From Brain to Bookshelf - My Writing Journey

Broken Britain?

>> Sunday, 2 May 2010 – LibDems, Nick Clegg, revolution, UK Electionon

I can't bear the thought of this country wandering blind into another term of being run by corrupt politicians who've lied to us, gone against our wishes, and broken the law when the guys in the picture above have integrity and are ready for government. So many people, for so many years (look at the John Cleese vid further down) have said time and again that they would vote for them if only they thought they would get in. This time (and maybe this is the only chance) they CAN get in, but only if you vote for them. If you do, our voting system will change and we will never again have the same, unrepresentative and unthinking style of government that has caused us such pain.

In our system, more people voted AGAINST the last government getting into power than voted FOR them getting into power. They were not representative of the majority. That's not democratic. If the Liberal Democrats only get in once, and change the voting system, that will be the most metamorphic change to our system since the English Revolution. Yes. We had one. We are a revolutionary country. Don't convince yourself that we are not. There was an English Republic. The idea of us as a group of staid non-thinking sheep is a bit of nonsense put about to stop us thinking. Don't believe it. We can change our country. Don't believe that we cannot.

Once in a lifetime
A metamorphic moment
Gives our freedom back.

Rebecca Woodhead

Britain is broken, in the same way that a butterfly is a broken caterpillar. The clock is ticking. We're breaking out of the cocoon. It's time to fly.

LOLCleggz

>> Saturday, 1 May 2010 – LOLCleggz, Nick Clegg, Politics

Those familiar with I can has Cheezburger should appreciate this:

Thanks to LOLCleggz for the image.

Chocolate Quango Revelation

>> – Chocolate Quangos, Funny, Politics, UK Election

The final debate has happened and it's only a week until we all make marks on bits of paper and I go back to blogging about writing. If you can't wait that long, I've put up another diary entry over at Diary of a Cotswold Novelist but if you want a laugh at the expense of all the politicians, the video below was made by an observer who's too young to vote this time. It's pretty funny. I want to be on a chocolate quango.

By QuangoGirl

John Cleese Explains Proportional Representation

>> Sunday, 25 April 2010 – Election

Old vid that explains why the Liberal Democrats have never been able to get in. This is an interesting video regardless of your political views. I didn't realise John Cleese was Lib Dem. Did you? Stephen Fry has announced he's tempted to vote Lib Dem too.

I made it clear over the last few months that I was an undecided voter, but this issue is too great for me to ignore. Our system is undemocratic. I was shocked back in the early 90s when I first realised how undemocratic. This wasn't a good enough reason to convince me to vote Lib Dem, however, so I took the following test. I went to http://voteforpolicies.org.uk and answered the multiple choice questions. They are taken from the manifestos of the parties, but you answer them blind. This means you vote on policies rather than hype or party loyalty.

I was shocked at how many of the policies I agreed with turned out to be Liberal Democrat policies. I took the test before Clegg's big TV moment, and have tried to keep an open mind since then, but I have a problem with that for a number of reasons:

I have believed for two decades that votes should all be equal. We need proportional representation.
Having taken the blind test, I discovered I agree with the Liberal Democrats on a large number of issues.
Having watched Nick Clegg on various interviews, and the debates, I think he would make a good leader.

I reserve the right to change my decision at any time. I am not into party politics, and would never back someone purely on the basis of party, but I'm pretty sure they have my vote. What are your thoughts? Did you take the test and get an unexpected result too? Are you excited by the lack of apathy this time round, or worried by the potential for change?

As I've said on Twitter, I don't choose my friends based on political party - so you're welcome to disagree with my views - but watch the vid anyhow. John Cleese always makes me grin. :)