Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
14 February 2010
08:4740537#1
Poor Joe Soap, humble voter, was bewildered before... grumbling incessantly over his pint of real ale in his paint peeling pub, that .."theyre all the bleedin same!" This of course in reference to the main political parties.
Yes the man in the street thinks that way, and goes off nowadays ever further afield in search of his political voice, hence the arrival on the scene of the UKIP and/or BNP alternative and so on.
The main parties work hard trying to underline real differences between each other, but the differences are sometimes paper thin.
This notion of sameness was reinforced yesterday on a Tory Blog, no not Barry's one here, but on another, when David Cameron urged all those Blair voters of yesteryear to vote for him.
"Dont vote along tradional lines" Said Dave, going on to urge all those one time Blairites to search him out. You might remember that wave of excitement that surrounded Tony Blair one time..his cross party appeal floundered the Tories for many a year. If you were one of those swept along on that wave of excitement, and you are still out there in Middle England, then David Cameron wants you, yes you!
But I dont think David Cameron is quite up to that level, even though in marketing terms he has tried to re-invent Blair's appeal. I think people now, this time around, will vote , if they bother at all, will vote more out of exhaustion than anything else. Exhausted as the are with the same faces at the top and all longing for a quiet revolution.
But has politics come full circle..have the Tories reinvented themselves so much that they are now just New Labour in a new suit!
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
14 February 2010
09:0040541#2
No they're not Paul, but I'll leave Barry to argue that one.
Roger
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
14 February 2010
09:0440542#3
Far from it PaulB. Totally different values for a start.
Labour is wedded to big Government and top-down control. You can see that in the way they interfere in all aspects of life and their target culture. They are also addicted to using the heavy hand of the law, rules regulation and penalties. Government knows best according to Labour. This philosophy leads to high taxes and a red tape burden on business that has dragged the economy down.
Conservatives are for small Government, low taxes, less red tape. This was way before the recession and now with the huge deficit problems you can see this 'anti-Government' theme flourish as the whole scope of Government gets reduced. the first priority will be to tackle the deficit with spending cuts being the main weapon. The big cuts wont take effect for a year or so but a start will be made immediately. Some short term tax rises may be necessary, sadly, but they will be resisted if possible. Some taxes will need to be cut to get business moving.
In short under the Conservatives you will see a very different way of governing.
Any similarities to the present shower are only superfiscal.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
14 February 2010
09:3040544#4
I also do not think there is alot beween them.
I think it is only U.K.I.P. that is standing out at this time.
DT1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 15 Apr 2008
- Posts: 1,116
14 February 2010
09:4840547#5
'Any similarities to the present shower are only superfiscal'
Is that an intentional pun Barry, or are you saying that their spending policy is actually the same?
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
14 February 2010
10:3540548#6
Really dont know what you are saying there DT.
The fact is that Tory spending plans are very different from the Government, where they want to carry on spending for another year a start will be made on essential cuts immediately after the General Election by the Conservatives. You can then expect the burden of reducing the deficit to fall much more on spending cuts in future years than tax rises under the Conservatives.
I n ote that Cameron/Osborne are now supported by some very distinguished economists on spending cuts (included an ex labour Peer).
The Government is looking every more isolated on the economy.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/letters/article7026234.ece14 February 2010
12:1640554#7
DT1 - a lost cause I fear.......but I am still laughing!!
14 February 2010
12:1840557#8
I can see one major difference between the Blues, Reds and Others - Money Management.
Firstly, the Others. Fiscally clueless, inept and ineffectual, in other words they don't know how to manage the economy of a nation. It would be absurdly dangerous to entrust them to mind Colin's beans, let alone the nations finances.
Secondly, the Blues. Their plans will hit every one of us real hard. I foresee at least 4-5 years of tough taxation, cutting back of services and austerity. However, they will sort out the mess they will undoubtedly inherit and once that is done I can envisage a return to a more prosperous Britain for all of us.
Thirdly, the Reds. They convinced us they were the party to trust with the economy. Having maintained the Tory fiscal policy in their early years, socialist ideals (driven by Gordie, not smiler) got the better of them and in a rush to prove Labour is for the people (no real evidence after all their years in power), they have massively overspent, over-borrowed, and under-delivered. They have been found out as being the same as Callaghan's Labour, and won't be forgiven.
For the doubters, Murdoch's Empire will turn them towards Cameron and the Tories, and a huge victory.
The big question is: Will Britain ever trust the Labour Party again when it comes to fiscal matters? The danger for Labour is, the answer will be resounding "No" for years come.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
14 February 2010
13:0240564#9
Well said Sid - hope it turns out that way.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
14 February 2010
14:2140571#10
i think barry mentioning the word "superficial" summed things up.
most people see the leader of the opposition as exactly that.
the appeal to previous tony blair voters suggests that he is trying to attract voters on image not substance.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
14 February 2010
14:3640577#11
The opposite is actually true Howard and the nation will learn that after the General Election.
14 February 2010
14:4440580#12
Ha!!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
14 February 2010
14:4740581#13
spotted a new poll this morning showing the blues have extended their lead, but interestingly the same responders gave a return of 44% would definiteley vote against 56% back in 2005.
to me that suggests that they do not see a very clear difference between the parties.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
14 February 2010
18:5340606#14
The recent fiasco in Westminster North clearly shows Cameron and CCHQ to be just as wedded to control freakery as TB & GB were/are. Frankly if this is how they treat their own the rest of us ought to think very carefully about what we want.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
14 February 2010
20:2140623#15
funnnily enough the westminster north circus was detailed in one of todays newspapers in an assessment of mr cameron.
apparently he is seen by most of his MP's as remote and arrogant, gets ups the noses of activists who do not see him as one of them and is seen as a bit strange in his views on climate change.
it concluded that he would be prime minister, but one that runs a very divided party.
