Way back in 1979, the British people for tax cutting purposes, voted in Margaret Thatcher who through her term of office basically began running down the role of what the State provided care of tax payers money, in Social Care, Community care, Residential Care, the NHS, and the basic State pension.

This Margaret Thatcher did because she did not believe in the role of the State, she believed in privatisation, and Charities.

Then after 18 years, of basic Thatcherism, the public's eyes had been finally opened and what the public thought were a "Labour" Government were elected to reverse the policies that had been set in place.

The problem was that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown kept in place fundamental Thatcherism, because in order to get into power, they needed the vote of the self centred middle classes.

However because "New" Labour under Blair and Brown spent money without increasing taxation on the rich, they built up a deficit, and of course the media played on this.

Then we had another general election, and guess what ?, the Tory's under Cameron managed to get votes from their selfish and misguided supporters, and the consequence of this remains with us for anther few years re- the coalition.

To say I feel sorry for the elderly, is an understatement, because since the 80's our elderly people have been treated worse than muck, and we have done nothing about it, and still dont do anything about it.

But I do not feel sorry for any other sector of society as jobs are lost and pensions are withering, because as far as im concerned, we British get everything we deserve, because the only time we moan is when things effect us personally, but by then its all to late.

Tory voters in this country should hang their heads in shame at what Thatcher did, and what Cameron is doing.

Our War veterans must be wondering why they bothered to fight.

And think about this, with all these strikes, our pensioners who are still being ignored in favour of self interest, are on a State pension worth less than £6,000 a year, yet the oldest of these fought for this country.

Ashamed ? We bloody well should be.

It is easy - for those that do remember - to see that the right-wing politicians of old have never given a fig for the ordinary people of Britain as they are not important enough for them.

Like all bullies they like to attack the weak and the poor and the sick and the old as these demographics are soft targets and while they do this they can also spend as much time as they want looking after their own kind.

Even after the country turned hard against what Brown and Blair stood for, the Tories could STILL not generate enough votes to come back into power with a working majority. This to me tells a powerful story and tells me that the people of Britain - in general - do not think that the way of "the right" is actually the right way as they see the supporters of the Tory party that are set in the top echelons - where the greedy fat-cats reside - is not an area that they want to support. Who can blame them as the rich continue to get richer and the poor continue to get poorer under such regimes.

papa_umau wrote:It is easy - for those that do remember - to see that the right-wing politicians of old have never given a fig for the ordinary people of Britain as they are not important enough for them.

Like all bullies they like to attack the weak and the poor and the sick and the old as these demographics are soft targets and while they do this they can also spend as much time as they want looking after their own kind.

Even after the country turned hard against what Brown and Blair stood for, the Tories could STILL not generate enough votes to come back into power with a working majority. This to me tells a powerful story and tells me that the people of Britain - in general - do not think that the way of "the right" is actually the right way as they see the supporters of the Tory party that are set in the top echelons - where the greedy fat-cats reside - is not an area that they want to support. Who can blame them as the rich continue to get richer and the poor continue to get poorer under such regimes.

Pap, all will be revealed at the next general election.

Yes, I am sure it will.

All I want - as a bit of a lefty - is to see Ed Miliband start to look like the kind of leader that can catch the imagination of the up and coming electorate.

So far I am disappointed with his performance and I have told my party, ( yes, I AM a card-carrying Labour member ), that if he does not get his finger out and start to impress the voters we are going to go towards the next election floating in limbo and looking rudderless. ( Sorry about the mixed metaphor ).

papa_umau wrote:Yes, I am sure it will.

All I want - as a bit of a lefty - is to see Ed Miliband start to look like the kind of leader that can catch the imagination of the up and coming electorate.

So far I am disappointed with his performance and I have told my party, ( yes, I AM a card-carrying Labour member ), that if he does not get his finger out and start to impress the voters we are going to go towards the next election floating in limbo and looking rudderless. ( Sorry about the mixed metaphor ).

Paap, I withdrew my membership of Labour when Blair took Labour to the right. I could not support a Thatcherite, New Labour Government.

But other than that, I completely agree with you that Ed Milliband should start showing his colours now.

I don't believe in actually joining political parties as I always examine what each of them stand for before I cast my vote.

I would like to vote for Labour this time if they can clarify what they are going to do for me but as Paps already says, Miliband is still an unknown quantity as far as I am concerned.

He has got a long way to go before he can ever reach Blair's capabilities as a statesman and an orator.

zathrus wrote:I don't believe in actually joining political parties as I always examine what each of them stand for before I cast my vote.

I would like to vote for Labour this time if they can clarify what they are going to do for me but as Paps already says, Miliband is still an unknown quantity as far as I am concerned.

He has got a long way to go before he can ever reach Blair's capabilities as a statesman and an orator.

""I would like to vote for Labour this time if they can clarify what they are going to do for "me".

And herin is the great British problem.

While it is true that we are a "me,me,me" kind of a nation, that is not really surprising as we are humans after all and all "humans" are basically selfish animals.

That said, I am sure that many thousands of potential Labour voters are looking for the same lead as zath' and me are looking for so that we can then solidly make our mind up who we are going to vote for.

The other quality that I - in particular - look for is that of honesty as the politician that promises one thing and delivers something else is even worse than the one that delivers something that we don't want while they are keeping their promises.

One thing that I AM sure about and that is that the majority of the thinking electorate are pig sick of what we have been getting from the right-wing agenda that we have seen from both of the last two governments.

It is time for change and If Ed Miliband and his manifesto planners miss out on this chance they will be the most inept political planners ever to exist.

papa_umau wrote:While it is true that we are a "me,me,me" kind of a nation, that is not really surprising as we are humans after all and all "humans" are basically selfish animals.

That said, I am sure that many thousands of potential Labour voters are looking for the same lead as zath' and me are looking for so that we can then solidly make our mind up who we are going to vote for.

The other quality that I - in particular - look for is that of honesty as the politician that promises one thing and delivers something else is even worse than the one that delivers something that we don't want while they are keeping their promises.

One thing that I AM sure about and that is that the majority of the thinking electorate are pig sick of what we have been getting from the right-wing agenda that we have seen from both of the last two governments.

It is time for change and If Ed Miliband and his manifesto planners miss out on this chance they will be the most inept political planners ever to exist.

Pap, you are totally diplomatic.

Britain's problem since the 80's have pertained to the greedy and the selfish in general. The "what's in it for me brigade.

I am so pleased that I for one do not think like this.

I want the next "TRUE" Labour Government to look after adaquately and with dignity, our old, our frail, our disabled, our ill, and our young people.

This should be via a mammoth and universial social housing programme, much higher minimum wages, and a much higher basic State pension on retirement, plus higher welfare payments.

After all, we all pay our NI contributions and our taxes, so why should we not benefit in our old age from these payments. ?, and have the weakest in society benefit as well.

People may call this Socialism, but I dont care. I call it basic human decency.

Now that's far from the "me" "me" "me" attitude, isnt it ?

And I am proud of it.

What I see is young folk coming straight out of University and into politics, with no life experience.

How can we expect them to be fair, when they really don't know what the low-paid experience in the way of difficulties?

Either there should be a lower age limit on people entering politics, to give them time to learn about life in this country, or some kind of better training for the job.

Cheers, HG

Hell's Granny wrote:What I see is young folk coming straight out of University and into politics, with no life experience.

How can we expect them to be fair, when they really don't know what the low-paid experience in the way of difficulties?

Either there should be a lower age limit on people entering politics, to give them time to learn about life in this country, or some kind of better training for the job.

Cheers, HG

I could not agree more. And when we know that the deposit for standing as an Independent for Parliament is £500, in todays economic climate where people are financially struggling to pay everything from mortgage, to Utility bills, it remains the political elite who always grab the limelight, and who chase the middle class vote.