2015 Election - antidotes?

They`ll ALL be spinning and lying for all they`re worth. (Which isn't much!) the Tories are just first off the block. Oh God! months of this. We`ve only just (about) recovered from the Scottish Referendum.

I can't take any of them at face value.

On Election Days - The local politicians and their staff regularly come into the voting station to check on the voting numbers and thank us (electoral staff) for our help and efforts. Am I very cynical, I cannot find any sincerity.

However as a menial Poll clerk I am happy to be very well paid for a one day very long shift from 6.30 am to about 10.30pm.

I'm currently staying in the US with family and came here mid-Nov. to welcome new baby grandson and help them out generally. Have been keeping in touch with the cranking up of the political onslaught and can't say I'm looking forward to returning to UK mid-Jan. as it's clear what will be dominating from now until May.

I've become very cynical of all politicians (well most - there are still a few apparently genuine people about) and now wonder if it's worth getting drawn into the general scrum that will build and build towards the election.

I'm looking at what's most important and how I can make a positive contribution in my own small way. Being a loving grandparent is one of them, offering support to family, showing my 2 grandchildren how to be and how not to be. Not to be rude, bigoted, narrow minded, reminding them to be polite, friendly, helpful, firmly assertive about what they want, not aggressive, and remembering their p's and q's.

What's really important for our grandchildren in the world they will grow up in? There has to be something more immediate and tangible and positive that we as grandparents can offer and put our energy into. The political parties seem a world away from some of the basics of everyday life in society I've mentioned. Politicians seem out of touch, needing a big reminder or even some psychotherapy to get them connected with what's truly important in life for many, many people, and then integrating this into their approach to politics. Politicians claim they come into politics because they have high ideals and want to do good. So maybe it's time to reconnect with this urge, put their ego strutting behind them and try a little humility.

Phew - must have needed to get that off my chest! So thanks if you read this far

Do you know, Coolgran, I always thought the poll clerks were unpaid volunteers! I've learned something new today

I worked as one a couple of times years ago - just had a look at how much they are paid now

They used to recruit Local Government officers who were allowed a 'day off' to do it and I am sure we didn't get paid extra (if so, not much).

Bank tellers were recruited for 'the count'.

My father, clerk to the Parish Council, used to 'man' a small village polling station on local and general election days. He never mentioned being paid, but now I come to think of it, he couldn't have been expected to do it for nothing. I've spent many a cold, miserable hour representing my party outside a polling station and a good many hours observing the count. Thank goodness I have taken myself out of that scenario!

I'm just putting my fingers in my ears and singing la la la very loudly when any of the politicians are on TV. I will listen to them all, the week before the election, and then vote as I always do.

ps. How do you get a job as a poll clerk?

I think anyone can apply now, have a look online.

If we worked in Local Government we were asked if we would do it years ago; it made a change and was quite interesting (in between long spells of boredom!).

Getting sinking feeling nothing short of leaving for Outer Mongolia will suffice

ps it's a very very long day and then you can go to the count afterwards.

I'm delighted to say I will be out of the country until 4 days before the poll so only have to get through the next 7 weeks. Really we will all, except a few election specialists, be brain dead and suicidal if we listen to the lies, dam lies and statistics ALL parties will come out with in the run up to the 7th May.

And Ed Miliband is threatening promising to knock on 4 million doors to spread the Labour word...

(Probably not personally, of course)

Ooh, sore knuckles.

Possibly sore nose as well!

ana!

What?

For those who can't get enough of polls.

may2015.com/

What would be the best place to go to escape the period leading up to and just following the election? I've had more than enough of politics and politicians.

I've got a sign on my front door which reads, "No canvassers. No religious groups"
My road is a magnet for them!

Canvassers? Never see them, just get a leaflet stuck through the letter box. I would welcome a political discussion on the doorstep as in the old days.

What I really object too is the way the my favourite TV programme (The News) is bring hijacked by all these plastic men in dark suits who expect us to believe them

If there's a candidate for the Monster Raving Loonies standing around here they will definitely get my vote.

I've been doing poll clerk for many years. Before retirement I would take a day's annual leave from my full time job.
I applied when I saw an advert in the local paper.

I've been asked many times to do Presiding Officer who is the person responsible for ensuring everything tallies and getting.g the boxes collected in the early morning, and delivered back after close of poll. The fee for PO is much more than for poll clerk but I'd be worried about it not tallying.

Poll clerk is well enough paid. Not a fantastic hourly rate, but add up the hours and it's ok.

There's always a bit of craic. And boring spells ......

Maybe they truly believe what they are saying! If so they are living in cloud cuckoo land. We never have any canvassers just stuff pushed through the door. We are a 'safe' labour seat so no one bothers.

I wish we had a countrywide proportion representation. Then maybe people would be encouraged to vote and see something for their cross on the ballot paper. It would also prevent the continual re-drawing of boundaries to advantage on party or the other.

I'd like to see a principled coalition government. I wish governments of any character would stop squeezing the poorest elements of society to the benefit of those who are better off. But it's all about buttering your own bread these days!

Oh for a more equal society along Scandinavian lines - apparently they are the happiest societies in Europe!

ayse I thought that Sweden and Finland had a higher suicide rate than the UK. So I presume that not all is wonderful in Scandinavia.

Anya I agree, I would like to watch the news without half of it being taken up by what amounts to political canvassing from now until May.
Can we have a news programme without political campaigning and a completely separate programme following the different parties canvassing around the country. We can then turn it off if we wish.

You're right, you're right, you're so right! The constant Punch-and-Judy trivialisation of our electoral system makes me sick, as does the selective use of dodgy statistics trying to prove that black is white and white is black. They insult us. So many of our national needs require sound strategic planning and sensible funding and we're just not getting them. Short-termism and the markets dictate, and until we crack that nothing will change. No Tory government is ever going to go down the Keynsian route again, and I'm not sure that Balls and Co have got the guts to do it, even though they are the only hope we've got left. I am really angry to see the reappearance of greed, selfishness and discrimination in favour of the already rich. We need some good old-fashioned 'fire-in-the-belly' Socialists. Let's hope we still have some. These smug Tory hypocrites must be stopped before they take the country back to Victorian times!