Comments on: A lengthy political rant. I won’t be cross if you don’t read it. http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/2009/06/07/a-lengthy-political-rant-i-wont-be-cross-if-you-dont-read-it/ Floccinaucinihilipilificating antidisestablishmentarianism since 2001. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:03:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Andrew http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/2009/06/07/a-lengthy-political-rant-i-wont-be-cross-if-you-dont-read-it/comment-page-1/#comment-5632 Andrew Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:44:10 +0000 http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/?p=1025#comment-5632 Fair enough. I wonder if there's a way of determining if the increase is statistically significant. Fair enough. I wonder if there’s a way of determining if the increase is statistically significant.

]]> By: Doug http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/2009/06/07/a-lengthy-political-rant-i-wont-be-cross-if-you-dont-read-it/comment-page-1/#comment-5631 Doug Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:08:31 +0000 http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/?p=1025#comment-5631 They did get more total votes by a 150 thousand or so. http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/factcheck+how+many+bnp+votes/3203777 I agree that not voting is effectively a negative vote and, particularly in PR elections, promotes extreme parties. They did get more total votes by a 150 thousand or so. http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/factcheck+how+many+bnp+votes/3203777

I agree that not voting is effectively a negative vote and, particularly in PR elections, promotes extreme parties.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/2009/06/07/a-lengthy-political-rant-i-wont-be-cross-if-you-dont-read-it/comment-page-1/#comment-5630 Andrew Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:12:37 +0000 http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/?p=1025#comment-5630 I don't think that's true. They got fewer votes than they did last time. They did well because a lot of people either couldn't be bothered to vote or didn't feel like any of the other parties deserved their vote either. Personally, I think that not voting when there are crazy parties in the running with a realistic chance of getting elected is legitimising the crazy parties -- kind of saying that they're no worse than anyone else. I don’t think that’s true. They got fewer votes than they did last time. They did well because a lot of people either couldn’t be bothered to vote or didn’t feel like any of the other parties deserved their vote either.

Personally, I think that not voting when there are crazy parties in the running with a realistic chance of getting elected is legitimising the crazy parties — kind of saying that they’re no worse than anyone else.

]]> By: Doug http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/2009/06/07/a-lengthy-political-rant-i-wont-be-cross-if-you-dont-read-it/comment-page-1/#comment-5629 Doug Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:18:54 +0000 http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/?p=1025#comment-5629 It's incredible how many policies don't stand up to the slightest amount of scrutiny. Also incredible that I don't remember things like working time directive being discussed once in the run up to the election - I'm very depressed this week. With regards to the BNP, I think I'm signing up to the theory that they were elected because of all the well meaning people who kept going on about how we shouldn't vote for them. It doesn't need saying really and it just gives them publicity. Of course pointing this out creates a paradox... It’s incredible how many policies don’t stand up to the slightest amount of scrutiny. Also incredible that I don’t remember things like working time directive being discussed once in the run up to the election – I’m very depressed this week.

With regards to the BNP, I think I’m signing up to the theory that they were elected because of all the well meaning people who kept going on about how we shouldn’t vote for them. It doesn’t need saying really and it just gives them publicity.

Of course pointing this out creates a paradox…

]]> By: heather http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/2009/06/07/a-lengthy-political-rant-i-wont-be-cross-if-you-dont-read-it/comment-page-1/#comment-5628 heather Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:33:45 +0000 http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/?p=1025#comment-5628 Great piece. Totally spot on. Great piece. Totally spot on.

]]> By: barriejohn http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/2009/06/07/a-lengthy-political-rant-i-wont-be-cross-if-you-dont-read-it/comment-page-1/#comment-5623 barriejohn Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:55:53 +0000 http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/?p=1025#comment-5623 BTW HJ, were you referring to the <i>Salem Hypothesis</i> here (qv), ie the strange fact that most of the prominent creationists seem to have degrees in "hydraulic engineering" etc? That`s not to say that all engineers hold to completely illogical scientific views; but "that`s a question mark that I`d like to get to the bottom", as Sen Fielding is reported as saying!! (PS There`s some good stuff about Creationism v Science on Wonderful Life @ http://www.robertsaunders.org.uk/wordpress/ ) BTW HJ, were you referring to the Salem Hypothesis here (qv), ie the strange fact that most of the prominent creationists seem to have degrees in “hydraulic engineering” etc? That`s not to say that all engineers hold to completely illogical scientific views; but “that`s a question mark that I`d like to get to the bottom”, as Sen Fielding is reported as saying!!

(PS There`s some good stuff about Creationism v Science on Wonderful Life @ http://www.robertsaunders.org.uk/wordpress/ )

]]> By: barriejohn http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/2009/06/07/a-lengthy-political-rant-i-wont-be-cross-if-you-dont-read-it/comment-page-1/#comment-5622 barriejohn Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:31:09 +0000 http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/?p=1025#comment-5622 Oh, no!! "<i>Family First</i><i> Senator Steve Fieding...": say no more!!!</i> Oh, no!! “Family First Senator Steve Fieding…”: say no more!!!

]]> By: HJ http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/2009/06/07/a-lengthy-political-rant-i-wont-be-cross-if-you-dont-read-it/comment-page-1/#comment-5619 HJ Mon, 08 Jun 2009 05:51:50 +0000 http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/?p=1025#comment-5619 That's a great summary, and I pity the state of your politics, but we have our own problems. A Xtian senator with the potential balance of power has decided that solar flares are causing global warming, and wants to influence our carbon trading accordingly. He understands this stuff, because he used to be an engineer.. yeah. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/08/2591807.htm That’s a great summary, and I pity the state of your politics, but we have our own problems. A Xtian senator with the potential balance of power has decided that solar flares are causing global warming, and wants to influence our carbon trading accordingly. He understands this stuff, because he used to be an engineer.. yeah.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/08/2591807.htm

]]> By: Andrew http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/2009/06/07/a-lengthy-political-rant-i-wont-be-cross-if-you-dont-read-it/comment-page-1/#comment-5618 Andrew Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:18:52 +0000 http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/?p=1025#comment-5618 Let's not forget that the Telegraph have kept referring to "our investigation" into MP's expenses, when in fact they just bought a disc off a guy. If they're left to their own journalistic devices, they're happy to print <a href="http://blogs.myspace.com/Modules/BlogV2/Pages/RssFeed.aspx?friendID=98428734" rel="nofollow">Face of Jesus found in jar of Marmite</a>. Let’s not forget that the Telegraph have kept referring to “our investigation” into MP’s expenses, when in fact they just bought a disc off a guy. If they’re left to their own journalistic devices, they’re happy to print Face of Jesus found in jar of Marmite.

]]> By: barriejohn http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/2009/06/07/a-lengthy-political-rant-i-wont-be-cross-if-you-dont-read-it/comment-page-1/#comment-5617 barriejohn Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:11:15 +0000 http://www.apathysketchpad.com/blog/?p=1025#comment-5617 You`re absolutely correct, of course, as usual. Chris Huhne was a target, even though his total expenses for the year amounted to less than £4,000! I wonder how many Telegraph journalists` expense claims are as low as this!! (I use the term "journalists" with reservations here, as true journalism in this country is virtually dead - a fact to which you have alluded before.) He (Chris Huhne) was constantly pilloried for claiming for "HobNob" biscuits (would "digestives" have been OK then?), which he explained were for consumption by his staff, yet the "hilarious" barracking still continued. The whole campaign was crude, ill-thought-out, and very badly executed, and seemed only designed to boost the Telegraph`s flagging sales. One small criticism of your excellent resume though - the "Labour Party" ceased to exist some years ago: something of which the electorate, yourself apparently included, seems blissfully unaware!!! You`re absolutely correct, of course, as usual. Chris Huhne was a target, even though his total expenses for the year amounted to less than £4,000! I wonder how many Telegraph journalists` expense claims are as low as this!! (I use the term “journalists” with reservations here, as true journalism in this country is virtually dead – a fact to which you have alluded before.) He (Chris Huhne) was constantly pilloried for claiming for “HobNob” biscuits (would “digestives” have been OK then?), which he explained were for consumption by his staff, yet the “hilarious” barracking still continued. The whole campaign was crude, ill-thought-out, and very badly executed, and seemed only designed to boost the Telegraph`s flagging sales. One small criticism of your excellent resume though – the “Labour Party” ceased to exist some years ago: something of which the electorate, yourself apparently included, seems blissfully unaware!!!

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