democracy = hard
Apr. 17th, 2011 01:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
So. Local elections. For once I'm both registered and living next to the polling station and everything and have plans to go and vote. In light of this I said to myself: 'Self, go find out who the candidates are so you can select the person least likely to fuck things up even worse.'
And off I went. To the local council's website. Wherein I found a list of candidates. Very good, now I know what they are called and which parties are represented. However, that was it. There are no candidate profiles, no manifestos, no lists of priorities or pledges or aaaaaaaaaaanything. Fuck all. (well, except for that one candidate who is already in the council but even that wasn't very helpful)
There has been absolutely no leaflets, door-to-door canvassing, no posters, placards, signs etc. in my area either. I tried googling the candidate names and got nowhere.
At this point I'd settle for picture so I can decide who has kind eyes.
Bah.
And off I went. To the local council's website. Wherein I found a list of candidates. Very good, now I know what they are called and which parties are represented. However, that was it. There are no candidate profiles, no manifestos, no lists of priorities or pledges or aaaaaaaaaaanything. Fuck all. (well, except for that one candidate who is already in the council but even that wasn't very helpful)
There has been absolutely no leaflets, door-to-door canvassing, no posters, placards, signs etc. in my area either. I tried googling the candidate names and got nowhere.
At this point I'd settle for picture so I can decide who has kind eyes.
Bah.
no subject
on 2011-04-17 01:08 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2011-04-17 02:10 pm (UTC)I can understand them cutting costs like leaflets, but c'mon! A little info websites would be awesome. LOOK HERE, CANDIDATES, WHERE ARE YOUR BLOGS OR TWITTERS? I'M A CHILD OF SOCIAL MEDIA, I NEEDS ME SOME DIGITAL REACHING OUT, M'KAY?
no subject
on 2011-04-17 03:30 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2011-04-17 08:09 pm (UTC)For council elections we tend to find out what their 'day job' is - if they have any business connections (successful) they are probably numerate and capable of balancing the books. Kind eyes can be deceptive.
At least you have some idea of Manchester City Council's overall philosophy etc. Ours is a dog's breakfast.*g*
no subject
on 2011-04-17 09:08 pm (UTC)I would be interested in finding anything about the candidates, day job included.
My belief in politics has already taken bad hit (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13107620) today. :(
no subject
on 2011-04-18 07:13 am (UTC)A lack of interest in contacting voters should result in a lack of votes, but a low turn out is always made to reflect on the electorate rather than the candidates. Good luck with finding info!!
no subject
on 2011-04-18 05:25 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2011-04-18 12:37 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2011-04-18 05:27 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2011-04-18 01:20 pm (UTC)"Vote Labour because Conservatives/Lib Dems are bad"
"Vote Conservative because Labour/Lib Dems are bad"
"Vote Lib Dem because Conservatives/Labour are bad"
Which is irritating, frankly, because I don't want to decide my local vote on the basis on the national stance of whichever party the candidates claim membership of.
I did find this on my council website though which may explain why we're not finding anything about the candidates there...
no subject
on 2011-04-18 05:30 pm (UTC)...that is so bizarre and makes no sense. I mean if they were only promoting some parties but not others then yeah but... surely just providing website space for the candidates to post a short paragraph about themselves/their plans would be fine.
no subject
on 2011-04-22 01:32 pm (UTC)Well, I would have thought that as well. Seems like the common sense approach to things that you and I would adopt is not endorsed by our local authorities however
no subject
on 2011-04-23 03:48 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2011-04-23 05:23 pm (UTC)Although, we'd probably never get a council elected then...
no subject
on 2011-04-20 11:30 am (UTC)no subject
on 2011-04-20 04:52 pm (UTC)