No substance to the UK Election Campaign??

Is it me, or are we in a really damp, wet and soggy election campaign?

I see zero substance, and zero passion on any side.. no new policies.. no one really saying anything, and no one fighting for the heart and soul of the nation..

Personally, I thought all sides had not only everything to fight for, but also everything to lose, so I find that lack of anything substantial rather puzzling.

I have to admit I was expecting a bit more gusto on topics like immigration, the EU, the economy, the expenses scandal etc..

It is almost is no side wants to win..

If I was on a conspiracy site I would be saying something along the lines that they know something is going to happen so are going through the motions only..

Am I alone in thinking this election campaign lacks substance?

reply to post by thoughtsfull


There is little substance to the election campaign as there is little substance to both the politicians involved and a dumbed down electorate who are far more interested in who wins X Factor and I'm A Celebrity And A Twat than who is going to govern this country for the next 5 years!

Here would be an interesting thought.

Would you people prefer it as today we would have John Major, and Neil Kinnock, running like in early 90's?

Do you guys prefer ths election over that one in early 90's lol.

reply to post by Freeborn


I guess that is quite true, while both Gordo and Dave are complete bell ends doesn;t really help to endgender confidence.. but you have to admit, that the whole thing is flat.. there is not even the sub text of "don't vote BNP" which they seem to love rolling out.

There was more bickering and points scoring in the weekly PMQs than there has been so far in this election campaign. It's honestly leaving me scatching my head.. perhaps they want to hung parliment..

[edit on 12/4/10 by thoughtsfull]

Christopher Booker's take, in yesterday's Telegraph, is that Brussels have taken so much policy control out of the hands of Westminster, that the Westminster politicians have little substance left to argue about.

reply to post by thoughtsfull


They don't want anyone to be really interested in politics as they would then be asked truly difficult and awkward questions on matters of importance like immigration, the economy, civil liberites etc.

In this we will see a low turnout and a continuation of the status quo and furtherment of the silent agenda TPTB are working towards.

As such our current batch of politicians are bland and faceless and resemble the society they represent.

Well British politics is in crisis as both the parties are ideologically bankrupt and arespent forces. All they can do is chase the electorate. The days of the Nye Bevan style socialism versus Adam Smith free marketing has long passed. The multi-party corruption that we saw a few months ago must have been the final twitches of the dying beast.

The US style televised debates will be a yawnfest.



[edit on 12-4-2010 by Tiger5]

reply to post by DISRAELI


If that is true, then I'm really suprised more are not discussing the issue.. not least the anti-EU brigade.. unless they are and not getting air time in the MSM.. which would not suprise me.

That says a lot for British politics and where we might be headed in the future.. Scary thoughts indeed..

reply to post by Freeborn


I quite agree that the current batch really do represent the British public at large, listless and lifeless.. my only problem with that, is that I see us (the British people) in the same place as we were preWW2.. not willing to pay for peace or war, and following empty politics.

It bothers me as to where it led us all last time and where we are heading now..

reply to post by Tiger5


I honestly dread the US style TV debates, and I can not beleive we are going down the route of goggle box to ballot box.. *shudders* I for one would really welcome the passion of the likes of Nye Bevan, at least the guy stood for something.

At this rate I see a hung parliment looming..

Yeah, I've seen very little that suggests any vision. Still, manifestos are being released over the next few days, so perhaps we'll get a bone or two to chew over. I'll not hold my breath...
What I really want to see is some explanation of how individual economic proposals fit into a strategy. Its all very well claiming "X billion pounds will save jobs" or the like. How? How does that tactic fit into the overall strategy with other tactics?
I think that the truth is that neither Lab or Con can actually admit what their strategies are, because 1) they're pretty similar & 2) we've already seen those ideas fail.
What I cant understand is why the LibDems aren't making more of their plan to abolish tax on low earners. It seems that, if they have a plan to grow the economy from the bottom up, that is a massive difference to the top down models of the other 2.
I suppose none of them dare get too far into a debate about the economy, because sooner or later, they would have to admit that the banking crisis really has left us up sh!t creek without a paddle. Isn't it the job of media to ask these questions tho? Its enough to make a person believe MSM & politicians are part of a conspiracy!

reply to post by thoughtsfull

I guess that is quite true, while both Gordo and Dave are complete bell ends doesn;t really help to endgender confidence..

Isn't that the truth? Honestly, I know I've been talking up the LibDems as the best bet for a tactical vote, but I think the only person I've heard any good sense from so far is Vince Cable.

We have so few politicians with passion, conviction and integrity but instead are governed by politicians whose only concerns are personal advancement and adherence to the party line.

What can we do to stir the nation out of the inertia and state of lethargic apathy?

I honestly don't know.

reply to post by Bunken Drum


I quite agree... what really sparked me off this morning was a debate (if you could call it a debate) on the Beeb in Leeds and all three main candidates where soooooo nice to each other.. I was honestly expecting them to break into a few camp fire songs! it was uttlery surreal..

There was no passion, even tho they where discussing some of the points in the new Labour manifesto, it was like some kids presenting a report to the class, with everyone commenting on what a nice picture it had on the front cover, truly bizzare.

Originally posted by Freeborn
We have so few politicians with passion, conviction and integrity but instead are governed by politicians whose only concerns are personal advancement and adherence to the party line.

Well what do they actually do? Over my lifetime I've seen the British Civil service usurp the power of both parties and then take that power and transfer it to non elected officials in Brussels.

Does even adhering to the party line really matter anymore? How relevant are the political parties?

At this point in time does it even matter who wins the election?

Originally posted by Freeborn
We have so few politicians with passion, conviction and integrity but instead are governed by politicians whose only concerns are personal advancement and adherence to the party line.

What can we do to stir the nation out of the inertia and state of lethargic apathy?

I honestly don't know.

That's the point that has been rattling around my mind!

If we are so listless and lifeless how do we get out of this hole, while not digging ourselves deeper into this mire.

reply to post by Bunken Drum


Vince Cable and Frank Field.

2 of the very few politicians with conviction and integrity.

en.wikipedia.org...

en.wikipedia.org...(politician)

reply to post by Freeborn

What can we do to stir the nation out of the inertia and state of lethargic apathy?

Get involved ourselves, I think. I personally couldn't stand for a seat because I've got far too many skeletons in my closet, but I think there's more than haranguing my MP that I could do. Just not sure what atm.

Originally posted by Bunken Drum
Get involved ourselves, I think.

How does that help though? If you get more people involved you've got more views, more points of contention, less cohesion and more corruption.

The more inclusive you make something the less effective it is. Like the UN for instance. It's all talk and no action.

Originally posted by Freeborn reply to post by Bunken Drum

 

Vince Cable and Frank Field. 2 of the very few politicians with conviction and integrity. en.wikipedia.org... en.wikipedia.org...(politician)

Well, Field is a bit god-squad for me, but there's no doubt he's sincere. I liked my current MP Alan Simpson, but he's standing down. Still, that saves me the dilemma of whether to vote for him or LibDem. Shame to see Bob Marshal-Andrews going too.

reply to post by belial259


Every government since Heath's and our monarch have been guilty of treason by being complicit in the transferring of power and soveriegnty from London to Brussels.

We need radical electoral and parliamentary reform, prohibiting party alignment with elected MP's whose primary role is the care's and concerns of their constituentsand their own personal conviction.

I personally advocate increased use of referendum's on both local and national issues.

In addition we need an English Assembly akin to the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland one's which would allow Westminster to concentrate on matters of mutual and common concern.

It is time we Brits recognise and accept both that which makes us unique and also that which binds us together in a common bond.

Realistically, very little, if any, of this will happen, especially when we have a completely dumbed down electorate whose only exposure to current events is the controlled MSM and an education system that discourages people to think and question.

reply to post by Bunken Drum


I don't agree with ALL the opinions of anyone and I don't have to for me to respect their passion, sincerity and integrity.
Unfortunately there as so few politicians that I do.

And as for skeletons in the closet, lol, you and me both my friend.
MSM would have an absolute field day!