Would it be unfair to allow the utter incompetence of this coalition government to affect our voting decisions in May?
Probably. But I for one can't bring myself to vote for a party which elected a leader who 'forgets' he's supposed to be on duty in the middle of one of the worst international crises for decades and goes skiing with the kids while his Tory boss shoots off on a tour (you really couldn't make it up) to sell weapons to Middle Eastern depots.
I admit I voted Libdem last May, suckered by Clegg's 'a promise is a promise' lie. Won't make that mistake again. Clearly a vote for Labour is wasted around here, and they got us into this mess, and the Conservatives' main priorities are sucking up to the bankers while instructing the rest of us to run the public services they're demolishing. So what's left? Should we all occupy the market place and demand that someone is put in power who has some sort of idea which way is up?
I know I've been banging on about this before but I can see no reason why local politics should be allied to a political party. Every local councillor should be elected on his own merit and not that of a political party. We could easily reduce the number of councillors. They do more or less what the full time officers tell them anyway. I'm just a bit fed up with their continual bickering and totally losing the plot in order to win one over the opposition and if it goes pear shaped, blame it on the previous lot.
Prime current example is the permanent closure of the Parkway bridge to please a developer in the short term and going back in time only building a single width bridge and not sorting out the access from the wharf at the same time, but of course that was down to the previous lot and it's too late now.
I know I've been banging on about this before but I can see no reason why local politics should be allied to a political party. Every local councillor should be elected on his own merit and not that of a political party. We could easily reduce the number of councillors. They do more or less what the full time officers tell them anyway. I'm just a bit fed up with their continual bickering and totally losing the plot in order to win one over the opposition and if it goes pear shaped, blame it on the previous lot.
Hence my slogan at the General Election "Vote for the person, not the party".
At the last District Council elections, one party in particular was guilty of putting up candidates who were only there to make up numbers. Unfortunately they got elected. They only go the minimal number of meetings to justify their annual payment, and they certainly don't seem to participate in the decision making.
It would be interesting to see who actually got elected if the political affiliation was removed from the ballot form in local council elections.
Kind of misses the point in my view, blaming the political parties for putting up candidates. If you're looking for someone to blame, look to the people who elect them if you don't like the result.
Agreed, but we often can only vote for what is in front of us at the ballot box.
Yes I could, but that doesn't affect the point I make.
Of course it does. You say we often can only vote for what is in front of us at the ballot box, but you forget we can put our name on the ballot paper.
Fair play to anyone who stands for any election, national or local including BrianB and David Yates but if one were to then moan that the electorate didn't vote for them because their opponents represented a political party would smack of sour grapes.
Of course it does. You say we often can only vote for what is in front of us at the ballot box, but you forget we can put our name on the ballot paper.
I didn't 'forget'; I might not have the wherewithal or desire for political office for starters. Not being a good cook shouldn't prevent me from asking for something to eat that I like. I've paid for it. Besides, it wouldn't do to have a ballot paper that has hundreds of names on it.
Fair play to anyone who stands for any election, national or local including BrianB and David Yates but if one were to then moan that the electorate didn't vote for them because their opponents represented a political party would smack of sour grapes.
I didn't 'forget'; I might not have the wherewithal or desire for political office for starters. Not being a good cook shouldn't prevent me from asking for something to eat that I like. I've paid for it. Besides, it wouldn't do to have a ballot paper that has hundreds of names on it.
Don't complain there are neither enough people like you nor enough who you like, if you're not willing to stand yourself.
Some folk argue that those who have no desire for political office are the best people to lead us.
Don't complain there are neither enough people like you nor enough who you like, if you're not willing to stand yourself.
What an absurd statement. Because I am not willing to stand for election (like I'm skint, thin skinned, and not that learned), I have no right to complain?
What an absurd statement. Because I am not willing to stand for election (like I'm skint, thin skinned, and not that learned), I have no right to complain?
You've no right to complain that "we often can only vote for what is in front of us" when you have the ability to change that but seem to be listing excuses why you won't rather than making a difference, no.
You've no right to complain that "we often can only vote for what is in front of us" when you have the ability to change that but seem to be listing excuses why you won't rather than making a difference, no.
What a load of bollocks. I can't afford the time, nor the deposit. This is enough reason in its own, and doesn't change the likely paucity of choice at election time.
I don't want to be a councillor, and I do have the right to complain about the practical choice on offer.
What a load of bollocks. I can't afford the time, nor the deposit. This is enough reason in its own, and doesn't change the likely paucity of choice at election time.
I don't want to be a councillor, and I do have the right to complain about the practical choice on offer.
How much is the deposit to stand in the local elections?
That's what I though, the deposit costs nothing for the local elections.
So why does Greenham Common say one of the reasons he won't stand is that he can't afford the deposit? It sounds like a cop-out to me.
Perhaps it was because I didn't know; ever wondered that might be one of the reasons? And don't forget I have other reasons but put bluntly, I simply don't want to be a pissin' councillor, and I still don't think there is a good choice of candidate at the ballot box either.
Basically he's happy to have a moan for four years but can't "afford the time" to stand for election.
And that isn't a good reason? Having to canvas to twats like you would be another, of many reasons I wouldn't want to stand.
Do you think I lie when I say I don't want to be a councillor, that I don't have strong enough sense of conviction, a big enough ego. You think I'm lying?
Perhaps it was because I didn't know. Ever wondered that might be one of the reasons? I simply don't want to be a pissin' councillor, but I still don't think there is a good choice of candidate at the ballot box.
If you didn't know, why did you say you couldn't afford it?
Ensuring "a good choice of candidate at the ballot box" is down to local people, like you.
Shame you "can't afford the time" when you've got plenty to moan about how rubbish things are, on the internet,
FFS - I didn't know that there was no deposit required - you pillock.
Not if vain, indecisive people like me get in it is not.
Hence I have no time to be a councillor.
So basically, you can't afford the zero pence it costs to stand and spend far too much time arguing about how no one decent stands for election, to stand for election.
There's the main problem with local politics, right there. Too many moaners and not enough doers.
So basically, you can't afford the zero pence it costs to stand and spend far too much time arguing about how no one decent stands for election, to stand for election.
There's the main problem with local politics, right there. Too many moaners and not enough doers.
That is absolutely true, but it still doesn't change the fact there is not a good choice at the ballot box and this is partly down to the party system we have.
There's the main problem with local politics, right there. Too many moaners and not enough doers.
I'm not sure that too many moaners and not enough doers is the main problem.
Given that all the district councillor seats have occupants and are contested, there are clearly more than enough 'doers' who are willing to do the job. So you're obviously implying that the quality of those who are successful isn't high enough, which is a good point.
I suppose that more successful/competent people can't afford the time to do the job or wouldn't find it particularly challenging or satisfying. Perhaps if we reduced the number of councillors, say by half, we could improve quality? What do you think? It would certainly save quite a lot of money.
Kind of misses the point in my view, blaming the political parties for putting up candidates.
If you're looking for someone to blame, look to the people who elect them if you don't like the result.
The point is that, in order to be seen to be fighting every seat, parties put up candidates who don't expect to and certainly don't want to win. If the electors knew that would they vote for them? It seems a bit harsh to blame the electorate who vote for the party believing that the party's candidate was keen to represent them.
The point is that, in order to be seen to be fighting every seat, parties put up candidates who don't expect to and certainly don't want to win. If the electors knew that would they vote for them? It seems a bit harsh to blame the electorate who vote for the party believing that the party's candidate was keen to represent them.
You've no right to complain that "we often can only vote for what is in front of us" when you have the ability to change that but seem to be listing excuses why you won't rather than making a difference, no.
But we want to get rid of the idiots in Market Street et al. Will Mr Carter fall on his sword if that's what the public want?
You misunderstand, I'm not standing - I was simply answering your question "Anyone else decided to stand from here?" - at least two Newbury.netters besides yourself are on the list.
Logged
Male
