2015 Election - antidotes?

Ooh, sore knuckles.

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

(Probably not personally, of course)

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.

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

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

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!).

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?

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 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'.

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

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

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.

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.