Umm... UK folks, this is a *serious* problem, right?

[petulans]

Heya, folks! Long-time no-see, eh? This post is for UK folks (or for that matter other interested parties who fancy sticking their oar in - I can hardly complain what with my American Politics fixation now, can I?)

Okay, I will try to keep this brief, but I think that we have a really genuinely serious problem. I haven't been around much of the

Comments

[my_daroga]

I confess, I know shamefully little about the UK political system, though sadly more than most Americans. So thank you for the links, especially the second: part of me, honestly, is still a little astonished at the difference between UK and US "conservatism." I'm also a little fuzzy on the coalition business, as it is strange for me to think about the different sides vying for the favor of the third party. I don't know how I feel about that, exactly.

As for the no-confidence thing, it definitely leaves a bad taste in my mouth especially as a sort of first-move thing. Not that I'd feel better about someone winning me over slowly and then announcing he had abolished term limits or something, and I realize that with the compromise these things are all coming out up front and at the beginning, but yes. It's troublesome. I'll be watching, for sure.

And mostly I'm commenting to say hello. Hello! I am sorry about your political woes. I hope there's some good news soon.

[petulans]

No probs - to be honest, I probably know more about the US system myself!

Indeed, I often see people on US political web-site saying that the Conservatives over here are somewhere to the left of your average (or on some issues pretty much all) Democrat. Still, I'm not 100% sure that this is an accurate synopsis - I think that in part it's simply due to many of the US positions being simply unacceptable over here - if they could get away with being further right on several issues, many Tory MPs would likely do so (cf. Maggie Thatcher being rather to the right of Reagan on ideological terms in some respects.)

Thanks for the well-wishing and hello - and the very same back to yourself!

[my_daroga]

I don't think it's an entirely accurate synopsis either, but partially I suspect it's because there's not a 1:1 match-up of specific positions. The line probably isn't just in a different place, it's probably jagged (like congressional districts in Texas--haha, US politics!). And yes, me despairing that I can't find anyone liberal enough to vote for doesn't change the fact that the UK seems to be moving in an unpleasant direction.

[petulans]

Yeah, can't say I envy you your political choices over there (or from what I hear, your police force when it comes to Seattle - this most recent case seems just one more in an increasingly long line of seriously vile incidents!)

[my_daroga]

It is enough to make one weep on a regular basis. And absurdly, I had not heard about that incident until you made me look it up right now. Oddly, since I listen to local public radio every day.