tag:google.com,2010:buzz:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
Mobile
Public
46-71 Trinity Rd, Ware
46-71 Trinity Rd, Ware, Hertfordshire SG12 7, UK
51.8139857
-0.0259169
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
Mobile
Public
You can never find a Prime Minister when you need one. And then 3 come along at once.
You can never find a Prime Minister when you need one. And then 3 come along at once.
You can never find a Prime Minister when you need one. And then 3 come along at once.
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273605404264000
Agnieszka Tokarska
115829999582725799719
do you like the new one?
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
Agnieszka Tokarska
115829999582725799719
do you like the new one?
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
Permalink
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273605602608000
thomas morffew
110352049954858592591
Bloody hell. Can't stand the Tory smugness.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
thomas morffew
110352049954858592591
Bloody hell. Can't stand the Tory smugness.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273605937904000
M Farber
118060344323784874602
Oh well, I'm relieved in a way. We don't get a full blown Tory government at least. But I really really cannot stand George Osborne.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
M Farber
118060344323784874602
Oh well, I'm relieved in a way. We don't get a full blown Tory government at least. But I really really cannot stand George Osborne.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273606244772000
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Quite enjoying the BBC trying to fill a news program in real time when there's really nothing happening. "David Cameron is still in with the Queen". Will she let him go?
Apparently the first thing that happens is the security briefing. That's where MI5 tell him about the blood sucking reptilian aliens from Zeta Reticuli housed in the pyramid on the top of the Canary Wharf tower. And Cthulhu locked up in the basement of No.10. 11 May 2010 11 May 2010
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Quite enjoying the BBC trying to fill a news program in real time when there's really nothing happening. "David Cameron is still in with the Queen". Will she let him go?
Apparently the first thing that happens is the security briefing. That's where MI5 tell him about the blood sucking reptilian aliens from Zeta Reticuli housed in the pyramid on the top of the Canary Wharf tower. And Cthulhu locked up in the basement of No.10. 11 May 2010 11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273606345081000
thomas morffew
110352049954858592591
Regretting my Lib-Dem vote. Never again. That's going to haunt me.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
thomas morffew
110352049954858592591
Regretting my Lib-Dem vote. Never again. That's going to haunt me.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273606448157000
thomas morffew
110352049954858592591
How awful.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
thomas morffew
110352049954858592591
How awful.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273606542367000
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Imagining Brown in the car leaving Buck House. "That bigotted woman". ;) And we didn't get any tears either.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Imagining Brown in the car leaving Buck House. "That bigotted woman". ;) And we didn't get any tears either.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273606686367000
thomas morffew
110352049954858592591
posh boy meets the queen http://goo.gl/MPkj
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
thomas morffew
110352049954858592591
posh boy meets the queen http://goo.gl/MPkj
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273606737308000
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Keep Calm and Carry On.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Keep Calm and Carry On.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273606936734000
M Farber
118060344323784874602
I didn't have any choice, it was a Lib Dem-Tory race in this area. And anyway I wasn't keen on New Labour too.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
M Farber
118060344323784874602
I didn't have any choice, it was a Lib Dem-Tory race in this area. And anyway I wasn't keen on New Labour too.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273606983658000
Marie Hélène Visconti
106002545837976723927
@Julian : I've got the book. It's a gem.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
Marie Hélène Visconti
106002545837976723927
@Julian : I've got the book. It's a gem.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273607226418000
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
OMG! I've just discovered that the PM and I went to the same Prep School. Hmmm. Not sure I should have said that in the open. People might get the wrong idea.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
OMG! I've just discovered that the PM and I went to the same Prep School. Hmmm. Not sure I should have said that in the open. People might get the wrong idea.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273607296066000
thomas morffew
110352049954858592591
posh boy
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
thomas morffew
110352049954858592591
posh boy
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273607335147000
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
Now someone will start asking you about fagging, which should confuse any American followers you have ...
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
Now someone will start asking you about fagging, which should confuse any American followers you have ...
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273607359519000
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Yeah, well. Posh parents and Grandparents anyway. It's the British way, donchaknow.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Yeah, well. Posh parents and Grandparents anyway. It's the British way, donchaknow.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273607515462000
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
On a more serious note: 4 year fixed term parliaments? Really?
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
On a more serious note: 4 year fixed term parliaments? Really?
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273607624620000
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
4 year fixed term parliaments seem to work perfectly well in the rest of the world. And it stops politicians playing silly buggers with the economy, to try and schedule an election right in the middle of the uptick.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
4 year fixed term parliaments seem to work perfectly well in the rest of the world. And it stops politicians playing silly buggers with the economy, to try and schedule an election right in the middle of the uptick.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273607639222000
thomas morffew
110352049954858592591
looks like it. but no doubt the Lib Dems will be stabbed in the back and all their ideas quietly removed.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
thomas morffew
110352049954858592591
looks like it. but no doubt the Lib Dems will be stabbed in the back and all their ideas quietly removed.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273607768911000
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Not sure of the right metaphor. Tightrope walk? Snails on razor blades?
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Not sure of the right metaphor. Tightrope walk? Snails on razor blades?
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273607851011000
thomas morffew
110352049954858592591
Lets just call it selling out your principles for power. Bet they can't believe their luck.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
thomas morffew
110352049954858592591
Lets just call it selling out your principles for power. Bet they can't believe their luck.
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273608148241000
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
Perhaps this is the right metaphor? http://bit.ly/cKm9Aw
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
Perhaps this is the right metaphor? http://bit.ly/cKm9Aw
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273608321209000
thomas morffew
110352049954858592591
lol
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
thomas morffew
110352049954858592591
lol
11 May 2010
11 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273732277063000
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Touché. Don't blame me - I didn't vote for Obama because I can't. And they sent my donation back.
13 May 2010
13 May 2010
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
Touché. Don't blame me - I didn't vote for Obama because I can't. And they sent my donation back.
13 May 2010
13 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273769629820000
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
@Marc Been mildly bothered by your comment all day. BP is clearly a mildly corrupt multi-national aided and abetted by 2 US companies all pointing fingers at each other for the failure of some extreme technological hubris. Not entirely sure what relevance the first word of their corporate name has to do with much of anything.
And yeah. The oil spill sucks. But it could be worse. You could have been born in Afghanistan or some other random 3rd world country. 13 May 2010 13 May 2010
Julian Bond
106416716945076707395
@Marc Been mildly bothered by your comment all day. BP is clearly a mildly corrupt multi-national aided and abetted by 2 US companies all pointing fingers at each other for the failure of some extreme technological hubris. Not entirely sure what relevance the first word of their corporate name has to do with much of anything.
And yeah. The oil spill sucks. But it could be worse. You could have been born in Afghanistan or some other random 3rd world country. 13 May 2010 13 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273837456276000
John Hardy
104013835962992611989
four year fixed terms are a GREAT idea!
so are 2 year long election campaigns... 14 May 2010 14 May 2010
John Hardy
104013835962992611989
four year fixed terms are a GREAT idea!
so are 2 year long election campaigns... 14 May 2010 14 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273838310123000
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
The trouble with the commentary about the UK election, including coalitions and fixed terms, is that almost all of it relates either to the US or the UK electoral systems. And all of the predicted problems with fixed terms and coalitions are also seen in that light.
What everyone is missing is that the problem is not with coalitions or fixed term parliaments per se, it is their use in a first-past-the-post system. After all, it is possible to win in a FPTP system by making the other party lose, as opposed to going out to win. So you end up with dirty politics, smear campaigns and permanent campaigning, as your primary objective is to make sure that people will not be voting for the other guy. This also explains why voter turnouts are lowest in countries with FPTP systems, making a complete mockery of democracy.
The UK needs to look to Europe for its electoral system, not to the US or at home. And not at special cases like Belgium either, but rather at Holland, Sweden, Germany, Denmark. 14 May 2010 14 May 2010
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
The trouble with the commentary about the UK election, including coalitions and fixed terms, is that almost all of it relates either to the US or the UK electoral systems. And all of the predicted problems with fixed terms and coalitions are also seen in that light.
What everyone is missing is that the problem is not with coalitions or fixed term parliaments per se, it is their use in a first-past-the-post system. After all, it is possible to win in a FPTP system by making the other party lose, as opposed to going out to win. So you end up with dirty politics, smear campaigns and permanent campaigning, as your primary objective is to make sure that people will not be voting for the other guy. This also explains why voter turnouts are lowest in countries with FPTP systems, making a complete mockery of democracy.
The UK needs to look to Europe for its electoral system, not to the US or at home. And not at special cases like Belgium either, but rather at Holland, Sweden, Germany, Denmark. 14 May 2010 14 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273840255377000
John Hardy
104013835962992611989
so what is the average length campaign in some other fixed 4 year term democracies? the only one I know of is the USA and half of their terms are spent electioneering.
i actually don't think the issue is the government calling elections with timing to its advantage.
as long as the term isnt too long 5 years is too long and anti-democratic. a max of 4 years is probably OK but preferably less (3 to 3.5 years).
fixed term or not elections need to be called within a reasonable time frame so that people can judge and/or punish governments for actions that they can actually remember. 14 May 2010 14 May 2010
John Hardy
104013835962992611989
so what is the average length campaign in some other fixed 4 year term democracies? the only one I know of is the USA and half of their terms are spent electioneering.
i actually don't think the issue is the government calling elections with timing to its advantage.
as long as the term isnt too long 5 years is too long and anti-democratic. a max of 4 years is probably OK but preferably less (3 to 3.5 years).
fixed term or not elections need to be called within a reasonable time frame so that people can judge and/or punish governments for actions that they can actually remember. 14 May 2010 14 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273840574143000
Agnieszka Tokarska
115829999582725799719
this does not belong to the discussion: @ John Hardy, @ Julian just to let you know I have lost in one second about 150 connections among them both of you, if this is not because you decided to unfollow could you be that nice and reconnect? Thank you!
14 May 2010
14 May 2010
Agnieszka Tokarska
115829999582725799719
this does not belong to the discussion: @ John Hardy, @ Julian just to let you know I have lost in one second about 150 connections among them both of you, if this is not because you decided to unfollow could you be that nice and reconnect? Thank you!
14 May 2010
14 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273841154568000
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
@ John Hardy - The average length campaign in the European countries I am familiar with (Germany, Holland, Spain, Belgium), is about 3 months. The campaigning tends to pick up towards the end of the fixed term, but only really gets into full swing once the election has been officially called. This is because several parties are in coalition, and so have to keep their partners happy to get things done.
The funny thing is that the more of a two party system a country has (e.g. Spain), the more vitriolic the campaign and the longer it extends. Which is why the electoral system in the US is so prolonged and so bitter.
Also, just because you have a 5 year fixed term parliament (as we have here in Holland), that doesn't mean that you can't have early elections. That happens fairly regularly. One party may withdraw from the coalition, and then the government will fail a vote of confidence, and elections are called. Generally, though, the risk of pulling the plug is losing seats, and so parties stay in a coalition unless something huge happens, such as the Iraq war. 14 May 2010 14 May 2010
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
@ John Hardy - The average length campaign in the European countries I am familiar with (Germany, Holland, Spain, Belgium), is about 3 months. The campaigning tends to pick up towards the end of the fixed term, but only really gets into full swing once the election has been officially called. This is because several parties are in coalition, and so have to keep their partners happy to get things done.
The funny thing is that the more of a two party system a country has (e.g. Spain), the more vitriolic the campaign and the longer it extends. Which is why the electoral system in the US is so prolonged and so bitter.
Also, just because you have a 5 year fixed term parliament (as we have here in Holland), that doesn't mean that you can't have early elections. That happens fairly regularly. One party may withdraw from the coalition, and then the government will fail a vote of confidence, and elections are called. Generally, though, the risk of pulling the plug is losing seats, and so parties stay in a coalition unless something huge happens, such as the Iraq war. 14 May 2010 14 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273841762819000
John Hardy
104013835962992611989
as a comparative data point Australia has shorter cycles of non-fixed length terms which average 3.5 years. the campaigns are usually around 4-6 weeks and the government gets to choose the date. It also is dominated by two political groupings (though one is technically a coalition of two parties in practice they always vote together)
14 May 2010
14 May 2010
John Hardy
104013835962992611989
as a comparative data point Australia has shorter cycles of non-fixed length terms which average 3.5 years. the campaigns are usually around 4-6 weeks and the government gets to choose the date. It also is dominated by two political groupings (though one is technically a coalition of two parties in practice they always vote together)
14 May 2010
14 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273842554276000
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
The interesting point there is that Australia, like the UK and the US, has regionally based electoral systems, with geographically limited seats or constituencies. Like the US, the Australian system has both houses of parliament elected on a regional basis, instead of the lower house representing the popular vote, and the upper house representing a regional basis.
Without knowing too much about the Australian system, it seems likely that the regional, single-member constituencies are what force the system into a two-party (or rather, two-grouping) system. After all, as a small party, you have little chance of actually taking a single-member constituency, even under an STV system like Australia. And so small parties gather together into a sort of political aggregate, and you end up with the British Labour Party, or the US Republican Party, both of which are incredibly diverse and should really be at least two, possibly three or four separate parties.
Sorry to go on, but the FPTP voting system is my pet peeve. The US constitution is a truly fantastic document, except for the outdated rubbish about the electoral system. 14 May 2010 14 May 2010
David Emmett
112423096590036286952
The interesting point there is that Australia, like the UK and the US, has regionally based electoral systems, with geographically limited seats or constituencies. Like the US, the Australian system has both houses of parliament elected on a regional basis, instead of the lower house representing the popular vote, and the upper house representing a regional basis.
Without knowing too much about the Australian system, it seems likely that the regional, single-member constituencies are what force the system into a two-party (or rather, two-grouping) system. After all, as a small party, you have little chance of actually taking a single-member constituency, even under an STV system like Australia. And so small parties gather together into a sort of political aggregate, and you end up with the British Labour Party, or the US Republican Party, both of which are incredibly diverse and should really be at least two, possibly three or four separate parties.
Sorry to go on, but the FPTP voting system is my pet peeve. The US constitution is a truly fantastic document, except for the outdated rubbish about the electoral system. 14 May 2010 14 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273843123029000
John Hardy
104013835962992611989
I do think STV (?) (preferential voting? instant runoff?) produces less controversial results than FPTP because it fairly accounts for secondary preferences but you are right that it still produces a bipolar system or two major parties in the lower house and few independents of coalitions. There is less of a sense of disenfranchisement of the population because these secondary preferences are taken into account.
the upper house however is regional only in the sense that states allocate the number of senators but the system is based of proportional representation and here minor parties play a crucial role and often control the balance of power. 14 May 2010 14 May 2010
John Hardy
104013835962992611989
I do think STV (?) (preferential voting? instant runoff?) produces less controversial results than FPTP because it fairly accounts for secondary preferences but you are right that it still produces a bipolar system or two major parties in the lower house and few independents of coalitions. There is less of a sense of disenfranchisement of the population because these secondary preferences are taken into account.
the upper house however is regional only in the sense that states allocate the number of senators but the system is based of proportional representation and here minor parties play a crucial role and often control the balance of power. 14 May 2010 14 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273913114781000
Dave Miller
116677358423198765882
pssst: nobody say anything about proportional representation, ok?
@Julian Bond Promise me you didn't mean that about getting taken in by Obama?
Me too! Oh my gosh!! We're so the same!!!
Do you also like girls?
Oh my gosh!
Me too! 15 May 2010 15 May 2010
Dave Miller
116677358423198765882
pssst: nobody say anything about proportional representation, ok?
@Julian Bond Promise me you didn't mean that about getting taken in by Obama?
Me too! Oh my gosh!! We're so the same!!!
Do you also like girls?
Oh my gosh!
Me too! 15 May 2010 15 May 2010
tag:google.com,2010:buzz-comment:z13cjnypqqnijbpwx04ccnti2wb4ejnxysk0k:1273950875218000
Dave Miller
116677358423198765882
pssst: nobody say anything about proportional representation, ok?
15 May 2010
15 May 2010
Dave Miller
116677358423198765882
pssst: nobody say anything about proportional representation, ok?
15 May 2010
15 May 2010