to get extremely frustrated with people who 'can't be arsed' voting?

[Nancery]

I have unfortunately had, or heard, this conversation a few times of late, most notably with my sister. She works as Bank staff in the NHS (nurse), rents (pays extortionate rent, incapable it seems of saving for a deposit), and is usually the sole earner in her family (fuckwit husband is a plumber 'who can't find work) and has two kids, both under five. She and fuckwit husband appear to actually find it funny they 'cant be arsed' and 'have better things to do' and can't see how voting for anyone, or reading up on things, would be a good idea in their circumstances.
I have since heard a few, colleagues rather than friends, saying similar.
I'm no politics buff but even I can see the importance! Grrr

At university I shared a house with some politics undergrads. Even they couldn't be bothered to vote. Why would you do a degree in something you had so little interest in? I found it both depressing and astounding.

I know loads of people hugely interested in politics and active too who don't vote. I can't think of anything worse than being an MP

I'm with itsveryyou and redtoothbrush. We're all frustrated with current politics and politicians, we all want some change, but how else are we going to get it? Everybody - I include myself in this - is just waiting, waiting for 'somebody to do something', waiting for something to happen, waiting for hope, waiting for change.

There is no one else. There is only us. If this is not the world you want then now is the time to get out there and do something about it. I really think the next two or three years are crucial - either they are the turn of the tide, back to a fairer, more equal, more sustainable society, or they are the beginning of the end. And I'm not ready to lie down and die just yet! Are you? Really?

I vote always, but I can completely understand why many do not.

We need radical action to decrease the gap between the rich and poor, to create fairer working conditions/wages, save the planet, build homes, clamp down on tax-dodgers... Voting one of the same old lot back into power again is pretty pointless co's let's face it, politicians are never going to stand up to the forces of big-business that have created and exacerbate these problems.

There is 'direct action' Gibbering! People are getting together more and more and doing it for themselves. Look at the anti-fracking movement, or the protests at the New Era Housing Estate that Russell Brand was involved in, that saved 93 families from eviction from their homes. We can get involved and make ourselves heard. I'm making it my spring resolution to get involved somehow, anything!

gibbering I'm with you! I'm overseas at the moment so have chosen to find away to vote from over here, because I care strongly about casting my vote. My local councillor back in the UK, who doesn't represent my personal politics, is so proactive and community focused, I can't help but feel compelled to vote for him in local elections. My local MP focuses on his role, listens and acts accordingly and is present and hardworking. My dear friend who is an MP down south is phenomenally successful in getting things done, representing her constituents and not toeing the party line, refusing to vote for things she doesn't believe in. So, there are brilliant things happening in local and national politics, if people look for it. It's a two way process, we have to get better at saying what we want, and politicians, generally, have to get better at listening and remaining accountable. But change can happen, and we all have the chance to be an active part of it.

There is no way anything major is going to change in the next 2 or 3 years off the back of this election. What can change from voting for either Milliband or Cameron seriously?

The influence of Murdoch on UK politics killed it for me several years ago.

"There is no way anything major is going to change in the next 2 or 3 years off the back of this election. What can change from voting for either Milliband or Cameron seriously?"

I agree. And wouldn't vote for either. Find out what other options you have in your area. Vote for the party you want, not for the party you think would be tactical. Failing all else, go and spoil your ballot paper, as others have said.

If there is a strong imbalance between the percentage of people voting for a party overall and the percentage of seats the acquire, if there is a huge number of spoilt ballots, it will strengthen the calls for a different voting system. If you vote tactically you will get a party and society you don't want. If you don't vote you won't get anything. Neither achieves a great deal. Let the politicians hear the real British voice, for once!

This picture has already made one appearance on this thread, but it seems time for it again. If it works.

I try to look at local, grass roots politics as the key to my 'satisfaction' with what changes are taking place. If I can see my local MP or councillor makings sensible, rational, community focused representations or helping people resolve issues which are important to them, then I see that as positive change and political interaction. It can take decades for one party to change, undo or overhaul the actions of their predecessor so I'm going to be pretty disappointed if I'm expecting to see real change happen during a four year term. However, it doesn't mean I won't vote, because that's my way of saying what matters to me.

noddyholder Wed 08-Apr-15 16:37:16
I can't think of anything worse than being an MP

So you whine and say its not fair and you do stuff but when it comes to the crunch you want someone else to do the job that you are criticising them for doing.

It sounds like you want a revolution rather than change too. Revolutions are rarely without blood so I'm happy to wait patiently for more gradual change. They certainly do provide instability which tends to harm the poorest in our society most - even more than budget cuts hurt. I think for our long term best interests slower change is actually preferable.

I find that if I look at power and influence from 20 or 30 years ago there have been a lot of changes which are noticeable and that's what I keep in mind. The trouble is we live in a world which is so used to getting things instantly that we have lost the skill of patience.

I don't think I have ever whined or said its unfair in my life You really are full of assumptions

I do 'stuff' thats very eloquent what do you mean? I have a career I don't want another. You say I want a revolution too yet have never met me and I don't think i have ever used the word revolution either but on you go

It's her choice. Politics is a disgusting business, it's been reduced to verbal sparring and image seems to matter. Politicians evade questions and give woolly answers. They say stuff they think will appeal to as many voters as possible, regardless of whether they believe it/it is relevant. If you wanted to cut through the crap and do a meaningful evaluation of each party, it would be a full time job.

Today however I received a UKIP leaflet and it included a bar chart showing that UKIP has more support in my area than all the other parties! It isn't true.

My sitting MP (not UKIP) has done naughty things with expenses.

I would rather spoil a vote than not vote. I did that for the police commissioners election.

Actually this was the only election I didn't vote in. I didn't want to spoil my paper because I didn't agree with having them in the first place so if I had spoiled my paper although it wouldn't have counted for an individual it would have counted in the overall voter turnout. I didn't want the Tory's to use that to say x number of people voted so the public did want an elected police commissioner.

All the non voters, not the CBA but the deliberate non voters, if you think voting is pointless, what system would you like to see, one were the public don't get to vote?

this was the only election I didn't vote in. I didn't want to spoil my paper because I didn't agree with having them in the first place

Yes. The Police and Crime Commissioners' election was not the only election I haven't voted in but I agree with your sentiment fakenamefornow.

I live in the Met area so it wasn't possible but I think that staying away was a much better response than participating or spoiling.

It was a complete waste of time and money and deserved death by apathy.

Noddyholder have you got a candidate from Class War? you sound like a reasonable match for them. I've only just discovered they're active outside London. They're short on policies, but protest they can manage! They're not being covered in mainstream media.

www.theguardian.com/society/2015/apr/08/iain-duncan-smith-general-election-lisa-mckenzie-class-war

(well, not much, anyway)

No not here we have loads in independent and the only green MP so if I wanted to vote I could choose and have in the past Class war are not my thing at all I am not revolutionary more have opted out for now

Just to note - everyone always brings up the suffragettes, but until the Representation of the People Act 1918 (the Act that gave some women the right) only 40% of men were entitled to vote. Less than a century ago. And this came AFTER significant reform in the 18thc - before that only the wealthiest landowners were enfranchised. Far more people died than just Emily Dickinson for our right to vote - see Peterloo Massacre, etc.

Although the argument they did so that we COULD vote, not so we HAD to is technically correct, I can't imagine they'd be impressed at such a pathetic excuse. As much as we complain now the candidates are interchangeable, this was even more the case then - far far smaller amount of female/non-white/non straight candidates - but they still went and voted for the least objectionable.

As others have said, even if you can't pick a candidate, you should still vote to show that people like you (whether young voters, voters in a particular region or socio-economic bracket, people who live in a constituency where a donkey in a suit with a labour badge on would still get in, etc.) ARE politically engaged, even if you are not happy with the current options available. This is the only way parties will change their manifestos to represent YOUR interests.

Anotheronebitthedust In 1973 it was 125 years since the People's Charter and the History Faculty at Oxford ran some sort of exhibition. I had to insist that they were not in favour of adult suffrage - they were in favour of manhood suffrage. They were no more inclined to give women the vote than any dyed-in-the-wool reactionary old Tory. I believe the first time any Member of Parliament suggested women's suffrage was in 1869.

The thing is though that tactical voting gets used by parties who think they are gaining support when its anything but.

If your tactical voting every election doesn't that show that somethings inherently wrong, I just find it sickening tbh.

I did one of those policy checkers thats going around and supposedly I'm 60/30 Green/UKIP. But I think nationalised nuclear energy has a place and also believe we should be in Europe lol.

Voting is a privilege as part of living in a democracy. The system isn't perfect but it's the best we've got just now. I will always exercise my democratic privilege, no matter what, whenever I can because, God forbid, there may come a time when I can't.

Use it or lose it folks .

Having said that, I think the onus is definitely on the politicians to urge the public to vote. But not necessarily HOW to vote. Furthermore, I cringe when I see celebrities lending popular support to political parties in the hope of influencing election outcomes. Mixing show business and politics is too American for comfort in my opinion. I don't want any sleb telling me how I should vote.

I don't think it is a privilege its a choice Agree on celebs though absolutely gets my goat. Murdoch has a huge influence on teh way people vote in teh UK which puts me off even more