Lots of us about - politicians take note

Yes I agree with you vampirequeen - some greasing of our palms will go on before the next election. I think it most unlikely that they'll take away our bus passes, fuel allowances etc. We are a big proportion of the voting electorate.

There is such a lot of apathy at election time - perhaps voting should be compulsory.

I've done that too, Joan, on a number of occasions. I would just like to be able to say 'I abstain' more formally. The 'best' spoiled paper I have seen was evidently a postal one which had been folded several times and a neat cross cut into it so that when it was unfolded, there was a pattern of eight crosses. Ingenious, but why?

Well, I can't see that the country was in such a wonderful state after 13 years of Labour government. Ed Balls for Chancellor? I don't think so....

Annobel and Alison

Having been a scrutineer at a polling booth many times, i can tell you that abstention votes are noticed. Voting is compulsory here, and blank ballot papers and 'informals' ie ones where the intention is unclear, or ones full of rudeness are counted. So we ring up the booth tally saying, say, labour 500. conservative 400, informal 20. It has to all add up to the number of names crossed off the voters' list.

Scutineers are party workers watching the count to make sure nowt untoward happens. As party members they have a good look at the informals, and tell their MPs and party officials what the trend has been. Eg lots of blanks, lots of people wanting candidate X who was not standing, lots of Donald Ducks.....

BUT if you want the Tories out, vote Labour, even if you have to hold your nose to do it. Use your vote - people had to fight for it.

mrshat I haven't read the article so I don't know what they mean by 'oldie' when does that start? Its the same with 'elderly' how old is that?

I don't think I am old but I am certainly enjoying being retired. I don't have to plan ahead, don't have to ask permission or delegate to go on holiday. Can change my mind about what I am going to do if I get a better offer. No alarm clock most days and best of all I don't have to be polite to people just because I work with them, I can choose who I spend time with now.

I agree Annobel - The thought of Ed M in power makes me shudder but the coalition are not really living up to expectations. Maybe they will improve with time ................ I would hate not to vote as then I would feel guilty about commenting on the mess they make when elected! (Positive as ever!)
There was a good article by Penelope Lively in the Telegraph this morning about us oldies enjoying 'being old'

Annobel I totally agree with you, I have been known to spoil my ballot paper with "I abstain" written right across it. I know no one takes any notice but it made me feel better.

I will not know whom to vote for. I've always been left of centre but the coalition has put me right off my own party - Lib Dems - and I'm not sure I'd trust Labour to be any better. I wish the ballot paper had a 'none of the above' where I could put my cross, so that I could register a 'positive abstention' (if that isn't a contradiction), rather than just not voting.

Well, most of us have families of working age, and many have children in education, so they can't con us: we want what's right for all of society. Including us.

vampire hoping we will forgive and forget, but that will take a lot of convincing.

I reckon they'll do a granny give away budget just before the next election in the hope that we'll all forget what they've done.

Also we are more likely to vote than younger generation

Yes Kitty I think they already do but it won't do any harm for us all to make our voices felt on whatever subject we feel strongly about so they know what a force we are.