For the undecided among Gransnetters

STB, best to relax today, have a sleep, after all you will be up all night watching the results come in, Won't you ?

What misinformation and goadyness is that Mollie ? Are you talking generally or just about GN or just about some posts on GN or just my last post? And who said you were undecided? The thread title clearly says 'for the undecided'. Many still are can't imagine why . And do you honestly think that all political debate , aka misinformation and goadyness, will stop after the election? In the words of the song ' it's only just begun ...' And that is quite right too. Today's results really matter and whatever the result, those who don't like it will have plenty to say and so they should.

I think that people are worried at this election.
I think that gransnet is going to get quite hot today.

My mini possible cancer scare[which turned out not to be cancer[, was all dealt with in two weeks, last week.
Though I cant talk for everyone everywhere.

Mollie65, I'm with you on both posts.
I have refrained from posting on political threads as I am clear on my decision. But I felt that the post from Jess was too much like a party political broadcast for the labour party.

Roll on Friday when it's all over and we can go back to chatting about less contentious stuff.

I only speak from personal experience, I have had many hospital appointments and operations over the last few years, I have never waited more than a week or two for an appointment and surgery has been well within the 18 week guideline. The service at our local doctors is the best it has ever been despite an increasing workload.
I prefer to trust personal experience over statistics.
But as I said, I have cast my vote, so just waiting for the results now. Everyone must make their own choice.

oh and I don't need to be patronised on the assumption I am undecided - Ed Milli in number ten - aaargh

G2 - glad when the election is over and all the misinformation and goadyness disappears

Human rights means someone else doesnt get them.

Bogoff - official independent figures show a huge increase in waiting times in general. And the state of the NHS in 1997 was appalling after how many years of Tory governments? Well it's nice that you are better off than you have ever been and so are your children. My dd has not had a pay rise for a long time ( but then she only does an unnecessary back office job in the NHS which ensures that there are front line staff to treat patients). But it's not just my dd that I think about. I think about the legions of disabled people treated so heartlessly by this government: I think about the pure evil that is the bedroom tax, of people paying this when there is no smaller property available: I think about the billions of pounds that go to private landlords in housing benefit whilst millions will never have a secure decent roof over their heads: I think of the millions in work who have to depend on benefits to make ends meet whilst the owners/ shareholders of companies in which many of these people work see their profits swollen and tax bills reduced ( if they even pay tax in the first place). I think of our country becoming a pariah in Europe as it withdraws from the Eurppean Convention on Human a Rights and votes to leave Europe: I think of a broken judicial system with access to justice denied with cuts in legal aid and fees for employment Tribunals. I think of a gutter tabloid press who this week have reached a new low in what is laughingly called journalism: I think of the way in which divisions between us - shirkers/workers, hardworking families/ benefit scroungers have been nurtured so that we now see the enemy in the 'other' whilst the real enemies -corporate capitalism and vested interests have literally never had it so good and go unchallenged and unhindered. So no I'm not undecided at all - I wish the options were better but more of the above? Not in my name

I see that everyone is being told they are better off and more people in work but in South Wales many many people are on minimum wage and lots of jobs are now paying less than they were and I know people working for the Council who have had £2,500salary cut!! They were told accept it or you will be made redundant and you can apply for your job back but an even smaller salary and you will lose other benefits too - hardly think that is making people better off. There are almost no jobs at all which are paying a living wage let alone a better one - people are surviving by having top ups from the benefits system.
I cannot vote this time - we are registered as Ex-Pat voters but they local office says the application for a postal vote was received too late - combination of French Postal system and the internal one I think in their offices.

No way would I trust the NHS to Ed Miliband and Labour Party, empty promises IMO.
I find the the NHS provides better service that it has done for years, shorter waiting times, more advanced treatments etc. Economies are necessary, they waste so much on admin, streamline the admin and put the savings into front line services.
As a grandparent, I am better off now than I have ever been, and so are my children. I have cast my vote and it was not Labour as I want things to continue to improve.

And if you're still undecided on election day... (apparently lots of people are) here are my thoughts:
After the last election I commented on Gransnet that we had probably seen the best of the NHS in our lifetime and that it would be downhill from now on. This has proved true with beds cut, waiting times for appointments and operations increasing and many A and Es struggling through winter.
All of us care about and use the NHS - even if you have health insurance it is only partial cover. Private hospitals don't have A and E for instance. Emergency admissions go straight to the NHS. And they don't exactly play a major role on looking after the nation's children. David Cameron keeps telling us that he relied on the NHS when his disabled son was alive - but what private insurance company would have given the child any cover, or provided him with any services?
GN members care about the NHS - for our children and grandchildren, for our partners, our friends and for ourselves. Many of us have been, are currently, or will be, heavily dependent on it at some stage.
Make no mistake, the NHS in England is going to carry on getting worse if the Tories retain power. Their sums just don't add up. They include massive "efficiency savings" which cannot be achieved. "Efficiency savings" is another term for "cuts" and probably, staff cuts - because most of the budget is spent on staff. 60% on staffing, 20% drugs and medical supplies 20% everything else. When I worked in the NHS 25 years ago we were making cost savings and this process has been going on ever since.
I don't trust the Tories with the NHS - and I suggest that you should not either. They have been busy outsourcing chunks of it to their friends in private companies and there is no reason to think this project will lead to a cheaper, or a better service.
So if you are wondering who to vote for, my suggestion is that, in this close electoral race, you should vote Labour as they are the party most likely to form a government which will try to preserve the NHS as we know it. Labour needs enough seats to claim victory.
In some marginal seats, where, for historic reason, Labour cannot win, vote for the candidate who is most likely to defeat a Tory, or vote against them in the house. Good luck with making your final choice.

Alan Hope is a brilliant character. (Monster Raving)

He's a gentleman and I love to see him on the stage at election time, the best looser ever and the most gentlemanly one to boot.

You don't find the other parties being nasty about him or the media/interviewers, I think he is a bit of an institution now, he puts a smile on my face more than I can say about some of the others.

One of my local Councillors really did used to belong to the Monster Raving Loony Party; he's since joined the Conservatives.

jings, what's it told you? Have you got to vote for Monster Raving Loonies?

It has confirmed my choice

It's right for me. too.

Oh dear. How did that happen?

It's very clever, isn't it? And I imagine if you are certain of your beliefs on various policies then it will accurately predict your choice - certainly got mine right. I guess it will help focus the mind for anyone who really isn't sure which way to vote tomorrow.

Seems it agrees with my choice!

Very interesting and came up with what I would probably have done anyway!

When I use a different browser I can get it to work.

Oh? I've just tried it and it seems fine. I'll try again here: www.tickbox.org.uk

That link doesnt work for me.