(no subject)
UK people will know that next week there will be elections taking place to elect "Police Commissioners". From what I can gather, these will be extremely well-paid civilian roles, in which they get to tell the police big-wigs what to do and will "represent public views".
However, it's all got a bit tits-up, because no-one understands why the hell they are bothering. The police force have done just fine on their own, as far as I can tell, and so I can't see how a civvy electee is going to have a SINGLE useful thing to contribute.
That being said, I think it is important to vote anyway. Small problem, I didn't know who ANY of the candidates were, what political parties they affiliated with, or what their manifestos included. Not a single one has even put the smallest of leaflets through my door.
So, I decided to inform myself, via the great medium of... The Internet.
Turns out I have 5 candidates to choose from. My decision-making of who to vote for went like this:
Conservative party member...? Won't vote for them, on principle.
Labour party member...? Thrown out of party because of un-declared criminal conviction...? That's a "no" then.
Liberal Democrat party member...? Has nothing to say about nothing much. Has no particularly relevant experience as far as I can see. That's a no vote.
Independent candidate #1...? Ex member of failing county council? Not the best selling point. No thanks.
Independent candidate #2...? Ex police community support officer, retired RAF pilot... Mid 50's in age... I guess he'll have to do.
Then today, I got a leaflet about another little referendum just for my parish. Should the (quite large) parish be split into 2? Or remain as it is? Well, I can honestly say, the leaflet didn't help me decide one tiny little bit. So I shall vote for it to stay as it is.
Democracy is boring in this country! At least the US system has a bit of drama attached, even if they do spend a billion pounds on the campaigns. That could go towards welfare or schools...? Surely?
However, it's all got a bit tits-up, because no-one understands why the hell they are bothering. The police force have done just fine on their own, as far as I can tell, and so I can't see how a civvy electee is going to have a SINGLE useful thing to contribute.
That being said, I think it is important to vote anyway. Small problem, I didn't know who ANY of the candidates were, what political parties they affiliated with, or what their manifestos included. Not a single one has even put the smallest of leaflets through my door.
So, I decided to inform myself, via the great medium of... The Internet.
Turns out I have 5 candidates to choose from. My decision-making of who to vote for went like this:
Conservative party member...? Won't vote for them, on principle.
Labour party member...? Thrown out of party because of un-declared criminal conviction...? That's a "no" then.
Liberal Democrat party member...? Has nothing to say about nothing much. Has no particularly relevant experience as far as I can see. That's a no vote.
Independent candidate #1...? Ex member of failing county council? Not the best selling point. No thanks.
Independent candidate #2...? Ex police community support officer, retired RAF pilot... Mid 50's in age... I guess he'll have to do.
Then today, I got a leaflet about another little referendum just for my parish. Should the (quite large) parish be split into 2? Or remain as it is? Well, I can honestly say, the leaflet didn't help me decide one tiny little bit. So I shall vote for it to stay as it is.
Democracy is boring in this country! At least the US system has a bit of drama attached, even if they do spend a billion pounds on the campaigns. That could go towards welfare or schools...? Surely?