In case any of you in the further flung corners of the Globe (corners of the Globe! now there's a strange expression) haven't realised here in the UK we are in now in the final stages of a general election. In theory we are a representative democracy with a Constitutional Monarch. In theory we are electing a Member of Parliament who will represent our views in Parliament, in practise we are electing a Government and a Prime Minister. I am quite sure that any one who knows me, or indeed anyone who visits Paula's Place will have a pretty good idea of my political views. There are plenty of places where you can go to get political views and commentaries so I will not join in here, I will not tell you who to vote for, I will simply encourage you to vote.
Recent polls have shown that if the 18 - 30 year olds vote then we could have a very different result, so whether you are voting on
- How you will pay for your parents care,
- What sort of a state pension you will enjoy,
- What sort of treatment you will be able to get in what sort of hospital,
- What sort of education your children will get, or how university education is funded
- Whether you want to be protected by the Police or avoid being arrested by them, or simply
- Who is consistent, and honest enough (and likely to actually turn up) to lead a Government that has to negotiate a deal with the E.U.
What ever issues light you up, please, please please use your vote. People died to give us the privilege to vote. Even though we rejected what may have been a farer system, we do have the right to vote, at our last referendum we voted for the sovereignty of the United Kingdom Parliament and therefore us the people, the subjects of the UK, make use of that hard won sovereignty and vote. We don't have to look far away, or far back into the past to see what happens when we leave it up to others.
Sorry, I tried to avoid politics, but I simply couldn't resist any longer!
Cartoon from 9 Chickweed Lane by my favourite cartoonist Brooke McEldowney
No comments:
Post a Comment