Comment
An important reason to vote
TOMORROW is an historic day in County
Durham. For the first time since 1889, people
have the chance to vote for members for
a new kind of county council.
Turnout may well be low, and not simply
because of a modern disillusionment with
politics and politicians.
For a start, the new unitary authority is
not universally popular. There is a feeling
that it has been imposed upon a reluctant
population; there are concerns that it will
be too distant from the people it serves.
Neither reason should stop people voting.
The first reason is now irrelevant because
the council is going to exist whether people
like it or not. The second reason will become
a self-fulfilling prophecy because if people
do not engage in the electoral process the
council will be distant from them.
A third reason people give for not voting
is that it has been a lacklustre campaign.
This is because many outgoing councillors
are not having judgement passed on their
record, and many candidates do not yet
have real local connections because they are
fighting in new or enlarged divisions.
A lacklustre campaign does not mean,
though, that the council will lack impact on
people's lives. It will. It will have a budget
of £1bn to spend locally and it will employ
22,000 people. By voting, you will help direct
its immense impact.
A fourth reason for not voting is that traditionally
Labour has been so strong that
its votes have been weighed, not counted,
making all other shades of opinion meaningless.
As the Liberal Democrats have
shown in Durham City, this is no longer the
case.
Yesterday, The Northern Echo was receiving
indications that polling showed the
council to be heading towards no overall
control. Therefore, probably for the first
time since 1889, every vote will count equally
and will have the potential to tip the
balance.
Finally, a fifth reason to go out and vote.
A low turnout will benefit the small, but
vocal, band of extremists fighting this election.
We believe their policies do not offer
hope for the future of the county and that
people have a responsibility to keep them
out.
11:36am Wednesday 30th April 2008
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CommentPosted by: Mark, Darlo on 4:35pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Dont vote Labour. They Scrapped the 10p tax band, hurting the poor & signed the European union Treaty without a referendum. Teach them a lesson !!.
Dont vote Labour. They Scrapped the 10p tax band, hurting the poor & signed the European union Treaty without a referendum. Teach them a lesson !!.
Posted by: Brian, Darlington on 4:45pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Dont vote Tory they closed all the mines and ship yards and then made us all pay unfair pole tax[bold]bold[/bold]
Dont vote Tory they closed all the mines and ship yards and then made us all pay unfair pole tax
Posted by: Kathleen Boden, Darlington on 5:37pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Just vote! A vote withheld is giving one to the other guy/gal.If everyone who griped about politics got out and actually voted we would see a different government because the true majority would be reflected.
Just vote! A vote withheld is giving one to the other guy/gal.If everyone who griped about politics got out and actually voted we would see a different government because the true majority would be reflected.
Posted by: Trevor, County Durham on 6:03pm Wed 30 Apr 08
Vote British National Party on Thursday. All Newspapers and News on TV are nothing more than the propaganda arm of the Government - as in Zimbabwe, only more subtle and polished. The other parties are one and the same. The only reason why the media lies so visciously about the British National Party is because the BNP are the only party which is truely different and will end the racket which has seen British people become demoralised second class citizens in their own country. Voting BNP is the best tactical protest vote. Everywhere in the country where the BNP has done well the other parties have jumped through hoops of fire to do things for locals - desperately trying to win voters back from the "evil" BNP. Voting BNP gets the lazy old parties stung into action to work for the local people.
Vote British National Party on Thursday. All Newspapers and News on TV are nothing more than the propaganda arm of the Government - as in Zimbabwe, only more subtle and polished. The other parties are one and the same. The only reason why the media lies so visciously about the British National Party is because the BNP are the only party which is truely different and will end the racket which has seen British people become demoralised second class citizens in their own country. Voting BNP is the best tactical protest vote. Everywhere in the country where the BNP has done well the other parties have jumped through hoops of fire to do things for locals - desperately trying to win voters back from the "evil" BNP. Voting BNP gets the lazy old parties stung into action to work for the local people.
Posted by: Stephen, Darlington on 11:52am Thu 1 May 08
If all newspapers are a propaganda arm of the Government, why is this site letting you post your views? And why would you want to post them on such an outlet? Your paranoia is showing.
If all newspapers are a propaganda arm of the Government, why is this site letting you post your views? And why would you want to post them on such an outlet? Your paranoia is showing.
Posted by: Peter Dolan, Newton Aycliffe on 10:41pm Thu 1 May 08
Everyone seems to have forgotten that the majority of those who voted in the fererendum for a unitary authority voted against having it so why are we flagging up which party we want to win.
Everyone seems to have forgotten that the majority of those who voted in the fererendum for a unitary authority voted against having it so why are we flagging up which party we want to win.
Posted by: Trevor, County Durham on 12:43am Sat 3 May 08
[quote][bold]Stephen[/bold] wrote:
If all newspapers are a propaganda arm of the Government, why is this site letting you post your views? And why would you want to post them on such an outlet? Your paranoia is showing.[/quote] Isn't that a bit obvious Steven. To appear fair. Allow little comments here and there including mercilessly edited letters which may be a bit too controversial, then interfere in elections by abusing your power & influence, telling voters who they should or shouldn't vote for. If it were a figment of my imagination I would agree with you that I was paronoid, but it is fact. Go to the library and read back issues of the Northern Echo from the past month to remind yourself how grossly they interfered in these elections. Paranoid? I don't think so.
Stephen wrote:
If all newspapers are a propaganda arm of the Government, why is this site letting you post your views? And why would you want to post them on such an outlet? Your paranoia is showing.
Isn't that a bit obvious Steven. To appear fair. Allow little comments here and there including mercilessly edited letters which may be a bit too controversial, then interfere in elections by abusing your power & influence, telling voters who they should or shouldn't vote for. If it were a figment of my imagination I would agree with you that I was paronoid, but it is fact. Go to the library and read back issues of the Northern Echo from the past month to remind yourself how grossly they interfered in these elections. Paranoid? I don't think so.
Posted by: Stephen, Darlington on 10:11am Mon 5 May 08
But you say ALL newspapers are a propaganda arm of the Government. Where are the mercilessly edited letters on this site? Or on the Northern Echo election coverage site? Even the stories about the Bishop of Durham's condemnation of the BNP afforded space for comments by the party. Opinion articles, certainly, have urged voters not to vote BNP, but there has been a great deal of impartial coverage and to offer your sweeping statement that all newspapers are serving up the propaganda of the Government shows exactly the kind of paranoia I suggested. Despite the opportunities afforded here, the majority of comments about the BNP by supporters seem to be cries about how badly the world is treating them (to the extent of 140 comments on one thread) rather than actually offering up substantive policy suggestions the voters could base their judgements on. I'm glad the BNP fared as badly as they did. Long may the good sense of the voters of Durham continue.
But you say ALL newspapers are a propaganda arm of the Government. Where are the mercilessly edited letters on this site? Or on the Northern Echo election coverage site? Even the stories about the Bishop of Durham's condemnation of the BNP afforded space for comments by the party. Opinion articles, certainly, have urged voters not to vote BNP, but there has been a great deal of impartial coverage and to offer your sweeping statement that all newspapers are serving up the propaganda of the Government shows exactly the kind of paranoia I suggested. Despite the opportunities afforded here, the majority of comments about the BNP by supporters seem to be cries about how badly the world is treating them (to the extent of 140 comments on one thread) rather than actually offering up substantive policy suggestions the voters could base their judgements on. I'm glad the BNP fared as badly as they did. Long may the good sense of the voters of Durham continue.
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