Britain has consensus politics and, except for some minor nationalist spits at a localised level, voting doesn't matter much. Who here agrees with the heavy hitting Brand? And, if not, why not? [video=youtube;3YR4CseY9pk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded& v=3YR4CseY9pk[/video]
It must be true that voting is less important in some countries than in others. As he says, in countries like USA or the UK, voting doesn't make much difference. But it seems there are many of those Brits who have a more specific idea for a revolution. A total revolution materialized by the UKIP vision. Generally I agree with him. He is an open minded Brit of the genuine type, an example of those intelligent artists from Britain who have started the world's cultural revolution from the heart of the United States, starting from the 60s up until the much revered anglo-american peak of artistic expression of the 80s.
But where do you disagree, or are you 100% with the ex-junkie marginalised socialist school of thought?
That would be legitimising the political class! You'd have to at least spoil your ballot, perhaps with some choice Anglo-Saxon vocab in order to give the vote counter a chuckle
If not a single person in a country voted, the currently ruling political class would be legitimized to remain in power forever. Vote may not change much, but is still changing something.
People used to do that here in my country during communist times. Elections were help every 4 or 5 years. Result was always the same. The same president. A president for life (in our case until we shot him in 1989).
The only consensus is between the political parties and the bankers. The national parties and the Greens are worth voting for, the others are just careerists and similar rogues. Otherwise, it's mainly that the thieves won't steal from groups who still vote, so pensioners and so on should keep up the pretence to save what they've paid for. The mugs will vote tory anyway, and learn to eat grass.
So its a choice between small minded flag wavers and bleedin 'tree hugging' hearters? Golly gosh, can't wait for the next election!
It's just the same in the United States. Some chap once said “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried.” Now what was his name? Snap! Winston Churchill.
The patriotic parties are hugely more international than the bankers' bumboys in Westminster, and don't wave flags a tenth as much. On the 'green' issue I prefer my grandchildren to live than serve as steaks for the rich in their high caves. - - - Updated - - - You have democracy? We don't. And that bugger was no democrat, as you know, poisonous old sod!
I have had direct dealings with Greens. They range from chinless wet types to ginks on a par with animal rights fascists. It gets worse when you see the weird types that impact on 'green economics'. David Icke types! Of course a vote for them is a waste and will be liked by the Tories as they divide the slipper wearing "I like black people as long as they don't live next door" liberal middle class
Takes all sorts. I prefer anything to the bankers' bumboys and their smelly little 'careers'. Vote Labour where they can win, if you want, though they are only fall-back tories, but vote for honest people elsewhere, if that's where you are. Until we get back to democracy it is all pretty much of a waste of time, as you know.
But a Green vote increases the chances of maintaining the status! I'd rather stay at home and watch a doc on Gyles Daubeney Brandreth's jumpers
Because of the types that vote Green. Typically ex-Lib Dem types that would have originally followed 'Anyone but Tory'.
Nothing. The point being is that you vote for these fools you're merely legitimising the system (and the Tories will thank you for it!)
I am currently voting Conservative in domestic elections and UKIP in European elections. I am also setting up my own party which will be free market, free trade and limited government. So when it is up and running I will likely vote for myself.
Do they offer exotic swill? If so, what the heck is it? You might as well just not vote and give your life savings to the Daily Mail when you die from an unfortunate viral incident with a Pole. You might want to try reality first. Free markets cannot exist
Well I can't vote Labour or Liberal now can I? Yes we did for about 80 years after the Napoleonic war to Liberal reforms in the 1880's, we had non government interventionist and regulations free market with free trade without tarrifs and regulations. So free markets and free trade are possible. The hard thing is returning the market to where it was without government being in it.
I hardly think that voting for the Greens or the only socialist party on offer, Plaid Cymru, 'legitimises the system'. Blocks of people who go through the motions tend to be insuring themselves against the con-men stealing what they've paid for, since the conmen themselves still believe in the system. I think it is very naïve to vote on people and fairly naïve to vote on the policies put forward by proven liars such as Clegg, but most naïve of all to think you can just walk away. I've tried it, and all it did was help turn the Labour Party into the grovelling bankers' fawn-club it now is.
There's nothing wrong with voting, but there's everything wrong with voting for the same old parties and expecting something different. I'd say Brand is an opinionated left wing comedian, but a heavy hitting? A lot of people think we should have a revolution ... they're just waiting for someone else to start it.
