Conversation

Notices

1. Bob Mottram (bob@social.freedombone.net)'s status on Sunday, 23-Apr-2017 14:01:11 UTC Bob Mottram
   The UK general election. Well, I've registered to vote but the whole thing just makes me feel vaguely exasperated. It's like a parade of folks you don't want to have your name associated with.
   
   

   Theresa May

   Declared the winner already by the media. Supposedly massive lead in the polls, though the polls usually get it wrong. Pioneered the Snooper's Charter. This is someone who is obsessed with knowing everyone's internet browsing history. That's the kind of calibre we're talking about here.
   
   

   Jeremy Corbyn

   aka Corbs or The Corbynator. Almost universally despised by his own parliament colleges. Makes uninspiring speeches which enthuse nobody. Has no plans to overthrow the monarchy. Pretty certain to be replaced whether or not he wins.
   
   

   Tim Farron

   aka Who? The Libdems hardly exist anymore after they were voted into the black hole of electoral oblivion in 2015. Libdems tend to be very similar to Conservatives, but with slightly differing opinions on some civil liberties issues.
   
   

   Paul Nuttall

   Ukipper. Current number of MPs: zero. Expected number of MPs after the election: approximately zero. The BBC have been trying to promote UKIP in recent years, but without much success. Really, they're best forgotten.
   
   

   Caroline Lucas

   Like the Ukippers, the Greens don't really stand much chance of anything. They have a single MP. Some of their policies are passable - things like UBI, which might improve the lot of the average prole - but their chances of being in any position to implement them are pretty negligible.
   • Bob Mottram (bob@social.freedombone.net)'s status on Sunday, 23-Apr-2017 14:41:35 UTC Bob Mottram

     • DickyPye
     @dickypye this is similar to what I tweeted to Novara. There is so little faith in the mainstream media and their irrelevant talking points that the GE might be an opportunity to promote other ideas.
   • Bob Mottram (bob@social.freedombone.net)'s status on Sunday, 23-Apr-2017 14:47:10 UTC Bob Mottram

     in reply to

     • DickyPye
     @dickypye if possible it might be good to try to get some folks into the usual media circus (TV debates or whatever) and have them ask the candidates questions about UBI, technological unemployment, tax havens, collectivisation of infrastructure in a commons-based economy and so on. These topics are so far off their map that their masks may slip and they end up giving replies which really show their true allegiances.
   • Bob Mottram (bob@social.freedombone.net)'s status on Sunday, 23-Apr-2017 17:02:45 UTC Bob Mottram

     • DickyPye
     @dickypye yes, although that would be too close to actually democratic for the BBC and similar outlets to broadcast. My guess is that if the party leaders had to answer questions in an open forum they wouldn't fare very well and the range of issues would be much wider.