If you don't give a stuff, surely it is irresponsible just to vote for a candidate chosen at random.
We haven't got local elections this time and DH and I aren't voting in the electoral reform as he was going to vote 'yes' and I 'no' so if neither of us bothers voting the result will be the same.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 05/05/2011 18:02

I dont vote. My mom always did when she lived in the uk, and my sis has once. I dont know anyone else who does, a few may i suppose but no one has ever mentioned it. No one i know even talks about politics unless a big election is up. I didnt know that voting was today.

Some people dont care. Sorry if that horrifys some of you but its the truth. A lot of people in my situ dont see a difference whos in. sorry, they all do the same thing, and its rarely what it says on the tin. I think the only thing that i have botherd us is the petrol prices. Increase in living but not a major difference. they can keep whoever is in, in, for me.

shmoz · 05/05/2011 18:03

YANBU at your neighbour's nonchalance, as that's your opinion and you are entitled to it. She is also NBU to exercise her right not to vote. Tis democracy.

MadamDeathStare Donald Trump for President?....He is DBU with that hair! Ye Gods!

paddypoopants · 05/05/2011 18:03

I went to vote and the sitting MSP was at my polling station. I was the only voter there and judging by the sheet lvery few people had voted in my area by lunchtime. She ignored me- not so much as a hello or vote for me or thanks for turning out from her or her cohorts. That was 2 votes she didn't get (I had DH's proxy). As she only got in the last time by 8 votes or something you would have thought she would've made a bloody effort with the public. I'm not surprised some people are apathetic when it comes to politics- having helped a friend at another election I know how little respect some politicians have for the public when it comes to elections.

ScousyFogarty · 05/05/2011 18:08

ignore the comment. Move on,

LadyClariceCannockMonty · 06/05/2011 13:27

I think voting should be compulsory. If you don't want to vote anyone in because you hate the lot of them, you can send a message by spoiling your ballot paper.

BabyDubsEverywhere · 06/05/2011 18:32

''I think voting should be compulsory. If you don't want to vote anyone in because you hate the lot of them, you can send a message by spoiling your ballot paper.''

Why?

I dont want to vote, and i cba to go to the polling station where ever that may be and tell them that i dont want to vote - NOT voting is telling them that quite clearly as it is thanks. Free country and all that, takes all sorts. Just worry about your own vote...

jasminetom · 06/05/2011 18:33

yes you are.

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