Ah, not tosh but a truism Guy!
I don't disagree with the thrust of your argument though, just that to do nothing is to endorse the system!
Our vote turnout is pitifully low. There are many reasons for that (yours included) but I suspect that many, if not most, of the electorate are sufficiently content with their personal lot and so don't feel sufficiently motivated to make a change (of either the government or the electoral system). The British are a tolerant society and it takes a lot to push them to positive and direct action....
I mean to say, if I was really outraged by the system as it stands then I would throws myself 100% into political activity to make changes I wanted (or thought was in the best interests of the country). I haven't. And there are very few that do, hence the status quo.
CW for PM!
Gets my vote 
No longer involved in airsoft.
CW for PM!
Gets my vote
Yes thats it force him into private messaging only on his forum 
top solution, oh wasn't what you meant 
ho hum
Not voting him, I perish to think what bizarre things he'd put in action given the power 
Compulsary Nude Day every Tuesday no doubt .
Compulsary Nude Day every Tuesday no doubt .
Thought that was Saturdays?
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........
Drunken fools - do you not remember? Friday night is Au Naturelle Night!
We were drunk. You weren't. Therefore we have an excuse 
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........
I don't need an excuse - the only shame is that the world doesn't get a eyeful of CW's firm buttocks the other six nights of the week.
Damn, I think I said that out loud.
BTW, if I am made PM then the first law will be that standard attire in the chamber of the HoC will be nothing but a thong. Should stop ridiculous laws being debated and show politicians for what they are, mere mortals as stupid and pathetic as the rest of the populous!
Rather you than me, thats some erm interesting idea you have there 
Actually it does raise the interesting point that politicians are supposed to be public servants. Sadly it appears to be a paper title tho.
Having thought about that some more it suggests a train of thought. A servant doesn't apply thinking of his own to their masters (ie the general populace) tasks and merely does what they're told. However this doesnt apply to politicians who, while being held accountable to the public are also playing the personal gain card at the same time. Thus there is a fundemental problem in that a servant who, while doing appointed tasks, is also looking out for any personal advancement possibly/probably (dependant on your POV) sacrificing the appointed task for the sake of said advancement.
I think I just confused myself there.
.... I'll get me coat....
No longer involved in airsoft.
Heh, public servants! You are right, it doesn't seem that way. I did once make the mistake of voting for the MP who I thought would best represent my views - how nieve is that! Instead, they put forward views 'in the best interests of the country' or something similar. I think it works more like 'vote for me so I can push my (or more likely Chief Whip's) views'
Guy - I agree. Very eloquently put - there's a great deal about 'the system' that is imperfect - the whole thing could do with a jolly good shake up, perhaps?
CW - I agree. Doing nothing is all but endorsing 'the system' - acquiescence by any other name, perhaps?
If voting doesn't appeal, maybe some other form of political participation or protest might be more suitable? If people choose to do nothing, then surely they can't think things are all that bad. If things are really all that bad, then it's surely beholden on anyone who thinks so to do something. Brings to mind the words of a famous German Pastor.....
I was just thinking of the same quote...
No longer involved in airsoft.
Like others on this thread, i've been disillusioned with the system for years. But I still vote, even if it for the least-worst candidate.
The first-past-the-post system we have in this country can be a bit of a joke. Take total votes cast for example. In total, the Conservatives had more people vote for them than Labour did in the last election (as a country, not by constituency, obviously), which is why Nu-Labour are so against PR - they would be seriously down on numbers. But PR has its problems as well, just look at the Green Party in the German parliament for example. FAR more power than a small bunch of enviro-fascists should have.
There are lots of ways to reform Parliament. For a start, get rid of the whips. MP's were voted in by THEIR constituents. They should be working for THEM, not doing what they are told to from on high.
Oh, and while we're at it, ALL political parties should be banned from local councils. They are there to work for the people, not be subservient to "the party" and its fads and fancies. The sooner those fuckers learn that they should be working for us the better.
On second thoughts "the party" makes it sound slightly ominous doesn't it. Not as though we havent heard that phrase before though, is it?
When we were a Kingdom it was run by a King
When we were an Empire it was run by an Empress
Now we're a country we're run by a..........
Agree with a lot of that, Kermit. Although there are problems with "first past the post" it does make for a more stable government. Compare with PR systems, where it's just one election after another, as dodgy coalitions form and break up at the drop of a hat.
You've got nothing to ein, zwei, drei, vier
Agree with a lot of that, Kermit. Although there are problems with "first past the post" it does make for a more stable government. Compare with PR systems, where it's just one election after another, as dodgy coalitions form and break up at the drop of a hat.
Yes, but that's if you believe a strong central governement is beneficial . I'd say a loose coalition leads to a weaker governement, which then allows it's citizens to get on with what it wants .
GMTV made a statement this morning that all replica guns are illegal to own in the UK.
This was from a reporter who is rushing around with police raiding houses and seizing them.
They showed replica pistols that they had taken from people’s homes and had arrested them.
Free speech is expensive these days!
On Radio 4 they were clear that it was "Illegal to Sell Replica guns"...
They also said that most of the 135 arrests made this morning were non-firearms offences... ffs
Not seen the news/gmtv stuck on jetix channel watching power rangers 
Curious to know did it state what type of person owned the RIFs ? and surely its journolistic scaremongery at its best as chrimble is coming and what people could once just buy for their spotty oik from santa is now no longer legal. Put the fear into people most won't bother, I assume should a situation arise and you were unfortunate enough to be raided for your airsoft collection having something in place like site membership, or a vaild reason with proof of ownage and reasoning for itv(reenactment/skirmisher), would be a good call
Yith the show on Radio 4, making it clear "its illegal to sell guns" is obviously only part of what they said, were they specifically talking about rifs or firearms in general ? did they mention the VCR bill and its implications ? and indeed the legimiate reasons or was it just scare mongering as well ?
I saw reports on BBC TV and GMTV this morning - BBC said most of the replicas collected in the raids across the UK were from a shop in Birmingham. GMTV was as Oddball said. Crazy. How about seizing some real firearms?