British pilots, don't lose your vote!

[ShotOne]

A lot of pilots don't get to vote for usual airline type reasons. If you want to register for a postal vote you must do it NOW by contacting your electoral registration officer (address can be found in phone book under your council's "electoral services" section).

With an election likely in spring, if you wait a few months, you will NOT get a vote.

[swashplate]

Why bother?

It makes bugger all difference who you vote for, anyway!!!!!

[Tartan Gannet]

I agree with Swashplate. If voting changed anything they would either declare it illegal or charge a licence fee for it.

What have we got, at least in England. New Labour? Really a filtered version of the Tories. Tories, with economic and industrial policies that make the Organisation Todt in Nazi Germany look like the Workers Educational association. Lib Dems? Sincere, very good local councillors, but they dont play to win in the National arena, always wanting to hold the balance of power and when they do, as in Scotland they roll over and do what New Labour want, eg Tuition Fees for Students, a lot of Lib Dem bluster against in the Scots Assembly Elections but Wallace caved in and agreed with the late Donald Dewar when offered a minor part in the coalition. Despite the name, no "Braveheart".

The only reason I bother to register nowadays is that if you are NOT on the electoral register it is difficult to get credit or prove identity.

[Captain Capstan]

If you can't be bothered to register or vote it seems to me that you have no right to comment about whatever government is elected. Just look at the latest US presidential shambles the eventual result was decided on a tiny handful of votes. So your vote may just count. It is your right USE IT.

[G-OOFY]

Agree with Capt Capstan here I expect to see no derogotary coments on any incoming Gov't by either Swashplate or Tartan Gannet.

[Devils Advocate]

I too have to agree with swashplate & Tartan Gannet, as in, why bother ?

Certainly w.r.t. the the 'Electoral role', ever since Maggies (in)famous 'Pole Tax', I've done my absolute best to keep my name off it.
Indeed just as soon as our company gets its offshore base, I'm gonna hand back my UK driving license too. Basically the more Expat and 'invisible' I can become, w.r.t the UK authorities, the better !

When the weathers too hot the roads melt and/or we've got water shortages.
When it snows the country comes to a skidding halt.
The wrong type of leaf on the line cripple the railways (which are bloody dangerous enough as it is).

Government and its self-serving Ministers spend loads of our hard earnt taxes on absolute crap (e.g. the Dome – now just how many nurses would that have paid for ?!)

And perhaps worse of all is that some poor deluded folks still believe that the UK is a world power – it’s all so sad !

ShotOne, well done for reminding those folks that who will want to play their part in our democracy, but I’m afraid that I’ll be voting for the Apathy party.

[Old King Coal]

I think the problem is that the major Political parties lack policies which touch the average tax payers life, e.g. and speaking from a purely personal view-point, how about……..

Reduce income tax to 10%.

Reduce petrol duty to 10%.

Remove speed limits on all dual carriage-ways and motorways, but impose 20mph around built-up areas.

Remove all duty on booze.

Increase duty on cigarettes to £10 / packet.

Legalise porno.

Increase the payments to pensioners.

Force all the lazy bastards to find job by completely removing their social security benefits, starting from right now.

Ban all those liberal ‘ology courses at colleges and universities.

Bring back the Birch and 'the rope'.

Now find me a party with a manifesto like that and I’ll be out canvassing for them !

[swashplate]

G-OOFY:

As this is still a free country, I will excercise my right to protest by NOT voting, and will say whatever I want about any Govt at any time! Those buggers will not have any legitamicy from me!!!

Hope this clears things up.

[G-OOFY]

Yep that clears up everything.

Shotone

Thank you, your posts here are as informative and helpful as always.

[This message has been edited by G-OOFY (edited 26 December 2000).]

[SKYYACHT]

I'm with you O.K.C.....can we also ride our motorbikes without helmets? If so I will second you, and start canvassing for you now!

Tailwinds!

Merry Christmas
:)

[Herod]

Aren't there some sad people about. It's less than a hundred years since people in Britain were prepared to die to achieve the right of their countrymen and -women to vote. Now you have the vote, you can't be bothered. Fine,let's all just give in now,accept a dictatorship and membership of the Euro. Or grow up,accept some civic responsibility,and vote.

[swashplate]

Herod:

The point about a democracy is that:

1. There is supposed to be a difference between parties so that you have a real choice.

2. Politicians are supposed to be men of integrity and honour, whose sole aim is to 'serve thier fellow man'.

Do these points apply? I don't think so. There is hardly any difference between parties nowadays in terms of substance - not one of them would seriousley pull out of Europe!
We have seen with the recent Neil Hamilton case what type of people we have in parliament. Greedy, self-serving currupt liars the lot of 'em!
'Proffesional politicans' who don't actually belive in anything, but tell you what you want to hear. Read Stephen Fry's book 'The Liar' and you'll see what I mean.

I have the greatest respect for the WW1/WW2 generations. Would they have bothered if they could see what Britain is like today?

'Britain is an elective dictatorship' Lord Whitelaw