The Great British Election

[Thebull]

I'm venting a little here as been very interesting watching my colleagues reactions to the election. The excitement has built up during the week which led to the pure joy that Mr Cameron was elected with a majority, I found this a shock as personally I see a psychopath and think it's quite obvious to see he's insincere like the vast majority of his colleagues.

I probably am one of the oldest at work and I'm sat with a group of people about (15) who's age range between 20 to 45. A number of my colleagues have become most passionate about the virtues of the wonderful Conservative party. I know there's no party that represents the people IMO but how these individuals can affiliate with Cameron and Osbourne has befuddled me!?!

Look what the Labour Party did to the country the Tories have got us out of a real mess. The last 5 years under the Tories has been quite prosperous. They've sorted out the welfare state. They look after working people. These are just some of the classic comments I have listened to. I haven't reacted but I have calmly commented at times to gauge reactions. What about the millions of people using food banks. Aren't they cutting benefits to disabled people who really need state assistance. Don't they just look after their friends in the city. As soon as the conversation might get heated I've moved off topic or made quick exit.

I understand we're all at different levels and with difficulty I have managed not to project my views and my own emotional energy onto my colleagues. I am shocked that they can identify with Cameron, personally he makes me cringe. I had to force myself not to mention his involvement in the destruction of Libya and the carnage in Syria. It wouldn't of served any purpose anyway I know. I did mention it'll be interesting what their views are by the end of the next term. I fear the changes will be upon us all much sooner than that.

The only good thing to come out of this show of patriotic feeling from my work colleagues for their democratic right to vote is that I can see a change in myself. I think I've shown external consideration for a period of time and been aware of my reactions internally throughout the last week or two. it has taken its toll and I do feel exceptionally tired now. The EE is a god send but my diet has been poor, getting worse since my return to work. I need to refocus get my diet in order and continue the work. At least now I'm at home with my family and I can get out in the fresh air with my dogs tomorrow phew!

 

[luke wilson]

Conservatives were always going to win. The PM is the one with the biggest personality. Ed Miliband is worse than Gordon Brown who at least portrayed an image of substance despite lacking personality. Ed has no personality, no substance. Labour stood no chance. Why they chose him over his brother is beyond all logic known to mankind. The only thing I can think off is because Labour were on the out and didn't want to waste him now but rather save him for later once the conservatives have ridden out there cycle. The Lib Dems were always going to get destroyed after all Nick Clegg did to go back on everything he stood by.

Bottom line though, doesn't matter who is in power. We are all screwed unless you belong to their exclusive clubs.

Next election, guaranteed, Labour in. By then people would be fed up with the conservatives. I bet the next Labour leader isn't so dull or lacking in substance. It's all theatre for the masses!

 

[Redrock12]

I'm venting a little here as been very interesting watching my colleagues reactions to the election. The excitement has built up during the week which led to the pure joy that Mr Cameron was elected with a majority, I found this a shock as personally I see a psychopath and think it's quite obvious to see he's insincere like the vast majority of his colleagues.

I probably am one of the oldest at work and I'm sat with a group of people about (15) who's age range between 20 to 45. A number of my colleagues have become most passionate about the virtues of the wonderful Conservative party. I know there's no party that represents the people IMO but how these individuals can affiliate with Cameron and Osbourne has befuddled me!?!

I sympathize with you totally Thebull. I was gobsmacked when I heard praises for Harper's Bill C-51 from unionized railroad workers who have been royally screwed around by the Conservatives ever since they came to power.
Likewise for veterans who, in spite of seeing their benefits cut and rehab services slashed, and Bill C-51, are going to vote Conservative in the upcoming federal election. Are these people nuts or what?
The only possible bright spot on the Canadian political scene is the leftist NDP winning a substantial majority, by a woman no less, in traditionally right and extreme right Alberta, where the Conservatives have been in power for forty straight years.
Then again, I'm not holding my breath on this one either.

 

[Peam]

Ed has no personality, no substance. Labour stood no chance. Why they chose him over his brother is beyond all logic known to mankind.

I agree. All I can come up with is that the reason Ed was chosen over his brother David was that Ed might be more manipulated by those who really pull the strings than his brother might have been. I'm sorry to say this but to me Ed always comes across as an immature caricature of wallace and grommet, and so I could never take him seriously.

 

[mrelectric91]

Ed's brother would have had a worse result despite his more authorative demeanor. Why? Because he was deeply involved with new labour and Blair, who had an incredible majority for three terms did a lot of good initiially, got hopes up, but in the end will be remembered for overspending and the iraq war.

 

[mrelectric91]

The tiresome character assassination while based on inescapable instinctive impressions: he does seem a bit goofy are also reflective our tendency to not get past a persons image. Immediately the exit polls at around 11pm thursday were shocking. Nobody predicted including the conservatives

Britain's real problem is that the GDP is disproportionately created by the financial sector where there is much unpredictability. This means whoever is in charge is always holding a potential time bomb, a small but wealthy country must be more innovative must lead un new industries, that a large working class workforce can take part in, to feel apart of the economy. Sharing the wealth simply doesn't work when there is debt, wages are stagnant but prices rise, interest rates stay low, banks are not lending to small business. There is no fluidity in the british economy, no sense of direction. Conservatives are making it up as they go along, read their manifesto more of the same,nothing about innovation, energy, future industries.

A country can afford to be more left leaning, when there is a diverse economy, and even more when there are natural resources.

Britain's big mistake I think, will be leaving the EU. You do not cut of ties with a country like Germany NO way. Suicidal. France has a lot of potential in terms of science and innovation a great space industry and growing green energy industry. The referendum to leave the EU scares me.

I'm a 23 yr old postgrad student from London, this election has been shocking in terms of the numbers, yet logical in hindsight and continous with general character of the country, Tony Blair was an anomaly. This is a conservative country, a minority are suffering, the majority are stagnant and fearful and another minority are pulling up the ladder relying on trickle down economics. I know the USA is far from perfect but as I said in the baltimore thread, I gotta move to the United States, the UK is just too stuck in its ways.

Barring another disaster in the global economy, labour are unlikely to win the next election someone or a group of politicians emerge with a new brilliance and freshness, now freed from the past of their old mistakes. The days of saying look at how unjust the right are over, people are not that altruistic, the way to get the vote is to share a plan of a new Britain, a leading Britain.

Sorry for the length, just my thoughts......

 

[Thebull]

Conservatives were always going to win. The PM is the one with the biggest personality. Ed Miliband is worse than Gordon Brown who at least portrayed an image of substance despite lacking personality. Ed has no personality, no substance. Labour stood no chance. Why they chose him over his brother is beyond all logic known to mankind. The only thing I can think off is because Labour were on the out and didn't want to waste him now but rather save him for later once the conservatives have ridden out there cycle. The Lib Dems were always going to get destroyed after all Nick Clegg did to go back on everything he stood by.

Bottom line though, doesn't matter who is in power. We are all screwed unless you belong to their exclusive clubs.

Next election, guaranteed, Labour in. By then people would be fed up with the conservatives. I bet the next Labour leader isn't so dull or lacking in substance. It's all theatre for the masses!

If he's the biggest personality we are limited in choice! I agree all theatre for the masses that turn our head from what's really going on. It's just difficult to avoid it when you in room of people for a week and it's the main topic of conversation. I would also point out that the controversial referendum in Scotland seems to also of benefitted Cameron and his goons. Quite funny though to see the SNP sweep to domination in our elections yet failed in their bid for independence???

I'm venting a little here as been very interesting watching my colleagues reactions to the election. The excitement has built up during the week which led to the pure joy that Mr Cameron was elected with a majority, I found this a shock as personally I see a psychopath and think it's quite obvious to see he's insincere like the vast majority of his colleagues.

I probably am one of the oldest at work and I'm sat with a group of people about (15) who's age range between 20 to 45. A number of my colleagues have become most passionate about the virtues of the wonderful Conservative party. I know there's no party that represents the people IMO but how these individuals can affiliate with Cameron and Osbourne has befuddled me!?!

I sympathize with you totally Thebull. I was gobsmacked when I heard praises for Harper's Bill C-51 from unionized railroad workers who have been royally screwed around by the Conservatives ever since they came to power.
Likewise for veterans who, in spite of seeing their benefits cut and rehab services slashed, and Bill C-51, are going to vote Conservative in the upcoming federal election. Are these people nuts or what?
The only possible bright spot on the Canadian political scene is the leftist NDP winning a substantial majority, by a woman no less, in traditionally right and extreme right Alberta, where the Conservatives have been in power for forty straight years.
Then again, I'm not holding my breath on this one either.

It's quite sad when you see a group of people who really should have no affiliation with the said parties declaring there support for no reason what so ever. It makes me think what hope there is for any of us. It seems to take place in all countries. At least you have some hope not much here I feel.

The tiresome character assassination while based on inescapable instinctive impressions: he does seem a bit goofy are also reflective our tendency to not get past a persons image. Immediately the exit polls at around 11pm thursday were shocking. Nobody predicted including the conservatives

Britain's real problem is that the GDP is disproportionately created by the financial sector where there is much unpredictability. This means whoever is in charge is always holding a potential time bomb, a small but wealthy country must be more innovative must lead un new industries, that a large working class workforce can take part in, to feel apart of the economy. Sharing the wealth simply doesn't work when there is debt, wages are stagnant but prices rise, interest rates stay low, banks are not lending to small business. There is no fluidity in the british economy, no sense of direction. Conservatives are making it up as they go along, read their manifesto more of the same,nothing about innovation, energy, future industries.

A country can afford to be more left leaning, when there is a diverse economy, and even more when there are natural resources.

Britain's big mistake I think, will be leaving the EU. You do not cut of ties with a country like Germany NO way. Suicidal. France has a lot of potential in terms of science and innovation a great space industry and growing green energy industry. The referendum to leave the EU scares me.

I'm a 23 yr old postgrad student from London, this election has been shocking in terms of the numbers, yet logical in hindsight and continous with general character of the country, Tony Blair was an anomaly. This is a conservative country, a minority are suffering, the majority are stagnant and fearful and another minority are pulling up the ladder relying on trickle down economics. I know the USA is far from perfect but as I said in the baltimore thread, I gotta move to the United States, the UK is just too stuck in its ways.

Barring another disaster in the global economy, labour are unlikely to win the next election someone or a group of politicians emerge with a new brilliance and freshness, now freed from the past of their old mistakes. The days of saying look at how unjust the right are over, people are not that altruistic, the way to get the vote is to share a plan of a new Britain, a leading Britain.

Sorry for the length, just my thoughts......

Could we get out of Europe even if we voted for it? That I doubt would or could happen but I'd like to understand why the thought of leaving Europe scares you? I get the UK is stuck in its ways but going to the states?? If that's your calling good luck were all are going to have to face what's coming there won't be any hiding place.

 

[electrosonic]

A couple of things I've learned about people in regards to politics:

a) They are totally suckered in by people who are great speakers - the politician that presents himself better in front of the public will win over someone who is not such a good talker, no matter how capable they are at doing the job.

b) Everyone votes for their own agenda - i.e. The wealthy vote for protection of their wealth; those with illness focus on the health system; those passionate about the environment concentrate on those issues; someone who's just been made redundant because an immigrant does the job cheaper will vote against immigration .... etc.

c) People are just plain crazy/illogical sometimes - For instance, i know someone who wanted to vote UKIP but didn't purely because the local candidate was Indian, for gods sake.

 

[Niall]

The security services probably helped the Tories over the finish line. The situation was heading for a hung parliament, which they couldn't be bothered dealing with at the moment, what with so many other dirty operations to carry out around the world, so they opted to just stick with the Tories.

It also looks like they didn't bother interfering in Scotland this time, the outcome of which is interesting because it shows us that a large majority obviously voted for independence 8 months ago.

 

[luke wilson]

The days of saying look at how unjust the right are over, people are not that altruistic, the way to get the vote is to share a plan of a new Britain, a leading Britain.

Like Tony Blair did back in 1997?

I know the USA is far from perfect but as I said in the baltimore thread, I gotta move to the United States, the UK is just too stuck in its ways.

The US is ground zero. Rome. Far from perfect doesn't even begin to cut it. If the UK is stuck in its ways, the US is in complete total denial.

PS: The UK won't be leaving the EU anytime soon. The agenda is integration, not disintegration... The days of nation states are fast coming to an end.

 

[Navigator]

Bottom line though, doesn't matter who is in power. We are all screwed unless you belong to their exclusive clubs.

Next election, guaranteed, Labour in. By then people would be fed up with the conservatives. I bet the next Labour leader isn't so dull or lacking in substance. It's all theatre for the masses!

Just a comment, replace Labour and Conservatives with Democrats and Republicans and it will still be a valid comment for the US. This is the extent these two countries resemble themselves, with a masquerade of democracy, these governments are just exclusive clubs.

 

[Peam]

The security services probably helped the Tories over the finish line. The situation was heading for a hung parliament, which they couldn't be bothered dealing with at the moment, what with so many other dirty operations to carry out around the world, so they opted to just stick with the Tories.

It also looks like they didn't bother interfering in Scotland this time, the outcome of which is interesting because it shows us that a large majority obviously voted for independence 8 months ago.

It makes sense that they didn't interfere in Scotland this time because it was to their advantage to have a big SNP turnout in order to wipe out more Labour seats. But then who knows, they could even have interfered to give SNP a covert helping hand somehow.