Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Yes, I know, no one really worth voting for, but did you make the effort to turn up?

If you didn't, can you really comment if everything continues to go downhill?

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Postal Vote

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

By post makes it easier to pick one from a bad bunch?

Or does it ease ones mind the fact that it keeps postal workers in employment?

I'm only wondering because, I last signed up for my vote online, but still had a guy call around to get my signature, I'd told him what I'd done, he replied better fill in my form, online is a good six months behind you'll miss out on your vote otherwise.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Yes.....I walked down to the polling station in the sun.
Wrote something on my voting slip which indicated they are all a shower of Fisons anyway.
(On the way back I got bird bombed.....was that some kind of punishment for my comment......and yes Less, I can hear you laughing)
Our voting was for the police commissioner doodad.
Just another tier of worthless bureaucracy. Hardly worth the effort.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Voted by post.
Did anyone get any electioneering activity from the Police & Crime Commissioner candidates - in fact does anyone know of anything that the past incumbent has achieved during his period of office?

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

None at all. For the first question......and almost the same for the second question too.
Just another way for local politicians to feather their nest at our expense.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

I don't agree with the Police & Crime Commissioner position, the police should not be political in any way

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Voted by post.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Why do we need a highly paid police and crime commissioner?

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Because the Police Commissioner is the only one that can work the search light to get Batman to come to our aid?

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

My thoughts exactly.
Any political involvement leads to the possibility that the police can be manipulated by politicians.
Just how ludicrous would that be(tongue in cheek)?

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

My sentiments entirely.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

I used my postal vote as usual.

I'm waiting for the "In out Europe postal voting papers to arrive now.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

I voted but as for the PCC vote,- I told them to kepe the paper because that was the first I had heard of it.

No point voting if you know nowt about who you are voting for.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Voted at 9.30pm after a long ass shift on the ward, i sometimes wonder why i bother though

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Maybe 'cause the right to vote, especially for women, didn't come without a struggle. And maybe, even after a long ass shift, you realize this.;) I always vote, even if it is just to scrawl "None of these [deleted]ing turkeys" across the ballot.:D

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

You are so right, I always vote even if it's just turn up and let them know my vote is void.
I hate it when women say they can't be bothered to vote for any reason, that is like them saying Durr, I shouldn't be given the vote in the first place, which has to be bad for all mankind.

I don't want a life that includes women as a second class unthinking species, I want women that can always improve on what life has to offer, (and if they can do it without me working, then, the sooner the better).
:eek:

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

I don't think that 'not being bothered' is really the issue.

I think many women feel that they do not have enough interest or knowledge about politics to feel comfortable with the responsibility of voting.(and it is a responsibility)

There is certainly a level of disengagement with the folk who are at the sharp end of things...and if they can see that their vote makes little difference to the bigger picture...well then, you can see why they would not 'bother'.
Democracy is about being able to change things by voting...a democratic process.


The history of womens fight for votes means very little to a lot of women today....in fact I bet there are many who do not realise what the suffragettes went through to enable women to vote.
It is also about choice....just because you have the right to do something does not mean that it should be compulsory.

I take myself off to the polling station even if I have no intention of casting a valid vote.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

How does the saying go? 'Its like flogging a dead horse'...do any of us really get a say in what goes on in this country? Do they really take our votes into consideration? ... or do they say we can vote just to let us think we have a say in matters???..
THATS why i said...i dont know why i bother, i have voted ever since i was 18 and will continue to

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

I think you have scored a direct hit there Flashy.
We know that the politicians can promise us the moon when they are asking for our vote....but when they have got it....they do what they damn well like...whether it fits in with our wishes or not.

Politicians do not follow the desires of those who elected them...they follow the directives of the Party Line(our own MP is a prime example of this).
Many politicians think we should be treated as though we have nothing to keep our ears apart(and some of them have even commented that we do not know enough to make a sensible decision about certain things).

Many politicians are not in the job for what they can do to improve the lives of their electorate...but more to enhance their own bank balance, to network, so that when their political career comes to a halt, they will have something soft to fall back on.

Politicians seem to know (and care little) of the struggles faced each day by people like you and me.

Like the voters who are disengaged from politics....they are disengaged from the electorate..

Now, I will just go and get two more of the extra strong anti-cynical pills.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

What a cracking, sensible post, the sort of post that needs putting in an envelope addressed to the speaker of the Palace of Westminster, with a rider that it be read out at Prime Ministers question time but don't hold your breath waiting for it to happen. Taddy

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Taddy, I am pleased that you think my post is sensible.
It is something that I have been saying...well, forever really.
I think that perhaps many people have a similar view too......but we are the little people who only matter when these politicians want our X in their box.
The rest of the time we might as well never exist.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

That may be true at national level but these were local elections and I doubt many of them make anything out of being a local councillor compared to the hours they put in. A lot of them are retired so have no need for something to fall back on.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Neil, I accept that local politics is a very different kettle of fish and I have said as much many times. In fact I think the party allegiances for local politics should be wiped out. I am sure it would lead to much more productive working for the local population if political barriers were removed.

The thing is,that if the electorate are disenchanted with national politics, there is little chance that they will engage in local politics.
And despite the fact that there might be little money in local politics, there is still some rancourous in fighting(you only have to look at the way it destroyed the relationship between a father and daughter to see that......or that between PB and other local politicians who shall be nameless, but you know who they are).

While ever local politics go under the banners of the main political parties it will stay the same......and the town pays for it both in money and resources.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Correct but also (some), of them are not working and claiming benefits,although they can claim substantial allowances, these do not affect their benefit payments.

Allowances for having a room turned into an office costing thousands of pounds of tax payers money, (my b----y) money does not go down very well.

I have heard from an ex councillor that today's councillor's can now claim up to £30,000 a year without it effecting their benefit payments, (if) this is correct then it is a scandal, (that is putting it more politely than I would have said had I not been on so called social media).

How ever try to stay happy, Your's, Taddy.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Not an issue then seeing as the highest claim for the 2014-2015 year was £25,339 by the leader of the council and the next highest over £10,000 less than that. Those figures are gross before income tax and national insurance is taken off.

What benefits can you claim while paying tax and insurance on £30,000?

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

I would like to be on £30,000 a year.
I didn't make that as a full time Senior Sister.
If you have that kind of income who needs benefits?

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

May none but are expenses classed as taxable income? Plus if someone has a room in their home turned into an office with all the gadgets, IE, phone line, broadband, computer/s, etc at taxpayers expense do they have to return the said items or pay any tax for them when they lose their seat? (just curious)

Stay happy as ever, Your's Taddy.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Yes they are taxable. As for what is provided and what has to be returned I have no idea but I don't think any councillor should be out of pocket for being a councillor

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

o.k.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

I agree that councillors should not be out of pocket, but neither should they rake in a large amount of money for what they do.
Many councillors go into local politics because they want to make a difference in their community, to improve that community.....not their bank balance

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Could someone please tell me where the button or whatever, is to say that you like a post, with me still being a relative newcomer to Bill Gates infernal machine, also sometimes called (a computer), I am still learning. Thanks in advance, Taddy.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

I don't think any local councillors make lots of money. I don't think I have a problem with the expenses as they are

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Neil, the thing is that in days gone by they did it for pride...for the local area.
I don't know whether local councillors make lots of money...and it really depends on what your definition of 'lots of money' is.
If councillors are making 30,00 per year( and I don't know if they are or not) that is a very nice earner.
No-one is saying that they should be out of pocket......but neither should it be the main income (unless they are spending 40 hours a week doing the job).

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Taddy...if you look down in the lower right, towards the bottom of the post you will see 'like' printed in red.
If you click on this it will record a like for that partcular post.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Sorry Marge but the only things printed in red on the bottom right of my screen in every post are, Quote, a plus sign, reply and the page numbers, does the Plus sign mean "like". Your's, Taddy.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Sorry also Edit

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

No..it isn't a button.....just above the +button you should see the word Like
If you touch this Like..it will register your 'like' for that particular post.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

You won't see the red word'like' on your own posts for obvious reasons...you can't register a 'like ' for your own posts. You need to look on the posts of other people.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

taddy...just for you and because I seem not to be explaining it very well...I have taken a screen shot to show what the LIKE looks like.
Hope it helps.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Thank you, I don't know how I missed it.

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

You are welcome.
Glad to shine a light here and there. :)

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

I quoted the highest which is the leader of the council which in my opinion is a full time job if the leader is any good. It's not just the hours put in that people see, it's the late night calls and meetings with residents most people never hear about.

In days gone by councillors were mainly business men who didn't need the money and maybe did it for other reasons. Do you really want the only people making decisions to be those people now?

Here is a link to the document I read about who got what expenses wise so you can see the wide spread depending on if they were a councillor for the full year and if they sat or chaired other committees etc

http://www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/downloa...ances_1415.pdf

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

I know a councillor, so I am aware of the level of commitment that is needed for this responsible role.
But Neil, you know when you take on the job what it entails....or you should do.
As to whether I would like to go back to having local businessmen in charge of decisions made on behalf of the town......well, quite frankly, if they can do a better job of it and get the town back up from its current sitting position......I don't care.

And don't try to sell me the line that ALL small towns are going through the same doldrums.

Maybe having businessmen in charge might not be such a bad idea......they might actually know what they are doing, have the skills to see what is needed and the muscle to get things done.

Removing party banners would be a good start, breaking the link with political parties might mean that people would choose the right person for the job instead of looking at who travels under what political banner.
In caring for local communities, politics should take a back seat.Those who are councillors should work collaboratively and drop the adversarial stance that seems to be adopted by some on the council(these would probably disappear quite naturally if party allegiances were dropped).

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Can't see party allegiances ever being dropped.
We even had a group of not so independants in Hyndburn that named themselves something like Independants of Hyndburn. Are they still about? I know one of them jumped ship again and went to UKIP but he does appear to go wherever he can get votes

Re: Well it's local elections, did you bother to vote?
 

Neither can I Neil.
All I am saying is that if party allegiances were to be banished in local government, then maybe more would get done. There might just be less in fighting, finger pointing, blaming.
The aim of local government is to do the very best for the town.....and for many year this has not happened....and certainly isn't happening right now.