Has voter apathy ruined the U.K? In a recent survey British politicians were voted more sleazy than estate?
822029
Voting apathy is only a problem for the elected representatives (MPs and councillors) of the people.  They fear that if not enough of us turn out to vote, they will feel they do not have a mandate to govern.  I think we reached that point about fifty years ago.  If the turn out is under 50 percent, how can any politician legitimately claim to have received a mandate from the people to govern them?\n\nLocal elections are a case in point - the same shipload of cut-throats get re-elected time and time again.  They draw huge expenses (at our expense) and waist their time going on various jamborees abroad to see if the wine is safe for us to drink back home.\n\nMPs are the worse scoundrels.  Many of these thieves draw expenses amounting to £150,000 pa on top of their already bloated salaries of £60,000.  God only knows what government ministers are paid - something resembling a telephone number I should think.\n\nOn the whole I think the British people are let down badly by their representatives most of whom pay little or no attention what so ever to what we the people are saying, once they're elected that is - another five years on the jolly waggon at our expense.  And to cap it all, these people want us to pay for their political parties and their profligate spending.  Oh, never mind, the tax payer will foot the bill.  VOTE NO to that by the way.
420693
the single worst leader of the uk in my life time!\n\nno-one has done more to crush the working man and support the rich in the last 35 years.\n\nyes i am only 35 years old but political history is important.\n\nboring sometimes!\n\nbut important.\n\ntony blair is not great but compared to her he is ok.
314944
I know you are trying to pull liberal's tails on your question.  I never voted in my life.  The thing is, politics in general in America is just a zoo.  All politicians are not worth my time nor respect.  So I try to live a life not needing government by making myself enough money to do as I please.  As far as I am concern, government and people in general are all corrupt in the USA.  People lie everyday, and the media is not objective but a medium for making money from commercials or whatever.  People do what it is they do for money for a better life, business ceos don't act ethically and by nature greedy fat cats, liberals are jealous and want a voice, everybody is just too loud and it makes no difference in my life, i ignore the whole thing but to laugh at libs and the rest of them.  I only support me, my kind, and my family.  I am a racist towards those that are racist against me, that includes all whities from Oklahoma.  See, I don't hide behind political correctness, it is another shame of the left, call it like it is and we all will be better off.  All policians lie, they have to in order to do their job, so life is a big B.S. if you keep it in perspective, all this energy is a waste, just leave me alone to my own resources, stay out of my way, and go suck your own problems for a change.  Good day.
358508
vote. What a pointless waste of time, get rid of this Head Of State rubbish, you need one democratically elected leader and that's that.  The Yanks do it, and it seems to work for them.  I guess you can tell I'm a Brit who wants a republic, but I wouldn't replace the queen with a president, just keep the role of PM
610393
Local council elections were yesterday with vote counting last night. The Conservatives won both the largest share of the vote and the largest number of net seats.\n\nThe BBC has good coverage on this:\nhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2006/election_2006/default.stm
837708
i'm in the UK, we have an equally mucked-up, directionless party in power and no viable opposition.\ni think ur just a normal person, exasperated with spaff politicians that bander 2 whatever they think will win/gain votes.\nour NHS is disintegrating b4 our eyes and no-one really seems 2 care.\nu r a free thinker that refuses 2 b pigeon-holed.\nmany more like u and the politicians may have no choice but sit up and listen.
622918
If you can have someone like Tony Blair in office and have nobody bothered, why worry about Ken Livingstone? Admittedly he's a buffoon and has said the wrong thing, but then so have a lot of other famnous people (Prince Philip is the worst!). Let's sack the lot of them and have a democracy!
655424
Not a lot,I think that we in Great Britain should pull out,\nit's so corrupt it's unbelievable,also it's a gravy train for failed politicians.
122021
I really think that people are lazy when it comes to politics.  The problem is that they whine about the government but they do not take the time to influence their vote.  So many just go with what someone elses friend convinced them to do.  Most likely that person is voting their pocket book and the people they get to vote their way is dramatically effected in a negative way.\n\nIt pays to research when it comes to high offices as much as it does for state and local.  If you do not know who you are voting for you are wasting your time and the whole nations.  A guess in the poll booth is like a guess on a test.  Sort of like getting an A+ or a D+ or even a F.\nPeople say that one vote does not make a difference but when it comes to individuals that do not take the time to research there are many of them.  These masses can influence a vote in major ways.\n\nSo I ask that anyone research and vote for the best person.
780245
No, the politicians left themselves out of the legislation of course! They also allowed for 'polls' so that they could get information about how you are going to vote. This created a loophole for market research firms - they can also call you whether you want them to or not, as long as they don't try to sell you anything, but are only running a 'survey'. Once more our politicians prove themselves to be total slimeballs.
900030
You're in Britain, right?\n\nThat is interesting about the Isle of Man lowering the voting age.  Honestly, I often think 18 is on the young side to be voting (I thought this even when I was 18).  So, my answer, even though we are not discussing my country (US) would be "No".\n\nWhat do you think?
792680
If only that were possible - let the MP's have a taste of what alot of the voters are feeling (the voters they choose to ignore I might add).\nAnd to Donald D - what are you talking about ??? Its already like living in Slovakia, Poland or any other Eastern European country although we're in England so why would we bother to move? I resent being told to move out of the country I was born and raised in because I dont like what the foreigners are doing to it !!!!!!
42335
Here in England we are highly amused by the strange views and opinions of the people in the USA. We are particularly confused by their desire to worship actors and by their very poor grasp of geography.\nOur monarchs do not rule us; they are 'left over' from our history. We are a parlimentary democracy. Of course nobody thinks royalty are superior, in fact I can fart much better than the Queen can - I just hope she does not read this else I'll be beheaded.\nBy the way, why are americans such bad spellers?
789791
Dude don't get me started again - I;ve only just recovered from my rant the other day !\n\nI quote "Great Britain is no longer a GREAT country, We cannot say anything without being called RACIST!!!!!!!!"\n\nThat's why - every time we do stand up for our selves (the select few with the balls - hats off Mr. N Griffin) we get branded racist biggots.\n\nWe try and try and try but it on;y ever gets covered in the media as a race hate crime !\n\nRead the Turner Diarys !\n\nIt is all going to kick off here sometime in the not too distant future you mark my words.\n\nPreston - Oldham - Bradford - Leeds - Burnley -- this was only the start of things to come back in 2001.\n\nIt will kick off - people will turn around and say " FCUK IT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"\n\nThe BNP are winning more and more seats every year because they are the only party that will stand for traditional BRITISH values !
611982
i hate it. its bias eg france will vote 4 germany,greece 4 cyprus and visa versa it seems to me the rest of europe will not vote 4 the uk
703167
The worrying thing is that this has actually happened - some numbskulls on a council estate attacked the home of a female paediatrician.\n\nMakes you despair of this country, doesn't it?\n\nYou know what - I actually feel EMBARRASSED for the twats that took this seriously. Wake up to yourselves, FOOLS!
222347
voting needs to be done with the voter fully informed...otherwise, it's a very dangerous endeavor....it's like putting who knows who in office or passing a who knows what proposition.....voting blindly or just because it's mainstream should NEVER  be done...unfortunately I believe it's done extremely frequently & I think that's why our country is in the bad condition it's in...will be interesting to see your other responses, for I'm sure there'll be those who will say it doesn't matter & is futile because all of it is corrupt anyway....unfortunately, when trying to inform people, I get that alot....I just can't convince them otherwise...it's hard to blame them