The Budget,The Coalition. If you were to vote Tomorrow.

[Falkor]

Cons the country is f***ed as it is im not sure anyone can really make anyone happy at the moment.

 

[Kumquat]

Traditionally a lib dem voter, but I won't be voting for this shower after they sold their soul for a whiff of power. They haven't even got PR out of it. They should have let the Tories form a minority government and blocked or amended anything unpalatable.

But as beorthlem says, one look at the labour front bench says all you need to know. They are an absolute joke. I think I'll be protest voting - not sure how yet. I want an emphasis on social justice and simplifying bureaocracy.

Interesting to see what people would have said had the lib dems done that. And what would have actually happened. Basically using the Budget as an example they could technically have tried to block the cut in the 50p tax rate but would not have got the lower threshold increased to 10,000. I'm honestly stunned so many people are surprised they haven't got many of their policies through. They are the minority party in a coalition. As for PR, they got what they asked for, a vote on it, and people told them to do one. I voted Lib Dem last tiime and next time I will probably vote for them as well. The Tories don't have a clue what life is like for the majority of people in this country and as you say, the Labour team are an utter shambles. In my view people should look no further than them for screwing up this country in the last 15 years. Not just with their actions, but by moving so far and so shamelessly to the right. That diagram says it all. A large section of this country is completely disenfranchised now, with no one to vote for.

 

[Simster]

Interesting to see what people would have said had the lib dems done that. And what would have actually happened. Basically using the Budget as an example they could technically have tried to block the cut in the 50p tax rate but would not have got the lower threshold increased to 10,000. I'm honestly stunned so many people are surprised they haven't got many of their policies through.

The Tories would have proposed certain measures, and a certain amount of bartering would have gone on to make them palatable to other parties. But ultimately, the Tories would have had to be able to deliver a budget or another election would have to be called after a year of inactivity.

They are the minority party in a coalition. As for PR, they got what they asked for, a vote on it, and people told them to do one.

This bit isn't true at all. They had some shit preferential vote option offered to them, and they took it. A crap idea in most people's eyes, and a complete fudge.

A large section of this country is completely disenfranchised now, with no one to vote for.

This bit is absolutely spot on. Personally, I can't remember being so disillusioned with both major left of centre parties. Mind you, I blame the union vote for shagging up Labour's chances. Balls and Harmen are useless, incapable career politicians looking after their own careers, and Ed Milliband ought to be a junior minister at best - voted to lead the party by a block union vote out of spite.

 

[Dandyman]

Ed Balls cant even add up. reckons the change from 50p - 45p upper tax will cost £3Bn, when the treasury says the 50p rate pulled in £1bn and even Labours own original estimate was for £2.5Bn. so where does £3Bn come from? whatever you may think of the change thats poor maths for a shadow chancellor.

Official Monster Raving Looney if they field a candidate. they usually leave it to the unofficial looney parties.

This chap from the LSE shows that the 50p tax rate provided billions in revenue and was harder for the anti-British tax dodgers to evade than people might think: Plans to drop the 50p tax rate are unjustified and unnecessary. The government should focus on job creation to help stimulate demand | British Politics and Policy at LSE

 

[Kumquat]

The Tories would have proposed certain measures, and a certain amount of bartering would have gone on to make them palatable to other parties. But ultimately, the Tories would have had to be able to deliver a budget or another election would have to be called after a year of inactivity.

This bit isn't true at all. They had some shit preferential vote option offered to them, and they took it. A crap idea in most people's eyes, and a complete fudge.

This bit is absolutely spot on. Personally, I can't remember being so disillusioned with both major left of centre parties. Mind you, I blame the union vote for shagging up Labour's chances. Balls and Harmen are useless, incapable career politicians looking after their own careers, and Ed Milliband ought to be a junior minister at best - voted to lead the party by a block union vote out of spite.

Fair points on the PR and budget stuff. On the union vote, it's true that they got the leader they wanted and agree that Miliband is a junior minister at best, but the alternative was David Miliband and while he is clearly brighter and much better than his brother, his politics would probably have left us just as disenfranchised. I was thinking of voting Green, but haven't followed too closely how they've done in Brighton. What do you think of their performance locally? Most views I have heard seem to think they've been pretty shambolic.

 

[Simster]

Fair points on the PR and budget stuff. On the union vote, it's true that they got the leader they wanted and agree that Miliband is a junior minister at best, but the alternative was David Miliband and while he is clearly brighter and much better than his brother, his politics would probably have left us just as disenfranchised. I was thinking of voting Green, but haven't followed too closely how they've done in Brighton. What do you think of their performance locally? Most views I have heard seem to think they've been pretty shambolic.

Your politics are clearly similar to mine as I largely agree with everything you say. I'm not convinced D Milliband would have been anything like as disillusional though, as I think he would have been far more polished in leading the opposition.

The Greens interest me, and the impression I get is that they've done a decent job in Brighton, with the possible exception of their unrealistic transport policy. I'm not in Brighton though, so it's all hearsay.

 

[Bozza]

A great job is being done in trying circumstances by the coalition. More of the same please.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Sadly,I voted LibDem last time as their slogan in this constituency was "Vote LibDem:keep the Tories out." So I did,and they didn't.

So I got my tactics wrong last time:I backed the wrong horse.

Me too. What a bunch of self-serving tossers they were - and indeed are. I sincerely hope that the despicable Clegg & his lying cronies are voted out of existence at the next General Election.

And therein lies the foolishness of tactical voting !!!!

 

[Common as Mook]

A great job is being done in trying circumstances by the coalition. More of the same please.

Yep. This.

 

[BLOCK F]

Your politics are clearly similar to mine as I largely agree with everything you say. I'm not convinced D Milliband would have been anything like as disillusional though, as I think he would have been far more polished in leading the opposition.

The Greens interest me, and the impression I get is that they've done a decent job in Brighton, with the possible exception of their unrealistic transport policy. I'm not in Brighton though, so it's all hearsay.

Simster,the only Greens that should interest you in Reigate are those that you can buy from Morrissons or grow in your garden!
Dare say it will all end in tears in bonkers Brighton!
P.S.Like you,I am totally disilliusioned with the lot of them.Inept is the least offensive word I can think of at the moment!
Shame 'Screaming Lord Sutch' is no longer with us!

 

[BHAFC_Pandapops]

i thought this would be a thread of tory bashing. Had a glimpse of the sun the other day at my daily paper musing down Sainos. Shows a picture of Cameron carrying a coffin with NHS written on it. The first argument from non tories always seems to be some half baked nonsense about what non-tories perceive is going on. It seems to me that they'll oppose everything tory. Wouldn't you if you were desperate to beat your enemy?

 

[Common as Mook]

A great job is being done in trying circumstances by the coalition. More of the same please.

Under the banner of trying circumstances, add John Prescott, stirring up cheap political point scoring and "posh-bashing" on Twitter. The sheep like idiots on there lap it up.

 

[Hotchilidog]

Still voting Green in brighton pavilion. Glad I'm not tainted by voting for any of the three main parties. This budget has been unabashedly shameless even for this current bunch of heartless bastards who do not have a clue about how to revive a stalling economy.

 

[BHAFC_Pandapops]

interestingly, i've seen what's really inside the red box

 

[BHAFC_Pandapops]

Still voting Green in brighton pavilion. Glad I'm not tainted by voting for any of the three main parties. This budget has been unabashedly shameless even for this current bunch of heartless bastards who do not have a clue about how to revive a stalling economy.

all politicians are heartless. IF the greens ran the country, they'd be the same, and there would be a revolution against them in no time.

 

[TotallyFreaked]

Unfortuntely Politicians are mainly a bunch of careerist scumbags who are more interested in soundbites and power rather that the real lifes of their constitutes. Tories are ideologically opposed to the state and our moving ourselves towards an American model where private business (their rich mates) will basically run this country with a short term view of profit and lack of long term infrastucture. Labour will just flap around not really having any idea of an alternative. However I feel most dissapointed with the Lib Dems or have basically backtracked on what I thought was their best and strongest policies: Free education, protecting the NHS and supporting families on low and middle incomes. A country where the divide betwen the rich and poor continues to rise but is played out as 'we are all in this together' is a pile of crap

 

[Common as Mook]

Prior to the last election I was very unsure as to who to vote for. My natural leanings were to the left and I'd like to think I'm fairly liberal in my outlook on life. But, I was attracted by a lot of the Tory policies and went along with the age old "my parents vote for them" technique. Not the best way to vote but I'm glad I did.

I'm even more glad I did given the disingenous nature of Labour since the election has been won. There has barely been a policy that hasn't had some kind of whinging or bothcing from Labour without the full effects of it being noticed. Cheap political point scoring and toff-bashing is their only come back.

Make no bones about it. The country was (and still is but less so) in a mess. The austerity measures and belt tightening by this Coalition gvernment have ensured we haven't gone the way of Greece, Italy and Portugal.

As Bozza said, more of the same please.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

all politicians are heartless. IF the greens ran the country, they'd be the same, and there would be a revolution against them in no time.

The thought of more Jason Kitcats in power scares the living daylights out of me !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BHAFC_Pandapops]

The thought of more Jason Kitcats in power scares the living daylights out of me !!!!!!!!!!!!!

ah i hate the man.

 

[Bozza]

I'm even more glad I did given the disingenous nature of Labour since the election has been won. There has barely been a policy that hasn't had some kind of whinging or bothcing from Labour without the full effects of it being noticed. Cheap political point scoring and toff-bashing is their only come back.

Agreed, and sums up my main issue: the lack of debate.

Has it always been this bad, has it got worse during the current administration or have I just become even more intolerant of late?

I can barely hear either of the Eds on the radio now without shouting expletives in their general direction. They offer literally nothing constructive at all.