Braverman the Genius

I was aware that it was sinister in terms of cuts that conservative led council were least hit. But they were still hit. Not as bad.

My main point is that the Tories hate local government. Always have. And whenever they are in power do nothing but cut funding to local authorities.

 

He was. But what difference does it make. That council can only deliver with a budget they get from central government. Which is near impossible to run a council with the minimum legal statutory services with the budget cuts they have had to endure.

 

The difference is it was a Labour council before May, which was all I was querying.

I’m not disputing the fact the money comes from the government that’s well documented.

 

Wondering how many actually regret it is one thing.

How many would publicly admit to regretting it is another thing altogether.

But the worst thing of all here is those who don’t regret it - as they haven’t got the first idea what it is they’ve done.

There is unfortunately a strong correlation between the demographic of who are suffering the most from the consequences of Brexit, and the demographic of who/where voted for it in the first place. And a fair few of them probably have no idea that their suffering has been caused at least in strong part by their own hand.

A fair few of them probably won’t bother voting in the next general election. Or ever again. As they ‘don’t do politics’, or ‘they’re all the same anyway’. I can’t find the source now, think it was a national newspaper, that had a stat on how many people who voted for brexit stated that they were voting for the first and last time as they normally don’t bother. I think it said it was estimated at about 4% of the total electorate that turned out - which was enough to secure the result.

It was probably in the guardian thinking about it, can’t find it now though. But it does make you think - if voting was compulsory would we have the same results - in any election?

Moot point though as the right to abstain or spoil is a right in any proper democracy.

 

I'd support a change that made it necessary to take an action at an election. That action could be exercising your right to abstain (via an official method not simply failing to turn up), spoil your ballot or vote.

In the 21st century there's no reason that all of these things can't be done via post, the internet or in person.

 

Seriously ill person? Person who genuinely doesn't want to vote? Anarchists? People who are being controlled by others? Etc etc....

 

Seriously ill - vote electronically or have a provision in the system whereby it can be checked why they didn't vote

Don't want to vote - register the no vote electronically.

People controlled by others would be in the same scenario they are now. If Fred coerces his partner to vote Tory he's going to do it however we vote.

I'm not pretending I have all the answers. Or even most of them. But it feels wrong to me that how we are governed is decided by the increasingly small number of people who can be bothered to vote. We should be making sure as many vote as possible and making some kind of move to ensure that people either vote or register their no vote/spoiled ballot seems to me to be at least a step in the right direction. I think electoral reform is necessary too as our system currently doesn't deliver.

 

Wasn't having a go at you. Just think there are problems some of which I probably haven't even thought of. Plus there would then be the added problems of following up people who didn't vote/ fines etc. Just looks too problematic to me mate even if the intent is good

 

I’d give a none of the above option but make voting easy , electronic and user friendly and make it compulsory.

 

Seen far too many Government IT projects to know that the State absolutely cannot be trusted with a compulsory electronic voting system. They'll never be competent enough to be able to be trusted with that level of responsibility.