More for those voting in the 2004 European elections.

[reddragdiva]

Further on Thursday's election: emarkienna points out that, although the Lib Dems claim to oppose software patents, their MEPs actually voted for them. This means the only parties actively opposing software patents are the Greens and the fluffy BNP UK Independence Party. Vote wisely, and contact all parties beforehand and afterwards saying why you voted as you did.

Remember: the European election turnout was 18% last time. Your vote is noticeable.

(I am torn between voting for the Greens on this issue and voting against them for having a Flash-only website.)

As before, I encourage you to post concerning this to your own journal.

In further news, immigrant hordes fail to invade the UK (courtesy deeply_spurious).

Comments

[aidan-skinner.livejournal.com]

Move to Scotland, the scottish greens website (http://www.scottishgreens.org.uk) is non-flash. ;p

The lead scottish lib dem candidate's spoke person was equally shifty in email on this matter.

- A

[arkady.livejournal.com]

As I remarked to Mark, I have personal issues about voting Green. They have never removed the intent to depose the Monarchy from their manifesto, and I am a Royalist. "For Queen and Country" has a deep personal meaning to me. I cannot therefore in all conscience vote for a party that make no secret of their intent to do away with the Monarchy altogether.

Did you know the death penalty for High Treason has never been repealed in this country...?

[reddragdiva]

I think they have bugger-all chance of achieving that aim, and certainly not with a position in the European Parliament ...

If the software patent issue is of concern to you, maybe vote Lib Dem, tell them it was because of their platform on this issue and that you have full faith they will vote according to the platform.

[arkady.livejournal.com]

I know they don't have a chance of acheiving it. That's not the point. It's a matter of principal.

I'm afraid I tend to naturally lean towards the right wing politically myself. Except I wouldn't trust any of the St.Albans lads as far as I could drop-kick them - and that's from any of the parties. And the Lib-Dem candidate has already shown up canvassing on the doorstep once thus far - a slimy, sleazy git. Even the Labour candidate would be more trustworthy - at least I actually know him personally.

You see it's not just a matter of the party's policies. It's also knowing that the person voted in will have a lot of influence in local policy - and whether or not one feels that the candidate will actually actively pursue the stated agenda once elected.

[fluffymormegil.livejournal.com]

Which of the LD candidates? There should be something like six, EP voting is weird.

[arkady.livejournal.com]

Here in St.Albans I've had just the one show up. Mind you, St.Albans has had either a hung or an LD council for the past ten to fifteen years; they're a right bunch of incompetents. Which doesn't exactly reassure me about their abilities at European level.

[fluffymormegil.livejournal.com]

One of the problems with local politics is that even with good intentions, you have to deal with the fact that Whitehall can naysay huge swathes you want to do. The best bit is: if you come up with a budget and Whitehall don't like the council tax requirement it contains, they cap you and you have to spend a bunch more council taxpayers' money on writing a new budget - which means your services get even worse.

[vampwillow]

at one point I did consider running for selection as the LibDem candidate (westminster) for St Albans. ...

[beckyzoole.livejournal.com]

the European election turnout was 18% last time

I'm flabbergasted. I thought that Americans had a pitiful turnout, but that Europeans actually voted in their elections. Is it only the European Union elections that get such little participation?

[reddragdiva]

So it seems.

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

Local and national elections generally have a much better turnout; elections to the European Parliament tend to be worse because a lot of people don't understand what the EU is all about, or are less interested in what 'eurocrats' are in power.

[incy.livejournal.com]

actually i though the Communists and the George Galloway Respect party were also against the war. And some of the Liberals on their list were pro and some were anit, which seems to be very balanced and fair...