So you want to know my home's politics? OK no worries there,
Constituency: Redditch [1]
Local MP: Jacqui Smith, Labour (woop)
Local Council: Redditch Borough Council [2]
Local Council dominated mostly by: Conservatives (...) [3]
To answer the first question about my attitude to those whom don't vote is well... mixed. I think you should vote depending on how you have been influenced by those who are already in "power" (be it positively or negatively ) and the alternatives that are available to you by other parties that are most likely to be seen through... although that isn’t very often that a lot of promises ever go through [4]. This is so that those already with control can be almost made accountable in a way for their actions in charge and should (I say should) influence more into voting for them if they did well for the area, or lose votes respectably if their actions were poor. With the alternatives, I think it should only be right that they be judged on what they are willing to carry through whilst taking into account the implications of carrying out a particular 'promise' over others.
The people who vote that way are fine in my books, it’s just the others... those who attempt to use the vote for other means or only vote for the party focusing the most on a single matter rather than thinking about the bigger picture and otherwise wouldn't vote. One such problem was when BNP managed 2 seats in the EU and the vote for BNP both through protest and because their policies on immigration and related issues were shared by a large number of people but there were no real policies for the economy or other problems the UK is facing. If they don't vote then they don't have a say but if they don't really 'vote' by not voting properly then its counter-productive and could cause more problems than if they didn't vote at all by changing who gets power. It is Deffinatly safer not to vote than to throw it away and vote for anyone or a party you only share a few interests in but not others.
My main concerns would be the extent that the party would share the majority of the countries views on matters and would address problems as experts but with the viewpoint of the people. If they do that, then I have no problems really, even if that view point would not match my own it would match the majority and help more people if corrected for them. It's only fair and it’s only right that such actions would be taken by those in power. I have a few more petty concerns like anything that could negatively effect me as a student, it could potentially have large repercussions further down the line but otherwise I would just have to say it would be for the best... and moan to others around me... maybe start an independent party.
For fun :) http://adamsmith.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/cartoon290708_41106a.jpg
1) General election results 2005/2001/1997 for Redditch: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/constituency/1240/redditch
2) Redditch Borough Council main internet page: http://redditch.whub.org.uk/cms/default.aspx
3) Interactive map of the local election results by the guardian, see Worcestershire: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/local-election-results-map-2009
4) False promises by parties : http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/steve-richards/steve-richards-the-false-promise-of-romantic-ideas-1902771.html
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I like the way that you are open with peoples attitudes to voting, you do not feel that people should vote for the hell of it but should vote based on what they think of the current party at the helm. I agree with you that people should see beyond one policy and look at the other factors within the political party. You should start an independent party indeed!
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