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Post by stratman on Apr 24, 2008 16:38:31 GMT -4
In the winter of 1978/79 (which has since become known as the winter of discontent) England; under power of a Labour (read 'Socialist') government was a grim place, many workers were on strike, high inflation and crippling taxation meant that workers were demanding pay rises as high as 40%, at that time the basic rate of income tax was 33%!!! Strike action by trade unions led to a virtual close-down of the country, fuel shortages, power cuts, refuse piling up in the streets, hospitals being blockaded by picketing strikers, bodies piling up in mortuaries due to striking gravediggers, you gettin the picture? fortunately a 'vote of no confidence' was passed against the government, a general election was called and poor old James Callaghan was left unemployed, after that England prospered. In the spring of 2008 (soon to become known as the spring of discontent) England; under power of a Labour (read 'Socialist') government was a grim place, many workers were on strike (400,000 today) inflation creeping up (due mainly to the crippling fuel costs of the anti-motorist government) and crippling taxation; 20% basic rate income tax 11% national insurance + 17.5% value added tax on almost everything you buy (kids clothes, books and some foods are excempt) 60-70%+ fuel tax (varies according to crude oil prices + value added tax ontop!) taxes on insurance premiums, household gas and electric bills, anything upto £430 a year for a cars road fund licence, the 'credit crunch' (which in laymans terms means we're heading for a recession with high unemployment and even higher taxation) impending fuel shortages and yet even higher fuel costs. Fortunately Gordon Brown is currently the most unpopular Prime Minister in the last 80 years, and we have a general election looming Bye Gordon thanks for coming, switch the light off on your way out, see you in another 18 years On a side note, this is only my opinion, all Labour voters should be fcukin shot! every time Labour get into power they fcuk the country up! socialism is an idealism, IT DOESN'T BLOODY WORK! Russia, China, Vietnam etc etc England will prosper again
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Post by Akira on Apr 24, 2008 18:21:47 GMT -4
I don't even know who i'm going to vote for in the weeks to come.
The first time I voted, I voted Liberal Democrat (local elections), and they got in, then they posted plans through the door about knocking down (read 'Regenerating') the area I live in, which completely knocked my confidence in voting as they never even mentioned that in their manifesto for my area.
It screwing pisses me off.
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Post by Mr. G. on Apr 24, 2008 18:39:24 GMT -4
I hate all politics and all government! That's all I've got to say about that.
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jeffhx
Full Member
wait for that crescendo!
Posts: 224
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Post by jeffhx on Apr 24, 2008 20:04:07 GMT -4
the current labour government of Australia is doing its job fine at the moment that sucks dude... but i have indeed realised mr. Brown's unpopularity a few months after entering office... i love watching parliamentary scuffles from different governments on youtube
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Rustee
Full Member
pima practitioner
Posts: 214
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Post by Rustee on Apr 24, 2008 20:53:21 GMT -4
I share your disdain for populism and socialism Craig. The U.S. is leaning more and more that way as well. Capitalism has become a pejorative to many and soak the rich tax codes punish success without achieving any measure of actual economic equality through redistribution.
And I understand where you're coming from Eric. It's frustrating seeing the fraud, deception, and just plain absurdity that's too common in every government known to man. Besides that, trying to discuss politics in a civil manner with anyone on the street (or even with family/friends) is a feat not easily achieved when ideologies are often so deeply entrenched. I was thinking about this awhile back...I've pretty much concluded that the fact that we can ignore politics and government is in part a testament to how comparatively good we have it.
That all being said, disingenuous motives and erroneous premises that are the basis for policy need to be exposed and challenged with reason, true fairness, and common sense.
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Post by thesmitchens on Apr 24, 2008 23:38:09 GMT -4
Man... politics are at an all time fucked up. I read the news frequently and I still have no clue what's going on. The conservatives dont' like who's representing them and the liberals are busy arguing over stupid crap like race vs. gender... hell, I don't know. I tried to get Bush out of office back in 04 and that didn't exactly get me anywhere. Now we're borderline recession and I just can't help but to wonder what people saw in him in the first place... I don't really care who makes it in the office to be honest. I probably won't even vote because I just don't care... I mean, seriously it can't be worse than it is now, can it?
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Post by docsimon on Apr 25, 2008 3:12:24 GMT -4
I will never ever vote Conservative / Republican ever, I'll fcuking die first.
In the UK the Tories shafted the UK for 18 years, destroyed public transport, education, the NHS need I go on. My arse still hurts from the Thacher years and I hate them and her for it !
There are many things I despise about the current govt and ousting TB doesn't make it alright. I will not forgive them for going into Iraq or lying to the population about why they were doing it. And as for that twat Gordon Brown can any one say ...LOOSER !!!! You want to be PM, win an election first !
So, who do I vote for? Well just like the US the choice are:
The incompetent, self interested, greedy, money grabbing, squandering, disorganized bastards on the left
or..
The incompetent, greedy, self-interested, money grabbing / squandering, disorganized bastards on the right
Both pandering to the media who are pandering to the whims of a public that is only interested in the gossip columns. They say a county gets the governments it deserves and this may indeed be right. Another episode of Gladiators / Big brother / The Jade Goody News Hour anyone ?
Glad I don't have kids !
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Post by thesmitchens on Apr 25, 2008 8:10:52 GMT -4
Couldn't have said it better myself.
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Post by iiholly on Apr 25, 2008 8:36:02 GMT -4
Man... politics are at an all time fucked up. I read the news frequently and I still have no clue what's going on. The conservatives dont' like who's representing them and the liberals are busy arguing over stupid crap like race vs. gender... hell, I don't know. I tried to get Bush out of office back in 04 and that didn't exactly get me anywhere. Now we're borderline recession and I just can't help but to wonder what people saw in him in the first place... I don't really care who makes it in the office to be honest. I probably won't even vote because I just don't care... I mean, seriously it can't be worse than it is now, can it? Not voting is a big problem in this country. And yes they can get worse. Just washing your hands of the matter and saying you don't care is being irresponsible and then you truely have no right to complain because the little say you do get in what goes on in DC you stuck your nose up at. No offense. People who don't vote just piss me off. US stats for voting are just ridiculous.
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Post by Tonja Renee on Apr 25, 2008 10:28:55 GMT -4
I agree with Holly...
I think too many people are taking their rights for granted. The more people that don't vote are giving their say to less and less people.
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Post by thesmitchens on Apr 25, 2008 11:19:24 GMT -4
Not voting is a big problem in this country. And yes they can get worse. Just washing your hands of the matter and saying you don't care is being irresponsible and then you truely have no right to complain because the little say you do get in what goes on in DC you stuck your nose up at. No offense. People who don't vote just piss me off. US stats for voting are just ridiculous. Forgive me if I sound hostile when saying this but I didn't find anything in my post that implied I didn't have a right to complain. I did state how my attempt to change things failed in 04, which was my first chance to vote, and after that I'd stated that all I wanted was someone else and that I felt no bias towards any of the candidates that are running. Quite honestly I could be happy with any one of the three candidates still running. And until Bush is out of the office I do believe I still have the right to complain because I'd done my part already and I've still got a few months of "Told you so" left.
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Post by iiholly on Apr 25, 2008 11:55:27 GMT -4
You were complaining in your post. But that doesn't really matter. I used you too much being this is informal, but what I meant by you is people who don't vote in general.
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Post by thesmitchens on Apr 25, 2008 12:51:12 GMT -4
And that's A-Ok, by me. I didn't entirely mean to sound like I was complaining. I tend to have a tad bold way of saying things. My apologies for the confusion.
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Post by earthman on Apr 25, 2008 13:45:22 GMT -4
I can vote now, but Canadian politics...I don't know if they really matter. And even if they do, I still don't know what all the different bills and statutes n' junk mean. I feel like maybe I should learn and be a responsible citizen and all that, but on the other hand I'm just like "meh...Canada." Even our dickhead leaders seem like they might be alright to have coffee with or something.
So I'll probably vote Communist.
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Post by thesmitchens on Apr 25, 2008 16:05:22 GMT -4
That would be way better for your national anthem over Oh Canada. The patriotism and enthusiasm for your homeland enough to give even the heartiest Texan penis envy.
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Post by earthman on Apr 25, 2008 16:39:11 GMT -4
Don't get me wrong, I like Canada just fine.
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Post by Akira on Apr 25, 2008 21:09:48 GMT -4
The problem when it comes for me voting is, well, who do I trust? I'm not going to vote just because I feel I have to.
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Post by Tonja Renee on Apr 26, 2008 8:31:05 GMT -4
I don't know... just when I think of all the people that fought for our freedom... I think its disrespectful to them - when people choose not to vote.
If they knew how many people really don't care who runs their country, would they have bothered to fight for it in the first place?
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Post by stratman on Apr 26, 2008 8:59:53 GMT -4
I don't even know who i'm going to vote for in the weeks to come. The first time I voted, I voted Liberal Democrat (local elections), and they got in, then they posted plans through the door about knocking down (read 'Regenerating') the area I live in, which completely knocked my confidence in voting as they never even mentioned that in their manifesto for my area. It screwing pisses me off. Yeah we had a similar problem a few years ago, the council wanted to demolish the towns bus station; a rather nice piece of 1950's arcitechture, many people petitioned against the demolition, the Lib Dem's won control of the council on the back of a manifesto promising to save the bus station, 2 days after getting into power the town was left fuming when the new council announced that there was nothing they could do to save the bus station
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Post by stratman on Apr 26, 2008 9:01:46 GMT -4
I hate all politics and all government! I share you view big man.
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