(June 11, 2009 at 9:13 am)LukeMC Wrote:(June 10, 2009 at 9:27 am)bozo Wrote: The conservatives are where Labour was in 1997. Labour became " new Labour " which really meant " new Conservative " in order to win over " middle england " i.e. the small minority of floating voters that have come to decide who wins in the First-past-the-post system we have.
Cameron has done all that he can to ditch traditional toryism ( he says the tory party was seen as " nasty " ) and will do anything, including being left of Labour ( which isn't dificult ) on those issues he thinks will win the election.
I'm repeating myself but it really boils down to the 3 main parties being capitalist parties and there being no other realistic options for voters whilst fptp remains. That is why millions no longer bother voting at a general election.
I have no reason to disagree with anything you've said here. Even my school librarian recently said "I don't know why anybody votes- those parties are all the same." It's certainly a prevailing opinion.
What is your alternative to FPTP? A runoff system I presume?
Bozo Wrote:Finally,Luke, if you think Cameron's tories are " promising " have a look at the Euro parliament and see the right-wing parties the tories are going to line up with at Brussels.
From the little research I've attempted since you made this post, the most I've managed to come up with is an article in an Indian newspaper claiming the conservative equivalents of each country have swarmed the election. However, I've found little that is conclusive. Even the EU website wasn't much help. Could you back your statement up a little? I'm not challenging the truth of your statement, I would just like to see the hard evidence for myself.
I would support a system of proportional representation...there is a variety. I would go for that because I believe it would encourage more people to actually get involved, even if that were just casting a vote!
Under pr, " minority" parties get to have a say. Opponents would say that fascist parties would benefit as well as parties of the left. My answer is that open debate and scrutiny of policies would expose the far-right for what it is. I would welcome the opportunity of joining again a genuine socialist party that could win seats under athe different system.
Re. the tories and europe, if you check out today's Guardian newspaper, page 29 " Comment & debate " Timothy Garton Ash describes how Cameron's tories in europe are leaving the centre-right grouping ( the EPP ) and instead aligning themselves with a motly crew of easter european right-wing nutters.
A man is born to a virgin mother, lives, dies, comes alive again and then disappears into the clouds to become his Dad. How likely is that?
