Oddly enough I know more about American politics than I do about British politics. I guess because our politics just aren't very exciting.

If I voted I'd vote Lib Dem simply because Labour and the Tories are a bunch of cunts.

And if the Lib Dems got in then they'd be (fully) mainstream and a group even more to the left could take their current place.

They'd make us swap the quid for the euro but at least they'd tax the fuck out of rich people, and that's always fun.


I don't know what the purpose of this thread is, I just thought people might have opinions on the upcoming election.

Rotten Tanx wrote:If I voted I'd vote Lib Dem simply because Labour and the Tories are a bunch of cunts.

Good a reason as any! NPR did a story on it over here and said that the theme of the campaigning so far has been fear - "if you vote for the other guy, these bad things will happen to you...". Now where have I heard that before recently? Hmmm....

Lib dems!
They're not gonna win, I'm pretty sure Labour will again. If tories win then that WILL really suck. Lib Dems are the only party you can vote for and not go away hating yourself for it.
At the end of the day Labour have done pretty well for the country within the country they've fucked up our relationship with anyone but the US. But I think the country itself is doing pretty well. Not great pretty well.
It would be better under Lib Dem though 100%

Yup; I'm voting Lib Dem.

Tories are just plain evil, can't ever vote Labour again after the Iraq war.

I'd vote Green if they had a chance, but this time it seems possible that Lib Dems might be the main opposition party after the elections which would be amazing.

CK seems like an honest man and I'm into their policies.

Lib Dem.

NOT CRAP.

It's weird that the mainstream left wing choice has become the Lib Dems. My two main wishes for this election are for the Tories and their hate campaign to suffer another triple figures defeat and for Blair to get a kicking.

So CK it is. He seems a good chap and he likes a drink.

The feeling that worries me is that so many people who would vote LD, might think, "well they're not gonna win, so best just keep tories out".
I feel myself falling into this as well, but this time I'll vote LD for sure. I just think that LD are stuck with this feeling. Plus most people in this country don't think about this stuff enough, and just want to vote for the winning party! Just so they can say, "I was right!"

Tish - Democracy!

Charles Kennedy, big Bowie fan, big boozer. What's not to like?

Brian Eno sez: http://www.libdemthistime.com/

I have a question:

How exactly do these elections work? My impression is that each jurisdiction (district?) elects one MP, and then the party with a majority of MPs form a government, or, if no party holds a majority, whichever parties can form a coalition comprising a majority of MPs will form a government. It's also my impression that each MP is elected in a "first past the post" race in his or her district, similar to the American system of electing Senators and Representatives, but not similar to other Parliamentary systems. If this is true, what is it about your system that makes it practical to vote for a "third party", as the Liberal Democrats appear to be? Or is it not really practical, but more of a protest vote? And if there is something about your system that makes it practical to vote Liberal Democrat, may we copy it, so that we can start voting Green?

Thanks!

As far as I know the process is how you described.

The Liberal Democrats were formed when 2 smaller parties joined up so that they'd have a chance. They used to be sort of a joke and got ignored during any serious political discussion but at the last election (maybe the last few) they started stealing seats from the others all over the country. Still came third, but not by as much as in the past.

It would still take a lot for them to win but nowhere near as much as it'd take, say, Ralph Nader.

As uncomfortable I am in the knowledge that this is the typical Blairite line, I find the Lib Dems political promises extremely nebulous. They are in an alarmingly easy position to point out current problems and only seem (to me) to offer sketchy and dubiously feasible solutions...

Quatermain = one man whose vote will not be cast for any of the seedy reptiles trying so badly to win it.

(Would continue but am burning for a piss).