[Kizzy]

Are you voting? do you want a mayor?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2...g-day-coverage

[joeysteele]

Yes have voted, don't have a choice for Mayor anyway or to even have one where my home is but if I did I wouldn't vote for one, we need less politicians not more.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Yes have voted, don't have a choice for Mayor anyway or to even have one where my home is but if I did I wouldn't vote for one, we need less politicians not more.

Well said joey!

[Vanessa]

I never vote anyway. Waste of time!

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

I never vote anyway. Waste of time!

Naughty naughty vanessa...If nobody votes nothing will ever change

[MTVN]

I don't vote, and I don't get why people say if you don't then you have no right to complain. It's the other way round, like George Carlin said "if you vote and you elect dishonest, incompetent people into office who screw everything up, you are responsible for what they have done. You caused the problem; you voted them in; you have no right to complain. I, on the other hand, who did not vote, who in fact did not even leave the house on election day, am in no way responsible for what these people have done and have every right to complain about the mess you created that I had nothing to do with"

[Mystic Mock]

I can't but if I could then no I wouldn't as they're all currupt bastards that I have no time for.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by jedward fever

I can't but if I could then no I wouldn't as they're all currupt bastards that I have no time for.

Ooh, I personally would hope when you reach voting age you will re-think as to not voting,not all politicians are a bad lot jf, many work really hard for their constituents in Parliament and even in the local authorities too.

Sadly, there are too many opportunists in politics at present and that is why I am against more tiers of politicians such as mayors and I am even against in the main wholesale reform of the House of Lords too. Another elected chamber would cost likely far more than it does now.

We are getting a reduction in MPs at the next election, 50 less, hopefully some reduction to the numbers in the House of Lords will come in the future too but my hope is that soon what we really achieve and have in politics are 'quality' MPs and Councillors etc; rather than 'quantity'.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Ooh, I personally would hope when you reach voting age you will re-think as to not voting,not all politicians are a bad lot jf, many work really hard for their constituents in Parliament and even in the local authorities too.

Sadly, there are too many opportunists in politics at present and that is why I am against more tiers of politicians such as mayors and I am even against in the main wholesale reform of the House of Lords too. Another elected chamber would cost likely far more than it does now.

We are getting a reduction in MPs at the next election, 50 less, hopefully some reduction to the numbers in the House of Lords will come in the future too but my hope is that soon what we really achieve and have in politics are 'quality' MPs and Councillors etc; rather than 'quantity'.

I agree with what you say Joey, but the higher ups in these Governments I hate.

I also think that the system is outdated and needs to be brought up to date somehow.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by jedward fever

I agree with what you say Joey, but the higher ups in these Governments I hate.

I also think that the system is outdated and needs to be brought up to date somehow.

Totally agree with you on those points jf.

[Niall]

Originally Posted by jedward fever

I agree with what you say Joey, but the higher ups in these Governments I hate.

I also think that the system is outdated and needs to be brought up to date somehow.

I agree with you. If I had my way I'd make the House of Lords a publicly elected body, and introduce proportional representation. Its ridiculous we don't have either of those things in this day and age.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Ooh, I personally would hope when you reach voting age you will re-think as to not voting,not all politicians are a bad lot jf, many work really hard for their constituents in Parliament and even in the local authorities too.

Sadly, there are too many opportunists in politics at present and that is why I am against more tiers of politicians such as mayors and I am even against in the main wholesale reform of the House of Lords too. Another elected chamber would cost likely far more than it does now.

We are getting a reduction in MPs at the next election, 50 less, hopefully some reduction to the numbers in the House of Lords will come in the future too but my hope is that soon what we really achieve and have in politics are 'quality' MPs and Councillors etc; rather than 'quantity'.

As the population increases, the number of MPs representing them is decreasing. It senseless. I wish I could show you the workload of an MP's caseworker for one week, trying to sort out problems their constituents are having with all kinds of bodies and agencies - immigration, child welfare, benefits, housing, planning, a massive range of topics. The offices of all MPs across the parties are currently working at full capacity. They don't take the recess off, and most of the offices are open 51 weeks a year. Now they will have even more constituents to look after with the same number of staff. And still people think reducing the MPs will be a good thing. An MP is just a figurehead for a whole officefull of people who work for every constituent, whether they voted for that particular MP or not.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Livia

As the population increases, the number of MPs representing them is decreasing. It senseless. I wish I could show you the workload of an MP's caseworker for one week, trying to sort out problems their constituents are having with all kinds of bodies and agencies - immigration, child welfare, benefits, housing, planning, a massive range of topics. The offices of all MPs across the parties are currently working at full capacity. They don't take the recess off, and most of the offices are open 51 weeks a year. Now they will have even more constituents to look after with the same number of staff. And still people think reducing the MPs will be a good thing. An MP is just a figurehead for a whole officefull of people who work for every constituent, whether they voted for that particular MP or not.

As ever,I will take all you say on board as to that of course.I would be foolish to discount much or even anything you point out.
However,late last year I and other students had to do some research and talking to the voters, so many of whom feel massively let down.

Often more is not the better way to go, often you can and do get more for less.
I appreciate the problems of one person having to represent thousands of people as you say not just their voters either once an MP, maybe some massive re-structuring is required in addition to the reduction of MPs proposed for the next election which is a modest 50 in total.

Do we need all these extra tiers of power though, research tells me that decades ago, 'a' councillor was elected for a ward, now today we elect 4 for each ward generally,are they really all needed, do they do the job better because there are more or would fewer get the really more important things done.
Do we really now need Mayors elected for each city too, more than likely crossing swords with the elected council on issues etc, also for the life of me I cannot see the benefits of an elected 2nd chamber either as to the Lords,Nick Cleggs daft idea of an elected chamber coming halfway through a parliament,all I can see is more chaos, more confusion and even greater workloads coming from that idea.
Parliament as you say is likely a continuous hive of frantic activity,maybe re-structuring as to the workings of parliamentary procedure is what's needed to free more people up to deal with more major issues.

I am sure you could Livia,show me massive workloads,as you say an ever growing population adding to that already too bulky workload.
I have respect for the position of being an MP but I do feel many fail their voters.
I personally doubt I would ever dispute what you said as to political workload,in fact I doubt I would ever dispute anything you said as to politics and if I move into the political arena at some point in the future my attitude may change considerably as to what I see in practice rather than theory.

I still think many politicians fail to address the needs of their voters and constituents, maybe the workload as you point out gets placed on others and maybe it needs to be eventually re-structured to assist in reducing such workloads so that constituents can identify with their MPs more.
I still think much more of putting into action the words they say at elections would go a big way to restoring confidence and trust and get more people to vote in the future though.

[Niall]

I can't vote till next year, but if I could have voted, I would've voted for the Greens.

[Brother Leon]

Yeah.

[Jords]

I dont really pay much attention to it really. Most people seem to show interest during the voting period then after dont care and believe the party that got in do a **** job.

Think its a bit foolish that theres only 3 main parties also. So probably wont vote or chuck mine at the Green Party.

[King Gizzard]

Mtvn [2]

[Jords]

mtvn [3]

[Shaun]

I didn't even know there was a vote today, I didn't receive anything in the mail about it

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Shaun

I didn't even know there was a vote today, I didn't receive anything in the mail about it

All areas aren't voting today. My area isn't... thank Gawd!

[Brother Leon]

Voted for cheaper train fares, can't be dealing with these prices when I dont want to use my whip

[joeysteele]

I agree largely with MTVN too, in my opinion of course he has the right to complain if politicians in power fail the Nation and even affect his life too which inevitably they will.

I always use my vote, I would not though say anyone who doesn't has no right to feel annoyed at the faliures we see with Govt after Govt and also in Local Authorities.
Maybe if I decide after Uni to go into politics things will be better and it may be easier to persuade people to vote for me.

The sad thing with politicians in power most of the time is they forget why they are there and who put them there,there are a lot of words spoken in elections but this saying is very true, 'actions speak far louder than words' and after what a great many politicians say to the voters, the actions they carry out once they get a hold on power falls massively short as to all those words.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

I agree largely with MTVN too, in my opinion of course he has the right to complain if politicians in power fail the Nation and even affect his life too which inevitably they will.

I always use my vote, I would not though say anyone who doesn't has no right to feel annoyed at the faliures we see with Govt after Govt and also in Local Authorities.
Maybe if I decide after Uni to go into politics things will be better and it may be easier to persuade people to vote for me.

The sad thing with politicians in power most of the time is they forget why they are there and who put them there,there are a lot of words spoken in elections but this saying is very true, 'actions speak far louder than words' and after what a great many politicians say to the voters, the actions they carry out once they get a hold on power falls massively short as to all those words.

I hope one day Joey you do run this country, afterall you can't be as bad as the last 3 we've had.

[Jack_]

No, but only because I'm not yet 18 and because I don't think there's any election taking place over where I am. Shall watch a bit of the coverage tonight though...I was quite obsessed last time around.

Still not sure who I'll vote for come 2015 though...not enough real left-wing parties in this country who represent my views, or are indeed not a wasted vote.

[Benjamin]

I was going to say, we don't have a vote here today.