The General Election Thread

[malg]

The problem with PR is that it can allow extremist parties to get a foothold. Whether you believe this is true democracy or not is immaterial. Take UKIP as an example - in FPTP they will end up with 1-2 seats. With PR they are the 3rd largest party. The nature of PR means weak government as large rival parties can't reach agreement and we have in effect a never-ending 'hung parliament'. Hitler capitalised on this weakness and offered strong leadership in a climate that is not without it's similarities to today's political and economic climate in Europe.

Damocles, I'm sure you will want to have the last word on this as you usually do, and I shall bow to your superior knowledge of Hitler's rise to power - I've clearly spent too much time reading Kershaw when I should have been listening to the same podcasts as you.

Obviously. Kershaw is a regular guest on a variety of history programmes, having worked with the BBC numerous times. Personally I prefer Richard J. Evans and his stuff on the Weimar Republic/the rise of the Nazis.

But he's only the Professor of Modern History at Cambridge University. I'm sure your third class degree from Moston Community College in 1983 is just as handy a reference guide.

 

[squirtyflower]

More than a few mods have been following this thread and we have several trolls on it that are either being dealt with or will probably be dealt with if they continue after the election.

I hope your not in danger of stepping over the line into censorship here

I'm sure they will be fair.

But it does make me laugh when some people say the left are in the minority in here when all the mods except de niro are left at this election.

To be fair though, they, mainly, keep their personal feelings out of mod decisions.

I'm sorry but do you have evidence of this?

 

[SWP's back]

I hope your not in danger of stepping over the line into censorship here

I'm sure they will be fair.

But it does make me laugh when some people say the left are in the minority in here when all the mods except de niro are left at this election.

To be fair though, they, mainly, keep their personal feelings out of mod decisions.

I'm sorry but do you have evidence of this?

If any care to out themselves I would be willing to listen.

Even ducky has said he's likely labour this time round.

 

[squirtyflower]

I'm sure they will be fair.

But it does make me laugh when some people say the left are in the minority in here when all the mods except de niro are left at this election.

To be fair though, they, mainly, keep their personal feelings out of mod decisions.

I'm sorry but do you have evidence of this?

If any care to out themselves I would be willing to listen.

Even ducky has said he's likely labour this time round.

That's up to them
However you couldn't possibly use the word all as you can't back that up with evidence, just opinion

 

[worsleyweb]

Major international companies ready to invest millions in property in manchester are hoping for a Tory win. Labours plans to impose rent caps based upon inflation will hammer the manchester construction industry at a time it is getting back on its feet.

It will be hugely detremental to my business of labour get in. I have just come off the phone to my dad who still spouts about Tory bastads and was a union leader! And makes rascal look like Nigel farage. Mrs ww - public sector worker is also voting labour - I am seriously thinking of throwing her out about it. Alls that she says is cameron is the cutter! That is the extent of her political knowledge. It's all good fun. I am tempted to hide her voting card.

 

[Gaylord du Bois]

Are we all up for an exit poll on here?

 

[Tueartsoverhead kick]

Major international companies ready to invest millions in property in manchester are hoping for a Tory win. Labours plans to impose rent caps based upon inflation will hammer the manchester construction industry at a time it is getting back on its feet.

It will be hugely detremental to my business of labour get in. I have just come off the phone to my dad who still spouts about Tory bastads and was a union leader! And makes rascal look like Nigel farage. Mrs ww - public sector worker is also voting labour - I am seriously thinking of throwing her out about it. Alls that she says is cameron is the cutter! That is the extent of her political knowledge. It's all good fun. I am tempted to hide her voting card.

Its nice to see that there is some intelligence in your family

 

[Ducado]

Major international companies ready to invest millions in property in manchester are hoping for a Tory win. Labours plans to impose rent caps based upon inflation will hammer the manchester construction industry at a time it is getting back on its feet.

It will be hugely detremental to my business of labour get in. I have just come off the phone to my dad who still spouts about Tory bastads and was a union leader! And makes rascal look like Nigel farage. Mrs ww - public sector worker is also voting labour - I am seriously thinking of throwing her out about it. Alls that she says is cameron is the cutter! That is the extent of her political knowledge. It's all good fun. I am tempted to hide her voting card.

From what you have posted on here it's more likely that she will throw you out rather than you throw her out!

 

[whp.blue]

Are we all up for an exit poll on here?

Yep

 

[Bluemanc100]

Just glad the campaign is finally over, the dullest in my memory. Just the same things being said by the same people every day. However I expect the results tomorrow night and the ensuing drama over the next few weeks will be the best in election history.

I disagree and how found myself warming to all leaders in this run up -

Farage who I'm against principally is a great character and leader - it's just a shame UKIP attract so many tosspots as he has genuine and sometimes correct concerns about the number of people coming into Britain, he is right that the EU is a sham at times - however I'd rather a party that would strive to make the EU fairer not completly come out of it for mainly the sake of nationalistic pride.

Natalie Bennet has been embarrising at times in live debates but she has heart of gold and wants to help the most disadvantaged in our society, get rid of trident and treat immigrants as humans not numbers! I'm personally not to fussed about the enviorment if I'm being honest. However , are they realistically going to be ever to run a economy on these principales ? I don't think so ,but the Greens appeal a lot to me

Ed Miliband - before the campaign I thought he was a disaster for Labour but he's proved he isn't , the personal crap thrown at him is pathetic and he handles all that really well - seems genuine about clamping down on richest that get away with tax avoidance and other loop holes , same for higher corporations - I hope he would carry this out. I trust them to help the most vunrable and poorest and protect the NHS.

Nicola Sturgeon - well she has been impressive and wants what's best for Scotland and who can blame her or the scots for voting SNP. hope they do ok

David Cameron - brilliant orator and speaker and looks the part as a priminister - The Tories have done a lot of good I feel with the economy and have had to make tough cuts to achieve this - they have not been a disaster, far from it. But do they come down hard enough on the richest and elite ? Or do they target the poorest more - which there is genuine grounds to do so - many people live off benefits as a lifestyle and many people come here for that reason - no one should abuse the system but until the stories show they are cracking down at those at the top then I will jump on the bandwagon to clamp down on those that abuse the system.

Nick Clegg - I like him. He's a decent guy. He's U-turn on tuition fees may never be forgiven and rightly so, however I feel the Lib Dems have played there part in this coalition and I warm to his point that he would give Tories a heart and labour a brain. That appeals to me the most and for that reason I have voted Lib Dem.

Somebody needs to get a grip of the shirkers... My lad applied for a new flat in Stafford this week, £99 per week and to support his application he had to go to a briefing. They seemed genuinely surprised when he told them that he couldn't go in working hours as he worked full time.. It seems the majority of applicants for the new development have lots of free time so maybe do fuck all.... I'm sure people will blame zero hours contracts but I really do think some people are just lazy bastards....

 

[worsleyweb]

Major international companies ready to invest millions in property in manchester are hoping for a Tory win. Labours plans to impose rent caps based upon inflation will hammer the manchester construction industry at a time it is getting back on its feet.

It will be hugely detremental to my business of labour get in. I have just come off the phone to my dad who still spouts about Tory bastads and was a union leader! And makes rascal look like Nigel farage. Mrs ww - public sector worker is also voting labour - I am seriously thinking of throwing her out about it. Alls that she says is cameron is the cutter! That is the extent of her political knowledge. It's all good fun. I am tempted to hide her voting card.

From what you have posted on here it's more likely that she will throw you out rather than you throw her out!

That's very true! Asking all mods to show great flexibility tomorrow night! Emotions will be running high!!!

 

[Paul Lake's Left Knee]

The problem with PR is that it can allow extremist parties to get a foothold. Whether you believe this is true democracy or not is immaterial. Take UKIP as an example - in FPTP they will end up with 1-2 seats. With PR they are the 3rd largest party. The nature of PR means weak government as large rival parties can't reach agreement and we have in effect a never-ending 'hung parliament'. Hitler capitalised on this weakness and offered strong leadership in a climate that is not without it's similarities to today's political and economic climate in Europe.

Damocles, I'm sure you will want to have the last word on this as you usually do, and I shall bow to your superior knowledge of Hitler's rise to power - I've clearly spent too much time reading Kershaw when I should have been listening to the same podcasts as you.

[bigimg]image to large

What the fuck does Nik Kershaw know about Hitler anyway?

Both would like to get to know you well.

 

[the god Gerry Gow]

Are we all up for an exit poll on here?

Yep

I'm going for 5 temporary bans and 1 permaban.

Remember there is a margin for error in this poll

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

My history degree has taught me that PR is very dangerous as combined with a bad recession it led to the rise of National Socialism and ultimately was a main cause of WWII.

Having said that, the current system is totally Labour-biased due to the boundaries issue. And speaking of national socialists it will be a travesty of democracy if the SNP have anything of a say on English issues.

Slightly gratuitous, insecure crowbar-ing of a reference to the existence of your history degree there JOTL.

What you've said is also utter bollocks.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

It's very dangerous to use labels like left or right indiscriminately. I know two Labour local politicians who I'd describe as right-leaning in their views.

If I were to try to sum my views up, I'd say I was a liberal, both economically and socially. I believe in the free market and the provision of many services by the private sector but I also think that some public services and infrastructure is better left to the public sector.

I believe that the government should build a platform for wealth creation by private enterprise but should ensure that's not at the expense of the people helping to build that prosperity.

I don't have a problem with private medicine (I have a policy myself) or the use of the private sector to provide services to the NHS but I also think that the NHS, free at the point of delivery, should be sacrosanct as a concept.

I rejoice in the multi-cultural, cosmopolitan society we are in the UK but think that immigration needs to be more carefully controlled.

I believe in Europe as a free market for goods and services but not the concept of economic and political union.

So am I left or right?

 

[worsleyweb]

My history degree has taught me that PR is very dangerous as combined with a bad recession it led to the rise of National Socialism and ultimately was a main cause of WWII.

Having said that, the current system is totally Labour-biased due to the boundaries issue. And speaking of national socialists it will be a travesty of democracy if the SNP have anything of a say on English issues.

Slightly gratuitous, insecure crow-barring of a reference to the existence of your history degree there JOTL.

What you've said is also utter bollocks.

I did the Tudors vs the Stewart's - GCSE history 1992. Ask me anything?

 

[SWP's back]

I'm sorry but do you have evidence of this?

If any care to out themselves I would be willing to listen.

Even ducky has said he's likely labour this time round.

That's up to them
However you couldn't possibly use the word all as you can't back that up with evidence, just opinion

Anyone can disagree if they wish

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

It's very dangerous to use labels like left or right indiscriminately. I know two Labour local politicians who I'd describe as right-leaning in their views.

If I were to try to sum my views up, I'd say I was a liberal, both economically and socially. I believe in the free market and the provision of many services by the private sector but I also think that some public services and infrastructure is better left to the public sector.

I believe that the government should build a platform for wealth creation by private enterprise but should ensure that's not at the expense of the people helping to build that prosperity.

I don't have a problem with private medicine (I have a policy myself) or the use of the private sector to provide services to the NHS but I also think that the NHS, free at the point of delivery, should be sacrosanct as a concept.

I rejoice in the multi-cultural, cosmopolitan society we are in the UK but think that immigration needs to be more carefully controlled.

I believe in Europe as a free market for goods and services but not the concept of economic and political union.

So am I left or right?

Pretty much with you on all of that PB, apart from the second portion of your penultimate paragraph.

I'd describe myself as an ever so slightly right of centre liberal, who has been known to vote Labour -if that helps in any way ;-)

 

[i kne albert davy]

My history degree has taught me that PR is very dangerous as combined with a bad recession it led to the rise of National Socialism and ultimately was a main cause of WWII.

Having said that, the current system is totally Labour-biased due to the boundaries issue. And speaking of national socialists it will be a travesty of democracy if the SNP have anything of a say on English issues.

Slightly gratuitous, insecure crow-barring of a reference to the existence of your history degree there JOTL.

What you've said is also utter bollocks.

I did the Tudors vs the Stewart's - GCSE history 1992. Ask me anything?

Did they make you sit at opposite sides of the classroom afterwards or were you expelled.

 

[squirtyflower]

If any care to out themselves I would be willing to listen.

Even ducky has said he's likely labour this time round.

That's up to them
However you couldn't possibly use the word all as you can't back that up with evidence, just opinion

Anyone can disagree if they wish

I disagree with your statement made at the beginning of our discourse