I must say I am far from over joyed at the thought of another Conservative government, and this time around it looks like we won't even have the Lib Dems to shield the working class from some of the more outrageous suggestions! What does this mean for the working class individual? It means that once again the working class will get poorer while the rich get richer!
Anyway, I've become side tracked in the first paragraph. This isn't going to be a "why we hate the Conservatives" rant.
One thing you've got to give the Conservatives, is that their voters turn out. If the recent figures are accurate, 41.4% of eligible voters in the UK didn't register their vote. Yes 41.4%! I would be willing to bet not more than 5% of that figure would have voted Conservative.
So, why didn't the rest turn out? I would hazard a guess at one of two things. Either:
1. It was inconvenient to go to the polling station. Work, childcare issues, they couldn't be bothered, there will be hundreds of reasons.
2. They have become so disillusioned with the parties available to vote for, they don't care anymore because they are all as bad as each other.
How can we address these points?
The first one is simpler I think so I will tackle that one first.
Why, in this technological age, can't we vote online? Give each person a unique code to sign into a secure website with, and I really think more people would vote.
I know people will say it can be hacked, not secure enough etc. With the right security in place, this can be prevented. Is it really any harder to secure a website than to secure a ballot box?
People will also worry about ensuring the right people are using the code. I agree this would be harder to monitor, but the current situation is hardly fool proof. Only letting each IP address vote once would help eliminate the problem. A friend of mine forgot his voting card yesterday. He only had to give his name to vote, didn't have to show any ID or in any way prove he was who he claimed to be. Really, how secure is that?
The second point, the disillusionment, is much harder to tackle. I myself felt this way, but I voted anyway because I think it is important. How can you complain about the state of the country if you don't do your part to help change it?
In my experience, the working class man always voted Labour. Now that vote seems to be split, in England at least, between Labour and UKIP. The people voting UKIP seem to be looking at two main things. The party is fresh and new and they have a no nonsense policy on immigration.
If Labour and UKIP joined forces and created a new party that looked after working class people and tackled immigration, they would be a political super power! Maybe the disillusioned masses would then be willing to put their faith back into the system - they wanted change and they got it.
It all makes me almost wish I lived in Scotland. The SNP has it all it seems!
So now, we sit and watch the aftermath. Labour, Lib Dems and UKIP lose their leaders. Labour and especially the Lib Dems are in a shambles. Surely there's a better way?
I think a good step in the right direction would be to start teaching basic politics in schools. If we make a conscious effort to get the next generation interested enough to care, then maybe they can put right the mess our generation caused!
What do you think? Is the country going to get worse or you happy to see the Conservatives in for another term?
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