Topic: Polly Ticking with a timebomb and a carrot called Jim!

[Andy @ Allerton!]

So.. I thought this would be an interesting thread to have a chat about disengaged politics, via a few questions.

I'll fill this in myself tomorrow, going to the match tonight, but self exploration of who you are politically - outside of countries or politicians or parties might be an interesting read and an interesting through process.

The questions are (And feel free to answer none, or all or some..)


1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT?

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix?

3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?

5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why?

6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'?

7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU?

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?

9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS?

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'?

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

[tubby]

1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT? - No, not particularly.

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix? - Left of centre.  I'm a pragmatic leftie.

3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why? - I really don't care for any of them, there's some that annoy me less than others but I wouldn't say I have a favourite.

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why? - Rees-Mogg.  Just everything about him.

5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why? - First vote was for the All Night Party.  Labour ever since.

6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'? - No, but I know good people who have voted Labour, Tory, Labour.

7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU? - The UK is great, the UK is also shit.  Didn't really answer the question, I know.

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT? - Don't have one.

9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT? - Don't really have one.

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS? - More of the same.

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'? - Every politician should be forced to give straight answers to questions.  Every single one of them either skirts around the answer or just starts talking about something else.

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? - Andy can't make any more polls on RAWK.

[Sudden Death Draft Loser]

1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT? - yes, but less so than I was

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix? - left wing, green, anarchist, libertarian

3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why? - Mhairi Black, so ain't scared to tell it like it is

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why? - Starmer for his attacks on ER/stop oil and support of Israeli's right to "defend" itself

5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why? - Labour because they used to be left wing. Green because they are the only party that come near to my beliefs.

6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'? - NO

7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU? - community (presuming I understand the question.

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT? - haven't got one

9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT? - Brexit

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS? - UK, parties becoming more and more right wing. Fascism on the way.

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'? - fairer, no idea. Better - get rid of career politicians who have no expertise in their portfolio and replace with experts in the relevant field.

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? - legalise all drugs, because the prohibition only makes things worse and quite frankly it's no ones business what I put in my body.

[thaddeus]

1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT?  Yes but in an entirely lazy, howling-at-the-moon way.

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix?  Centre-left

3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?  Of the current lot, Yvette Cooper.  Clinical in her demolishing of government policies/soundbites without getting drawn into culture war nonsense.

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?  As B.Johnson has vacated the floor I will go with Lee Anderson.  A very dishonest man with no regard or respect towards politics.

5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why?  Labour, Lib Dem and Green.  Labour as they have the most realistic, albeit very thin, chance of deposing the incumbent Tory.  Lib Dem as virtue signalling over Brexit in 2019.  Green as they have policies with long-term focus.

6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'?  If opposite means parties on the right then I can't imagine any scenario where that would happen.

7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU?  Degradation of local services and demise of town centre.  Underlying and sometimes out in the open xenophobia as people observe the decline and (wrongly, in my opinion) correlate it with migration.

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?  Labour rout in 1997.  More recently the Daily Mirror's excrutiating - in a good way - bringing down of Dominic Cummings.  Watching all that the Tories built on a foundation of Johnson lies turn to dust will be a long-lasting pleasure.

9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?  Frottage and co. scamming the country in the EU referendum.  The outcome of the vote but also the xenophobia the whole campaign unleashed.

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS?  Flip-flopping between left and right as neither succeeds in arresting the decline of the UK.

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'?  Accountability for lying.  Johnson finally being found guilty of contempt of Parliament was a start but it took multiple years of lying and ultimately the alienation of his own party before anything stuck.

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?  A simplified tax system with fewer, or ideally no, loopholes.  Very wealthy people diverting much of their income offshore and some of it to immoral accountants puts extra tax burden on those least able to afford it.

[Kenny's Jacket]

So.. I thought this would be an interesting thread to have a chat about disengaged politics, via a few questions.

I'll fill this in myself tomorrow, going to the match tonight, but self exploration of who you are politically - outside of countries or politicians or parties might be an interesting read and an interesting through process.

The questions are (And feel free to answer none, or all or some..)


1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT?
Yes - knowledge is important

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix?
Left Wing

3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?
They all have major flaws - Maybe Sturgen or A.O.C.  I like Stella Creasy (If only Corbyn had a brain)

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?
Braverman - shes evil

5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why?
Labour (GTTO) and Plaid Cymru (post iraq)

6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'?
Tories?  No. even though it would benefit me economically

7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU?
North Wales and NW England

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?
[Civil partnership
 or Dories not getting into HoL


9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?
Rwanda - war on Iraq - Lock down

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS?

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'?
no pivoting, if an MP is away from work for more than 2 weeks (eg jungle) immediate by- election

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
The dissolution of Manchester City FC

[Libertine]

1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT?

Yes, obsessively.

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix?

On the matrix - left, non-authoritarian. In reality, progressive liberalism.

3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?

Zelenskyy, Macron, early Blair, Des O'Malley. Liberal disruptors.

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?

Too many far right and far left politicians to name. Reaons are obvious - ignorant, divisive, corrupt.

5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why?

In UK - Labour, Lib Dems (maybe Greens locally) - obvious reasons. Ireland - PDs. Netherlands - D66, Greens.

6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'?

Interesting. Question only works in FPTP. So for UK - even if the Tory MP was very liberal and pro-EU, and up against a regressive far left Labour candidate, I still couldn't as it would reward the disgusting far right mob that the Tory PP has morphed into. Was thinking though, listening to Andy Street on TRIP recently that he seemed like a relatively decent guy. So if it was a mayoral race with a candidate like that, and if they were up against a very regressive Labour candidate, maybe. That's a lot of ifs though.

7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU?

Don't really know what this means. As a liberal though, the individual is king. I'm suspicious of all tribalist politics.

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?

1997. Recent Irish referendums. Obama and Biden victories.

9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?

Brexit. 2004/2016 US elections.

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS?

Ideally, the populist myth is exposed and people return to valuing competence, collaboration and compromise.

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'?

UK perspective - electoral reform and changes to media ownership. More broadly, sorting the SM mess and making people better informed.

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

Education. Abolish all private schools and massively increase funding to public education.

[Nobby Reserve]

Interesting thread idea 

I'm answering these questions after deliberately not reading any other response.

1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT?
Very, and have been since I was young. I was 12 when the miner's strike started and the rank injustice of it (and the dire repercussions on entire communities of thousands of very localised jobs being lost with nothing to replace them) hit me incredibly hard. I couldn't understand how anyone could be as vindictive and unfeeling as the Thatcher and her fellow Tory scum). It's shaped a lot of my political outlook since.

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix?
I'd describe myself as economically mid-left with the odd finger of hard left. And socially generally very liberal in terms of personal freedoms, but probably very on the right in terms of punishing c*nts who inflict misery on others. I'm a hippy with an edge.

3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?
I don't really have one. I admire very capable and intelligent politicians with principles - Yvette Cooper and Hilary Benn spring to mind. But I also like John McDonnell - if it would have been his turn to be the left candidate in 2015 instead of Corbyn, I reckon politics would look a lot different today - he had Corbyn's leftism but also had political acumen and instinct. I've no doubt he would have been far better (and more conciliatory with the other wings of the party) as leader.

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?
Spoilt for choice! I do despise Tories who've come from ordinary backgrounds and take the attitude that anyone not climbing/climbed the greasy pole to be lazy and workshy. But I reckon I'd go with Reet-Smug. He's everything I hate - and I mean hate - about Toryism. Arrogant from a position of privilege, and full of malevolence.

5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why?
In terms of General Elections: 92, 17, 19 - Labour / 97, 01, 05, 10 - Socialist Labour (or variations). I can't remember who I voted for in 15, could well have been Labour.
In Locals, almost always Labour (especially when I lived in a Lab-LD marginal), but more recently Green.

6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'?
I don't envisage ever voting Tory. Ever.

7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU?
This'll sound cheesy, but I always try to see through a prism of humanity. Putting people into silos in terms of race, nationality, town/city is IMO divisive. I always seek to define people by their actions and choices (which includes politics and religion)

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?
It was bittersweet because I'd not voted for them and knew they wouldn't change enough, but that crushing election win in 97 was mix of relief that the end of the Tory tyranny was here, and some optimism for the future.

9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?
Hearing the Referendum result. I never, for one second, believed Leave would win. In the seconds after finding out, a hundred ramifications swarmed through my head. I literally felt like I was going to throw up.

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS?
A continuation of the 'corporate-capitalism consensus' in terms of economics, which will just continue the economic decline for the vast majority and perpetuate wealth inequality.
A battleground continuing over social/cultural issues.
Edit: the early impacts of climate change increases will be changing weather patterns shifting drought and flood areas, causing human mass migration towards wealthier/more climatological temperate countries. The result will be growing anti-immigration sentiment and, if mainstream parties don't adopt anti-immigration policies, far right parties will get elected.

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'?
PR
You lose the right to vote at age 65 (joke!)

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Make every British citizen with income outside of PAYE make an annual declaration of income, plus assets over a certain amount. Any failure to declare either to be a criminal offence resulting in an automatic jail sentence and confiscation of assets.
All income received by British citizens to be liable to UK tax regardless of where the income came from (any tax already paid in another country to be offset against the UK tax bill).

[Yorkykopite]

1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT?
Yes. Politics matters. They are also interesting.

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix?
Left. A liberal socialist.

3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?
Right now I admire Zelenskiy. In my lifetime, Mandela. Genuine leaders, visionaries too, but also men of humility.

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?
So many to choose from. I'll go for Rees-Mogg. Rich, greedy, lying, privileged, arrogant, cruel, posh, idle, entitled, unpatriotic, and thick.

5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why?
Labour. Partly through ancestry (a Labour family), partly through tribalism (it's just my team), partly through conviction (their values are mine, and they're good ones which always make the country better).

6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'?
No.

7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU?
Not sure what this means Andy. But one reason I love Robert Blatchford's 'Merrie England' is that it reconciles all those things (Ok, maybe not monarchy).

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?
1945 General Election - the most mature decision ever taken by a democracy.

9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?
Brexit, I suppose, since we'll have to live with the consequences for a very long time.

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS?
In optimistic moments it's the belief that everyone will eventually come round to my way of thinking. But in dark moments it's that liberal democracy will perish through neglect. 

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'?
Some form of PR would make British politics fairer. Although it would also probably lead to a disastrous surge in populism. Take your pick! I increasingly like the idea of Citizens' Assemblies which seem a way of involving people in politics and encouraging responsibility.

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
That employers can earn no more than 10 times the lowest wage they pay. ( And everyone needs janitors).

[Cracking Left Foot]

1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT?
Yes, because politics affects everyone's lives. It makes sense to take interest in something that's so dominant in all of our lives. Nothing worse than hearing people say "politics is boring, they're all the same".

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix?
Centre-left. Centerist is a dirty word these days, and in an ideal world we'd have a socialist uptopia, but this isn't an ideal world by any means. To affect any change, you need to be in power - and that means compromise and working with other people. That's one thing that seems to have been lost since Brexit.

3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?
I don't really have one. I admire Andy Burnham because he kept his word over Hillsborough, although I fully admit he's got his flaws. John Smith is the one poltician who I will always think  'if only'. I think he'd have made a great Prime Minister and the country would be in a much better state now had he not died.

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?
So many. Johnson and Truss of course. But my least favourite has to be David Cameron. The epitome of public school priviledge, who wanted to be PM because he "thought he'd be rather good at it". Brought in austerity, which I'm 100% convinced is at the root of our problems today. And it's thanks to him we have Brexit. And now he's back, swanning around the world as a Lord. I'd honestly see him in jaii for the damage he's done to this country.

5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why?
Labour in a general election, always. Mainly because I think a Labour government is the best way to achieve a fairer and just society which works for everyone. Tony Blair's first term in office brought in a lot of good things, which a lot of people forget. But I also think a Corbyn government would have been far better than what we've had for the last 4 years, despite Corbyn's flaws as a leader. In local elections, I've voted Green, as they've been the only councillors who have actually engaged with me, sometimes even knocking on the door to see if I have any issues I want to raise with them.
6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'?
I'd never vote Tory, or any far-right party.
7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU?
I don't really understand this question to be honest. I'm a fervent anti-monarchist and would love to see the whole system abolished so I certainly don't believe in King & Country. 
8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?
The 1997 General Election. There just seemed such an air of optimism and hope on that night. Naive maybe, looking back, but you'll never take my Portillo moment away from me!

9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?
That last election, when Johnson got back in with an 80 seat majority. I was genuinely despairing, as I felt utterly disconnected from other people. Also, Brexit, when I watched the referendum result come in with a growing sense of horror.

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS?
I'm worried. I'm desperate for Starmer's future Government to come in and hit the ground running, as they really need to create some change in this country. But it's going to be fucking difficult, due to the mess the Tories are going to leave him. And, the worry is, that in four years time, the Right will say "see, they've had their chance, now we need to come back and be even more fascist". If the Tories got back in under, say, Braverman or even Frottage, then I think this country is finished. Similar to the US if Trump ever got back in. But that's too bleak to even think about.

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'?
Ban anyone who's attended a fee-paying private school from standing for public office. You can't understand how the majority of the people live in this country if you have a 'born to rule' attitude which these school instill into their children. I know this will never happen but it'd be the first thing I'd put in place.

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Close tax loopholes for big corporations and reform the tax system so it's genuinely redistributive. If everyone in this country who earns over £200,000 a year pays a bit more tax, we could do wonders with this extra revenue. But it needs a Government with balls of steel to do it.

[Only Me]

1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT? - No, not particularly.

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix? - by upbringing Hard Left, by economic class, Right of centre. Overall, probably bang in the middle.

3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why? - really liked Mairi Black. Says it all about the system that’s she’s fucked it off.

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why? - Sunak, and every other Johnson enabler. Spineless c*nts the lot of them.

5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why? - Labour but can’t honestly remember the last time I voted. No fucking point.

6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'? - definitely. Once any party is assured of your vote no matter what, that’s when standards slip, both in the standard of candidates and the standards of their behaviour. Everyone should be a floating voter.

7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU? - liverpool is all that bothers me. UK and it’s London centric shite can get to fuck.

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT? - none I can think off.

9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT? - Truss and all that followed.

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS? - fuck knows.

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'? - better - “career” politicians should be banned. Only those with life experience could be a MP.
All the honours shite should immediately go. Fucking bent and useless system.
Fairer- probably PR should be brought in.

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? - All social media that involves advertising, newsfeeds and algorithms would be banned immediately. social media Companies could apply for reinstatement once they can demonstrate a foolproof method for removing harmful, false, and illegal content within ten minutes of it appearing. And they would have to agree a system for paying a fair amount of tax.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT?

I wasn't political at all until I was about 19/20. I hadn't had an upbringing involving politics. I was shoved about quite a lot, living in childrens homes and foster homes and seeing my mum now and then when she was well. She married and happy that she would be OK, I moved to Liverpool. The passion and arguments of the people I knew here (I've lived here for around 35+ years) made me see things in a different light and from then on.

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix?

Tricky for me. When I fill it in, I'm far-left and down the bottom side. I just want the world to be fair and for people to be treated decently with everyone having a chance and a safety net being there if you fall.

Not really sure what that makes me, but I hate robbing c*nts like the Tories - absolutely evil and fucking liars to the fucking bone.


3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?

I'd say Tony Benn. I remember him saying "“If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to help people." and that stuck. Not sure about some views, but he was certainly a force for good and a force for what I hoped the world could be.

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?

Margaret Thatcher. She robbed my fucking milk and she fucked my country up the arse.
5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why?

Labour all the time. I nearly voted Lib Dem once to keep the Tories out, but then I moved to Liverpool. So Labour.

6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'?

No. I honestly think that Frottage and the Tories are actually and literally evil.

7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU?

I came from a very, very poor background. Even as relatively young as I am, I had a tin bath in front of the fire, no central heating, an outside bog and we had nothing. As I was once a nice little kid, I spent a lot of time in Childrens homes being hospitalised fairly often an in a rough caravan park and an even rougher council estate, But I got through that and the community that helped me do that were brilliant. We had tons of people from different countries and different backgrounds and we all went though a tough time - but we got through it and that's why I'm going to say community. Community and the community of belonging in Liverpool and seeing people here and helping people here is what makes life worth living.


8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?

Reading about the creation of the NHS and the stuff around it. It literally makes my heart soar that we could be that awesome as a country.

9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?

Brexit. I have to stop myself most days as I'm fucking angry about it now. What a fucking pathetic shitshow that a fucking Nazi inbred weird looking twataloon called Frottage could Nazi the Uk like he did and those inbred c*nts in the Tory Party fucking let him.

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS?

I am hoping that UK population grow one fucking braincell. If they don't then they'll vote themselves into oblivion and if they do. Good. Fuck them. They deserve it. They have a chance to change and make their country better. Will they take it or shoot themselves in the foot again?

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'?

Accountability. If you lie in the Commons and it's proven to be a lie, then it should be 40 years in jail with no hope for parole.

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

Make all media and all commentators legally responsible for what they say. If you lie to the Nation then you spend the rest of your life in jail. It's unreal that the majority of stuff reported in official news networks isn't always true and quite often is actually deliberate lies. What does that say about the state of the nation?

[rob1966]

1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT?

- Not madly interested, but yes I can be - Scouse, worked for the council in 1983....

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix?

- Centre left

3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?

- Jacinda Arden, just seemed to get the shit done

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why? - Was Thatcher, but Cameron, Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson and Sunak all out cunted her

5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why? -

 Labour all my life, better for everyone. Green in a vote swap to get the Tories out of Hove

6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'?

- No, couldn't live with myself

7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU?

- City and Community

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?

- Labour winning in 1997, 18 years of Tory destruction came to an end

9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?

- Brexit - fucked the future of my kids

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS?

 - Fucked unless the younger generation revamp it

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'?

- MP's being MPs for the good of the country, not for what they can personally gain and all parties working together to make the country better for everyone - executions for those found to be corrupt

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

- The NHS can never be sold, operations, treatment etc cannot be privatised/charged for- pretty obvious why

[oldfordie]

1 Yep

2 Left wing when I first voted in 1970 but didn't have a clue on the views of the Labour politician I voted for. Eric Heffer, I still would have voted for him as he was Labour but took me a few years to form views of my own based on chats with people who knew about politics, arguments with far left, Communist supporters. realised how flawed far left politics is, my views were more center left than left wing going into the 80s.

 3 Never had a favourite they all have flaws but obviously Attlee, Blair made mistakes but he was a brilliant debater who won so I would go with Blair.  as long as I can remember ive always looked at the Labour leader like a Barrister. someone clever to fight for your interests, isn't that what they do anyway? you would never employ a crap Barrister to defend you no matter how much you like him as a person, you would want more than good intentions on your side as well. you would want someone who will not do your cause harm due to incompetence, someone who is hard working looking for evidence to defend you, someone who impresses and wins the arguments.

4. Long long list. plenty who I don't like but it's the ones who did lasting damage. Thatcher obviously, Johnson, Frottage, Corbyn. all have done damage that will take decades to recover from.

5 Labour every GE +Local election

6. Yes. I would vote tactically for the Lib Dems or Greens if necessary if they had the best chance to defeat
 the Tory. I never considered voting Tory in nearly 50 yrs but I would of voted for a couple of ex Torys in 2019 if I lived in one of the rebel Tory mps like Anna Soubrey,  this would be the best example how Labour were tactically incompetent during this period, it was unforgivable. the country let these people down badly. best way of putting is it was like respecting Churchill, even Nye Bevin respected Churchill for seeing the danger of appeasing Hitler, these ex Torys saw their party being taken over by fanatics, corrupt liars who put their own interests ahead of the people of this country, they put their safety and careers on the line to try and expose them for what they are, they should be respected and defended for that.

7 Depends on the issue, they are all important.

8 Labour wining in 1997

9. Probably the night we voted to leave the EU, Devastated, felt the same back in 1992 after Kinnock lost but knew it was only a matter of time.

10 Am actually optimistic over the future of politics in this country, the country is in a terrible mess and millions will pay the price but maybe some good will come from it. this Tory government have been a education for 10s of millions which will hopefully stay with them for life, I think most of the Torys are now begining to see the long lasting damage they have done to their party. this could be the biggest game changer in generations, something that will benefit the man in the street for decades. all depends on the result of the next election, the seats as well as the popular vote, everyone has to get out and vote to send the Torys a message, if the Torys come out of the next election better than expected then the millions who never voted against them deserve the decades of the same populist crap etc etc

11 Change our laws to make Politicians and media far more accountable for their deliberate lies to con the public. take away the lies and the Torys are f...
Reform the HOL. replace it with many select committees with the expertise to scrutinise the laws the government want to bring in. no way should they be elected, democracy isn't the be all and end all to every political problem. we need experts not the best bull shitters

12 Hmm. will have to give this more thought.

[Kenny's Jacket]

I think Rob smashed it with his last answer

[oldfordie]

I think Rob smashed it with his last answer

It's a nice idea nobody would disagree with but you can't pass laws that can't be changed by a future government.

[Kenny's Jacket]

It's a nice idea nobody would disagree with but you can't pass laws that can't be changed by a future government.

Fair point OF

[oldfordie]

Fair point OF

[John C]

1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT?
A fair bit, probably not as much as some might think (although my family would say I am)

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix?
Left & accountability.

3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?
Here, Yvette Cooper & Hilary Benn, in the USA Jamie Raskin & AOC

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson has to be still regarded as a politician for now, so him. That c*nt. That egregious vile specimen of shite.

5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why?
Only ever Labour locally & nationally.

6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'?
Most definitely not.

7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU?
Not sure what this means but despite it's political and citizens flaws I never understand why people state they hate the country - where would you live alternatively?

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?
Probably Biden winning against Trump in 2020. Of course Labour in 1997 is a close contender though.

9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?
Brexit. Fucking Brexit.

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS?
I can't see a lot changing for a decade, right-wing and populism is a worrying trend. I'm optimistic politically but not environmentally for the next generation though, I suspect they'll grow up far more left-leaning.

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'?
Christ, where to start.
Improved media control & accountability; Significantly more transparency and regulation for MP's 2nd jobs;

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Major overall of financial systems that allow legal tax avoidance. Anything and everything that would generate revenue that does not impact low earners.

[oldfordie]

1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT?
A fair bit, probably not as much as some might think (although my family would say I am)

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix?
Left & accountability.

3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?
Here, Yvette Cooper & Hilary Benn, in the USA Jamie Raskin & AOC

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson has to be still regarded as a politician for now, so him. That c*nt. That egregious vile specimen of shite.

5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why?
Only ever Labour locally & nationally.

6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'?
Most definitely not.

7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU?
Not sure what this means but despite it's political and citizens flaws I never understand why people state they hate the country - where would you live alternatively?

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?
Probably Biden winning against Trump in 2020. Of course Labour in 1997 is a close contender though.

9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?
Brexit. Fucking Brexit.

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS?
I can't see a lot changing for a decade, right-wing and populism is a worrying trend. I'm optimistic politically but not environmentally for the next generation though, I suspect they'll grow up far more left-leaning.

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'?
Christ, where to start.
Improved media control & accountability; Significantly more transparency and regulation for MP's 2nd jobs;

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Major overall of financial systems that allow legal tax avoidance. Anything and everything that would generate revenue that does not impact low earners.

Forgot about Raskin, agree 100%.  he's in a class of his own, knowledgeable. very intelligent, can think on his feet, only flaw is he can be too nice with people who don't deserve it. shame he refuses to stand for the Precedency. he would make a brilliant President.

[rob1966]

It's a nice idea nobody would disagree with but you can't pass laws that can't be changed by a future government.

Normally I'd agree but the NHS is a special case. I'm only alive and so far have had an extra 24 years of life due to the NHS and the heart surgeons who saved my life - I'd  have died in late 1999 and I know I'd be dead if I lived in a country where we had to pay for health care, I would never have taken out health insurance as I was young, immortal and skint and I couldn't pay £100k for the op, I'd actually just cancelled a policy that would have paid all my loads off and provided me with some money to live on the year before as I couldn't afford it and was too young to need that I thought

[oldfordie]

Normally I'd agree but the NHS is a special case. I'm only alive and so far have had an extra 24 years of life due to the NHS and the heart surgeons who saved my life - I'd  have died in late 1999 and I know I'd be dead if I lived in a country where we had to pay for health care, I would never have taken out health insurance as I was young, immortal and skint and I couldn't pay £100k for the op, I'd actually just cancelled a policy that would have paid all my loads off and provided me with some money to live on the year before as I couldn't afford it and was too young to need that I thought

I don't think anyone on here needs convincing Rob, I think the country would back it as well but that still doesn't mean laws like this can be passed.
 
It's a interesting point though, how would people react to a politician who said this. imagine many would cheer and applaud, I would be very suspicious, it would be a form of Populism to me, promising something everybody wants they must know is impossible to achieve.

[jillcwhomever]

1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT? I used to be, losing hope a bit now.

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix?  Left of centre

3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why? Yvette Cooper

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why? Johnson/Cameron

5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why? Labour sometimes Green in local elections.

6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'? I’d never vote Tory.

7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU? Not very clear about this question. I just want to see a society that works for the good of all, wherever they are in the country. There is far too much generalising about other people, we all need to work inside our own communities and help those who need support. Also stop playing the race card, everyone is a human being and should be treated as one. No more of this divisive politics which some people get far too much enjoyment in.

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT? Labour win in 1997. I was part of Angela Eagle’s team and we just sat there and watched all the blue disappear off the map, an amazing night to be part of. Please give us another night like that!

9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT? Brexit and just the whole move right into selfishness and self-indulgence, as well as trying to divide communities.

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS? Bleak, the move to the right is continuing the world over. I would ban nationalism in a flash, if I could. I think it encourages people to think inwardly rather than remembering we are all citizens of the world.

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'? Close the loophole over companies not paying tax, how much money gets lost? Protecting the NHS more. I also want to get people more involved in politics and their own futures. So many people still don’t vote and that’s something which should worry politicians.

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? I want all political parties to acknowledge we’re losing the fight for the planet. The next generation are going to have serious problems because for too long, people have ignored the seriousness of what is happening globally. It’s entirely because we think it doesn’t involve us, as it’s the forests or the poles. In fact, we all connected by both and everything that is happening there, is affecting our everyday lives. Yet still, there is reluctance to take the problems seriously. I fear for the next generation sadly and they won’t look back kindly on this one.

[TepidT2O]

1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT?

Somewhat. My family all work or worked for public services, I grew up in the thatcher era when they were being destroyed.

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix?
Liberal left. 
3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?
Obama or Kinnock. I don’t think either were the best at the actual politics bit, but I love hearing both speak. Both seem very kind yet inspiring.

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why?

Putin is a monster.  In the UK I’d say Farrage.  He’s fundamentally harmed our country and is a very dangerous man.
A place too for George Galloway who is loathsome

5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why?
Labour or Lib Dem if Labour can’t beat the tories
ABC basically

6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'?
Hell no.

7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU?

I dislike regionalism.  It’s light weight racism and xenophobia, often pushed by people who claim to oppose those very things. People are just people at the end of the day and whether they come from north east south or west, who cares? There’s good and bad in all of us.

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?
May 97!

9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT?

Trumps election or brexit. A fundamental winding back of what is for the collective good.

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS?
Difficult  to say. AI could have a big impact

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'?
Get rid of the House of Lords as it is.
Move parliament around the regions to it sits elsewhere.
Ban political donations of over £5k

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
I don’t  know. I’ve seen Aladdin you know, these wishes don’t turn out well usually

[Yorkykopite]

Galloway! Good answer Tep. I'd forgotten about him. Saddam Hussein's favourite westerner.

[Nobby Reserve]

Galloway! Good answer Tep. I'd forgotten about him. Saddam Hussein's favourite westerner.

FWIW, I agree he's an utter piece of shit.

[Dr. Beaker]

1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT? Interested onlooker, because I hate injustice.

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix? Left of centre.

3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why? H. Benn, analytical honest and hard working.

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why? Tebbit,dishonest divisive, vindictive.

5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why? Labour and green once, after Iraq.

6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'? No.

7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU? I don’t understand the question, Brian.

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT? Esther Rantzen losing her deposit.

9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT? Brexit was a body blow that almost made me feel sick, similar feeling to 9/11.

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS?I think populism is on the wane.

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'? The Speaker enforcing honesty and openness, ie “Can the Minister start again and just answer the question please.”

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? A limit on political donations.

[ljycb]

1. ARE YOU POLITICAL AND WHY/WHY NOT? Yes! I don't know why.

2. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOURSELF IN THE LEFT/RIGHT/AUTHORITARIAN/NON-AUTHORITARIAN matrix? Left!

3. WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why? I don't know!

4. WHO IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAN AND Why? Probably Thérèse Coffey! A stain on our great city!

5. WHAT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE YOU VOTED FOR and why? Labour! In 2015, 2017 and 2019!

6. WOULD YOU EVER VOTE FOR THE 'OPPOSITE PARTY'? No!

7. KING AND COUNTRY AND CITY AND TOWN AND COMMUNITY - WHAT DEFINES THE REGIONALISM OF POLITICS FOR YOU? I'm not sure!

8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT? When Matt Hancock sat down after speaking in the House of Commons and he looked like a toy from "Toy Story" when Andy walks into the room!

9 WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE POLITICAL MOMENT? When the Tories won a majority in 2019!

10. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FUTURE OF POLITICS IS? I don't know!

11. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE POLITICS 'BETTER' AND 'FAIRER'? I will answer a vague question with a vague answer - do better!

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? I would make it the law that any unvaccinated children have to be home schooled!

[Yorkykopite]

12. IF YOU COULD ENACT ONE LAW - WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? I would make it the law that any unvaccinated children have to be home schooled!

That's a bit hard on the innocent kid!

And might it not be subject to the infamous Law of Unintended Consequences? After all, what better way of ensuring the crackpot ideas of the parents are transmitted undiluted to their children than taking state education out of the equation altogether.   

[ljycb]

That's a bit hard on the innocent kid!

And might it not be subject to the infamous Law of Unintended Consequences? After all, what better way of ensuring the crackpot ideas of the parents are transmitted undiluted to their children than taking state education out of the equation altogether.

Hey, these are my laws! If you don't like them, there's the door.