democracy = hard

[kat_lair]

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.

Comments

[pushkin666.livejournal.com]

Meh. That's no surprise. I got two leaflets at the last general election and nothing for the local election. People involved in politics these days are damned lazy (yes I know that's a generalism). When I used to be involved we did a minimum of two leaflet drops for local elections and when it was general elections, we did lots, including one on the morning of the vote.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Meh, indeed. C'mon, someone lobby me! Where are my stickers and badges and the passionate discussion about council services? (oh god, RECYCLING, I still want to discuss recycling with someone! *prays one of the candidates knocks on my door*)

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?

[pushkin666.livejournal.com]

ahahaha. I feel sorry for anybody that does turn up and you manage to 'speak' to them about recycling. That would be highly amusing.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

They might knock on your door next week... on the other hand we have to agree we've noticed a dearth of candidate info the last couple of council elections. And if you ring them up or call at the nearest 'surgery' they'll have you inside and licking envelopes before you can say hello, but without ay indication of where all the envelopes go. This, btw, applies to all parties so far as I can see.

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*

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Like I explained above, I am eager to talk to someone, ANYONE, about the appalling attitude to recycling in the local area. Surely my council tax should get me 15 mins to RANT at someone?

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. :(

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

I was watching a spokesman for the True Finns on the news (Al Jazeera) last night and the BBC have an item on the Google news this morning. They make soothing noises about not being extremists but I couldn't work out exactly what kind of party they are. Clearly right wing, but more UKIP than BNP??? Anyway, commiserations!

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!!

[trialia]

I got my poll form and nothing else, yet.

[dreamersdare.livejournal.com]

We had leaflets. Three, in fact which all said the same thing.

"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...

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Yeah, more UKIP perhaps but some of the candidates are real pieces of work...

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

My poll card's been sitting by the phone for weeks now, but that's it yeah.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Lol that sounds very representative of UK politics. And exactly, these are local council people, I want to know what they're planning on doing locally more than anything.

...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.

[ungratefulwench.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of leaflets tend not to appear until the final week so you are possibly too early in looking out for information because obviously, making an informed decision is overrated... Oh, politics, so ridiculously stupid sometimes.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Clearly I'm just too hot for democracy... Or looking forward to some hilarious reading material...

[dreamersdare.livejournal.com]

Well, in defence of the Lib Dems, my ward councillors now seem to be working quite hard at getting my vote (they even came and knocked on the door but I didn't have time to talk to them). The others still apparently don't want my vote...

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

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

No one still seems to want my vote. *is sad*

[dreamersdare.livejournal.com]

I still think I want an option on my ballot paper that says "None of the above. You are all fail. Try again."

Although, we'd probably never get a council elected then...