49. Immediate Election Reaction part 1. Voter Turnout.

I might do a more in depth reaction to the election later, but I'm currently far too annoyed.

So for now, enjoy this rant I had earlier today about voter turnout.

The Tories have won.
I can't say I'm happy about the outcome.
Anyone who knows me will know I think this will be devastating for some sections of society (those that are the most vulnerable and in need of support for example).

But that isn't what this post is about.

What disappoints me more is the ignorance fulled stubbornness people showed in not voting in the build up to this election, and as a result, there was a shit turnout, again, when you consider that this is for something that is literally life changing for tens of millions of people.

Remember when people said that their vote 'wont change anything?'

True enough, the Tories won, and that might seem like a run of the mill ordinary outcome.
But their simple, pluralistic majority of seats over the other parties combined is extremely slim, and their majority in terms of total share of the public vote is even more narrow.

With 36.9% share of the vote their majority over Labour is roughly only 6.4% of votes cast.

That is very slim.
Now here is the kicker; 34% of the electorate didn't vote.

That amount of people could have theoretically put any of the top 6 parties (Cons, Labour, Lib Dem, Green, UKIP, SNP) in terms of votes cast with the highest vote share, and depending on the constituencies they voted in, could have made a massive impact in seats won.

Gower for example, was previously a Labour seat, but was taken this time round by the Conservatives BY 27 FUCKING VOTES.

Your vote matters. And with each passing election, it matters more and more.

To those who chose not to vote because 'they don't see the point'; next time round, don't be so fucking ignorant.
Apathy be damned!
Educate yourself, and get out and vote. (and by that, I actually mean go and learn about these things, instead of blindly following the Sun or the Daily Mail or some fucking celebrity).

Pick a party (not a person) that best suits you, you're local community, society at large, or is the least worst, or is in direct opposition with a party you don't like.
If all else fails, spoil your ballot paper. Say; 'I bothered to vote, and you all do not interest me/ are all dicks.'
It is your moral and civic duty. It is important to you, your life and the lives of everyone around you, even if you're too blind to see it.

To everyone who voted, you've (arguably) done your part in giving a shit about the society you live in, and the people around you, regardless of the outcome. Congratulations on not being a grade A cunt.


-DH-


+++ additional +++

I recognise that in any decent society people have the right to make decisions. They have the right to chose.
This is a right that is fundamental for any form of society to function fairly, and constructively and I will defend with every breath I have
That being said, people have the right to chose to do all manner of shitty things, but I don't have to like it, and can think you're a terrible person based on those choices.
So yes, I respect that people have the right to chose, but if they didn't vote, I don't respect them.

48. Election - Warning. Political views.

Yes. Finally. We get back to politics.

The UK general election  is Thursday the 7th of May 2015.
It is time to decide who you want to run the country for the next five years.

I know a lot of people already vote.
I know a lot of people who do vote do so blindly following party lines.
I know a lot of people who do vote do so based purely on rhetoric.
I know a lot of people who do vote do so based purely on a single flagship policy.

I also know a lot of people who don't vote.
I know a lot of people don't vote because they don't think anything will change.
I know a lot of people don't vote because they feel powerless and without voice.
I know a lot of people don't vote because they don't see the point.

Needless to say, a lot of people are stupid, and to both, I implore you to watch this video

This is no normal election: don't let your voice be taken away
Thinking of not voting?Watch this.
Posted by The Guardian on Tuesday, 5 May 2015

To those that vote;
Use your head. Think for yourself.
Actually read the manifesto's and critically analyse them.
Can 'insert party' deliver these policies? Where will they get x, y and z for a, b and c?
Does their rhetoric match their actions?
Have they followed through with promises in the past? What have they done in power before?
Are the events that happened under their rule actually a result of their involvement, or rather a knock on effect from an older Government?

I'm looking at you Tory bastards.
Deregulating banks and selling off all industry and housing, and then blaming anyone else when the inevitable crash happens and it takes almost a decade to drag ourselves out of it.
And UKIP too.
The common people, the disabled, the migrants, the unemployed... Society at large is your scapegoat and it makes me sick.
The people are not to blame for mistakes made by the people in power, so stop blaming them for the mistakes people like you have been making since time began.
People like you; the people at the top, the people who make all the decision, the people who make the cogs that can cause an international depression happen, turn.


To those that don't;
Wake up.
You're note clever by not participating. Ignorance is not a badge of honour or a defense.

By not participating your starving yourself of one of the few platforms you have.
If you want things to change you have to do something about it.

You.
Every single one of you.

You might not like the parties in your constituency; vote tactically to deny you least favored option, or spoil your ballot paper.
Make it know you wanted to vote but everyone sucks.
Record your displeasure for the parties to actually be able to measure.

Staying at home means your not accounted for.
And for those who think their vote doesn't matter, the sheer amount of people who didn't vote 5 years ago was enough to swing a majority for ANY party.

Think about that.



When you're deciding who to don't forget to think about the people you live with and society at large.
Be constructive and try and change society for the betterment of the people that make it work.

Here is a hint; don't vote for the people who want to control power and hide it greedily from the masses.
Vote for someone that wants to lift society up. All of it.
Don't vote for someone who seeks to fragment society; blaming the meek, the poor, the needy and the afraid.
Vote for someone who seeks to unite us all as a progressive society looking to build a better world for everyone.
Don't vote for someone who, in a time surrounded by global uncertainty and threat, would seek to destroy the most valuable international bonds we have.
Vote for someone who wants to build a global community that works for each other.

Simply put, don't vote right wing.

Left wing/ Center left may be idealist, but without lofty goals, you never achieve anything.
Without investment, you don't grow.
Without trust, you don't form bonds of community.
Without security of mind, body and spirit, you don't have peace.

I'll be candid. I intend to vote Labour, both locally and generally.
I have always voted Labour; not out of some quaint sense of loyalty, but because I believe that Labour have a balance of experience, realism and idealism to take this country forward in our current situation.
If there were a more suitable option, I'd swap any day of the week.
But right now, and for the foreseeable future I'm waving a red flag.

Don't do something stupid. Do something right.
Vote.

-DH-