Don't know how many English go on this part of the forum, but who are you lot voting for?
Is difficult to choose:
Gordo - doesn't promote HIS policies, only slags off other people's and let's be honest...Labour's had 13 years to sort their shit out and not succeeded...
Clegg - despite coming off well in the debates, his policies are fucking shit.
Cameron - kind of like the Geography teacher that wants to be "cool"...again policies aren't THAT great - seems to take a paternalistic attitude which is just...lazy. Plus the fact that the party is filled with a majority of toffs.
We're having a hung parliament, I reckon.
[ December 22, 2010, 05:34 PM: Message edited by: Andy-Laa ]
Posted by ucflyeah (Member # 32674) on :
British politics is amazing to me. The history and such is so deepseeded that I often wonder if the media is able to sway an entire nation to vote for a clown, like it did here in the States with Obama.
What's wrong with Gordon? Obviously I don't know much about any of the other candidates being an American, but wondered if The United Kingdom thinks he's too liberal? Too conservative?
Lastly, sometimes on CSPAN I'll catch the British House of Commons which is really quite interesting. So what does a "hung parliament" mean? Would Gordo stay Prime Minister then?
Posted by Andy-Laa (Member # 31511) on :
quote:Originally posted by ucflyeah: British politics is amazing to me. The history and such is so deepseeded that I often wonder if the media is able to sway an entire nation to vote for a clown, like it did here in the States with Obama.
What's wrong with Gordon? Obviously I don't know much about any of the other candidates being an American, but wondered if The United Kingdom thinks he's too liberal? Too conservative?
Lastly, sometimes on CSPAN I'll catch the British House of Commons which is really quite interesting. So what does a "hung parliament" mean? Would Gordo stay Prime Minister then?
haha oh Jesus you wouldn't be saying it was interesting had you gone to my history class about how Gladstone and Disraeli hated each other...hahaha
It's nice to see someone has international interests, not just of their own country.
Personally, I find that the media is very good at remaining impartial - forgetting about newspapers, of course. With programs like Question Time and the televised debates, I think people are becoming more and more politically aware in this country and at a younger age so less sway, more weighing up facts.
Gordon was an unelected, Scottish now-leader of England. (I think in title, also of Scotland and Wales, but don't get me started on how they abuse the system - they have their own Parliaments too.
As soon as Blair left, they should have been legally required to hold another election. And you can't tell me you haven't heard about what he said (he thought it was in private, but he was miked up) about that woman who quizzed him about immigration - he called her a "bigoted woman" behind her back after smiling to her face - shows what he thinks of the constituents.
He's not too liberal or too conservative,much the opposite: he's too indecisive.
Yeah, all our parliament seems to be is one guy one one side of the room says some sort of half-insult, then all the guys behind him make a general approving rumbling noise while he shouts over them. It's all one-upmanship. One that I loved was Nigel Farage in the European Parliament:
A hung parliament is one in which there is no distinct leader - the opposition has basically the same number of seats as the party "in power". The only way out of it would be to form a coalition Government comprising of 2 or more parties agreeing to vote the same way.
It's pointless as nothing gets done - it's looking like a Liberal Democrat-Conservative coalition Government, come Thursday...I guess we'll see...
Posted by Toetapper (Member # 6473) on :
"God bless gridlock", a quote from my father.
At least for the US, this means the clowns in Congress can't pass more damaging legislation. As long as they're doing nothing, they can't do any harm and they sure as hell are incapable of doing anything good.
Did read read about the hub-bub caused by Gordon's gaff; it is kind of a relief to know that this kind of bumbling isn't unique to our politicians. Now, I suppose he must run around, hat in hand, apologizing to everybody and their dog. (This isn't to say an apology isn't deserved but he could have avoided the need for it by either being a little more cautious or measuring his words more carefully. Further, politicians seem to feel the need to gush with their apologies.)
Posted by ucflyeah (Member # 32674) on :
Wow, that link is just a vicious, verbal assault on the German fellow.
What is the European Parliament? That is different from House of Commons right? Although Scotland and Wales have their own governments they do follow the law of England and her Queen right?
I guess I should take a class on English history, or better yet research it myself on the internet.
Posted by Andy-Laa (Member # 31511) on :
Dear fuck I'm not even 100%...
(Btw he's Belgian hahahaha - a "non-country" apparently but his sentiments are accurate...)
I know they decided against devolution so they now are self-governed, so their taxes stay within their country, and not into England, BUT the taxes WE as people from England pay are, in part, also given to the Welsh and Scottish governments. We can't vote in their elections, but they can vote in ours.
They get free prescriptions, free care-homes for the elderly and free university education for every Scottish resident, paid for with English taxes.
Having the Queen as your monarch means shit-all really, just yet another costly anachronism of our time.
But...yeah it is DULL how politics in Britain got started - taken and failed that class haha Posted by ucflyeah (Member # 32674) on :
To me, England just seems all to amazing. The history, the people, the politics (the little I know of them), the music, the neighboring countries, etc...
I guess maybe if I lived there it wouldn't be so compelling to me?
Posted by Andy-Laa (Member # 31511) on :
Music would be
You're welcome for Zeppelin and the Beatles btw
And...the countries over the water are pretty sound...France, Belgium, Amsterdam, Italy, and my favourite, Spain.
History if that's your thing lol
But definitely not politics...
Posted by ucflyeah (Member # 32674) on :
Zeppelin, Beatles, definitely...
How bout: Yes, Queen, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull
Fucking great bands!! Actually the greatest rock bands ever! I'm sure I'm missing some (don't really care for The Who or The Stones, but they deserve their recognition)
Posted by Andy-Laa (Member # 31511) on :
![[Tongue]](tongue.gif)
but his sentiments are accurate...)![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)