All political

[milly143]

I'm 21 and have never voted before but I feel like I want to now because as they say, you cant complain about they way things are being run if you didn't even vote. The problem is that I'm so confused. How are you supposed to know what the truth is and who really does have your best interests at heart? One party says one thing and another party will say they are lying, then there will be some corruption somewhere along the line and then there are the elaborated stories. These parties constantly go on about how important it is to get young people like me to vote as only we can decide what happens but they don't exactly make it easy for us. What do you think?

[Scarlett]

I agree with you. It is impossible to believe party political broadcasts because they can SAY anything- whether they do what they say is another matter. Maybe someone should start an INDEPENDENT website, to explain the different parties and what they plan to do- rather like when you compare mobile phones to buy!!

[Artemis]

I'm sure our resident politician (Bernardo) will be along in a while to explain all.

Do you have a political leaning at all? Left,right,strong views on Europe, immigration etc.

[greenday]

It usually comes down to statistics, and of course these can always be manipulated to suit the argument that a particular party/politician wants to make. You may want to think about an issue you feel strongly about, then see what the parties have to say on this and decide from there. More and more people appear to want to focus on local issues (nothing wrong with that by any argument) as they feel these are the things which directly affect them the most. I would be careful though and see what all the parties say about all the issues. You wouldn't want to vote for someone who would give free satellite TV to everyone in the country, but then find out that you'll be paying 99% income tax!

[Morrisonker]

I'd say research the topics that are important to you and see where they show up.  Sometimes there can be one issue that swings your vote. Don't feel that you shouldn't be affected by political campaigns because they're there to inform you.  Be realistic though, most parties will promise a similar thing (shorten NHS waiting lists, taxes, pensions) and it goes without saying that you shouldn't feel that voting for smaller parties (ie, parties other than Labour or Conservatives) is a wasted vote.  Vote for what's important to *you*, for now and the future and that's all you need to do!

[milly143]

I find my own opinions are very mixed and i think this is largely because I will hear one party saying one thing and another apposing it and rather then saying yes i agree with one or the other, i tend to think both sides have fair points and thats where I get confused. One thing I do feel is that we spend far too much time and money on other countries when our own is in a bit of a mess (I'm not saying we shouldn't help others). Even saying that though I think to myself, well we need to make all this effort as we will benefit in other ways. That tends to be my thinking which as you can tell, is not very solid.

[FP]

As an older person I am completely and utterly disallusioned.  I do read all the leaflets and listen to the party political broadcasts and vote for those that would seem to offer the best options but in the end nothing really ever changes, whoever is in power.  However, I will continue to vote and hope one day a miracle might happen.

[rarll]

As the saying goes - "If voting actually made a difference,they would have banned it"

Don't let this put you off. As you said , you can't complain if you haven't voted 

[Oneeyedvic]

I was going to say some sort of political joke now.......

 

.....but the problem with political jokes is that they get elected!

31 and very disalusioned (sp?) seems I just make my mind  up when they come up with an idea I find abhorrent (eg was going to vote Lib Dem before they came out with the 'criminals shouls have votes too' - and this is purely a personal reason - I don't want a debate on the issue here!)

What you may also consider, is how close the voting will be in your area - if as an example, the conservatives are the main party in the area with a small majority, and Lib Dem are close behind them, you may find it pointless to vote labor (as they will not get in) but vote Lib Dem instead (to try and get the tory out).

Good luck and am pleased you are voting.

 

Scarlett - I think your idea like uswitch but for politics is a fantastic idea!

[luckyboy]

Well what do you personally believe in.

whatever you do don't let yourself get influenced by political parties or more importantly tv radio or newspapers with their partisan biased views on everything from immigration to europe to public services... if you think the country is going to the doghouse always a common view whoever is in power influenced by a appalling negative media.. then vote for the opposition,  but believe me you will soon find out that the rhetoric politicans use in election campagns is just to disguise the fact that there is very little differences between them on most of the key policy issues....

[OBonio]

Maybe this will help :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2004/par ty_policies_at_a_glance/default.stm

[ursula62]

Make a list of things that are important to you.

Then write a letter to your local candidates and ask where they stand on those issues (your council should be able to help you with a list of the candidates and the parties they stand for.)

If any of them don't bother to reply then they're not worth voting for.

Or write to Tony Blair, Michael Howard and whatsisface from the LibDems. Copy in the political editor of the tabloids and see what replies you get!

[milly143]

OBonio - the link didnt work??

[Ducati]

Labour = nanny state and the increased public spending and therefore increased taxes that go along with it.

Lib Dem = the only real alternative: yeah right - in the same way that collecting farts in a bottle to produce electricity is the only viable alternative fuel source.

Tories = Look after yourself, but we'll trample all over those that don't bother.

 

Flippant? Yes, probably: but there is not one party that suits everybody, it is a case of deciding on the lesser of the evils. Personally, I like looking after myself, and therefore, and as much as it pains me at times, I have to vote Tory: I passionately believe that if you choose not to vote, you have absolutely no right in complaining.

[OBonio]

milly : remove the &lt;/p&gt; from the end of the address after clicking the link.  Or try this <a target='_blank' href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2004/par ty_policies_at_a_glance/default.stm">link</a>.

[OBonio]

Actually, don't try that.  Flipping AB ActiveX has b0rked it a right good'n.  Use the previous link, and remove the </P> from the end of the address.

[londondave]

I am 40 have never voted and never will, I hate politics, I have never taken to any of these stuffy old men in suits. I dont complain about goverments either, They are as bad each other, they will all do something you hate.

I might though saying all that vote for a party that brings back the death penalty for murderers, rapists and paedophiles and persistant criminals etc

[stevie21]

OBonio, if you paste a link in, just put a question mark after it and it'll work no matter what gumph AB appends to it.
If you're using IE, paste the link in (and press Enter if necessary to make it blue) then type a work over the top of it to make it a clickable link.

As for politics and politicians - they're all as bad as each other. I don't trust a single one of them so apart from their major policies which you can be sure that they won't waver from I don't think that voting makes a fantastic amount of difference.

[luckyboy]

Ducati...this is not a party political on behalf of any party but..

 You can look after yourself and still vote labour lib dems or tory...this media fed myth that under the tories you paid little tax is a load of old tosh, unless that is you happened to be a millionaire, all govermnments tax you, some directly some indirectly, but its still the same money out of your pocket..

I get confused, this government gets panned a lot of the time by people who say they are just another tory party, and they also get slaughtered for being tax increasing old socialists creators of nanny states etc... which one is it they can't be both...

[robbieh]

I would advise to avoid as much of the political satire as you can, that so many seem to absorb into their head as truth.

Also avoid complete tosh like the Daily Mail, and try to find some hard facts and statistics before you make a judgement. This paper just jumps on the band wagon and creates very stupid opinions in its very simple readers minds