38Degrees

• Bern

  • Location: Dover
  2 July 2009     13:5624864
  #1      
  May I just suggest that, if you are as fed up politically as I am, you google and look at www.38degrees.org.uk. I posted on here about it before, but thought you would like to see more about it. I have just signed up to a campaign for better transparency in government and emailed Gwyn prosser via the website. I realise it is probably a drop in the ocean, but if you remember who blisteringly angry you were when the expenses information was given to us, just think about how People Power can work. It's worth a look, and please join if you feel like it!!
• Guest 655

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,247
  2 July 2009     14:3024867
  #2      
  I dont disagree at all. We really do need a shift in power away from politicians and Government at all levels back down to us.......
  
  I willr esist to state the obvious
• Bern

  • Location: Dover
  2 July 2009     15:1424868
  #3      
  Good Man - very restrained!!
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  2 July 2009     17:5424880
  #4      
  they all know this will blow over in time.
  
  the only way, in my view, is to vote for a minority party
• Bern

  • Location: Dover
  2 July 2009     21:3024894
  #5      
  It will only blow over if we let it!! It is many years since I had the time or energy to be a free radical, but I feel a march and a campaign coming on! If we really do keep the momentum going we can make some changes.
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  2 July 2009     21:3624895
  #6      
  bern
  
  have you not noticed that the leading politicians are throwing insults at each other.
  
  they know that there will not be an election for the best part of a year.
  they are trying to give the impression that the expenses fraud is done and dusted and we should all move on.
  
  
  the next stage is the other jobs that they do for wheelbarrow loads of money.
  
  this will give the lie to their rubbish about workng all the hours that our maker sends, in the commons.
• Bern

  • Location: Dover
  16 July 2009     07:2525629
  #7      
  Just FYI I have copied an email I had from 38 degrees. they are worth a look!
  
  Thank you for being part of 38 Degrees. Today we passed an important milestone: the 10,000th person got involved. We're growing fast, and the more of us there are the more powerful we will become.
  
  I'll hardly ever send messages which aren't to do with a specific campaign, but passing the 10,000 mark feels like something worth celebrating.
  
  Together, in just 7 weeks, we've already had a real impact. For example:
  
  We've forced a Recall Law onto the political agenda, and are ready to push for it to be finally introduced when the moment comes. We've sent a clear message to MPs that we want real reforms in response to the MP expenses scandal.
  We've stood together to say no to a secret inquiry into the Iraq War. We made sure our petition was seen by every MP on the day Parliament voted, adding to the pressure which changed Gordon Brown's mind.
  We've made the headlines in national newspapers from the Daily Sport and the Daily Mail to the Independent and the Guardian, as well as TV and radio.
  We've joined forces with other organisations to demand new rules to rein in lobbyists and new ways to have our say in political reform.
  We're still new, and we're still learning. What's your feedback on 38 Degrees, as one of the first 10,000 to get involved? What made you decide to join in? What do you like, and what would you like to see happen next?
• Guest 674

  • Registered: 25 Jun 2008
  • Posts: 3,391
  16 July 2009     08:0825631
  #8      
  HOWARD
  Iknow its easy to be cynical with how things are, but just on the MP's scandal I think this wont go away, i think politicians at every level are no longer trusted(not that they were before) politics is at an all time low and its going to take a lot of changing.
  
  I hope things do change, but as BERN says people power does work and just by voting for an alternative to todays govt is only going to give much of the same.
  what is needed is redical reform
• Bern

  • Location: Dover
  22 July 2009     07:3826018
  #9      
  I am posting another email from 38 Degrees - I have just sent Gwyn Prosser the email about his summer activities - please join in!! People Power can sometimes work!
  
  "Please have a look at this:
  [http://38degrees.org.uk/MPholidaywatch]
  Parliament has just stopped meeting for the Summer, and doesn't reopen until 12th October. This means MPs are free to take up to 12 weeks holiday. I' ve just got involved with MP Holiday Watch, a campaign to find out what MPs are up to over the summer. Please get involved now, and help make sure MPs don't abuse their summer break. It only takes a couple of minutes to send a message to your MP:
  [http://38degrees.org.uk/MPholidaywatch]
  MPs should use the summer break from parliament to get out of the Westminster bubble and work hard for their constituents. But unless we work together to hold them to account there's a risk that some will instead take a huge holiday, or earn more money for themselves on a "second job". Please get involved with MP Holiday Watch to help stop this happening and catch out part-time MPs.
  Thanks,"
• Guest 683

  • Registered: 11 Feb 2009
  • Posts: 1,052
  22 July 2009     08:5226027
  #10      
  Bern
  The politicians make an excellent recruting drive for your campaign!
  On their very last day before they go off until October the MPs pass a watered down 'clean up bill' for their expenses. The timing cannot be coincidental but in the knowledge that, by the time they return, we will have forgotten that they have made precious little change and they will be free to continue in their old ways.
  The head of HBOS who drove the bank to near collapse, so requiring us taxpayers to bail them, out gets a new job with Boots. Sir Fred of Royal Bank of Scotland flies in and out for a couple of hourse from his luxury bolt hole in the south of France for some business with the Prince of Wales trust.
  The system will no longer make the neccessary changes as it would spoil the benefits of membership and we have become so ground down that we are in danger of no longer making a protest. When you see the bravery of the Burmese and Iranian protestors you realise how passive our system has made us.
  I am going to sign up to 38Degrees and I shall be making a personal protest by no longer shopping at Boots (and sending them an email to let them know)and would invite anyone who shares my concerns to join me.
  Mark
• Bern

  • Location: Dover
  22 July 2009     21:2526091
  #11      
  and I will join you re Boots.