UKMT May: Elections! (which won't fix anything)

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Debate & Discussion > UKMT May: Elections! (which won't fix anything)

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Nonsense: Jan 26, 2007

Betjeman posted:

You're foreign

You're not ethnic british though. Also never interrupt my important posts again.

Where's Shakebeef?

# ? May 8, 2014 23:50

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# ? May 20, 2024 20:22

Hbomberguy: Jul 4, 2009; [culla=big red]TufFEE did nO THINg WÌ¡RAÌ¸NG[/read]

Oh no, Latvians might come here and cause problems! Better close our borders! Close your minds to any real large solutions that will actually benefit the rest of the world in the long term, like international socialism!

# ? May 9, 2014 00:13

notaspy: Mar 22, 2009

Nonsense posted:

Minimum wage: Latvia €1.90 an hour, equivalent to £1.58 an hour. UK £6.31 an hour, 4 times Latvia’s.

Latvian workers don’t have financial commitments like mortgages to pay for.

Some are multi-occupying to keep living costs down. Some are claiming in-work benefits like tax credits and housing benefit…and possibly child benefit for dependent children living in Latvia.

So Latvian migrants earning the UK minimum wage can be better off by over 4 times, and in some cases, 5 or 6 times, than in their own country.

Free movement within a Union of 28 wildly divergent countries, specially between east and west, has been a disaster. specially for those un-/low-skilled workers who are being displaced.

Many east European workers are organised by gang-masters who take a cut from their wages.

And the wage differential is even greater between the UK and other EU countries. The UK’s minimum wage is 8 times Romania’s and 9 times Bulgaria’s.

So maybe the Latvian workers will be replaced by migrants from those countries at some point in this race to the bottom. The gang-masters’ cut would be even bigger.

Farage and UKIP are right to want to stop uncontrolled EU immigration …it is destroying the employment prospects, wages and living standards of large numbers of British workers.

And this latest piece of anti-Ukip nonsense won‘t change that fact.

Yeah, but when we get rid of all this guys the cost of production will go through the roof to the point that it will no longer be profitable to be in business. What then? We'll not have enough people in work to pay taxes, we'll have to borrow just to meet our debt commitments, this will cause a death spiral and we become the new Greece. Cheap labour in these lovely jobs keeps people in the good high paying jobs.

# ? May 9, 2014 00:19

CancerCakes: Jan 10, 2006

Nonsense posted:

Nonsense

You're talking Nonsense mate

# ? May 9, 2014 01:15

Hbomberguy: Jul 4, 2009; [culla=big red]TufFEE did nO THINg WÌ¡RAÌ¸NG[/read]

Is there any purpose to voting Green, or am I throwing my vote away?

# ? May 9, 2014 01:24

big scary monsters: Sep 2, 2011; -~Ｓｋｕｌｌｗａｖｅ~-

If you don't vote for the winning party/candidate in FPTP you are throwing your vote away. Vote for whoever you feel best represents you or if none of them do spoil your ballot.

# ? May 9, 2014 01:27

CancerCakes: Jan 10, 2006

Hbomberguy posted:

Is there any purpose to voting Green, or am I throwing my vote away?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDsV8YumePk

better than the labour PPB if that counts for anything

# ? May 9, 2014 01:27

Hbomberguy: Jul 4, 2009; [culla=big red]TufFEE did nO THINg WÌ¡RAÌ¸NG[/read]

big scary monsters posted:

If you don't vote for the winning party/candidate in FPTP you are throwing your vote away. Vote for whoever you feel best represents you or if none of them do spoil your ballot.

How do I cope with the fact that I am a drop in an ocean and the ocean is poo poo, and also on fire and destroying itself and we're all doomed? This is a genuine question.

# ? May 9, 2014 01:28

big scary monsters: Sep 2, 2011; -~Ｓｋｕｌｌｗａｖｅ~-

Hbomberguy posted:

How do I cope with the fact that I am a drop in an ocean and the ocean is poo poo, and also on fire and destroying itself and we're all doomed? This is a genuine question.

Regular exercise, people you love, a hobby you enjoy and eating properly.

Alternatively, drink.

# ? May 9, 2014 01:31

ThomasPaine: Feb 4, 2009; We have no compassion and we ask no compassion from you. When our turn comes, we shall not make excuses for the terror.

Hbomberguy posted:

Is there any purpose to voting Green, or am I throwing my vote away?

For the Euro elections at least it's proportional so yes voting Green isn't a silly idea. That said tactical voting makes me sad and I always vote Green as a result even in the General elections even though I know it's stupid.

# ? May 9, 2014 01:33

Gonzo McFee: Jun 19, 2010

Hbomberguy posted:

How do I cope with the fact that I am a drop in an ocean and the ocean is poo poo, and also on fire and destroying itself and we're all doomed? This is a genuine question.

Drawing a cock that spurts hammers and sickles is a proud tradition.

Alternatively find something to do that makes you feel as if you're making a small dent in the tower of poo poo.

# ? May 9, 2014 01:54

some plague rats: Jun 5, 2012; by Fluffdaddy

Hbomberguy posted:

How do I cope with the fact that I am a drop in an ocean and the ocean is poo poo, and also on fire and destroying itself and we're all doomed? This is a genuine question.

Try starting some fires

# ? May 9, 2014 05:55

Ms Adequate: Oct 30, 2011; Baby even when I'm dead and gone
You will always be my only one, my only one
When the night is calling
No matter who I become
You will always be my only one, my only one, my only one
When the night is calling

We only had five racist fuckhead parties alongside the usual suspects and the Greens. Sent in my postal ballot today, for all the loving good it will do.

# ? May 9, 2014 06:48

LemonDrizzle: Mar 28, 2012; neoliberal shithead

Labour are trying to make hay out of the situation in the property rental market by calling a vote to ban letting agencies from charging fees to tenants: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27323352

quote:

Labour are to call a vote in the Commons in an attempt to ban letting agents from charging fees to tenants.

Party leader Ed Miliband said people buying a house do not pay agents, but people who rent do and Labour was standing up for "generation rent".

The proposal will be tabled as an amendment to the Consumer Rights Bill in the Commons on Tuesday.

The Association of Residential Letting Agents said it was "deeply concerned" by Labour's proposals.

...

But Ian Potter, managing director of the Association of Residential Letting Agents, said Labour's plans could have an "adverse affect on tenants".

He said: "The challenge we have today is an unregulated market and a worrying lack of supply.

I love the doublethink from the ARLA representative - "the problem is that the market is unregulated. therefore, this regulation must not be introduced."

# ? May 9, 2014 07:48

Lord Twisted: Apr 3, 2010; In the Emperor's name, let none survive.

LemonDrizzle posted:

Labour are trying to make hay out of the situation in the property rental market by calling a vote to ban letting agencies from charging fees to tenants: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27323352

I love the doublethink from the ARLA representative - "the problem is that the market is unregulated. therefore, this regulation must not be introduced."

drat loving right they need to remove this lovely fees.

Last time I rented I was told there was a mandatory credit check which cost £190. Every agent told me the same thing.

I'm a student. The credit check will come back saying I'm not reliable so I need a guarantor. I could have told them this in two seconds. But no.

Then they proceeded to not deliver the promised furniture until two weeks into the let so we slept in sleeping bags.

Cunts.

# ? May 9, 2014 08:00

Bozza: Mar 5, 2004; "I'm a really useful engine!"

Lord Twisted posted:

drat loving right they need to remove this lovely fees.

Last time I rented I was told there was a mandatory credit check which cost £190. Every agent told me the same thing.

I'm a student. The credit check will come back saying I'm not reliable so I need a guarantor. I could have told them this in two seconds. But no.

Then they proceeded to not deliver the promised furniture until two weeks into the let so we slept in sleeping bags.

Cunts.

My ex properly went to town on these fuckers when we moved in together because she works in finance and knew a drat sight more than they did about how credit checking and money laundering legalities and costs worked.

It was funny watching the guy squirm as he got schooled.

# ? May 9, 2014 08:38

Jedit: Dec 10, 2011; Proudly supporting vanilla legends 1994-2014

big scary monsters posted:

If you don't vote for the winning party/candidate in FPTP you are throwing your vote away. Vote for whoever you feel best represents you or if none of them do spoil your ballot.

I'm sick of people saying "spoil your ballot". It's like saying if you hate McDonald's food you should go into the restaurant and poo poo on the floor. It doesn't make them change the menu, it doesn't cost them money, and the only people you're making it unpleasant for are the lowest level of staff. You could achieve exactly the same effect by staying out of the loving restaurant. So don't be a childish rear end in a top hat.

Even if you achieve nothing else by voting you're doing three things:

1) If you vote for a minority party, they get closer to recovering their deposit. Recovering their deposit means they're more likely to be able to stand again next time.

2) You are increasing the threshold of votes required for a party to recover their deposit. This makes it more likely that parties like UKIP and the BNP will lose their deposits - see 1.

3) You're reducing the majority of the winner. MPs are less likely to ignore their constituents if their seat appears unsafe.

The effect of a single vote is small, but it all adds up.

# ? May 9, 2014 08:40

Kurtofan: Feb 16, 2011; hon hon hon

big scary monsters posted:

Regular exercise, people you love, a hobby you enjoy and eating properly.

Alternatively, drink.

Plan B sounds so liberating.

# ? May 9, 2014 08:46

Goldskull: Feb 20, 2011

They still pulling that poo poo on credit checks then? Last time I went through an Estate agent it was �60 a piece for 3 of us, and the rental was a 'upto 6 months, but the owners are selling, so it may be less etc'. Don't worry though, the check is good for a year so you won't have to pay again when you move. Guess who wanted paperwork and trying invoicing �60 again 4 months down the line? They got told to gently caress right off, and by the way they backed down immediately I doubt we had to pay the �60 in the first place.

Also never rent somewhere that's selling, unless you love telling cheery 2.4 children families rocking up at 9am sharp on a Saturday morning with a spikey haired prick in a suit to gently caress off because they didn't give 24hrs notice. Every week for 4 months.

# ? May 9, 2014 08:49

Gorn Myson: Aug 8, 2007

My constituency is so solidly Tory that in the history of its existence the Conservative Party has never once dropped below winning 48% of the vote. In the last local elections my options were Tory, Ukip or Lib Dem.

Yeah, I'm spoiling my vote in every election for as long as I live here.

# ? May 9, 2014 09:13

TinTower: Apr 21, 2010; You don't have to 8e a good person to 8e a hero.

# ? May 9, 2014 09:23

Bobstar: Feb 8, 2006; KartooshFace, you are not responding efficiently!

Jedit posted:

I'm sick of people saying "spoil your ballot". It's like saying if you hate McDonald's food you should go into the restaurant and poo poo on the floor. It doesn't make them change the menu, it doesn't cost them money, and the only people you're making it unpleasant for are the lowest level of staff. You could achieve exactly the same effect by staying out of the loving restaurant. So don't be a childish rear end in a top hat.

Even if you achieve nothing else by voting you're doing three things:

1) If you vote for a minority party, they get closer to recovering their deposit. Recovering their deposit means they're more likely to be able to stand again next time.

2) You are increasing the threshold of votes required for a party to recover their deposit. This makes it more likely that parties like UKIP and the BNP will lose their deposits - see 1.

3) You're reducing the majority of the winner. MPs are less likely to ignore their constituents if their seat appears unsafe.

The effect of a single vote is small, but it all adds up.

This is fine if you have a non-terrible minority party where you are, but what do you suggest when the ballet paper reads Labour - Tories - LibDems - UKIP - UKIP Lite - 111!!!Totally Not UKIP?

# ? May 9, 2014 09:25

Saki: Jan 9, 2008; Can't you feel the knife?

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/08/ukip-billboard-poster-international-grey-paint

Not even a hint of irony, amazing.

# ? May 9, 2014 09:27

Serotonin: Jul 14, 2001; The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of *blank*

Gorn Myson posted:

My constituency is so solidly Tory that in the history of its existence the Conservative Party has never once dropped below winning 48% of the vote. In the last local elections my options were Tory, Ukip or Lib Dem.

Yeah, I'm spoiling my vote in every election for as long as I live here.

Same, except Lib Dem. I occasionally get an independent who usually turns out to be someone to bigoted for UKIP. So yeah I spoil. I'm not voting for any of that shower of shite.

# ? May 9, 2014 09:35

Serotonin: Jul 14, 2001; The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of *blank*

Saki posted:

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/08/ukip-billboard-poster-international-grey-paint

Not even a hint of irony, amazing.

Fancy doing that eh, I don't get it, why so miserable, as a white middle class educated professionally employed male, let me tell you the UK isn't all that bad, it's pretty good actually. Yah

# ? May 9, 2014 09:38

Saki: Jan 9, 2008; Can't you feel the knife?

Yes, exactly.

# ? May 9, 2014 09:44

Microplastics: Jul 6, 2007; It's what's for dinner.

Jedit posted:

I'm sick of people saying "spoil your ballot". It's like saying if you hate McDonald's food you should go into the restaurant and poo poo on the floor. It doesn't make them change the menu, it doesn't cost them money, and the only people you're making it unpleasant for are the lowest level of staff. You could achieve exactly the same effect by staying out of the loving restaurant. So don't be a childish rear end in a top hat.

Burn down McDonald's

# ? May 9, 2014 09:54

mrpwase: Apr 21, 2010; I HAVE GREAT AVATAR IDEAS
For the Many, Not the Few

♪ You can vote however the gently caress you want, but power still calls all the shots, and believe it or not ♪
♪ Even if democracy broke loose, they'll just make the economy scream til we vote responsibly! ♪

# ? May 9, 2014 09:56

Phoon: Apr 23, 2010

I liked the pro-union billboard vandalism better

# ? May 9, 2014 09:57

Barry Foster: Dec 24, 2007; What is going wrong with that one (face is longer than it should be)

Saki posted:

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/08/ukip-billboard-poster-international-grey-paint

Not even a hint of irony, amazing.

Why should there be any irony in covering up fascist propaganda? :confused:

# ? May 9, 2014 10:19

Jedit: Dec 10, 2011; Proudly supporting vanilla legends 1994-2014

Bobstar posted:

This is fine if you have a non-terrible minority party where you are, but what do you suggest when the ballet paper reads Labour - Tories - LibDems - UKIP - UKIP Lite - 111!!!Totally Not UKIP?

Just because you can't do one, doesn't mean you can't do the others. Unless you know you're in a three way marginal, vote for the Big Three party least likely to win.

I must repeat for the benefit of Gorn and similar idiots: the candidates don't see that cock and balls you drew, senior count officials don't see it either. Nobody sees it except the count team, most of whom are low paid council workers trying to make a bit of extra cash. Literally all you are doing is shoving obscene images in the faces of the people who least deserve it and whose side you claim to be on. Grow the gently caress up, all of you.

# ? May 9, 2014 10:31

Saki: Jan 9, 2008; Can't you feel the knife?

Barry Foster posted:

Why should there be any irony in covering up fascist propaganda?

UKIP are dumb and wrong but comparing them to Nazis is loving stupid.

# ? May 9, 2014 10:38

mrpwase: Apr 21, 2010; I HAVE GREAT AVATAR IDEAS
For the Many, Not the Few

Jedit posted:

Just because you can't do one, doesn't mean you can't do the others. Unless you know you're in a three way marginal, vote for the Big Three party least likely to win.

I must repeat for the benefit of Gorn and similar idiots: the candidates don't see that cock and balls you drew, senior count officials don't see it either. Nobody sees it except the count team, most of whom are low paid council workers trying to make a bit of extra cash. Literally all you are doing is shoving obscene images in the faces of the people who least deserve it and whose side you claim to be on. Grow the gently caress up, all of you.

The more spoilt ballots, the more momentum builds for spoilt ballots being counted, announced and discussed, the more FPTP is destabilised and delegitimised, the more we can build an actual democracy. I believe that's the idea.

E: ^^^ Nazis =/= fascists

# ? May 9, 2014 10:40

Serotonin: Jul 14, 2001; The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of *blank*

Jedit posted:

Just because you can't do one, doesn't mean you can't do the others. Unless you know you're in a three way marginal, vote for the Big Three party least likely to win.

I must repeat for the benefit of Gorn and similar idiots: the candidates don't see that cock and balls you drew, senior count officials don't see it either. Nobody sees it except the count team, most of whom are low paid council workers trying to make a bit of extra cash. Literally all you are doing is shoving obscene images in the faces of the people who least deserve it and whose side you claim to be on. Grow the gently caress up, all of you.

Vote for someone you disagree with because its better than drawing a cock. Makes perfect sense.

# ? May 9, 2014 10:41

Larry_Mullet: Sep 8, 2012

Saki posted:

UKIP are dumb and wrong but comparing them to Nazis is loving stupid.

You're dumb and wrong and loving stupid

# ? May 9, 2014 10:41

Kegluneq: Feb 18, 2011; Mr President, the physical reality of Prime Minister Corbyn is beyond your range of apprehension. If you'll just put on these PINKOVISION glasses...

Barry Foster posted:

Why should there be any irony in covering up fascist propaganda?

He's condemning UKIP for a lack of imagination and idealism whilst making the blandest possible artistic statement. The pro-union graffiti was better in every possible respect.

Name dropping his 'good friend Zodiac Mindwarp' is also peak Guardian :words:

TinTower posted:

Jedit posted:

Literally all you are doing is shoving obscene images in the faces of the people who least deserve it and whose side you claim to be on. Grow the gently caress up, all of you.

Bozza's train was loving awesome. If I'd just spent the day counting the number of politically active fascists living in the same town as me, I'd be loving delighted to see something like that. :colbert:

Edit: I realise that wasn't a ballot but a spoiled survey, but still.

Kegluneq fucked around with this message at 10:47 on May 9, 2014

# ? May 9, 2014 10:42

Loonytoad Quack: Aug 24, 2004; High on Shatner's Bassoon

Jedit posted:

I must repeat for the benefit of Gorn and similar idiots: the candidates don't see that cock and balls you drew, senior count officials don't see it either. Nobody sees it except the count team, most of whom are low paid council workers trying to make a bit of extra cash. Literally all you are doing is shoving obscene images in the faces of the people who least deserve it and whose side you claim to be on. Grow the gently caress up, all of you.

Not voting because you don't agree with any of the parties is indistinguishable from not voting because you're apathetic and lazy. Spoiled votes are counted and show the number of people motivated enough to go to the polling office and register an opinion, even though that opinion is "gently caress this poo poo".

Until we get a "None of the above" option, you absolutely 100% SHOULD go and spoil your vote if the alternative is not voting at all.*

_{* The upcoming Euro elections are proportional representation though, so you should go and vote for the party you most agree with. Spoiling votes is for archaic non-representative FPTP bullshit systems only.}

Loonytoad Quack fucked around with this message at 10:49 on May 9, 2014

# ? May 9, 2014 10:43

Gorn Myson: Aug 8, 2007

I think we should have a picture competition for people in these constituencies where the best and most cathartic option is drawing a giant, throbbing, veiny willy.

Winner wins a multi-pack of pickled onion Monster Munch and some Freddos. Second prize is the satisfaction of knowing that an old person will be shocked to their very core at a cartoon depiction of a body part that literally 1 in 2 people have.

# ? May 9, 2014 10:45

JFairfax: Oct 23, 2008; by FactsAreUseless

None of the above is bullshit, if you really dislike the other options that much then stand yourself.

# ? May 9, 2014 10:49

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# ? May 20, 2024 20:22

Kegluneq: Feb 18, 2011; Mr President, the physical reality of Prime Minister Corbyn is beyond your range of apprehension. If you'll just put on these PINKOVISION glasses...

JFairfax posted:

None of the above is bullshit, if you really dislike the other options that much then stand yourself.

Jesus Christ this is the dumbest possible argument.

# ? May 9, 2014 10:51

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Debate & Discussion > UKMT May: Elections! (which won't fix anything)

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