Exam / Election Update
Had an exam today which went fairly well considering my knowledge isn’t particuarly great – should go into Uni more ! Couldn’t have really asked for better questions so hopefully I did okay. Revision and doing the exam isn’t too annoying its more the constant thought that I’ve got to do them in the back of my head. 1 down !
The election has been pretty interesting. I felt really bad for the Lib Dem candidate in my constituency who really worked 10* harder than any other. Anywhere in Scotland is going to be tough to crack for anyone on Labour’s right I guess. It turned out the Lib Dem candidate lost by under 1k votes and you’ve got to think if he can’t upset Labour now there won’t be many other opportunities. The Labour MP was caught up in the expenses scandal and generally just seemed to be coasting on the fact he was a Labour MP. It was enough anyways.
I actually didn’t vote. Firstly, because I couldn’t make up my mind. I disagree with traditional Labour values, don’t think Gordon Brown is a good face for the UK however, I do believe is probably a fairly moral guy and despite what economist’s claim he is best qualified for the financial situation. Conservative or independent’s are completley wasted up here, SNP just seem to be further left than Labour and play on Scottish people’s patriotism and Lib Dems want to introduce a mansion tax which is unfair, wind down trident and a vote for them just encourages a hung parliament which means even less will get done than usual !
Aside from the decision itself being impossible I don’t really believe in politics. Government itself is incredibly inefficient. Civil servants retain their jobs regardless of the government and are the fuel that the political car needs to move. They’re notoriously bureaucratic and obviously have their own vested interests.
Secondly and most importantly in my opinion, is the amount of money in politics. Who do the government care more about appeasing: The voter or the company who pumped millions into their campaign who were actually responsible for the success ?
This is probably why manifesto’s are ridiculously vague. The intention isn’t to give the people what they want (or not in full anyway). Its to consolidate wealth and maintain power. There is no other way to explain the lack of change throughout the West. Anything that happens in reality seems to be politician’s playing with numbers or superficial. With the big decisions not being put to a referendum and quietly sprung into action. I guess people would tell me this is the concept of efficient democracy. Instead of having a vote on individual issues the MP’s will take your decision for you. An MP that’s part of a mainstream party will rarely vote in the commons based on their own opinion. They will vote where the whip tells them to and in return they’re part of the party, more likely to get a seat and enjoy a kushty salary + benefits. This is exactly what the majority of backbenchers are doing. What is the point in having an MP ?
Labour MP’s were filmed recently offerring to ‘fix’ things for people i.e. Laws, white paper’s passing etc for a daily fee. Usually £5k a day. I doubt they were thinking of their constituency then.
I could go on for a while with various examples but, I’ve got to confess it kinda frustrates me how people become so socially invested in politics. Labour, Conservative or Hung Parliament things will be extremely similar regardless. Big Brother, Iraq and ridiculous taxes. People tell me the Lib Dems were against Iraq – it just seems to me it was the only viable move for them at the time. They know they will never be in the posistion to act on it and even if they were its not like Obama is doing much regarding his pledge concerning the war. The conservative’s couldn’t slate it too much because they would have done the same and it was because of money. Not necessarilly oil but, a certain opportunity to consolidate wealth.
I’m not knowledgeable enough to have a decent discussion with someone who is heavily involved in politics about this stuff but, based on these facts and so many more its hard to see how voting is doing that much.
Maybe I should have exercised my right to vote regardless and feel kinda bad telling people I didn’t vote because in many ways its a rare opportunity even to influence the face on the country a little.
