The problem is the electoral system. Until it changes, you typically have two choices in every seat. You vote for one or the other. Voting for anyone else is just a wasted vote 99% of the time. That’s reality. If you believe it isn’t, I’d love to understand why.
I’m simply asking the question. I get the impression you think anyone other than Corbyn and Polanski are basically all the same and all far right. Am I wrong?
A LD vote was not a total loss in A&C, as they were the closest Tory challengers. Sure, you had to hope others voted the same way, but there was a chance they would. Voting Labour or Green here is a total loss, as there’s next to no way enough people would do the same.
I disagree with your terminology but it helps me understand your point of view. It seems our challenge is with who we think are left and right. Until we agree on which parties are far left, moderate left, centre, moderate right and far right, it’s impossible for us to compare apples with apples.
I’m saying it’s a more recent that more people are doing it. Most have historically, and probably still do, just vote for their preferred party to win the GE and don’t think about who is most likely to win in their constituency and whether they want that party to win or the nearest challenger.
I’ve acting no differently to you. Apart from I didn’t call you a bellend. We’re just doing the usual thing of repeating our points without the other party listening or considering their position. We’re not achieving anything. And the far right only benefit from this.
And there was me thinking we moved hear to get away from the disgusting name calling when people can’t win an argument. How foolish we were.
Ok, Alan. I’ll vote for who I want. And when Reform win in my constituency I can enjoy that warm, smug feeling of a job well done. Thanks mate. You’ve been a great help.
That’s fair enough. I’m not trying to be smarter than anyone. I’m just trying to do what I think is best in the system we have. I agree that the Overton window has shifted, but I don’t think that’s the fault of tactical voters.
I think most people still vote for the party they want. I think tactical voting is relatively new and still only done by a minority. By all means, protest and campaign to change the voting system. But, under FPTP, voting tactically is all you can really do. To do anything else seems a wasted vote.
As a West Brom fan, I’d do almost anything to be a ‘middle power’ right now. We’re a lower middle power teetering on the brink of lower order.
I read the article. What did he say that isn’t true?
Are you joking, George? Thatcher was as much of a political chancer as any of them. The idea that she had some sort of intellectual definition’ to her politics is for the birds. She jumped from thing to thing to keep herself in power until the poll tax misstep finally pulled the rug from under her.
Every council needs a James.
You’ve got to understand that she doesn’t think she needs to hold the government to account because she truly doesn’t recognise any government other than a Tory government as legitimate. And because she could never contemplate that a Tory government would ever do anything than could not be correct.
Look past the exhausted cliche of "kowtow" and just paragraphs apart, we learn that 1) Granting the Chinese embassy is a security threat that the Conservative Party opposes but also 2) The Chinese embassy is "leverage" which the Conservative party thinks should be played in negotiations. Pick one!
Website: and your postcode?
Me: my address is—
Website: no no I’m keen to guess! Postcode?
Me: *enters postcode*
Website: is it no. 132?
Me: no
Website: is it no. 134?
Me: it’s 1—
Website: SHUT UP is it no. 136?
Interesting podcast guys. As a British Cubs fan who is still relatively new to baseball, my mind is blown trying to understand most stats, and these Zips projections are on another level. Though, i think I’ve grasped the basic understanding that Dan really just does them to wind Pat up. 😉
New Podcast ep398 is out now! @dszymborski.fangraphs.com joins us this week to talk Cubs Zips projections. Listen wherever you get your favorite podcast, watch on YouTube www.youtube.com/@wrigleyvill..., find all the links or listen directly here- www.wrigleyvillenation.com/post/podcast...
I’m not being sarky. I’m being serious. By all means, campaign and protest for change. But don’t suggest not doing everything to keep Reform out, or that Labour are in any way as bad as what a Reform government would be. To do that, you’re either naive or stupid. I’m sure you’re not stupid Mark.
Oh Mark. Bless you. I guess that when Reform takes over and we’re all rounded up for the gas chambers, you can enjoy the warm glows that, as you take your last breath, you didn’t vote for anyone, so you’re morals are in tact, as millions die. Give me fucking strength! 🤦♂️
Liz Truss's real legacy
If there’s a general election tomorrow Mark, what do you suggest I do? Spoil my ballot? Vote Green? Run as an independent myself? Vote Reform because Labour are fascists anyway, so who fucking cares? What’s your solution to making the British people’s lives better? I’d love to know. Thanks.
I think we’ll just have to agree to disagree, Mark. I really don’t want this Labour government. And maybe you’re right and I’m insane, but I just don’t see them being the cause of a dystopian nightmare than a Reform government would. All the best.
I’d love to pretend that there is a better alternative. That there was this centre-left/ left wing party popular enough to come in and transform all our lives for the better. But, sadly, that’s nothing more than a fantasy. If that situation changes, then I will change. I wait in hope.
Maybe not. As I say, I’m not defending them. They’ve acted disgustingly. But I just can’t help enable a Reform government in any way. If you think what Labour are doing is bad, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
2/2 To compare the two parties in any way is beyond ridiculous, and I couldn’t live with myself if, by voting like I had a free choice, I enabled those monsters to take over.
1/2 I’m not telling you what to do, Mark. All I know is that I’m voting for whichever party stop Reform winning in my constituency. Whatever you think this Labour government are, they are simple a million miles away from the utter terror that Reform in power would be.
We don’t pretend to be disabled.
We pretend to be “fine”.
We don’t exaggerate our symptoms.
We minimise them.
We don’t “let our disabilities win”.
They overwhelm us.
We don’t limit ourselves too much.
We try to do too much.
We don’t want to be disabled.
We just are.
2/2 wouldn’t be a million times worse and wouldn’t vilify and persecute any and every group of society so much more so this Labour government have done, you’re just not taking their treat to us all seriously enough. The dire consequences of a Reform government just can’t be over emphasised.