...and it's not because I'm hippie. Because I'm not. At all. OK? Glad we cleared that up.
My announcement that I was voting for the Green party at the European election on 4th June was met with a mixed response from the TAN community (the response was mainly a mixture of indifference and derision) so I thought I'd answer some of the criticisms in the form of a blog rather than lengthy comments to individual users (douchebags).
The problem with the Green Party is image. Even the mention of those words seems to conjure images of smug, middle class, Alfalfa munching Vegans, probably with hideous beards and corduroy trousers. Above all it has been dismissed for too long as a single issue party, concerned more with animal rather than human welfare, with trees more than progress and any other no good hippie shite you car to mention.
So, am I concerned about the environment? Of course I am, everyone should be. The impact human beings has had on the biosphere has been nothing short of catastrophic, to the point where we risk the survival of even our own species. Is that why I'm voting Green? No. The reason I'm voting for them is that of all the political parties in Britain today, they are the only one with policies that are even remotely in tune with my own libertarian socialist persuasions. Whether the issue be
democratic reform,
the war on drugs,
public transport or
education, no other party comes close in terms of progressive vision.
But why vote for a party that can't possibly win you ask? Well the European Elections are decided by proportional representation and are therefore, actually truly democratic as every ones vote counts. Even in fourth place the Green Party can still secure enough votes to gain seats in the European parliament, or at least retain the two seats they currently hold.
As for the next General Election, I will also be voting Green. A wasted vote? Well let's see, at the last election my constituency polled the following:
- Lab- 19,831 votes, 56.21%
- Lib Dem- 6,312, 17.38%
- Con- 4,967, 14.08%
- Green- 2,544, 7.21%
- UKIP- 643, 1.82%
So due to the vagaries of our undemocratic and archaic electoral system, it would appear to the cynic that there would be no point in voting at all in such a safe Labour constituency. That's what they want you to think. You see, contrary to what some glossy Uncle Tom motherfucker over the pond has been telling people, change can only come from below. Change has
never, and
will never come from above. Minor parties
can influence government policy, one only has to look at the influence the fledgling Labour Party had on the Liberal government of the early twentieth century to see that the rising power of popular movements
scares the shit out of the establishment, and can result in real change. The fact is if we ever have serious electoral reform, such as a truly democratic voting system where every ones vote counts, then the Green Party
will play a major role in forming government policy, as they do in Scotland and in every other European country with any semblance of a functioning, modern and democratic system.
As for an all Green government, it's not as remote a possibility as you might think. The so-called Labour Party that governs this country no longer represents the Labour movement it was created from. It is my prediction (and hope) that one day the major Trade Unions that support this now defunct institution will withdraw their financial support and place their faith in a party that actually represents their interests. The Green Party would be the inevitable choice.
In summary, what I see happening today in British politics is both exciting an terrifying. People are finally waking up to the bullshit of neoliberalism and the convergence of corporate interests it represents. Things can go one of two ways; either we embrace a progressive reform agenda, or we sink into fascism.
Just remember this, if you do vote on the 4th of June, don't vote for the main three. You'll change nothing. And if you vote at the next General Election, don't pussy out, don't let them tell you you're wasting your vote. Vote against them again. And tell everyone you know to do the same.
18
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrLE3yBn2Nw[/video]
"We Greens are internationalists; we want to foster solidarity between peoples, and we believe cooperation
builds peace, as it has done in Europe. Our geography means that we are part of
Europe. We believe in Europe, but not in a European super-state." Page 10
www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/EU_Manifesto_2009.pdf
This is good old fashioned double speak. How can you claim to be an "internationalist" that wants to foster "solidarity" but keep Britians interests first? Answer...you can't. This is not leadership. It is more of the same spineless wet towel mentallity that you have now.
@Pablos
"Just remember this, if you do vote on the 4th of June, don't vote for the main three. You'll change nothing. And if you vote at the next General Election, don't pussy out, don't let them tell you you're wasting your vote. Vote against them again. And tell everyone you know to do the same."
So you don't want people to tell you that you are wasting your vote.....but yet you have done just that by saying, if you vote for the main three, "You'll change nothing" (i.e. you are wasting your vote).
I agree with you that it is obvious that the big three are not getting the job done. I just found it funny.....The fact that you vote at ALL is not a wasted vote in my eyes. No matter the party.
"We Greens are internationalists; we want to foster solidarity between peoples, and we believe cooperation
builds peace, as it has done in Europe. Our geography means that we are part of
Europe. We believe in Europe, but not in a European super-state." Page 10
www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/EU_Manifesto_2009.pdf
This is good old fashioned double speak. How can you claim to be an "internationalist" that wants to foster "solidarity" but keep Britians interests first? Answer...you can't. This is not leadership. It is more of the same spineless wet towel mentallity that you have now.
@Pablos
"Just remember this, if you do vote on the 4th of June, don't vote for the main three. You'll change nothing. And if you vote at the next General Election, don't pussy out, don't let them tell you you're wasting your vote. Vote against them again. And tell everyone you know to do the same."
So you don't want people to tell you that you are wasting your vote.....but yet you have done just that by saying, if you vote for the main three, "You'll change nothing" (i.e. you are wasting your vote).
I agree with you that it is obvious that the big three are not getting the job done. I just found it funny.....The fact that you vote at ALL is not a wasted vote in my eyes. No matter the party.
basically, man the fuck up and stop crying about trees, they're shit, motorways are where its at, motorways and skyscrappers, and dams and shit. big things, that are good, and make money. not trees, that simply sit about all day drinking co2, then sitting about all night drinking o2. its just not acceptable.
other than that, TIN'd.
basically, man the fuck up and stop crying about trees, they're shit, motorways are where its at, motorways and skyscrappers, and dams and shit. big things, that are good, and make money. not trees, that simply sit about all day drinking co2, then sitting about all night drinking o2. its just not acceptable.
other than that, TIN'd.
That's some impressive wood he's got there...
@shanus
This is good old fashioned double speak. How can you claim to be an "internationalist" that wants to foster "solidarity" but keep Britians interests first? Answer...you can't. This is not leadership. It is more of the same spineless wet towel mentallity that you have now.
Not at all. It's not in anyones interest to isolationist and nationalistic. Fostering cooperation between nation states is in the interests of Britain and humanity as a whole. As for Europe, they're argument is quite clear. Democracy should be devolved to a more local, less centralised system. A European Super-State doesn't fit in with that.
I agree with you that it is obvious that the big three are not getting the job done. I just found it funny.....The fact that you vote at ALL is not a wasted vote in my eyes. No matter the party.
Like I said, because of the backward undemocratic nature of our system, only votes in the marginal constituencies (in your language, swing states) have any impact on the outcome of an election. That means only a couple of thousand peoples votes actually count! Coupled with the fact that the ideological difference between the main three is virtually nonexistent, I'd argue a vote for any of them is a wasted vote. I believe the only way the electorate can have any true influence is to vote against them, forcing them to modify they're positions. Until the system is reforemed it's our only option, in my humble opinion.
That's some impressive wood he's got there...
@shanus
This is good old fashioned double speak. How can you claim to be an "internationalist" that wants to foster "solidarity" but keep Britians interests first? Answer...you can't. This is not leadership. It is more of the same spineless wet towel mentallity that you have now.
Not at all. It's not in anyones interest to isolationist and nationalistic. Fostering cooperation between nation states is in the interests of Britain and humanity as a whole. As for Europe, they're argument is quite clear. Democracy should be devolved to a more local, less centralised system. A European Super-State doesn't fit in with that.
I agree with you that it is obvious that the big three are not getting the job done. I just found it funny.....The fact that you vote at ALL is not a wasted vote in my eyes. No matter the party.
Like I said, because of the backward undemocratic nature of our system, only votes in the marginal constituencies (in your language, swing states) have any impact on the outcome of an election. That means only a couple of thousand peoples votes actually count! Coupled with the fact that the ideological difference between the main three is virtually nonexistent, I'd argue a vote for any of them is a wasted vote. I believe the only way the electorate can have any true influence is to vote against them, forcing them to modify they're positions. Until the system is reforemed it's our only option, in my humble opinion.
nobody really cares what you do or why, its not really criticism its just too easy to ridicule those damn hippy bastards. you dont like the fact im voting BNP (you douchebag) but i dont have to explain my self to you or anybody else why im voting for them.
btw you called me a nazi but im not, ignore the avatar... and who im voting for... and the antisemitic thoughts... and the tattoos... but anyway, i dont know you, you might not be a hippy, and you dont know me so dont call me a nazi based on my vote then write a blog because douchebags dont like youre decision.
nobody really cares what you do or why, its not really criticism its just too easy to ridicule those damn hippy bastards. you dont like the fact im voting BNP (you douchebag) but i dont have to explain my self to you or anybody else why im voting for them.
btw you called me a nazi but im not, ignore the avatar... and who im voting for... and the antisemitic thoughts... and the tattoos... but anyway, i dont know you, you might not be a hippy, and you dont know me so dont call me a nazi based on my vote then write a blog because douchebags dont like youre decision.
If you think this blog was aimed specifically at you then you have a serious ego problem. Anyway, TAN needs more original writing and political blogs during an election campaign would be good for the site I feel. Why don't you write your own pro BNP blog? It'd be interesting to here some other opinions, I just thought I'd set the ball rolling.
Like I've already stated, I don't care who people vote for as long as it's not for the big three. By all means vote for the Nazis, they're still going to finish behind the Greens. They always do!
If you think this blog was aimed specifically at you then you have a serious ego problem. Anyway, TAN needs more original writing and political blogs during an election campaign would be good for the site I feel. Why don't you write your own pro BNP blog? It'd be interesting to here some other opinions, I just thought I'd set the ball rolling.
Like I've already stated, I don't care who people vote for as long as it's not for the big three. By all means vote for the Nazis, they're still going to finish behind the Greens. They always do!
youre right about the greens doing better that the BNP, even more so since the BNP lost a lot of support when their members list leaked, but both will still do better than they have done because like you want, people are turning away from the big three, whether its to put a message to the leading parties theyre losing touch or whether they genuinely believe in their policies.
im not going to write a blog supporting the BNP, because im not tryin to gather support for them (that and i cant write for shit). a lot of people are going to vote for BNP as a protest vote mainly because of immigration. nobodys denying that, but to call them nazis is a bit strong. everyone in the country knows we cant handle the numbers were taking in, and the ones that get caught here illegally are let out until theyre deported (which suprisingly they dont show up for). so people do have a right to feel frustrated.
the thing is the BNP do have other policies that dont involve immigration, like every other party they also have policies on law and order, agriculture, economy, health, transport. these are also what people like and that is why they are voting for them, you should know not all greens are hippies, just like not all BNP voters are nazis.
youre right about the greens doing better that the BNP, even more so since the BNP lost a lot of support when their members list leaked, but both will still do better than they have done because like you want, people are turning away from the big three, whether its to put a message to the leading parties theyre losing touch or whether they genuinely believe in their policies.
im not going to write a blog supporting the BNP, because im not tryin to gather support for them (that and i cant write for shit). a lot of people are going to vote for BNP as a protest vote mainly because of immigration. nobodys denying that, but to call them nazis is a bit strong. everyone in the country knows we cant handle the numbers were taking in, and the ones that get caught here illegally are let out until theyre deported (which suprisingly they dont show up for). so people do have a right to feel frustrated.
the thing is the BNP do have other policies that dont involve immigration, like every other party they also have policies on law and order, agriculture, economy, health, transport. these are also what people like and that is why they are voting for them, you should know not all greens are hippies, just like not all BNP voters are nazis.
enlighten me, what can voting green do for me in the upcoming european election?
personally i think we should break away from europe, or at least be present in a different form. i don't understand why britain has to be part of europe at all, we can quite happily grow our own food and feed ourselves (granted something the greens want to promote) and we can quite happily govern ourselves with our own laws, european laws just complicate shit and have no right to be able to undermining us. lets not forget that the pound is still strong enough to compete with the euro, so much so that we're still paying more to europe than any other eu country. why? fuck them! we don't even get cheap croissants or brotworst when we go visit, we get looked down at for being the scum of europe. that's what the spanish and french are there for, they don't need us.
so, just what will the greens do for me?
ukip (bleurgh!) want us out altogether and tories want a different role there (isn't cameron trying for his own little european pact? i need to read into that more). screw cleggs poncy liberal wankstain of a party and fuck bnp (i don't even want to look at that manifesto). this leaves me with shit and shitter. fuuuuuck, i really should just start my own party!!
enlighten me, what can voting green do for me in the upcoming european election?
personally i think we should break away from europe, or at least be present in a different form. i don't understand why britain has to be part of europe at all, we can quite happily grow our own food and feed ourselves (granted something the greens want to promote) and we can quite happily govern ourselves with our own laws, european laws just complicate shit and have no right to be able to undermining us. lets not forget that the pound is still strong enough to compete with the euro, so much so that we're still paying more to europe than any other eu country. why? fuck them! we don't even get cheap croissants or brotworst when we go visit, we get looked down at for being the scum of europe. that's what the spanish and french are there for, they don't need us.
so, just what will the greens do for me?
ukip (bleurgh!) want us out altogether and tories want a different role there (isn't cameron trying for his own little european pact? i need to read into that more). screw cleggs poncy liberal wankstain of a party and fuck bnp (i don't even want to look at that manifesto). this leaves me with shit and shitter. fuuuuuck, i really should just start my own party!!
enlighten me, what can voting green do for me in the upcoming european election?
personally i think we should break away from europe, or at least be present in a different form. i don't understand why britain has to be part of europe at all, we can quite happily grow our own food and feed ourselves (granted something the greens want to promote) and we can quite happily govern ourselves with our own laws, european laws just complicate shit and have no right to be able to undermining us. lets not forget that the pound is still strong enough to compete with the euro, so much so that we're still paying more to europe than any other eu country. why? fuck them! we don't even get cheap croissants or brotworst when we go visit, we get looked down at for being the scum of europe. that's what the spanish and french are there for, they don't need us.
so, just what will the greens do for me?
ukip (bleurgh!) want us out altogether and tories want a different role there (isn't cameron trying for his own little european pact? i need to read into that more). screw cleggs poncy liberal wankstain of a party and fuck bnp (i don't even want to look at that manifesto). this leaves me with shit and shitter. fuuuuuck, i really should just start my own party!!
[/quote]
that was much better than the blog
enlighten me, what can voting green do for me in the upcoming european election?
personally i think we should break away from europe, or at least be present in a different form. i don't understand why britain has to be part of europe at all, we can quite happily grow our own food and feed ourselves (granted something the greens want to promote) and we can quite happily govern ourselves with our own laws, european laws just complicate shit and have no right to be able to undermining us. lets not forget that the pound is still strong enough to compete with the euro, so much so that we're still paying more to europe than any other eu country. why? fuck them! we don't even get cheap croissants or brotworst when we go visit, we get looked down at for being the scum of europe. that's what the spanish and french are there for, they don't need us.
so, just what will the greens do for me?
ukip (bleurgh!) want us out altogether and tories want a different role there (isn't cameron trying for his own little european pact? i need to read into that more). screw cleggs poncy liberal wankstain of a party and fuck bnp (i don't even want to look at that manifesto). this leaves me with shit and shitter. fuuuuuck, i really should just start my own party!!
that was much better than the blog
I've a lot more to say on the EU and BNP respectively than a mere comment would do justice. Moar blogs to follow...
I've a lot more to say on the EU and BNP respectively than a mere comment would do justice. Moar blogs to follow...
enlighten me, what can voting green do for me in the upcoming european election?
personally i think we should break away from europe, or at least be present in a different form. i don't understand why britain has to be part of europe at all, we can quite happily grow our own food and feed ourselves (granted something the greens want to promote) and we can quite happily govern ourselves with our own laws, european laws just complicate shit and have no right to be able to undermining us. lets not forget that the pound is still strong enough to compete with the euro, so much so that we're still paying more to europe than any other eu country. why? fuck them! we don't even get cheap croissants or brotworst when we go visit, we get looked down at for being the scum of europe. that's what the spanish and french are there for, they don't need us.
so, just what will the greens do for me?
ukip (bleurgh!) want us out altogether and tories want a different role there (isn't cameron trying for his own little european pact? i need to read into that more). screw cleggs poncy liberal wankstain of a party and fuck bnp (i don't even want to look at that manifesto). this leaves me with shit and shitter. fuuuuuck, i really should just start my own party!!
[/quote]
well said, vote ukip and prepare for the great war, its coming.
enlighten me, what can voting green do for me in the upcoming european election?
personally i think we should break away from europe, or at least be present in a different form. i don't understand why britain has to be part of europe at all, we can quite happily grow our own food and feed ourselves (granted something the greens want to promote) and we can quite happily govern ourselves with our own laws, european laws just complicate shit and have no right to be able to undermining us. lets not forget that the pound is still strong enough to compete with the euro, so much so that we're still paying more to europe than any other eu country. why? fuck them! we don't even get cheap croissants or brotworst when we go visit, we get looked down at for being the scum of europe. that's what the spanish and french are there for, they don't need us.
so, just what will the greens do for me?
ukip (bleurgh!) want us out altogether and tories want a different role there (isn't cameron trying for his own little european pact? i need to read into that more). screw cleggs poncy liberal wankstain of a party and fuck bnp (i don't even want to look at that manifesto). this leaves me with shit and shitter. fuuuuuck, i really should just start my own party!!
well said, vote ukip and prepare for the great war, its coming.
EU or FU!
EU or FU!