British People Go And Vote
 

That is all. Just wanted to remind you.

i'm stuck.
i understand how AV works, but cannot see a massive benefit from it. The way i see it we could still be stuck with a government that the majority of people didn't vote for? Maybe i don't understand how AV works?

if it helps avoid the current stalemate then i'm for it, although someone said that it would help minority parties like BNP or UKip get seats. And thats just fucked

so i dunno. I'll probably vote to change because Eddie Izzard told me to...

No offence but no you clearly don't understand it. EDIT: Sorry that was unfair. AV is by no means an ideal system but it's far better than FPTP.

No, the BNP will stand less chance of getting seats which is why they're so against it.

Well he says yes so I approve.

I can't be arsed to vote.

cool, thats won me over. Cheers.
"Yes" it is


(it's interesting that i believe someone on syg more than i believe a random politician on the radio!)

As Pookie says: AV is by no means what I'd want in my ideal world, but it's a better option than the stolid, apathy-inducing current system. BNP wouldn't stand a better chance. My main thing at the moment is that if we don't get out and vote today, reform won't be mooted again for a generation at least - and look how slack Labour were on their referendum promises.

I had a statement prepared in support of the "vote Genteel Death for Queen" campaign, but then I grew bored.

there was once a time when I had the time and energy to troll this thread to completion, but I just can't do it. time is short, energy is more expensive than ever, and in truth, glice is just looking out for the whole human race.

carry on, you limey bastards.

You don't vote for a queen, silly. You just get them, whether you want them or not. As I told my paraphilia councillor just the other day.

you sir, have been trolled!!!!

oh god. where is the tv on the radio thread? I love the new album so much and I just have to tell nicfat. the ibone is being a cunt and won't search well today, so if you're out there nicolino P. thanks pal
for keeping me interested.

it's all your's, union Jim.

lol.

I voted 'yes' but expect the vote to favour the 'no's, thanks in no small part to Nick Clegg being the figure most associated with the 'yes' campaign. Ultimately though, I don't think many people will even bother to vote at all.

This.

Don't vote for the politicians!






That is all

I voted, i showed up and they never asked for ID or proof of address or anything. I just said "im me from 86 loquatia avenue" and i could vote. If i had the means to be fraudulent id have been away...

how did we all vote? I know its a secret ballott but yknow, its an A or B thing, neither of which is going to get you in trouble.

I went Yes, simply because i dont believe all the scaremongering about the electoral system benefiting the BNP and Respect and all that and i think AV would make polititians feel less secure in their positions.

The only problem i have is that the major parties will tailor their national strategies in line with the new system. And The campaign has been an orgy of insults to the intelligence of the voter, though mainly from the NO side.

Looks like im gonna lose anyway though

http://www.labourlist.org/only-three...e-av--nonsense

I posted this on facebook today but I'll post it here as well. A pretty neat summary of how the scaremongering is a bit wrong.

Personally, I voted yes. I don't really feel that AV is the best option, and I think the vote itself is a bit of a joke. What I'd like to vote for is 'do you want to rid of FPTP?' But... yeah, basically, I think we're in need of reform, and while the major parties will cling onto their shuttlecocking power cack if the vote goes through, I think it's important to motion for change wherever possible. I think there's a strong argument to say that a high enough voter turnout would suggest that people are interested in reform but not AV - but ultimately, that the Tory financiers have put so much into the yes, I was forced more towards yes just as a 'no' to Tories.

It's a silly and undemocratic farce but it is a referendum, and anything which threatens to get more people voting at a time when there are despotic nations with a higher voter turn out than the UK can only be good. That we've got it good doesn't mean we can't have it better.

the personal motivation i had is that ive been posting on facebook about bloggers in Egypt, Iran, Bahrain, and their heroic struggle for the rights we have. I feel compelled to never miss an election again because of that.

However, i dont think this vote is taking place at the right time, or for the right reasons. There wasnt actually a box saying you could abstain... Given that if you didnt show up your opinion wouldnt be noted, it gives a false impression. But fuck, this aint the most pressing issue going.

Question Time tonight should be hugely disappointing - loads of discussion on this vote and not enough on our relations with Pakistan

i voted "yes" because of what has been said earlier, but also because the tories seem to want me to vote "no"

subhumans really are crap. If youre gonna reject the political system of the country at least go the whole way and voteCRASS

Yeah, absolutely. The danger with comparing us to Egypt (for instance) is that I'm not convinced we have it substantially 'better'. Ok, we have a great many more freedoms, but we're not perfect, and we should certainly be very cautious of assuming that we're 'advanced' or the perfect instance of democracy. But Egypt [et al] do make us realise that it's utterly critical to vote, even when disillusioned with the voting process. Libya's fucked, but it was a relatively peaceful resistance, largely democratic, which inspired change. Unfortunately, it forced the hand of a cunt, but you have to hope it's all for the good.

[Sorry, bit tl;dr] Fundamentally, I think most reasonable people realise it's important to vote, regardless of that voting system being flawed.

On the Arab front, I've been particularly enjoying Naseer Shamma's updates (he's an Oud player, and very fine he is too).

we aint perfect of course. But if you speak to a person from Iraq or Afghanistan, we are lucky to have been born here. At least here we have a chance of some kind.

The Libya resistance happened under the shroud of Blair and Bush accepting Gadaffi back into the international fold, so they were rebelling against someone who the democratic nations of the west had made a deal with about 5 years earlier. They could have been forgiven for thinking that we would support the dictator because we welcomed him back to the diplomatic community... and it seems like, shamefully, they were right.

dude, now I just know you're fucking with me ;)

have you ever actually compared the density of intellectualism behind subhumans verses the relatively remedial and almost childish complaining that Crass has? Now don't get me wrong, I love Crass more so than about any other of the anarcho bands aside from subhumans, but what you're saying can't hardly be based on facts.

Subhumans are probably the most intellectual and least juvenille of ANY of the decades of anarcho-crust bands that have come out, which is precisely why their fans last longer than high school. I rarely have time for a lot of chaos punk section of my iPod since I had to grow up, but subhumans always finds a place in heavy rotation, especially in this rather chaotic time in the world.

and also, they are sincerely some of the most stand-up guys you will ever meet in the punk scene :)

politically and intellectually i dont buy into either of them, though i appreciate the artistic value, i just think that Crass succeed at doing what they did more than Subhumans

maybe its different in the UK, but SUBHUMANS patches and fanbases here in the US is almost what defines punks with integrity from punks who are in it for the fashion of youth (and punk it very very fashionable again)

In that regard, I would have to say that subhumans were WAAAY more successful because they still manage to rally sincere punks to the cause of awareness and unity. Plus, SubhumanS is still a very active scene, so it is more dynamic and growing (again, at least here in the US)

I dont think theres any such thing as a "sincere punk" beyond someone who styles their hair and jeans in the socially accepable way. I dress plain and inexpensive.

Crass. Always Crass.

and that explains entirely why you don't exactly know what you are talking about ;)

Suchy, youre such a nice guy, i dont want to trash you :) we are going our thing x

please, I didn't mean to insult you, maybe I wrote that i bit more facetiously than I should have. In a more polite way then,

"perhaps then, your opinions regarding the ethos and reality of the punk culture are a bit shallow and disingenuous, and while I otherwise think you are a stand up guy and very much enjoy your ideas and contributions to the forum, in this particular instance you are clearly misinformed in your analysis, as there is a bit much more to punk culture and community than just style of clothing and outward appearance, and to judge the sincerity of punks within this community solely by appearance reflects either your innocent ignorance or naivete."

:)

I know, its all love

In response, i shall quote the unimpeachable source

Punk Rock

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to the ikara cult again.

zub hum manz don't really have any good videos. at least Xrass makes The Sex Pisotols and The Clash look like dirty stinkin' hippies.

then again, it doesn't really matter because US punk is the only punk that matters.

:)