Does anyone think voting in a general election in the UK anymore, is anything but a complete waste of time?

Question

That the whole process from start to finish is completely non-sensical. For example, why do we still have to go to a dusty town hall or school etc., to place the flaming vote in the first place? Why, by now, can't we place our votes on our PC'S or mobile phones ? Why is the patron saint of the UK - Saint Status bloody Quo ?
And can you choose between them now - do you honestly believe any of today's politicians are actually in politics to improve the state of our lives and not just theirs ? And in the big scheme of things wasn't it a bad idea to get rid of the double-jeopardy law on one hand and on the other if you are incorrectly processed by the criminal justice system they won't 'unprocess you' i.e. criminal record, DNA, etc., because the logic is, it is easier to eliminate you if you are not guilty of something that might happen in the future - how does that fit in with 'innoncent until proven guilty' - hasn't voting now become a 'heads I win - tails you lose" scenario !!!

Why can't I bring Status Quo into it - I think they're a good band ? !

Black Sabbath - after you gave my question careful and considerate thought - that is what you came up with is - that we don't have firearms - I'm glad you aren't president or prime minister !!!

Answer 1

It may appear to be a waste of time but I would urge you to vote anyway. After all a lot of people fought and died so we could vote. I agree with you that choosing between the major parties is like choosing between Tweedledum and Tweedledee and nobody can be more cynical about our politicians, left, right and centre than myself. Even the most radical individual politicos, at least in terms of lifestyle, soon become co-opted into the system. Usually when I vote it's because I'm against a party not because I'm for whoever gets elected.

Answer 2

Firstly, the current UK government has been conducting experiments with different forms of voting, although it is difficult for most of us to understand why it seems to be so complicated to organise postal ballots, for example.

Secondly, they have not got rid of the double jeopardy law.

Thirdly, DNA/fingerprint databases do not alter the fact that you are innocent until proven guilty. If they get a match they're going to investigate you, but they will still have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you actually committed the crime which they're investigating. Only in a very few cases is it actually going to result in them investigating someone against whom there is genuinely no other link to the crime.

Lastly, and to answer your main question, if ordinary people don't vote then the only people who will vote are the politically motivated, which would hardly do anything to correct the problems you perceive with the political system at present.

Answer 3

I haven't voted since 1987, and the only reason I voted then was because I turned 18 in 1986 and it was the first general election where I was old enough to vote.

I soon realised that it doesn't matter who gets in, Labour or Conservative, they won't do jack $hit for me.

Answer 4

Don't vote don't complain.

It's not true it's waste of time, both parties have changed considerably in the last 20 years due to voter power.

Answer 5

No it's not a waste of time...and it give's most people the chance to vote and unfortunataly the one's who DON'T are usually the one's that moan!

Answer 6

Yeah you pretty much lost all political power and have no ability to change it because you lost the ability to own firearms.

Answer 7

If you want to vore using a PC your asking for real corruption

Answer 8

lets not bring status quo into this.