So who did you vote for?

[theinsider]

Late surge for Labour - are we all potty or just not keen on Grotty!

[asperity]

I thought I'd lost my vote because my postal vote hadn't arrived at my ship when I left her yesterday. Fortunately when I phoned the helpline number (Warrington town hall) they said they will arrange for me to vote at the town hall tomorrow. All I've got to do is decide who to vote for!! I went through all my mail (11 weeks worth!) last night and, although I didn't count them before putting them in the big blue filing cabinet, I reckon there must have been half a dozen begging letters from each of the main parties.

[observer]

There may be a "late surge" nationally too - when folk stare into the abyss and have to put a cross on a ballot - a profound saying " better the devil you know". Bit like school days; if your in for a caning, do you want Mr Hardman doing it or Miss Softie! Asp: no chance of registering the rest of your crew for PVs - seems voting scams are now all the rage!

[Dizzy]

What's a PV

 

Know what you mean about Labour though... I've heard loads of people saying '... well I dont like Gordy or Labour but maybe he is the best one to sort it all out as he's caused it so he must know what he has done wrong and how to fix it..' ...but then again he could make it a whole lot worse too

 

I actually started to think the same until I slapped myself

[observer]

Postal Votes - they,ve been giving them out like dolly mixtures; and the Police are now investigating complaints of voter fraud all over the place! It's fairly simple Diz; do you want your pain administered by a sadist without anaesthetic, using a blunt instrument or by some stealthy surgery while your asleep!?

[wolfie]

There may be a "late surge" nationally too - when folk stare into the abyss and have to put a cross on a ballot - a profound saying " better the devil you know".

 

After 13 years of Labour and most people agreeing that it's been a disaster it's strange that 40% have yet to make their minds up and a hung parliament seems to be the inevitable outcome. Surely that is more a reflection of the Conservative party than that of Labour.

[asperity]

Asp: no chance of registering the rest of your crew for PVs - seems voting scams are now all the rage!

 

2 Romanians, 1 Pole and 5 Filipinos? Well I don't see why not

[Dizzy]

Postal Votes

Ooops rather obvious now you have told me

 

- they,ve been giving them out like dolly mixtures; and the Police are now investigating complaints of voter fraud all over the place!

 

Surely the election should be cancelled then if they can't be sure which votes are valid .... but that would mean

 

- It's fairly simple Diz; do you want your pain administered by a sadist without anaesthetic, using a blunt instrument or by some stealthy surgery while your asleep!?

 

I'd rather have no pain administered by either thanks Obs

[LymmParent]

If Cameron has ruled out co-operating with the Lib Dems, but stated he's going to try and form a minority Government, but Clegg has said he won't work with Gordon Brown, then I think the electorate en masse may very well opt for sticking with the devil they know, as the least of all possible evils.....

 

As for me, it's getting worse than the football. If Clegg and Cameron draw, Brown gets relegated. If Brown wins, Cameron still qualifies for Europe, but Clegg has to play Leeds at home and Aston Villa away..... I think....

[observer]

Sorry Diz, but pain is definately on it's way - just look at Greece to sample it!

[Dizzy]

Sorry Diz, but pain is definately on it's way - just look at Greece to sample it!

 

At least they have nice beaches, blue sea and sunshine

[asperity]

Postal Votes - they,ve been giving them out like dolly mixtures; and the Police are now investigating complaints of voter fraud all over the place! It's fairly simple Diz; do you want your pain administered by a sadist without anaesthetic, using a blunt instrument or by some stealthy surgery while your asleep!?

 

Of course we did, briefly, have a system that would have prevented most of the fraud occuring due to postal voting - THE POLL TAX! Now I didn't like the Poll Tax as it was implemented, but the concept was right.

[vic]

The poll tax - a timely reminder of why the Tories should never be put in charge again! All those millions in lost rates from the rich (some like Heseltine with several houses who were made considerably richer by abolition of the rates) made up for by the poor in humble abodes.

[Bazj]

Vic,

 

why was the idea that 6 people living in a house; all using council services such as bin collections, maybe going to the library etc... all made a contribution?

 

Just because someone lives in an expensive house on their own doesn't mean they are a millionaire!!

[Egbert]

If it is true that many women are switching to Lib Dem (from wherever) because they think Nick Clegg is the best looking party leader, isn't it a good argument for depriving women of the vote?

[Dizzy]

I'm rather ashamed to say that I think he's quite good looking too.... Nick Bents quite cute too although a lot smaller than he looks on his photos

[Egbert]

Nick Bent smaller than he looks in photos? My God - is he a midget?

[Eagle]

The young chap standing for Labour in Culcheth & Glazebury is the son of Ms Jones, being groomed to take over no doubt.

[observer]

Thought that was Harry Potter - borrows her broom stick from time to time!

[asperity]

The poll tax - a timely reminder of why the Tories should never be put in charge again! All those millions in lost rates from the rich (some like Heseltine with several houses who were made considerably richer by abolition of the rates) made up for by the poor in humble abodes.

 

If the truth be told all the millions lost were due to the refusal of 30% of the population to pay the Community Charge (its real name). As I said before the concept was right, with everybody using the services provided by the local councils being expected to pay their fair share. The size of your house or bank balance has no bearing on the amount of local services you use. The problem was with the way the charge was implemented, and the numerous loopholes that were found for avoidance.

[observer]

With any tax "avoidance" is the name of the game IF you can afford the professional help to steer you through the loop holes - thus the rich pay less proportionately than the rest of us. With Poll Tax it was straight up front refusal to pay and non registration that scuppered it. btw we're all taxed irrespective of what or how much of a service we use - childless couples still have to pay for education and child credit; pacifists still have to pay for Defence.

[LymmParent]

I thought the Poll Tax was fair too. I didn't understand why so many people went bonkers about it. Perfectly sensible for every member of society to pay an equal share of social costs. Whereas making people pay because they own a home is quite illogical. If my Dad uses his savings to buy a cottage by the sea, why is he suddenly required to pay double? He's earned every penny of the cost and paid tax on it all too. Meanwhile, when my lot turn 18 and are still here, they'll get a free ride! Never made any sense to me.

 

It's all backfired horribly anyway - if we were paying per head, it'd have to stay reasonable, instead of the ever-increasing demands we get.

[vic]

The rates were a tax on land - you occupy more than your fair share of it, you should pay for it.

 

It was progressive taxation, and anyone could downsize and get a smaller house.

[asperity]

And what, exactly, is one man's fair share of land Vic? Who would make the judgement? Surely the fairest way of funding services is to pay a fair share of the cost of the service. But of course that doesn't meet with the socialist ideal of pulling everyone down to the lowest mean rather than rewarding endeavour.

[wolfie]

The Poll tax was a fixed rate local government tax payable by every adult in the UK regardless of income.

 

The charge shifted the tax burden from the rich to the poor

 

Opinion polls at the time only showed 2% support for it.

 

But it did help to bring Maggie down, so in that respect it was a success.