Quote:
Originally Posted by garinda
Greg Pope rebelled against his party, and the government, over the 10p tax change. Knowing it would affect the lives of the many low paid constituents in Hyndburn.
BBC NEWS | UK | UK Politics | Government defeats 10p tax rebels
When deciding who to vote for I honestly try and decide what I think would be best for society, weighed against the attributes of each candidate. I suppose that's sort of what you're saying in a way, because it's the society I'd want to live in, so that's similar to your 'what's in it for me'.
My grandad was a big influence on me. He was a staunch Methodist, and he couldn't see how he could be anything other than a socialist, if he truly followed his religious beliefs, even though the Labour party he supported taxed him at 95%. He saw it as trying to bring about a fairer society. I hope a little of his principles have rubbed off on me, even though I'm an atheist. |
I'd just like to clarify, before some people start jumping up and down, shouting 'here's the proof he's a flaming Commie', that my grandad was only one influernce on me, and how I view politics.
On the otherside of my family, my Nan, who I knew for a much longer period of time, was a war widow, and relatively poor, compared to my dad's parents. Her own parents were socialists, and my Nan worked hard all her life, trying her best to bring up her daughters, with no husband, and with very little help from the state.
She became a Tory after Thatcher improved the lot of war widows, after the Falkland Wars. She also became friendly with Ken, Peter, and Jaysay, and saw how hard they worked for the people of the area they represented.
I loved all three of the grandparents I knew, and knew them all to be good, hardworking people, who cared about the society they lived in, even if they saw change being brought about by differing political means.
I think this is why I can say I'm non-partisan. That, and not always blindly voting for the same party, but deciding which I think is the better option at the time of an election.