Should Gransnet be used as a political platform?

???

Soon, I think that the general consensus is that JC is asking members for Labour MPs / members' opinions on bombing Syria with a view to allowing a free vote if enough of them are in favour of it. That's my interpretation of it, anyway, though I could be wrong.

I can't get your earlier post out of my head - do you really automatically assume that MPs are more intelligent than the rest of us? I find that quite strange, even worrying!

I sort of see your point and see mine MamaCaz.

I dont see the point of asking constituents if Labour MPs dont get a free vote.

I am getting confused actually. I thought constituents were being asked on their opinion on bombing Syria. Not whether there should be a free vote. Or are they being asked that as well?

Soontobe: Are you sure about that? I thought that a free vote or otherwise was still to be decided, with Corbyn currently asking Labour party members what they think, but perhaps you have heard something that I haven't.

As I understand it there isn't a simple yes or no option, members' views are asked for, so there may have to be a third pile for 'undecideds'.

Labour MPs dont have a free vote, so I dont get it.

I think they will probably get sorted into yes and no piles Ana.

I sent my response to his question this afternoon.

Good post POGS.

Who is going to read all of these different statements of opinion and how is the data to be collated? JC isn't going to be considering each response personally...

Some MPs actively seek to know what their constituents think on major issues. jeremy Corbyn has written to all Labour supporters asking for their views- so he can consider them with care.

I do not subscribe to the view that MPs are "more intelligent than Joe Public."

I would be alarmed if they were not!

In any event, being "intelligent" does not necessarily go hand in hand with wisdom and good judgement; or indeed with integrity.

True.

They are just folk like us.
Definitely not. They have a lot more go-get characteristics, more interest in politics, interest in talking, interest in debating, than the average Joe or Jane. Else we would all know people who want to be MPs. Personally I only know 1[who is one].

Should Gransnet be used as a political platform.

No but it is.

It will continue to be so and just as much as I can decide to throw a political party propaganda leaflet in the bin I can do the same on Gransnet and bin threads and posts I consider to be blatantly politically motivated/attached to activism or what I consider to be using Gransnet as a platform for activism.

So I understand the OP as there has been, obviously in my opinion, over a period of time a ' propensity ' for links to political parties in the manner of activism. When I joined Gransnet I felt politics was debated in a more personal way but it is an open forum and any poster has a right to post as they deem fit , just as much as I in return can choose to simply ignore it.

Each to his own I suppose .One person sees activism another sees beliefs , neither is wrong it is merely down to our personal thought and way of doing things, nothing more, nothing less.

I think you have to be pretty bright to actually be in the Cabinet. And an Eton and Oxbridge education probably helps a lot too.

I do not subscribe to the view that MPs are "more intelligent than Joe Public." There is no evidence for that. They are simply people who want to be politicians and put themselves up for election. I have met some pretty dim ones frankly.

In any event, being "intelligent" does not necessarily go hand in hand with wisdom and good judgement; or indeed with integrity. They are just folk like us.

Imagine the gov listening to and acting upon all the views put forward on GN. Mayhem!

I think we vote for MPs to run the country for us because they are a bloody sight more intelligent than 'Joe Public'. Yes, they should listen to us, but they have to make the decisions. Quite rightly.

On the radio this morning they were interviewing people in Corbyn's constituency. Every single one in that interview agreed with him. He is being a true constituency MP, which is what he has been throughout his parliamentary career.
I am sure that if they had found someone who disagreed with him, they would have had to put the comment on for the sake of balance.

Agreed, Annie.
Even Osborne said he was listening and had listened! Not hard enough, but never mind.
Now all we want are Hunt and Cameron and IDS to listen more.

Anyone who looks at www.theyworkforyou.com can have an alert to any subject they want.
I have one to anything mentioning the NHS, believe it or not.
This morning I was sent a link to a debate which happened yesterday about the Housing Bill which is going through at the moment, and having line by line clauses being added. It was about rogue landlords who overcrowd their houses and cause problems for the NHS.
I have now asked for an alert when the housing bill is mentioned, so I can follow it.
You can ask for an alert whenever your MP is mentioned, when giving a speech, asking a question, getting a written reply or in committee, or any other MP you want to follow.
What I am saying is that the site can be used, nothing to be worried about. It can be used by right wingers and left wingers or anyone in between.

Do we think that MPs actually just go along with what they themselves want, because they were the person actually elected, and the representative of their area?

With a thread labelled "News and politics" there are bound to be political views expressed. Is this using Gransnet as a political platform???

MP's are elected to represent their constituents , to be a voice in parliament for their constituents , how can they if they don't listen

I do think it is important to let our representatives know our opinions on important issues.

Feign political neutrality? Or like to think for themselves and not follow a particular party's or other person's ideals?

I don't think there was anything wrong with JessM posting a helpful link to enable people to email their MP to express an opinion one way or the other on the issue; rather it was the assumption that only people who would agree with her, or could be persuaded to agree by her OP, would use the link - and were being urged to do so.
There was no balance whatsoever in the OP, saying that 'of course you may not agree with me, but the link is there for all to use, of whatever opinion'.

Perhaps that is what upset the OP on this thread?

I too, have read articles by other people, one of whom I was surprised to read was against the bombing of Syria.
If I was an MP I would be in a quandary on this issue. I am not sure that endless pleas from constituents would help me if I was in that difficult position, although of course everyone is entitled to express their opinion in that link (or by email!).

lg I simply put a question. See title. You obviously think 'yes'. Fine.

Bored now.

Jings - why does it matter that it goes to a wider audience? We know that. These discussions and all the links and other commentaries are out there on the net.