|Laguna| Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 I'm just curious in this day in age how many people keep up to date with today's political agenda or if many take the "they're all lying corrupt so-and-sos" and try and blank any political goings on. I do Politics for AS (but I would like to think that I would be interested in it regardless), so I generally try and read what I can in newspapers each day about what's happening in the Commons and such. But what about you? How involved and informed are you? Are you a member or strong supporter of any particular political party? And if not, why not?
The Bard Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 I'm not informed at all, and likely never will be. I'm probably going to be one of those people who're too fucking lazy to vote.
Letty Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 I try to avoid them as much as possible. I have no desire to know about the world.
conzer16 Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 I'm not actively involved in politics but I do have a keen interest in it, both domestic and international. I'm a republican (ooooh! He's Irish and a republican!), and I hold strong views on certain aspects of the country, the people running it and the world. I hate to align myself to a party, but I do vote consistently for a party. I do however weigh up all the alternatives, see which manifesto suits my core beliefs and/or political persuasion and go from there. I am quite overtly political in my views and have been known to get in the odd argument.
Fierce_LiNk Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 Nice thread. I think it's important to know what's going on in the world. I don't mean you have to follow absolutely everything, but just to keep up on one or two things I feel is important. Saying that, I'm not involved with a particular party. I'm more of an onlooker, and I'll say what I think I agree and disagree with, but I won't religiously follow one party.
Guest Jordan Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 Opposite to Letty, i find politics pretty interesting. I like to watch debates on BBC Parliament sometimes
gaggle64 Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 I am a voter, I have plenty of opinions, I like to keep abreast of political events and I also enjoy good political satire. I'm a Lib-Dem supporter at the mo, though I can't say I'm entirely enamoured with Sir Menzies Campbell.
Charlie Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 I would say I'm more interested than most people I know. I like to know what our Government are up to, although I don't go as far as Jordan as to waching the debates (because I'm at school when they're on ). I know what I want our Government to do what they aren't, what they are doing but shouldn't be and what they are doing right. It's a shame none of the parties have all my wishes in them. I'm almost dead center on in the political compass* last time I did it. Although the time before I was about 2 places below Hitler, and if I'm going to be completely honest, which I am, I probably am around Hitler. I agree with a lot of Mr. Blair's policies and as far as I'm concerned, after what the Conservative government did to the country from 79-97 I could never vote for them. Cameron doesn't know what he wants, he wants to be seen as 'hip' and 'cool', but it's really not happening. As far as the Scottish Governement is concerned, anyone who votes for anyone other than either Labour or SNP are wasting their votes (although you can't waste 1 of your votes using AMS). Only those parties have a chance of getting into power in the up-coming Election. God help us if SNP win and get independence for Scotland, I don't even want to think of what would happen to the country if that were to happen. I'm going to miss the vote by about 3 weeks because my birthday is a the end of May. *http://www.politicalcompass.org - Pretty fun quiz to do if you're bored for 5 minutes. It tells you if you're left or right wing and how libertarian or authoritarian.
gaggle64 Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 Opposite to Letty, i find politics pretty interesting. I like to watch debates on BBC Parliament sometimes I fookin love that channel - it's the only place that truly provides the full spectrum of British politics. You won't believe how my faith in politics jumped when I flipped on to find an all day inquest into compensation for miners.
Fierce_LiNk Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 I am a voter, I have plenty of opinions, I like to keep abreast of political events and I also enjoy good political satire. I'm a Lib-Dem supporter at the mo, though I can't say I'm entirely enamoured with Sir Menzies Campbell. I did vote for the Lib Dems a while back, but I was a bit annoyed to see Charles Kennedy leave. I really liked the guy, and I thought he was doing a pretty good job. I've lost interest in them a lot since then.
mariosmentor Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 I'm not that interested at all which I kinda put down to the fact that I generally dislike the UK all together and don't intend to stay here long enough to feel the effect of any actions I take in a political sense.
conzer16 Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 I did vote for the Lib Dems a while back, but I was a bit annoyed to see Charles Kennedy leave. I really liked the guy, and I thought he was doing a pretty good job. I've lost interest in them a lot since then. Quite interesting that you mention the Lib Dems! In my year out from uni last year, I spent a lot of time reading and watching the British press, and I came to like the Lib. Dems and Charles Kennedy and even though I'm not British, I found myself really taking a liking to their politics! Edit: I used to make sure I didn't miss Prime Minister questions!! Also FOX news was my comedy gold channel for the year! American politics and UK politics offered such a diverse spectrum of dim-wits, comedy and sheer idiocy at times!
Fierce_LiNk Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 Quite interesting that you mention the Lib Dems! In my year out from uni last year, I spent a lot of time reading and watching the British press, and I came to like the Lib. Dems and Charles Kennedy and even though I'm not British, I found myself really taking a liking to their politics! They seem more down to earth than other parties, and students always take a liking towards them. In my 6th form, the majority of us voted for the Lib Dems.
Guest Jordan Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 http://www.politicalcompass.org/printablegraph?ec=-1.88&soc=-0.87 Thats me apparently, a left wing Libertarian... like Ghandi.
Charlie Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 Also FOX news was my comedy gold channel for the year! American politics and UK politics offered such a diverse spectrum of dim-wits, comedy and sheer idiocy at times! FOX News is classic. I really can't believe how.... it is. It really is a TV version of The Sun. A tabloid news programme, if that's possible. I love watching HIGNFY as they have some great jokes about politics and show you loads of funnies that would otherwise never have been seen.
gaggle64 Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 They seem more down to earth than other parties, and students always take a liking towards them. In my 6th form, the majority of us voted for the Lib Dems. After Labour went "New" they're the only viable alternative if you ask me. I preferred Charles Kennedy too.
gmac Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 I'm not actively involved in politics but I do try to keep up with the main parties policies. I believe that Labour are the best option at the moment in the UK as the Tories under Cameron are just a lot of hot air and no substance. The biggest worry for me in UK politics is the rise of the extreme right parties like the BNP, who for some reason are managing to get a lot of support in certain areas of England. In Scotland we've got elections coming up for our parliament and it looks like we will probably have a hung parliament since Labour and the SNP are close in the polls which will maybe mean having to bring the independents/greens into the Government. The funny thing with Scotland is that the only party that is right of centre is the Tories and they don't have much standing in Scotland at all. I suppose it will be quite interesting in the future if the Scottish and UK governments are being run by different parties oh and according to the political compass I'm really left wing http://www.politicalcompass.org/printablegraph?ec=-5.88&soc=-1.79
The Bard Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 *http://www.politicalcompass.org - Pretty fun quiz to do if you're bored for 5 minutes. It tells you if you're left or right wing and how libertarian or authoritarian. Wtf does this mean? Edit, whoops wrong one :p....thar ya go... Shit, according to this thing, I'm the Dalai Lama o_0
gmac Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 that just shows you the compass, if you scroll further down it gives you your result
gaggle64 Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 I don't like that quiz, in the religion section it all seemed to suggest that your either a true-blue atheist or a slavering, baby-eating totalitarian nutjob.
|Laguna| Posted March 18, 2007 Author Posted March 18, 2007 Nice thread. Yay thanks I don't often create threads, and I was scared this one would bomb. Oh and did anyone see the Comic Relief sketch containing Tony Blair? This may be just me, but I found saw it as an blatant attempt by him to try and "look cool" and improve his PR. I found it horribly cringey and I doubt he's gives a sod about Red Nose day.
Shorty Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 When signing up to any website that asks, I list my political standpoint as: apathetic.
Hellfire Posted March 18, 2007 Posted March 18, 2007 I'm somewhat informed, I have my opinion, but I don't follow anyone blindly nor do I get dragged into stupid political debates. I just feel that I should be aware of what's going on.
Monopolyman Posted March 19, 2007 Posted March 19, 2007 I do Government & Politics at A2, so pretty damn involved. Although lately, I tend to be more interested on the international side of politics these days. I'm also tend to be more interested in American Politics than British politics. Never-the-less, I'm still interested on domestic issues. Try and read the paper as much as possible. I generally support labour, but I wouldn't say I was that strong a supporter. I'd ramble on more, but I'm too tired and stressed out.
Mundi Posted March 19, 2007 Posted March 19, 2007 http://www.politicalcompass.org/printablegraph?ec=-2.63&soc=-5.49 Communist Anarchist! Thats me! Very close to Gandhi though
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