To post every day until the next election to remind you to VOTE.

[NorthernLurker]

Seeing as the government appear to have kicked off their campaign I thought now was the time to start nagging talking about voting.

This weekend's talk about pensions shows in a nutshell why we need to vote. The government - any democratic government worldwide - is swayed by the need to please those they think will vote for them. So if you're not getting what you want from this government you need to vote because it is only when everybody like you votes that the wind will change in your governmental favour.

Register to vote, talk to your friends and family about voting, create some momentum and you will see change. The election of 2015 could see the biggest turn out from women under 40 ever. Anything is possible. There's been talk in the past about the 'mumsnet' election - well wouldn't it be great if that was a reality. Not in the sense of posters all voting one way, that's not the point. The point is wouldn't it be great if every user of this board voted? If every user of this board made their voice heard. It can happen.

And I'll be posting every day until it does

newyearhere

I don't think that there is a potential party that would be good for those like myself that are dissatisfied with the current system and politicians within the system.

Political parties will always appeal to the few and not the many.

Putting "None of the above" would at least give those that are dissatisfied a chance to be counted as "voting".

If you don't want any of the above, but there's no alternative suggestion either, then you end up with nothing. Or anarchy.

So if "none of the above" is what you want, then what DO you want?

If dissatisfied with the system, is it democracy you are dissatisfied with ?

Just popping to bump but see threads done nicely by itself

If there is no option other than the candidates you end up with a spoilt ballot or you have a protest vote (UKIP, BNP, Green, loony lord such and the crocodile tears party).

If I protest vote I am validating the views of a party that I do not like (even if it is a main party) nor would vote for if I had another option.

If I spoil my ballot, It gets counted but essentially means nothing.

If enough people voted for "none of the above" then something would have to be done as the number would have to be recognised as an official vote.

is it democracy you are dissatisfied with ? I am dissatisfied with the majority not being represented and career politicians thinking that they can take us for a ride.

Great idea for a thread op,this is so important imvho.

If enough people voted for "none of the above" then something would have to be done

So what is the "something" that you feel would "have to be done"?

The parties would have to rethink their policies to meet the needs of the majority of voters.

Just to point out that as long as we have a first passed the post system as long as those in the parties that have enough votes to get in power they won't change their policies.

But at least those that do not agree with the policies would have a percentage that says that we don't agree with what those in power are doing without having to resort to protest votes for extremist parties. (or spoiling ballots)

There is the advantage to first pass the post though - if enough people want a change the sheer force of numbers will make it happen. Churchill called a 'khaki' election in 1945. The result - victory for the Tory grandee who had steered the country through the majority of the war? A figure absolutely beloved and revered in history? Nope. Labour LANDSLIDE. Because it was time for a change and enough people voted for one. Every time you visit your GP without being charged or go to A&E you benefit from the effects of the 1945 vote because it was that government which established the NHS.

and yet the successive governments are removing those benefits, have in the past redistributed the boundaries of areas to improve their chances of getting re-elected. Have messed around with education, health and many other areas so that they benefit the few and not the many.

Have sold off huge amounts of the country's wealth (oil. gas, and gold) and are trying at the moment to push for working hours directives to be stopped so that we can work any and all hours just because the management say so.

Those with interests and money are buying politician's votes to run the country for them, all the while politician's are hiding behind parliamentary privilege in order to break the law.

There is little or no point in saying how it was, there is only now and the future.

It's only participation which will change the future.

How do you get someone to participate in something?

spoil do ballot?
Vote for the opposite party to the one that is in power?
some protest vote for a small party (green, BNP, UKIP, loony lord such etc.)?
Or don't bother because there is no point.

If I spoil my ballot it gets counted but nothing else happens to it and some say that I have no right to complain.
If I vote for the opposition and give false validation to their policies and trash the statistics.
If I vote for a small party the outcome is the same as voting for the opposition with the exception that you can get called a racist etc.
If I don't vote again dome say that I have no right to comment on anything.

Give me "none of the above" every single time. Its cheap to produce and (I believe) would show those in power just how bad a job they are doing and have the additional bonus of showing just how many people actually vote for the main parties.

If you're in favour of proportional representation, why not at least vote Lib Dem, who support that, instead of "none of the above"?

here

here

So because of one policy I should vote for them?

That is a very short sighted reason.

Yes you should vote Lib Dem, if you want things to change. If you don't vote for a party who supports proportional representation, and has at least some chance of making it happen (if elected or in a hung parliament) then realistically, how else is it going to happen?

Even if a lot of people decide not to use their vote because "then things will change", that is far too vague, and guarantees nothing. Large numbers of people not voting certainly hasn't changed anything so far.

If you get rid of the current democratic system, then with no clear direction, things could well get a lot worse. Why ditch the current main parties, if there's no particular decent group waiting to step in with a clear vision and capability? Think of the various extreme political groups around the world. Would you really be happy to create a vacancy for them, just because it would make a change?

The parties would have to rethink their policies to meet the needs of the majority of voters.

What are those policies that "the majority of voters" would choose?

Without knowing who "the majority of voters" are we will never know. what they want or need.

Large numbers of people not voting certainly hasn't changed anything so far

It hasn't and it won't until it has some sort of impact on the current political parties.

So why not do some kind of survey of people who choose not to vote, and ask them what they actually want?

Presumably the results would show that their views and wishes were very diverse. So any other party or group that was formed as a result might once again find themselves only supported by a minority.

And we are back to having only a minority of the population having their wishes heard.

strangely enough I was rung buy mori the other day to ask how I would vote and what I thought of the current government.

All of the questions where closed questions and all of them avoided any serious political thinking. More worrying they only asked about the major parties and the extremist parties.

Also we won't know if the views and wishes are diverse as no one will ask the questions.

Sunday bump

I am not even on the electoral roll. Abstainer and proud.

Oh, I will be voting indeedy! Anything to see David Cameron's patronising face and balding head slung out of no. 10. Every politician is corrupt imo, but he surpasses Mrs Maggie icicles-in-her-knickers Thatcher!

Do not moan about the goverment if you do not vote! Labour all the way for me - and no, you haven't seen me on 'Benefits Street'!

Thank you! I have a new electoral roll form sat in my to-do pile ( house move).