It's not like it were in my day....

vivatifosi

kennyboy66 wrote: »

To be honest, who'd want to be a MP ?

Unless you make it to a decent cabinet post, the pay is rubbish, as are the working conditions and expections. If you are back bencher you may get a couple of votes a year when you count.

That's the catch 22 isn't it? But the pay is only rubbish for a quality candidate. I'd argue that many MPs, including those that have got to cabinet posts, have been utterly dreadful (in both main parties), lacked real world experience and were not worth even the basic MP's salary.

I agree that it would be great to see more independents, but they risk their own money, find it hard to stand against well-funded party mouth-pieces, and unless they are a known person in the first place are unlikely to get elected (and possibly get their deposit back). Plus of course, they'd never earn the money that a cabinet post would give them. Depressing isn't it? The system definitely needs a rethink.

lemonjelly

vivatifosi wrote: »

That's the catch 22 isn't it? But the pay is only rubbish for a quality candidate. I'd argue that many MPs, including those that have got to cabinet posts, have been utterly dreadful (in both main parties), lacked real world experience and were not worth even the basic MP's salary.

I agree that it would be great to see more independents, but they risk their own money, find it hard to stand against well-funded party mouth-pieces, and unless they are a known person in the first place are unlikely to get elected (and possibly get their deposit back). Plus of course, they'd never earn the money that a cabinet post would give them. Depressing isn't it? The system definitely needs a rethink.

I especially agree with the bit highlighted. So true.

My feeling is that we, as an electorate need to make MP's much more accountable for their actions & their responsibilities.

Currently, I don't feel MP's are responsible enough. & as eloquently stated Viva, performance is way below what is required.

moggylover

Cleaver wrote: »

Just two comments really. Firstly, we've seen that the power of the internet and the 'virtual protest' can make a difference. A bit of a silly, non-political example, but just look at the Facebook campaign that put Rage Against The Machine at number one at Christmas. And in terms of not protesting anymore, wasn't there an estimate of over a million people marching as part of the ant-war movement in recent years? I think people will 'hit the streets' on occassion, but maybe you're right and there is more virtual protesting nowadays. Not really sure which is the most effective to be honest.

I expect that on-line protest can be quite effective in its way. However, there is something to be said for a huge public presence screaming loudly that cannot be ignored easily and I believe that this brings with it all sorts of bonuses like feeling at least that you are not totally powerless to influence change and also publicises the matter so that those who might never have noticed it perhaps look into it further and form opinions.

It also felt good to be a part of a movement for change! Even when you were in the back of a black Maria because you had laid down in the street and refused to move for what you believed in (:eek::o:o). It was about strength of character and morals and integrity and I don't feel that doing it almost anonymously on the web carries anything like the same camaraderie or honesty with it.

treliac

SingleSue wrote: »

My children are very anti labour and especially anti Brown...and according to eldest, a lot of his peers feel the same way which does not bode well for Labour bearing in mind eldest will be of an age to vote in less than 18 months.

robin_banks wrote: »

I think at that age they are often anti whoever is in power.

In the youth culture of today, Brown isn't going to have much appeal for new voters (how ever many bananas he eats each day )

fedupfreda

lemonjelly wrote: »

I especially agree with the bit highlighted. So true.

My feeling is that we, as an electorate need to make MP's much more accountable for their actions & their responsibilities.

Currently, I don't feel MP's are responsible enough. & as eloquently stated Viva, performance is way below what is required.

That is exactly why they should have to go through some kind of review every year, lets face it, the rest of us have our annual reviews at work, why can't they?

On second thoughts, don't think any of us could face an election every year. :(Its bad enough once in every 5 years :eek::eek::eek:

(slinks back to the drawing board for a rethink:o)

kennyboy66_2

partlydave wrote: »

And there was the 3 day week in the reign of Ted Heath, where you had to go to the high street to check in the Electricity shop which days of the week you would have power on. No midweek evening footie games were allowed to conserve energy supplies.
Can you imagine today not have electricity for 4 days a week?

Just because we had a 3 day week, it doesn't mean we were without power for the other 4 days !

The 3 day week was for commercial use.

The power strikes were separate - I know it gets confusing.