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Apr 18, 2007 18:37:29 GMT
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On May 3rd its the local council elections in England and Wales. (Might be in Scotland too, dunno?)
Anyway, this is your oportunity to participate in the most direct form of democracy, because all the issuesup to be voted on are local issues and ones which will effect you directly. They affect how your concil tax is spent (and raised) and what the priority issues are in local development, policing, etc.
I hear moans that theres nothing to chose between the aprties, and I'm afraid thats just you being lazy because you can't be arsed to work out what thier policies are. At a local level is where the parties often diverge the most. For example I'm voting Lib Dem this time round, I'd never vote for them at a general election, but on this occasion there is a local issue relating to redevelopment of some green belt land and the Lib Dems oppose it, as do I, so I vote for them.
And guess what, even though they are the "closest" politically to the voters, local elections are amongst the worst attended in the UK (only the MEP elections regularly get a worse turnout)...
You're all moaning about how we live in a dictatorship and all that, so next time anyone moans I'm going to be asking if you voted...
All you have to do is turn up and put an X in a box. They even supply the pen for you to do it.
If more people bother to turn out and vote in every local, euro, by and general election then the government of the day will realise that they are under the scrutiny of the electorate and act accordingly. If people don't bother to vote then the government of the day will realise that they are not under the scrutiny of the electorate and act accordingly.
Not voting - the closest thing to actually phoning Tony Blair up and saying "just get on with what ever you want, I don't give a damn"
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Last Edit: Apr 18, 2007 18:38:55 GMT by akku
1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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OT: May 3rd. Vote!briandamaged
@GUEST
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Apr 18, 2007 19:05:47 GMT
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Quote: Not voting - the closest thing to actually phoning Tony Blair up and saying "just get on with what ever you want, I don't give a damn"- Unquote
I'm with you on this.....voting should be made compulsory IMO, it's the ONLY chance you get to have your say, however small and insignificant you may think it is.
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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OT: May 3rd. Vote!slater
@slater
Club Retro Rides Member 78
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Apr 18, 2007 19:25:07 GMT
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Have you got mr blairs phone number please?
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Apr 18, 2007 20:23:11 GMT
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i get to chose between an ex-terrorist, another ex-terrorist, a major party run by at least three ex-terrorists, a party with strong terrorist links, a party that sits in the middle and tries to be appealing to both sides (these 2 sides being the same ones that at the last 2 elections have steadily got more and more extremist, throwing out any propaganda that the Good Friday Agreement, St. Andrews Agreement or anything that involves Tony blair and Bertie Ahern having a spin on each other ina castle is actually supported by the people...) or a party run by a Free Presbyterian Reverend...
can you guess which one i voted for?
(you'll probably be wrong lol, at a local level the parties are all badly represented in my area. i voted for someone who says NO to terrorists in gvmnt. woohoo)
ps this is bonafide. NI does actually have terrorists in politics still, and i could show you the manifestos posted to us that actually have 'served 14 years for *********** related activities' and 'ex-member of ********** enforcement group' and other such appealing attributes listed against the candidates.
[/rant]
[/OT]
[/politics!]
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Apr 18, 2007 20:43:29 GMT
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Have you got mr blairs phone number please? There is (or maybe was?) a phone number for the prime minister's office on the open government website. I suspect that messages left there are picked up by a team of underlings. I also suspect that the vast majority of messages left are of the caliber that warrant a quick "press 3 to delete". Anyone else remember the charming little ditty "policticans" by Edinburgh's finest, The Exploited? I think its only on the 12" EP verson that you get that lovely exchange where Wattie phones up Ronald Regan and gets as far as some underling or other?  |
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Apr 18, 2007 21:19:32 GMT
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Don't take my dislike for this topic as apathy, I consider voting an essential duty. But as you know, this is a car forum. I have the power to lock this thread, but I'm going to merely express my dislike for it here and leave the final decision to the boss.
Worthy subject, wrong place.
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Apr 23, 2007 14:38:31 GMT
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And if you happen to live in Chertsey St. Ann's in Runnymede Borough Council you will have one candidate who is a classic car nut - me.
To put this a little back on topic, I promise to take photos of all the classics I came across while leafletting. I've found three old Vauxhalls, a couple of Gilberns (Invaders?) a Sunbeam Alpine, and Maestro Van, and a Reliant Scimitar that I was previously unaware of. And I still have a good part of the ward to leaflet.
If you do happen to live in Chertsey, you can email me at dbelobaba@yahoo.ca if you want to know more since I don't feel that it is appropriate to tell you who I am running for on this forum since this is a forum about cars, not politics.
I'd recommend anyone who wants to stand up for classic cars to get involved and consider running for council or at least taking an active part in finding out the views of various candidates for your local council and letting other RR members in your area know who they can support.
I will be speaking directly with all the owners of the classics in my ward to discuss various issues and policies that threaten our hobby to make sure they can cast an informed vote (for me hopefully).
Drew
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1995 Range Rover 4.0
1995 BMW 320i Saloon
1989 BMW 325i Touring
1991 Mercedes 300TE-24
1991 Mercedes 190e
1970 Sunbeam Imp Sport
1966 Valiant 200 Custom
1964 Ford Fairlane 500 Station Wagon
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Apr 23, 2007 14:42:31 GMT
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If they all suck you can just draw a bit knob over the voting slip- A spoiled vote still says you bothered to show up but decided not to vote for any of them.
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1987 Maestro 1.6 HL perkins diesel conversion 1986 Audi 100 Avant 1800cc on LPG 1979 Allegro Series 2 special 4 door 1500cc with vynil roof. IN BITS. HERITAGE ISSUES.  |
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Apr 23, 2007 16:03:25 GMT
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If they all suck you can just draw a bit knob over the voting slip- A spoiled vote still says you bothered to show up but decided not to vote for any of them.  |
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Rob M
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,915
Club RR Member Number: 41
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OT: May 3rd. Vote!Rob M
@zeb
Club Retro Rides Member 41
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Apr 23, 2007 17:40:47 GMT
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I think, in this case, its a very valid topic.
Everything the government does whether it be at a local or national level impacts us in every way.
We could use this thread to argue about the cost of taxing our cars, the 25 year old exemption, too many speed cameras and the impact of fuel duty and possible restrictions that could be implemented that could destroy our hobby. Those subjects alone would, surely, make this thread relevant to the forum.
As it is I will be voting, they may all be wibblepoo but if we don't vote the loser wont know that we all think he is the biggest wibblepoo of all,if you get what I mean.
rmad, you could easily have locked the thread, thanks for having the gumption to leave this one to run and eventually die of its own accord.
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