How'd you vote in an E.U. referendum?

[garinda]

It genuinely frightens and sickens me, that I might be forced to vote for a single issue party, come the next election, but I might have no other choice.

I will never again vote for a politican, or political party, who don't give a cast iron guarantee that they'll support a referendum on E.U. membership, and it actually happening.

I feel this is so important an issue for the future of our once great country, on so many different levels.

I hope our mainstream political parties begin to realise just how strongly many people feel about this.

[Margaret Pilkington]

G....I'm sorry to disillusion you but you would still be snookered.
When canvassing, the parties will promise absolutely anything to get your vote........but how can you guarantee that they will deliver on their promise?
Political parties, have in the past said they would hold a referendum. I seem to recall that David Cameron himself did exactly that......he said that if there was a Conservative government in number 10, he would seek a referendum on the EU....maybe he salves his conscience by telling himself 'Well, it is a COALITION government, so strictly speaking, I am not breaking any promise'.

Say this phrase after me....(you may need to repeat it a couple of thousand times before it finally engraves itself on yout consciousness)
Political parties cannot be believed....and worse still, they cannot be trusted!

They consider themsleves the 'ruling class' and once in power they disregard the electorate as of little importance, of little value.....yet we pay their wages and handsome they are too.
Most politicians are so far removed from the real world, they can have no concept of what concerns the electorate really has.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

G....I'm sorry to disillusion you but you would still be snookered.
When canvassing, the parties will promise absolutely anything to get your vote........but how can you guarantee that they will deliver on their promise?
Political parties, have in the past said they would hold a referendum. I seem to recall that David Cameron himself did exactly that......he said that if there was a Conservative government in number 10, he would seek a referendum on the EU....maybe he salves his conscience by telling himself 'Well, it is a COALITION government, so strictly speaking, I am not breaking any promise'.

Say this phrase after me....(you may need to repeat it a couple of thousand times before it finally engraves itself on yout consciousness)
Political parties cannot be believed....and worse still, they cannot be trusted!

They consider themsleves the 'ruling class' and once in power they disregard the electorate as of little importance, of little value.....yet we pay their wages and handsome they are too.
Most politicians are so far removed from the real world, they can have no concept of what concerns the electorate really has.

I'm an eternal optimist, and live in (vain) hope.

If mainstream political parties continually refuse to acknowledge the real worries of ordinary people, we'll see support grow for extremist groups, sadly.

The ball's in their court.

[Margaret Pilkington]

I used to be an optimist......now I am a realist. I suppose it might have something to do with the many broken political promises.........they promise the earth and deliver........s........slutch!
I'm going to have to see someone about this stammer!

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

I used to be an optimist......now I am a realist. I suppose it might have something to do with the many broken political promises.........they promise the earth and deliver........s........slutch!
I'm going to have to see someone about this stammer!

I'm also a realist.

I really am not voting for any party/politican that doesn't give a 100% pledge that there'll be a fair yes/no referendum on E.U. membership.

This will continue until it happens.

If it doesn't, then I really won't vote for any mainstream political party ever again, and do everything in my limited power to undermine, and damage their campaigns.

[Margaret Pilkington]

All power to you G.

The fact that all the political parties hold us ( our views and wishes) in contempt, is what made me spoil my ballot paper at the last general election.
My conscience would not let me vote for someone who does not have the slightest intention of carrying out their core promises to the electorate.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

All power to you G.

The fact that all the political parties hold us ( our views and wishes) in contempt, is what made me spoil my ballot paper at the last general election.
My conscience would not let me vote for someone who does not have the slightest intention of carrying out their core promises to the electorate.

That contempt works both ways.

With most people now holding politicans in the same esteem right down there with lawyers, estate agents, and traffic wardens.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by garinda

That contempt works both ways.

With most people now holding politicans in the same esteem right down there with lawyers, estate agents, and traffic wardens.

And thats probably why voting numbers are at their lowest ever

[Stumped]

Originally Posted by garinda

It genuinely frightens and sickens me, that I might be forced to vote for a single issue party, come the next election, but I might have no other choice.

I will never again vote for a politican, or political party, who don't give a cast iron guarantee that they'll support a referendum on E.U. membership, and it actually happening.

I feel this is so important an issue for the future of our once great country, on so many different levels.

I hope our mainstream political parties begin to realise just how strongly many people feel about this.

Couldn't have put it better.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by jaysay

And thats probably why voting numbers are at their lowest ever

If voting changed anything John, they would stop us from doing it.....they (the ruling classes)just like to let us think we have some influence.
I just wish that at some election or other no-one would vote....I wonder if it would make them sit up and take notice.........I somehow doubt it!

[garinda]

Originally Posted by garinda

There is growing cross-party support for the people to be allowed their say in a referendum.

'The tipping point for Hesketh came two years ago when he was ‘appalled’ by the Government reneging on its promise to hold a referendum on the controversial Lisbon Treaty (which transferred huge powers to Brussels, created the post of EU president and cancelled more than 50 British vetoes over European policy).'

'Hesketh says: ‘Cameron could still easily have justified holding a referendum. I believed until we reneged on the commitment to the referendum that Cameron would have a good hand to play, and could have told the rest of Europe we had to sit down and talk about the EU’s future.’
Lord Hesketh explains why he's turned his back on the Tories | Mail Online

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...er-Europe.html

[Margaret Pilkington]

I read that too....and think that Lord Hesketh made some very relevant points in that article

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

If voting changed anything John, they would stop us from doing it.....they (the ruling classes)just like to let us think we have some influence.
I just wish that at some election or other no-one would vote....I wonder if it would make them sit up and take notice.........I somehow doubt it!

The thing is Margaret, people are voting with their feet and aren't bothering any more, there as always been that statement that if you don't vote then you don't have any right to criticise, but if you do vote these days what difference does it make, politics has just become a slanging match, not what you can do for the electorate but how made points can be scored against the other party, none more that here in Hyndburn were politics just became a peeing match

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by garinda

'The tipping point for Hesketh came two years ago when he was ‘appalled’ by the Government reneging on its promise to hold a referendum on the controversial Lisbon Treaty (which transferred huge powers to Brussels, created the post of EU president and cancelled more than 50 British vetoes over European policy).'

'Hesketh says: ‘Cameron could still easily have justified holding a referendum. I believed until we reneged on the commitment to the referendum that Cameron would have a good hand to play, and could have told the rest of Europe we had to sit down and talk about the EU’s future.’
Lord Hesketh explains why he's turned his back on the Tories | Mail Online

Lord Hesketh: former Tory party treasurer defects to Ukip 'over Europe' - Telegraph

I could never see the point of a referendum being called by Cameron when he became PM because Brown ratified the Lisbon Treat, you can't unsign a piece of legislation, but he certainly could hold a yes or no referendum on continued membership of the EU, which unfortunately won't happen

[Margaret Pilkington]

Weren't we promised a say on the issues before the Lisbon treaty was ratified?

Couldn't it be said that the ratification of this treaty was undemocratic because the electorate hadn't been consulted on the issues since 1975?

I thought that politicians were ultimately responsible for the legislation of this country.

It seems that we are not the only ones who are getting very disillusioned with the situation in the EU....it appears that the german population are hacked off with it too.

Eurozone debt crisis: Euro bailout attempt is utterly dishonest | Mail Online

This is the nonsenscial way the EU is trying to solve its' problems.........scary or what?