[Bri w]

We get the Govt we deserve because, as DP says (nice one by the way) we've been tamed. And we live in fear, both individually and collectively, because of the cr@p that politicians spout, "vote for xx or else the sky will fall down." Or amongst ourselves we talk of change but we then vote mainstream so as not to waste our vote, or worst still we don't vote - I would much sooner see all the disillusioned turn out in the droves to vote for one of the fringe parties if only to scare the sh!t out of the smug ..........

Whoever is in power come May will inherit a pile of...... and will get slagged off from day one for not riding in on a white charger (don't know that bike) and saving the country. And will they be able to change things? I'd say the answer is barely at all. How does any incoming Govt change an infrastructure which is so invasive in so many aspects of our lives?

And as to the elctoral system and do we want/need to change it?

As it stands we have a first past the post system that has seen a political party rule the country with a big majority of seats yet only won 37% of the vote. But at least first past the post gives us decisive Govt, even if some of us don't like who's in power, because of the majority.

And then there is proportional representation which will give us (fear factor kicking in because of years of being fed ballcocks) a hung parliament who won't be able to be decisive. But it does bring about compromise, and it does do away with one party running madly off with extreme policies they can get away with because of the majority a first past the post system gives us.

And then there's Gordon's new gimmick voting system; knowing they probably won't win the coming election, and probably by some margin he now wants to dis the system he's been happy with for years for something that will give them a large bite of the cherry in 5 yrs time.

So just where do we go from here? That one is up to you. I will vote, as I have at every election, for the party who's policies I feel are most appropriate for my perceived needs of the country as a whole. If none of the mainstream parties come up with anything decent I will vote for who I perceive to be 3rd or 4th choice in the country so that there may be a chance of a wake up call for the 2nd choice party.

If you don't vote, don't moan. If you do vote, don't vote like sheep by voting for xx coz they're gonna win anyway or coz my Dad did, vote with your head.

And if you feel strongly enough go and lick stamps at the local party headquarters. You don't have to be an MP to make some difference.