I vote Conservative

[Baron Von PWN]

Really I see you as a BNP guy myself. Or is this a case of strategic voting?

[barackattack]

Fuсk the BNP.

(Although to be fair, they don't give a shit about freedom of the press. Which is refreshing.)

[natty dread]

Less PC.

More Macintosh?

I fail to see how that is a good thing.

[BigBallinStalin]

Really I see you as a BNP guy myself. Or is this a case of strategic voting?

This reminds me.

I think many people in the US vote Republican because they don't wish to see their taxes increase. They opt for this at the cost of an increased likelihood in going to war.

The alternative is voting for Democrats, who will very likely increase their taxes, and are less likely to go to war (which is debatable, but that may be how some perceive it).

[AlgyTaylor]

The Conservatives will lower spending on public services and cut taxes. This will give me more money to spend on goods and services.

This is better than Labour, who will raise taxes to fund more government spending on services. This would leave me with less money, and therefore less wealth with which to purchase goods and services.

I have also read several newspaper articles on Labour's plan to increase employment and I am sceptical about the economic feasability of their plans.

I vote for whoever the hell I choose, but it's never going to be the bloody Tories (Conservatives for non-UK folk). Whilst the coalition at the moment isn't too bad (despite all the criticism they get from lefties, I think the Lib Dems have managed to have far more influence in the coalition than they probably deserve given their share of the vote - well done LDs!)

Anyway, this isn't about the Lib Dems (non UK folk - they're a centrist 3rd party, probably comparable to the democrats in the US).

I won't vote Tory because:
1) I like the unions, they ensure a playing field between employer and employee - fairness for all

2) (Nu)Labour, despite all the criticism, generally did a good job, certainly in the first 8 years (arresting Pinochet alone made everything worthwhile, before you start thinking about Bank of England independence, the minimum wage, introducing paternity leave, increasing the rights of 'temporary' workers, ...

3) I have a sneaky feeling that the Tories still see Margaret Thatcher as being the epitome of good. However, selling off the national assets for a pittance to line the pockets of the rich *even though* it made no sense whatsoever is not a good thing. That's before we start getting in to befriending Pinochet, calling Nelson Mandela a terrorist, ... I'll not continue that list, you know it by now. The usual criticisms.

4) They represent the views of the already rich upper middle classes. I don't have a problem with upper middle class people, but I'm not one of them and as a consequence, they represent very little that I agree with.

To be brief in the rest of my points, I have a firm belief in equal rights and creating a society that is fair. I don''t think Labour have all the answers, and I'm not saying that the Tories don't have any redeeming qualities whatsoever.

[Lootifer]

Really I see you as a BNP guy myself. Or is this a case of strategic voting?

This reminds me.

I think many people in the US vote Republican because they don't wish to see their taxes increase. They opt for this at the cost of an increased likelihood in going to war.

The alternative is voting for Democrats, who will very likely increase their taxes, and are less likely to go to war (which is debatable, but that may be how some perceive it).

Haha gold...

Incidently, who are YOU going to vote for? (if RP doesnt get nomination).

[BigBallinStalin]

Really I see you as a BNP guy myself. Or is this a case of strategic voting?

This reminds me.

I think many people in the US vote Republican because they don't wish to see their taxes increase. They opt for this at the cost of an increased likelihood in going to war.

The alternative is voting for Democrats, who will very likely increase their taxes, and are less likely to go to war (which is debatable, but that may be how some perceive it).

Haha gold...

Incidently, who are YOU going to vote for? (if RP doesnt get nomination).

I don't know, Lootifer. I really don't know.

Last time I voted, I was informed that the great state of Louisiana doesn't allow write-ins for the presidential election (which one does?).

Shall I express my disapproval of the current political institution in the US by not voting? But the "Go ahead! Throw your vote away!" option doesn't effectively express my voter preferences...

The rational economist within me states that the chances of my one vote in swinging the people's "choice" via the electoral representatives of Louisiana is minimal. Therefore, it isn't worth the search costs of analyzing the past performance and profiles of the two presidential candidates in order to better inform me for the decision. It's not even worth estimating the expected future gains made by political promises which will very likely be reneged, impossible to obtain, or are simply not favorable to begin with.

I guess I'll continue viewing the federal government as illegitimate? Ah, fine then! Internal dilemma resolved! Back to being an anarcho-capitalist it is! =P

[BigBallinStalin]

Unions that support price controls on wages restrict competition, which benefits their organization and its member at the unseen cost to all non-members.

The non-members includes those who are priced out of the job, everyone who experiences a decrease in real income from the increased costs in the relevant goods, and anyone who experiences the negative, unintended consequences of a policy which prevents the adjustment of wages to reflect individual performance.

[Lootifer]

I don't know, Lootifer. I really don't know.

Last time I voted, I was informed that the great state of Louisiana doesn't allow write-ins for the presidential election (which one does?).

Shall I express my disapproval of the current political institution in the US by not voting? But the "Go ahead! Throw your vote away!" option doesn't effectively express my voter preferences...

The rational economist within me states that the chances of my one vote in swinging the people's "choice" via the electoral representatives of Louisiana is minimal. Therefore, it isn't worth the search costs of analyzing the past performance and profiles of the two presidential candidates in order to better inform me for the decision. It's not even worth estimating the expected future gains made by political promises which will very likely be reneged, impossible to obtain, or are simply not favorable to begin with.

I guess I'll continue viewing the federal government as illegitimate? Ah, fine then! Internal dilemma resolved! Back to being an anarcho-capitalist it is! =P

I felt the same in our recent election. Except we DO have a multiparty system so minority parties do get some representation and the two majors dont hold ALL the power.

So considering our system is technically "better" than yours I still felt like I didnt want to vote for anyone cause they're all dickwads...

[BigBallinStalin]

How dare you insult my nation's inferior political system!!

If I actually did own "my" nation, I'd ravage your nation's kiwi industry with your nation's very own favorite pastime: have the soldiers extend their arms in order to gauge the proper distance from each other and then march from north to south while clearing anything unacceptable.*



Nationalist sentiments aside, why did you finally decide to vote for the Lesser Dickwad Party?


*How true is that myth? I heard that was the policy used by the colonists with the intention of making New Zealand a more "harmonious" place to live.

[Lootifer]

Ima have to google what in the hell youre talking about and get back to you... (ps Im terrible at history).

[BigBallinStalin]

You have to google why you voted for the Lesser Dickwad Party too???

Oh, the Internet is a wonderful place! Soon, I won't need to make any decision other than to google "what shall I do?" and "why did I do that?"

[Lootifer]

That sounds fucking sweet... until the big corp sponsered PIPA/SOPA style censorship kick in and it tells me to do thing I dun wanna do (like play farmville).

Oh I voted pretty much exactly based on the closest party to what political compass told me of my alignment and the local parties alignment. Too many conflicting policies at every step and turn to really make a level headed decision.

LOL: I.E. I VOTED HOW GOOGLE TOLD ME TOO....

[BigBallinStalin]

So you voted for the Communists?

Lootifer, your name is so becoming of you!

[Lootifer]

Feck off: LIBERAL LEFT THUG RIGHT HERE!

[BigBallinStalin]

Pink would better represent your political stance...

[Lootifer]

Pink would better represent your political stance...

There's actually a funny story about the colour pink and myself, but I certainly dont know you well enough to tell you that kind of thing

[BigBallinStalin]

Pink would better represent your political stance...

There's actually a funny story about the colour pink and myself, but I certainly dont know you well enough to tell you that kind of thing

I'm so glad you mentioned that. Now, I'll just pretend what the story was, and lololol to myself!

[Lootifer]

Pink would better represent your political stance...

There's actually a funny story about the colour pink and myself, but I certainly dont know you well enough to tell you that kind of thing

I'm so glad you mentioned that. Now, I'll just pretend what the story was, and lololol to myself!

10 bucks says your imagination isnt too far away from the truth.

[spurgistan]

Maybe if he understands the importance of the middle class to a growing economy (rising tide lifting all boats) as opposed to milking them to death for the benefit of only the rich, he'll realize how destructive conservative policies are. If he was born rich, he'll probably keep spouting the nonsense he already has been, since that's how the rich wage their class warfare against everyone else, and keep the door pretty firmly shut on letting anyone else into their exclusive club.

Anyone earning over £150,000 in the UK loses 50% of the income over the 150k mark to income tax. That's hardly letting the top earners off scot-free.

You'd imagine with such high income taxes + central planning, the people of the UK would experience a much higher standard of living than Americans.

As long as economic policy is the sole determinant of national economic power and standard of living, it should.

[BigBallinStalin]

Maybe if he understands the importance of the middle class to a growing economy (rising tide lifting all boats) as opposed to milking them to death for the benefit of only the rich, he'll realize how destructive conservative policies are. If he was born rich, he'll probably keep spouting the nonsense he already has been, since that's how the rich wage their class warfare against everyone else, and keep the door pretty firmly shut on letting anyone else into their exclusive club.

Anyone earning over £150,000 in the UK loses 50% of the income over the 150k mark to income tax. That's hardly letting the top earners off scot-free.

You'd imagine with such high income taxes + central planning, the people of the UK would experience a much higher standard of living than Americans.

As long as economic policy is the sole determinant of national economic power and standard of living, it should.

Go on.