General Election 2019

(29-11-2019 13:59 )Charlemagne Wrote:  Last night Channel4 had a leaders debate, Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson failed to show. Channel4 decided to replace then with what looked like blocks of ice.

The Tories sent along Michael Gove (along with a TV crew) but was not allowed to appear on the show as he wasn't a leader.

The Tories have now complained to OFCOM (remember them).

But the worrying thing is that they have (by coincidence) mentioned that the Channel4 licence will be under review when the election is concluded.

Given how far C4 has fallen since it's heyday of 'intelligent' (as sponsered by Hiscox) programming, maybe a review is necessary! It should not, however, be the sole target of such scrutiny, as the BBC is in need - every bit as much (more in fact - given it receives a ring - fenced protected license fee income) of oversight and scrutiny of it's output, as our supposed public service broadcaster!

How much more good could be done for this country (UK wide) if we could call upon almost £4 billion a year as a guaranteed 'govt' income (before tax receipts - re calibrated to take account of this single payment per household!) to be spent on paying emergency/service personnel a proper wage as befits their rightful place in society, contingency funding to be immediately available as necessary (following natural disasters etc) or alleviating 'seasonal' 'unforeseen' circumstances etc. All this in an environment, where we are told that the corporation intends to follow a more populist route which simply must not be funded through a compulsory tax!

In a sense, I applaud the two men (although I question any broadcasters right to determine who is a worthy participant in such debates - and who is not - (a position they are allowed to adopt regarding parties here in NI) - for not showing up! I am tired of this constant 'Americanisation' of our society with the introduction of such debates - as with too many other areas of our lives! Much ground isn't covered in them at all, and the broadcasters are more interested in those topics which will garner the greatest level of argumentative 'yaboo sucks' slanging match responses, which apparently makes for 'good tv'!

I would hope that not that many people base their voting intentions on such output - having seen the 'Clegg effect' some years ago, however, I fear that that is exactly what happens!!

Sadly I think in two weeks' time we are going to have another Conservative Government. This despite the fact that there are problems with law and order, health care, social care, housing and education because of cuts due to Tory austerity measures. (I'm tired of being told that the Tories inherited a problem with finances from Labour as that was partly due to the financial crash of the 2000s -Tory supporting bankers?). Their pledge of extra cash just puts many of these services back to what they were before the cuts and where all these extra police, teachers, nurses and doctors they talk about are coming from is anyone's guess.

Most worrying though is that people are prepared to vote for a leader who is a proven liar, a racist, a mysogynist and won't put himself up for scrutiny; the leader's debate on climate change, the Andrew Neil interviews and pulling his own withdrawal bill so it couldn't be properly scrutinised by Parliament being a few examples.

just unbelievable really.

All I can say politics in this country is in a right mess. The sooner 'none of the above' becomes a voting option in an election, the clearer our message to ALL politicians across the spectrum will be : - we will not trust you with our votes until you are open and honest with us. Apparently Belgium went 15 months without a government and things improved massively.

I think our system doesn't work, things change, we are in 2019, everything needs to change.

We are supposed to be a democratic society that I think no longer exists in 2019

(29-11-2019 16:52 )babelover48 Wrote:  All I can say politics in this country is in a right mess. The sooner 'none of the above' becomes a voting option in an election, the clearer our message to ALL politicians across the spectrum will be : - we will not trust you with our votes until you are open and honest with us. Apparently Belgium went 15 months without a government and things improved massively.

I agree with that analysis - maybe not the ALL politicians sweeping statement! Problem is - and I am guilty here too so not a lecture - that many who are feeling disenfranchised by those in 'power' (or even opposition also) will kick off about it (fair enough - democratic right) but not seek to stand themselves to make things better from their particular perspective!

Now we have had a terrorist incident, do the Govt now plan to consult with local forces and authorities about deploying a "police patrol" in and around polling stations to protect and reassure voters on Dec 12th? I think many people would feel safer if there was such a measure in place, I know I would.

Wow Corbyn did a good interview on Sophie Ridge on Sunday

Now about to watch the car crash which is boris

Sophie probably will treat Boris better than Andrew Neil probably. She'll ask tough question but not in Neil's style.

Nah boris is on the BBC andrew marr