Why shouldn't I vote lib dem?

Alan_Cross

Alan_M wrote: »

Like the OP I'm looking for reasons not to vote for the Lib Dems.


The thing is, I only really like Vince Cable and I can't vote for an entire party on the grounds I like one straight talking chap.

Get away with you.

From your admissions, you've been voting for an entire party consistently in the past on even shakier grounds.

lostinrates

GDB2222 wrote: »

It's a very responsible role, and I'm sure that you'll be excellent for the job. Thank you.

Who knows a couple of foreign languages and wants to be foreign secretary? Come to think of it, languages aren't essential as you can just speak loudly and the for'ners will understand.

Maybe I'd rather do that. Lots of travel. But no police to boss about....hmm....decisions decisions....

I really want Mandelson's job. Can' remember what the title is, but it seems to involve having a finger in all the pies....yet none of the flak? That seems a good one to me.

What are you? Leader?

FATBALLZ

I find it interesting that you ask anyone and they say "oh yeah I'm voting lib dem, they have the right idea, I would never vote for the other two they are rubbish" and then the lib dems promptly get crucified at the polls every 5 years. They are a nothing party with the luxury of making promises they can never be accused of reneging on because they'll never be in power.

It's easy for vince cable to sit there and tell the truth because it isn't him who is going to get into power, have to cut the NHS and hear screams of 'nasty party! they all have private health care and hate the common man'. I'm sure the other parties would love to tell the truth but there is actually a point of reference to show where they have made errors in policies before which they have to distance themselves from because the public is too dumb to understand not every policy is 100% positive or 100% negative , hence the same old non-policies and vague statements we're getting at the moment from the main two parties.

GDB2222

lostinrates wrote: »

What are you? Leader?

I was hoping for the role of eminence grise.

dave4545454

i vote lib dems

i think they'd actually do suprisingly well if everyone who actually wanted to vote for them did instead of voting for some other party feeling the lib dems are a wasted vote

ninky_2

GDB2222 wrote: »

David Lammy seems worth moving to Tottenham for.

On a separate point, can I say how disappointed I was by you MSE'ers. I know what a canny lot you are, and I suggested we form a party to contest the election. I suggested PN as shadow chanellor, as she seems pretty careful with money - just what we need. And I asked for nominations for home secretary, preferably someone not to keen on locking people up, as that is just soooo Dickensian, not to say expensive.

I have received not one reply! I feel so stabbed in the back, and we haven't even started yet.

i wouldn't want a ministerial role. i'd be happy to be head of a policy think tank. come out with lots of new ideas and then pass them over for others to either dismiss or run with. i'm good with questioning and ideas but less good with towing the party line. so either a think tanker or a problem back bench position for me please.

carolt

GDB2222 wrote: »

I was hoping for the role of eminence grise.

Ahh, so you're having Mandy's job, then.

Can I have John Prescott's please?

I quite fancy a life playing croquet in the grounds of my castle.

Or if that's been done away with, um...I'll be Chancellor then. I'd quite like to go head to head with Osborne - same age, same degree, same uni and all.

But I suspect I'd win the straight-taking prize.

Oh, just remembered that you've given that one to PN.

Well, it'll have to be Education, then.

Or DSS or whatever it's called now. I'd enjoy cutting the benefit bill immensely. Finish off what Frank Field never got the chance to finish...

A_fiend_for_life

The lib dems have a policy for flattening tier rates for gas and electricity that would mean low users would be rewarded while high users would pay more.

The conservatives have a policy for home loan improvements that would allow households to improve the energy efficiency of their homes at a 'low' interest rate.

Neither the conservatives nor the lib dems have a coherent policy covering both poor and solvent households. If we are to achieve any sort of growth after over a decade of poor investment in energy infrastructure and efficiency Labour need to be remiinded of their poor track record.

The Lib Dems also have a policy for upgrading or redeveloping seven ports not one along the east coast to service off shore wind farms and provide manufacturing of turbines.

At present Labour have managed to brush their poor track record on energy under the carpet while the Lib Dems and the Conservatives are focusing on jobs and the economy. A high speed train won't yield any efficiencies soon. Labour have also stalled on off shore wind farms and grid connections. Labour have suggested hundreds of thousands of jobs for ages without actually delivering.

The Lib Dems pledge smart metering in 5 years not a decade as is Labour's policy. Italy managed installation in three years though might not be a good example.

The Conservatives proposed the high speed rail link that Labour hijacked. Plus the 'green' bank

The CERT scheme is held back from making any meaningful improvement as energy providers are permitted to claw back through billing. Any larger targets under the scheme would push more into fuel poverty. It needs investment from outside energy prices. The CERT scheme has also been criticised for a lack of reporting by energy companies - Labour are still permitting a lack of geographical reporting until 2013. The publication, in April 2009, that CFLs would be removed from the scheme in Jan 2010 permitted energy companies to send out an excess of bulbs undermining the system. There was also an underperformance in cavity wall insulation and double accounting of the number of homes receiving loft insulation.

Considering the scheme adds around £45 a year to fuel bills, pushes more into fuel poverty, has suffered a lack of reporting, double accounting and loop holes the system can be a lot better managed.

FiTs are too generous and could provide around seven times the energy per £1 if invested in wind energy.

With tentative signs of recovery that are propped up and, high gas, electricity, petrol and oil when we're supposedly coming out of a recession any meaningful recovery is likely to be held back. Alternatively, high consumption industries such as metals smelting will experience closures.

I think the solution lies somewhere between Lib Dem and Conservative policies on energy at least in terms of domestic efficiencies. The Lib Dems flat rate policy should complement the Conservatives low interest home loan scheme paid back through bills. They both need to emphasise more on decoupling subsidised energy efficiency from fuel bills which currently holds the system back.

It seems ironic Labour are proposing a high speed train when they can't regulate effectively the price of rail tickets and insist on airport expansion.

A_fiend_for_life

oops that was longer than I thought.

Emy1501

No point voting Lib Dems because the average member of the public are only interested in whats best for them rather than whats best for the country.

People want a great health service and eduction for the little ones but no one wants to pay for it. The Lib Dems i remember last time round were honest enough to tell us that and course few voted for them even though most will say they like what they stand for.

Labour have got themselves in the mess they have because they realised that people want excellent services without paying for them. They found out the hard way in 1992. Therefore they have just borrowed lots of money since 1997 to fund it knowing that us the public would not fund it through higher taxes.

The Con's on the other side know that even if unemployment goes up to 3.5m and few hundred thousand more lose their house etc the vast majority wont care as long as its not them. therefore soon or later they will announce where the cuts are going to be and once the majority realise its not them their popularity will increase.

On the other hand the lib dems cant help but be honest as Vince said they cant protect Health and education without raising taxes and it want better services we will have to pay for it and no ones really interested in that what ever they say in public.

Therefore unless the Lib Dem start to lie like the other 2 party's they have no hope.

I voted for them last time but no point this time.