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General election

...on serious topics that don't fit anywhere else at present.
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peterangus
Posts: 159
Joined: November 13th, 2007, 2:55 pm

General election

#1 Post by peterangus » January 2nd, 2010, 9:13 pm

It's only a few months away.

In the campaigning, the issues which concern us won't get a look-in unless we make a noise. ["Faith" schools; freedom of speech; assisted suicide; public service provision;...]

And then, in the course of the ensuing Parliament, there will be issues unforseen at election time. If they are to be decided on the Blair principle of "I did what I thought was right", then we have a legitimate interest in the way our leaders' thought processes operate. Do they pray for guidance to an invisible sky-god?
Peter Angus

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Alan C.
Posts: 10356
Joined: July 4th, 2007, 3:35 pm

Re: General election

#2 Post by Alan C. » January 2nd, 2010, 10:58 pm

Oh don't you worry.........I will be emailing all candidates for their views on the issues you listed, plus some you didn't list.
I would urge everybody to do the same, we only get one chance every four years to "make a noise" Don't waste it.
Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers.

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Alan H
Posts: 24067
Joined: July 3rd, 2007, 10:26 pm

Re: General election

#3 Post by Alan H » January 3rd, 2010, 12:41 am

I suspect the BHA will be publishing some guidance, questions, etc. Alan C is right: we must all grasp this opportunity.
Alan Henness

There are three fundamental questions for anyone advocating Brexit:

1. What, precisely, are the significant and tangible benefits of leaving the EU?
2. What damage to the UK and its citizens is an acceptable price to pay for those benefits?
3. Which ruling of the ECJ is most persuasive of the need to leave its jurisdiction?

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grammar king
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Joined: March 14th, 2008, 2:42 am

Re: General election

#4 Post by grammar king » January 3rd, 2010, 3:23 pm

Absolutely. My MP (still not sure where to vote. Technically I'm registered in Merseyside but I've spent more time in Edinburgh than there in the last few years) will be stepping down because he was caught flipping his house. So this one could be interesting, could be the first time in living memory that Labour don't get the seat.

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getreal
Posts: 4354
Joined: November 20th, 2008, 5:40 pm

Re: General election

#5 Post by getreal » January 3rd, 2010, 3:35 pm

Alan C. wrote:Oh don't you worry.........I will be emailing all candidates for their views on the issues you listed, plus some you didn't list.
I would urge everybody to do the same, we only get one chance every four years to "make a noise" Don't waste it.
What a good idea, alan!

I shall be emailing my MP and candidates too.

just have to find out how I contact candidates.....
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.

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grammar king
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Joined: March 14th, 2008, 2:42 am

Re: General election

#6 Post by grammar king » January 3rd, 2010, 4:30 pm

http://www.writetothem.com/

EDIT: Oh, candidates. Well I believe you have to wait until a bit closer to the time when everyone who wants to stand has stated their intent. Here's the Tory ones I think, here's Labour, Lib Dems, but I can't find the SNP ones, or any independent candidates so far.

peterangus
Posts: 159
Joined: November 13th, 2007, 2:55 pm

Re: General election

#7 Post by peterangus » January 7th, 2010, 10:28 pm

Somehow, I doubt that questions on specific issues, emailed to candidates, will produce much of value. If published, would they arrouse any interest within the electorate?

A more-productive activity might be to conduct a survey into all candidates' religiosity. Events of recent years provide ample justification for this intrusion into the private life of anyone seeking election to Parliament.
Peter Angus

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getreal
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Re: General election

#8 Post by getreal » January 7th, 2010, 11:18 pm

Thanks for the links GK.

I have had responses from both my MP amd my MSP on single issues. Well a single issue
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.

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Alan C.
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Re: General election

#9 Post by Alan C. » January 7th, 2010, 11:52 pm

getreal wrote:Thanks for the links GK.

I have had responses from both my MP and my MSP on single issues. Well a single issue
Were they positive responses though getreal?
I write to my MP, Msp regularly and invariably get a stock reply which is generally just a cop out.

"I'll say and I'll do anything you want, till after the election; then fuck you, I'll do what I like."

Seems to me like the way it is now.

These people make promises in their "manifesto's" and there is never any come back on them when they don't deliver, why is that?
Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers.

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getreal
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Re: General election

#10 Post by getreal » January 8th, 2010, 2:02 pm

You are right, of course Alan. It was just platitudes.
I had asked how much was spent on running the homeopathic hospital in glasgow and if this was a good use of funds, considering it's crap.
The reply was just along the lines of---"well, it's patients choice" and when I continued to press the matter, I got the "we need more research" answer and was told someone from GGHB would contact me (which they did). I gave up after that as I felt I was making no headway.
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.

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grammar king
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Re: General election

#11 Post by grammar king » January 8th, 2010, 2:08 pm

You all know about Skeptical Voter, right?

It's good but there are a few things missing IMO. We could do with a list of relevant votes that have taken place in the various Parliaments so we can check voting histories easier.

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getreal
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Re: General election

#12 Post by getreal » January 8th, 2010, 11:03 pm

Thanks for that link to Skeptical voter. I was unaware of its existance. I looked up my MP and was pleased with all the information provided. Very pleased!
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.

philbo
Posts: 591
Joined: December 18th, 2009, 3:09 pm

Re: General election

#13 Post by philbo » January 12th, 2010, 2:26 pm

I've had a reasonable amount of correspondence with my (soon to be ex-)MP. In one case, I sent a rant about the government's persistent use of "experts" (in IT projects) from the big consultancies who always give the same advice and it always costs many times what said experts predict, that's assuming the project works at all.

I got a reply from him, saying thanks and how it was of special interest to him as he'd been on the Select Committee on IT purchasing.

A few months later, I sent a follow-up (after the collapse of the C-NOMIS project, which is one that I had used as an example in my first letter), and got a reply from his secretary, saying he had no experience in this area but she would forward it to someone who did (Edward Garnier - another complete waste of breath)

What's a guy to believe?


In theory, the man who's due to take over from Paul Goodman (i.e. the Conservative PPC - I can't see anyone else winning, no matter how nice a chap Steve Guy, the LibDem, is) should be better - his election address described him as a techie "who went on to various management positions in the IT industry"... making him sound (to me as a *real* techie) like someone who wasn't technically competent, so got pushed out to management and never really did much there either, so decided to stand for Parliament.

Compassionist
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Re: General election

#14 Post by Compassionist » January 12th, 2010, 2:59 pm

Is there any secular candidate in Aberdeen? I have voted Scottish Labour Party, Scottish Socialist Party and Scottish Green Party at different elections. Not sure who to vote for this time.

Fia
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Joined: July 6th, 2007, 8:29 pm

Re: General election

#15 Post by Fia » January 12th, 2010, 3:34 pm

Whoever is most likely to keep the tories out in your constituency can be a useful rule of thumb, compassionist, given your previous voting :)

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getreal
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Re: General election

#16 Post by getreal » January 12th, 2010, 4:47 pm

Compassionist, the link which Grammarking gave is very useful.
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.

Compassionist
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Joined: July 14th, 2007, 8:38 am

Re: General election

#17 Post by Compassionist » January 14th, 2010, 12:19 pm

getreal wrote:Compassionist, the link which Grammarking gave is very useful.
Thank you. I will check it out in detail.

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getreal
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Re: General election

#18 Post by getreal » January 14th, 2010, 4:34 pm

I recieved a very full reply to my email (which I deliberatly worded as neutrally as possible as I wanted to hear her real views.
This was her reply to my questions about homeopathy and state faith based schools.
Dear Ms McEwan

I write to thank you for your email sent on 3rd January 2009 regarding homeopathy and faith based schools. I believe it is essential that all treatment provided by the National Health Service should be offered on the basis of the best evidence scientific available. This should be the case for both homeopathic and more traditional forms of treatment and I would be extremely concerned if treatments being were being offered where there were only limited or anecdotal evidence of success available. I also strongly believe that all medicines should be clearly labelled so that patients know exactly what it is which they are buying.

With regard to faith based schools, whilst I appreciate there are many successful faith based schools in the United Kingdom my strong preference would be for state schools to be secular. The existence of faith based schools often creates or strengthens social divisions.

I would be happy to discuss either of these issues with you in more detail if you feel that this would be helpful.

If you feel I can be of any further assistance on this or any other issue please do not hesitate to get in touch.

With Best Wishes,

Katy Clark
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.

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Alan C.
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Re: General election

#19 Post by Alan C. » January 14th, 2010, 8:45 pm

I would be extremely concerned if treatments being were being offered where there were only limited or anecdotal evidence of success available.
Then she should be bloody well concerned as that's what's happening!
I also strongly believe that all medicines should be clearly labelled so that patients know exactly what it is which they are buying.
The stuff is clearly labelled re ingredients but no information on efficacy (or lack of) is given,
If you buy a lemsip or an alcazeltser it says on the box what it will do, they can do that because what they say it will do has been scientifcaly proven! Why is it that some folk just can't get that?

Her response to the sectarian school issue is just a fudge.
The Green party is the only party that say in their manifesto that they would abolish sectarian schools. (not touting for votes for them, just saying :wink: )
Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers.

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grammar king
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Re: General election

#20 Post by grammar king » January 14th, 2010, 9:00 pm

Alan C. wrote: The stuff is clearly labelled re ingredients
Is it? The 10:23 are currently running a letter-writing campaign to Boots, saying that the labels are wrong, since they include the active ingredient in the list, which isn't actually present.

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