Thursday 15 November 2012

Why I haven't voted today

I know I ought to vote; at the very least it buys me the right to grumble. But I have NO idea what today's election is about, who's standing and, above all, why it's been politicised. We've had one very political leaflet, and that's all. So instead, I've been out and (I think) found myself a lovely new horse!

24 comments:

  1. So closely following our elections, it puzzled me, initially, what the heck you were on about. Epiphany: different country, came to me about halfway through.
    Horse news would be good:)

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    1. Horse news coming soon. He's lovely, but trying to find a Titch replacement has been impossible. But I shall grow to love him, even if he is chestnut!

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  2. I voted. It wasn't really that difficult to get info from the internet - it was much harder than it should have been though. The people at the poling station said they'd had a very quiet day, so I don't think you're in the minority.

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    1. You're a good girl, Patsy. I guess I was too lazy to look the candidates up (though lots of people still don't use Internet, so we shouldn't have to).

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  3. I heard that the reason we didn't get info about the candidates was because they had to pay for it themselves unlike in a normal election. Well to my mind if someone wasn't willing to invest a little to get a publically elected job paying nearly £100k a year why should I vote for them. I'm with you Frances I didn't vote either partly for the reason above but mainly because it seems like a particularly pointless public office. Would love to hear more about the horse.

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  4. I voted. I wasn't going to, but in the end I did! I looked up our candidates on the internet and it looked like a queue for the gravy train to me, but one man stood out from the rest as being suitable, so...

    More about the horse please :-) x

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  5. I voted but didn't really know who I was voting for. While I was there I handed out a couple of info postcards about the 'Crime after Crime' book to the two bored ladies, who both said they were hoping to get Kindles for Christmas.

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    1. WHAT a good idea, Paula! Wish I'd thought of that!

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  6. I didn't vote because I don't agree with another layer of beaurocracy, but I wish I'd gone down and said why I wasn't voting on my slip of paper.

    Can't wait for the horse news - you must be very excited.

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    1. They wouldn't have read it, Maggie. Horse news imminent...

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  7. Voting? Is this just in England, because I haven't a clue about any voting here!

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  8. Police commissioners, Rosemary. Don't worry about it (I didn't!).

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  9. I didn't vote as our postal vote thingy never arrived...and I was too tired to vote in the flesh as just finished a run of night shifts...

    Anyway the horse has captured my attention...

    Anna :o]

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    1. I believe we all ought to vote, Anna, but I do NOT believe in the politicisation of the police! Where will it end? Political doctors? Judges? Head teachers? It's ridiculous.

      Yes - horse far more interesting!

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    2. Like you I am totally opposed to the politicisation of the police. However the old Watch Committees and the later Police Authorities have, since their inception, been appointed by Local Authorities who are generally speaking political and appoint people to those bodies on the basis of their politics. Police Authorities appointed Chief Constables but appointments were subject to Home Office guidelines and approval. The Authorities have no say over the day to day policing which is the responsibility of the Chief Constable. As a former clerk to a joint police authority I can say, however, that I never came across attempts at political interference by an Authority (though I'm not so naive as to think there never were any) but I cannot imagine any Chief Constables taking kindly to such attempts.

      Head Teachers used to be (and may still be) appointed by politicians ie local authorities.

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    3. I bow to your superior knowledge, GB, but still think that in my position of complete ignorance, there was no point in my voting!

      How's New Zealand?

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    4. I couldn't agree with you more, Frances, that voting from a position of complete ignorance or blind political prejudice can be pointless or even futile but that's how we generally get the politicians who rule 'for' us.

      New Zealand is good but hectic thanks.

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  10. I did vote, and looked online to find out what our local candidates had to say. Not much to choose between them, but husband and I both chose the same ( I made him read the online statements). I agree with you that they should not have been representing political parties. I have never not voted because I am glad that I live in a country where I can vote.

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    1. Frances, I know you're right. And normally, I always vote. I know that there was info online, but I think there should be more. A lot of (often retired) people don't use computers, so online information is no use to them. It's still to soon for it to be taken for granted that everyone has a computer.

      Oh...do you remember the days when people you used to ask, "are you on the phone"? Or are you too young...?

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  11. I was going to, but it was after a parents' evening. Came out of school. Thought, hey, I'm hungry. I'm going to the fish and chip shop on the way home. (I felt I deserved it after nearly 3 hours seeing 30 sets of parents bang bang bang one after the other with no break to even get a drink.) So, my fish and chips reward sent all memory of voting out of my head. Oops. (They were yum.)

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  12. oh, fish and chips! Bring it(them) on!

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  13. That's great about the new horse! I know Titch can not (and should not) be replaced, he was unique, but it will be good for you to have a new friend.

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