Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Alan No free meals,except Sandwiches,and Tea !
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Alan, that is a very sad view of your local Councillors, whether in your ward or not.
I don't know any Councillors with the views you describe, whatever their politics.
Roger
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Alan - believe it or not there are people, many people who are community minded and do it without any thought of reward. They are only human so no doubt they enjoy being those 'in the know' and making decisions but if you understood the amount of work and responsibility you will see that is certainly is not for mythical free meals or to earn non-existent money.
They get a lot of knocks, unjust critisism and some that is justified too and for very little in return. Whatever they do get out of it they deserve mark my words.
The fact is it is not really a matter of power either. You would probably be shocked at just how little real power they have and how little room to manouvre and how few resources available. There is a lot of responsibility for little reward. People do these thing for many reasons, sometime just because they want to give something back and everyone who gets involved does so for whatever reasons. money and power ecrtainly are not reasons and given the knocking you get ego is no reason either.
This is not unusual. These days I just do the Hellfire Corner weekends and Chamber of Commerce because I enjoy it, the latter does provide some business opportunities through networking but the benefit does not reflect the time involved - again in each case there is a lot of work from a small team and a lot of headaches and sometimes we do ask ourselves why we bother while others choose to sit back, do nothing and just have a go at those who do get involved.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
blue barry is right here, dover is a great example of people giving of their time for nothing.
a look through our members list would prove this to be the case.
obviously we have those in public office but many do the quiet down to earth tasks that help to make our lives more pleasant.
having said that if anyone stands for town or council and gets elected they have to be prepared for criticism.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
And don't we know it Howard !
We'll see what the day brings.
Roger
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
SARAH
I would agree with tory p;eter garstin on this one as you are busy working such long days the postal vote is probably your best option.
Alan t'
I have to agree with barryw/roger/.howeard
the councillors bring forward lots of experience in many differing ways, there are
good and not so good councillors, and differing ways of carrying out those duties
but none would be able to be in it for a freee meal or the money as both there is a
serious lack of.
most candidates/councillors put forward because they feel they have something to
offer, your view alan taylor that cllrs sit around committee's argueing is also far
from the truth, you will find many of these committee';s you will find the main
2 parties agreeing a lot of the time and working well together only the disagrements will be publicised because thats what sells one local paper.
as i said in my original posting i may not agree with other parties views, but i will always respect anyone giving up there free time to serve the electorate, it isn't an easy task, and very time consuming.
i don't know who your locl cllr is, but its a sad reflection of your view of him/her
or cllrs in general
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
I am not a Tory party member Keith. I would not want them to take my vote for granted. But they have it as long as they do not disappoint.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
now keith has outed you as tory, we shall have to refer to you as "blue peter" henceforth.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
A lovely hot sunny day to cast your vote ....good luck everyone
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
HOWARD;
Many as i have said in the maggie days, when she became so unpopular everyone was saying they didnt vote for her, well someone did. lol
i have no problem anyone supporting any particular party just be honest about it
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
I am sure we have had this debate before Keith. There are a lot more shades of opinion than just Labour and the rest. You cannot assume that anyone not a devote Labourite must be Conservative. most prefer to keep their options open. Some even vote on the basis of what the candidates stand for and pledge to do rather than just on party lines.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Chris that is particularly true of local elections where people will vote for candidates they know and trust even if they would vote party wise at a general election. I can claim never to have voted for a candidate I didn't know personally, with one exception.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
In local elections I believe one should always vote for the candidate not the party he/she belongs to.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
Bang on Peter and Chris. When I vote in the locals it's going to be the person I believe will do the best for my ward and, in my opinion, with the cleanest track record. If I don't vote Labour, it doesn't automatically turn me into a Tory or vice versa. I'd rather vote for an intelligent and capable candidate for the side I don't normally vote for if my 'traditional' side coughs up a f*ckwit.
Naive? Maybe. But that's democratic choice for you.
General elections are, however, a different kettle of fish.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Phil, I think there's a fair degree of tribalism on the lefty side. It's not confined to UK politics either. While delivering a campaign speech one day Theodore Roosevelt was interrupted by a heckler: "I'm a Democrat!" the man shouted.
"May I ask the gentleman," Roosevelt replied, quieting the crowd, "why he is a Democrat?"
"My grandfather was a Democrat," the man replied, "my father was a Democrat and I am a Democrat."
"My friend," Roosevelt interjected, moving in for the kill, "suppose your grandfather had been a jackass and your father was a jackass. What would you then be?"
Alas, Roosevelt was thwarted by the quick-witted heckler, who promptly replied: "A Republican!"
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i thought it was a general thing that people voted for best candidate/s locally and their favourite party nationally.
in many constituencies where there is a red or blue m.p there are yellow councils due to their people getting involved all year round with the people.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
But in Dover Town or District there is barely a LibDem to be seen.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Alec Sheldon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,037
Quite right Howard, I have voted for who I think is the best man for the job here in Whitfield. I have not had any blue or red literature through my door only yellow and two visits from them as well.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
understand that alec, clive meredith is very involved with everything that goes on in whitfield.
peter
dover is not a good example, all the work goes on in shepway with some success.
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
I must say that there has been a distinct lack of canvassing in my street, I have seen no sign of the Conservatives or their literature, the Alliance leaflet arrived after I had posted my vote, only Labour bothered to put in an appearance.
One fairly important thing that leaflet distributors might like to think about in the future, do not forget the basement flats of large terraced houses, we have our own front door.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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