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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask for help who to vote for?

102 replies

GaryShitpeas · 09/02/2015 16:01

I had no interest in politics before it started affecting me when the last lot of dickheads came into power

And never voted cos it bored me reading about it and I never thought it would affect my life. I realise it's this kind of apathy that is partly to blame for the situation we are in now and I'm really embarrassed.

Anyway I genuinely don't know who to vote for other than I'm not voting for the current lot.

Basically to give an idea of what matters most to me. I'm 35 mum of 3 (working but skint) and live in a rented council house. I care about the poor, the disabled and the elderly being looked after and tbh I have no qualms claiming tax credits in fact we need them and don't want to lose out there. The cost of living is a big worry (Hence the need for tax credits) and I care about housing and it being affordable, and think there should be way more social housing. And also better regulation of the private rental market. I also want some hope of being able to afford to buy my own home before I'm too old to get a mortgage! And want my kids to have the same chance. I also care deeply about the nhs and want it to be looked after (or at least saved?)

So. Any ideas? Or all they all full of bullshit? (I suspect the latter tbh)

OP posts:

SarfEasticated · 14/02/2015 14:24

It's this ambivalence to voting that makes politicians not bothered by the opinions of great swathes of population. If you have the power (and can be arsed) to vote them out they will care a lot more about making you like them.

tilder · 14/02/2015 15:45

As SarfEasticated said, if you don't vote then your demographic, your viewpoint, your interests won't register with politicians.

The grey vote counts massively in politics for this reason. Lots of old people vote, so lots of old people friendly policies.

Am not saying money should be taken from older people (thats the divide and conquer route), but if the Tories were serious about fairness in the welfare budget they wouldn't have ignored the largest cost in that budget. I can't remember the exact percentages, but from memory pension costs are about 60% of the welfare budget.

So its ok to take money from children, the disabled, one parent families etc but not old people. Go figure.

UncleT · 14/02/2015 15:50

YABU. You'll never get a balanced view or a straight answer on this posting online like this. Get over the 'boredom' and start doing basic research on who you think is going to fuck the country up least. Your apathy is precisely what leads to the decade of democratic stagnation we've witnessed.

SarfEasticated · 14/02/2015 16:07

What uncle said. Women died for us to be able to vote - don't let our great grandmothers down. It is really important or they'll sh!t all over us. (Charming I know)

laughingmyarseoff · 15/02/2015 09:35

LOL, GatoradeMeBitch, definitely not a problem for me. But I think we should ditch them all and put rules in place to make their jobs less cushy and stop them abusing things like expenses, second homes and hiring family members. Then we'd see the genuine ones who aren't just after something for nothing which is a good first start.

DancingCrown · 15/02/2015 09:49

tilder what do you mean about Greens being anti-Europe?

tilder · 15/02/2015 11:28

It really surprised me, to be honest DancingCrown. In my experience, the best environmental and social legislation comes from Europe.

From the (admittedly limited) reading I've done, its the removal of localism they object to. It all just came across as getting out of Europe, decentralising everything, equality for all and redistribution of advantage and wealth. At least, that's what I took away from it. Pretty left wing.

I am very pro Europe and would not vote for a party with an anti Europe stance.

Dawndonnaagain · 15/02/2015 11:31

Rich just out of interest which UKIP policies do you support?
I ask because I can't find one, as a woman, as a parent of children with additional needs, as someone who worked in education for many years, I find nothing about them to support. Add to this the knee jerk voting against every policy in Europe which has seriously damaged one or two things that would have been beneficial to the UK, or the not turning up and still collecting a wage, or the alliances with far right parties, why on earth would you go that way?

Dawndonnaagain · 15/02/2015 11:33

The Greens are not anti Europe, they want a reformed EU.

Dawndonnaagain · 15/02/2015 11:34

Yes to Europe

ScaryChicken · 15/02/2015 11:45

They all have their faults but some are definitely worse than others..

My main priority it getting rid of the bloody tories (their demonisation of the poor makes my blood boil) so I will probably be voting labour.

I'd really prefer to vote green (not that they are perfect - they are definitely not) but in my constituency it would be a wasted vote as they have no chance.

tilder · 15/02/2015 11:47

Interesting link Dawndonnaagain. So they want localism for finances etc, but eu wide for environmental issues?

TidyDancer · 15/02/2015 11:54

I am ashamed that I live in a stronghold of the cunts Tories. I will never vote for the cunts Tories. My vote will be meaningless because of where I live but I will vote (for Labour) because I feel it is my moral duty to do so.

richthegreatcornholio · 15/02/2015 11:59

Dawn There's so much common sense in their manifesto I don't know where to begin. I particularly like their stance on the EU, immigration, transport and climate change. My only concern with voting UKIP is that it may allow the sub-human shower of cunts that is the Labour party to get in which is to be avoided at all costs.

Dawndonnaagain · 15/02/2015 12:06

Sorry, rich I just can't see it. I have a dd with various disabilities, she is intelligent and off to uni soon. She will be a productive and interesting member of society, but UKIP feel she would have been better to have spent her childhood in a sheltered community. I actually feel about UKIP the way you do about Labour. I do feel very strongly that they offer nothing in the way of education, health (proposals for dismantling the NHS will always be off my agenda) transport, welfare and the EU and climate change stuff is complete nonsense. They have seriously damaged some votes, they voted against the bill to fight the Ivory Trade, that's when they bother to turn up for voting. As for making sense, they don't have a manifesto as yet, so how can they make sense?

Sallyingforth · 15/02/2015 12:31

Agree with you Dawn.
UKIP is a dangerous diversion. I very much hope they don't ever get enough MPs to influence government.

corgiology · 15/02/2015 18:35

The greens won't get in because of the above comments.

If everyone who said 'I want to vote green but there is no point' actually voted green they may end up with a majority!

Even if they don't gain much the local parties will take note that greens are rising in numbers and thus they need to welcome some of their policies.

richthegreatcornholio · 15/02/2015 18:38

Dawn Sorry I was reading their old manifesto - doh! I'm guessing their policies haven't changed too much though. I firmly support any suggestion of breaking up the NHS and as for the EU, I love Europe but can't stand the EU.

Dawndonnaagain · 15/02/2015 19:11

Why would you want the NHS to be passed into the hands of those who care about nothing but profit? What happens to people like me, who do not have the wherewithal to pay for treatment for the various disabilities in my family?
What don't you like about the EU?

UncleT · 15/02/2015 19:14

And, don't forget, there's the Green 'common sense' on allowing membership of terrorist groups so long as you don't actually kill anyone. They were doing ok for me, up until that.

Custardcream14 · 15/02/2015 19:21

Tory, every day of the week.

Cameron is M&S.

Milliband is Primark.

Sickoffrozen · 15/02/2015 19:29

I heard a story the other day, from a bloke whose uncle bought his council house in the 80's under Thatcher for £60k under the right to buy scheme and he sold it last year for £1.9m.....That seriously pisses me off that someone could get so rich when we now have a council house shortage and therefore the Tories are out for me.

I live in a labour stronghold and don't expect that to change so it wouldn't actually matter who I vote for.

I am torn...Labour or Ukip for me.

Nonie241419 · 15/02/2015 19:42

I tried the clicky link above to see who to vote for and got a result of 25% each for Labour, Tories, Lib Dems and Greens. So that was no help at all, lol!

ScaryChicken · 15/02/2015 19:53

Sickoffrozen - please please read the UKip policies very carefully. They are waay to the right of the tories, economically as well as socially, and I'm sure would sell off council houses in a heartbeat.

Madamecastafiore · 15/02/2015 19:56

Spoilt ballot papers aren't even counted so you may as well stay at home with a cup of tea for all the point you are making.

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