You’re probably sick to the back teeth of hearing about the election already despite the build up to this one being relatively short compared to others I’ve known. But like it or lump it there’s practically no escaping it, unless of course you’re stranded abroad thanks to a certain volcano but even then the media has probably managed to get to you somehow. This election for me has serious significance though because there could easily be a Conservative government again this time in four weeks, something I find utterly terrifying. The quandary for me is that Labour are no longer a truly viable alternative to the Tories so what to do? Don’t get me wrong, I’d take another four years of Labour rule over the Conservatives any day - but only just. Since Blair and Brown unleashed their bastard offspring in the form of ‘New Labour’, the working class majority has essentially been left unrepresented and I think a phrase a few friends and I came up with during Blair’s campaign to be re-elected back in 2001 sums them up perfectly; New Labour – Tory Lite. But the Labour Vs Tory argument isn’t what I want to go into here, mostly because I don’t want to bore the shit out of you.
Before I get to the point that I really want to make however, I want to say that one of the highlights of this campaign hasn’t been Nick Clegg’s battering of the Tories and Labour in the UK’s first televised election debate; although he did a fine job and I think the on air debate is a valuable tool that should have been borrowed from our American cousins years ago. The best thing I’ve seen has been the hilarious attack on the Conservative party’s advertising. The website mydavidcameron.com (link below) has had me laughing my leftie backside off. With its mix of biting satire and stating of the bleeding obvious it exposes the Tories for what they are; a stale old party of toffs looking out for the rich at the expense of the less well off. David Cameron is no more than Tony Blair in even further right clothing and twice as punchable and the prospect of him, George Osborne and Boris Johnson running the country gives me The Fear. Seriously, no matter how much they say they’ve changed, you really can’t polish a turd. I urge you to do something about it.
My opinions of the Tories aside, what I want to do with this article is to urge you to get involved in the political process; we don’t have to let the same old shit happen again. On the one hand there’s a real chance that the Liberals can force a hung parliament this time, especially after Clegg’s debate performance and the general malaise of the population with the two main parties. In my opinion forcing a coalition means we may have a parliament where MPs have to talk rather than shout unproductively at each other.
The dark side however is, thanks to the established parties making a self-indulgent pig’s ear of things consistently for years, some may think a ‘protest vote’ is one for the BNP. Let me get one thing straight, a vote for the BNP is far worse than voting Tory. They are fascists who deny rights to anyone who doesn’t fit their agenda and who deny that the Nazi Holocaust happened among a whole plethora of other unpleasant ideas. Its not only non-whites who are subject to their racist shit either, I would be persecuted by these fascist morons because I’m a Jew. Voting for the BNP is tantamount to agreeing with Nazism so let me ask you, do you really think that Hitler had a point?
Whether you vote for an established party, an independent who won’t take your taxes and spunk them on second homes or other unjustifiable expenses or if you become part of an organised movement to show your distaste for the current system, such as the None of the Above Movement (again link below) please do something. I know there are some people who will never register and never vote, not even to use their ballot paper in protest to the antiquated and non-representational system we have now and that’s fine, each to their own. But like it or not, short of a full on revolution - which let’s face it isn’t going to happen - this is the only system we have to work with. Yes it needs reform so that it resembles something like true democracy but if you don’t get involved then how can anything ever change?
Most elections are won by the votes of about 35% of the population and like it or not the result of this determines how you live for at least the next four years. Almost two thirds of the population don’t engage in the political process – hardly surprising given the lack of options – and I’m under the impression that main parties are probably pleased about this as it means they can carry on riding the same old gravy train rather than doing what they’re paid for; representing us. In America the last election saw a voter turn out of over 60% and what happened there was historic, a first black president. I’d like to see us do something equally historic this side of the Atlantic.
Today sees the final day for you to get registered so please sign up and get involved. If you’re paranoid about Big Brother having your details etc, then I’m afraid you’re already fucked on that score and have been for some time, so being registered to vote will make no difference. Let’s get out there this time and either vote or protest by despoiling our ballot papers and have an election that truly reflects what we want rather than indulging in apathy and then moaning about the government until election time rolls around again and we end up with the same old bullshit politics and politicians. It may not happen overnight but if we do nothing it will never happen, let’s try to force some real change for the better.
My David Cameron.com if you want a laugh. http://www.mydavidcameron.com/
None of the Above Movement: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63542657953
How to register to vote: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4017686
Another how to register: https://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/register_to_vote/electoral_registration_applica.aspx
