Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Actually, it can be politically significant. In Oz, where voting is compulsory, the number of spoilt papers always counted and declared. For instance, the referendum for a hydroelectric dam in Tasmania back in the 80's offered two choices, neither of which the environmentalists liked. So, many people wrote 'No Dams' across the ballot instead. 45% of votes were 'spoilt' papers.


Unfortunately, in the UK where is not compulsory to vote, you just end up looking a bit dim and unable to follow simple instructions...

Spoiling your vote to make statement is just childish.


Politicians aren't like mummy and dadddy. If you fold your arms and stick your bottom lip out because you don't like something they won't go down to the shops and buy you a special treat.


Politicians only need to be elected. You 'train' politicians like you train a dog. If they cooperate you put them in power, if they don't you elect someone else.


A spoiled ballot effectively means you've stopped 'training' because you're in a sulk. As a result our politicians/dogs do exactly what they were doing in the first place.


This is so blindingly obvious that spoiling ballot papers is mostly the preserve of first year students and cross-eyed antipodeans.

I dont agree. To not participate at all is childish - its taking your ball home with you and sulking. By not participating you have no right to complain about the outcome.


Getting off your backside and going to the polls or posting your ballot paper is participating and subsequently gives you a right to moan and bitch to your hearts content.


A vote is a statement of belief in one of the options and a "spoilt" ballot paper is a statement of a lack of belief in any of the buggers; but it is still a statement and is a demonstration that you have fulfilled your civic duty to the wider polis.


The fact that your purple flower party didnt get in is unfortunate but at least you can throw brick-bats at those that did.

To paraphrase my post in the Drawing Room


Putting a cross against a candidate's name means I approve of the party and I don't. None of them.


Voting for the least bad candidate is like buying the least rotten fruit. Voting for any of this lot says that I condone theft, lies, wars and mediocrity. I don't want to be represented by any party that has members who in any other walk of life would be in prison.


Not voting is a vote for none of them. Creative destruction of the ballot paper given publicity might help spark the revolution man.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Thank you to everyone who has already shared their thoughts on this. Dawson Heights Estate in the 1980s, while not as infamous as some other estates, did have its share of anti-social behaviour and petty crime. My brother often used the estate as a shortcut when coming home from his girlfriend’s house, despite my parents warning him many times to avoid it. Policing during that era had a distinctly “tough on crime” approach. Teenagers, particularly those from working-class areas or minority communities, were routinely stopped, questioned, and in some cases, physically handled for minor infractions like loitering, skateboarding, or underage drinking. Respect for authority wasn’t just expected—it was demanded. Talking back to a police officer could escalate a situation very quickly, often with harsh consequences. This was a very different time. There were no body cameras, dash cams, or social media to hold anyone accountable or to provide a record of encounters. Policing was far more physical and immediate, with few technological safeguards to check officer behaviour. My brother wasn’t known to the police. He held a full-time job at the Army and Navy store in Lewisham and had recently been accepted into the army. Yet, on that night, he ran—not because he was guilty of anything—but because he knew exactly what would happen if he were caught on an estate late at night with a group of other boys. He was scared, and rightfully so.
    • I'm sure many people would look to see if someone needed help, and if so would do something about it, and at least phone the police if necessary if they didn't feel confident helping directly. At least I hope so. I'm sorry you don't feel safe, but surely ED isn't any less safe than most places. It's hardly a hotbed of crime, it's just that people don't post on here if nothing has happened! And before that, there were no highwaymen,  or any murders at all .... In what way exactly have we become "a soft apologetic society", whatever that means?
    • Unless you're 5 years old or have been living in a cave for several decades you can't be for real. I don't believe that you're genuinely confused by this, no one who has access to newspapers, the tv news, the internet would ask this. Either you're an infant, or have recently woken up from a coma after decades, or you're a supercilious tw*t
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...