[Closed] So is a vote for the Greens a wasted vote?

It depends on where you live but a vote is never wasted, you just might not get the outcome you want

what are they saying, tories vs ukip? how the hell did we end up in this situation? total nightmare,

greens usually get my vote anyway.

[quote=ElShalimo said]It depends on where you live but a vote is never wasted, you just might not get the outcome you want

+1

If the alternative is not voting then it's better than that.

Be nice if they had a no suitable candidate option.

The greater the share of the popular vote the minority parties get, the greater the chances of PR one day happening, you would have thought. One day.

The only wasted vote is one that doesn't align with your political views. In other words, if you like the Greens vote Green!

It frustrates me that Labour and the Conservatives are the only 2 parties who will actually be in power. They are both as bad as each other and need kicking off their smug high horses.

So IMHO do it!! It's who I'll be voting for on election day.

It is probably worth pointing out that the Green Party had an MP a long time before UKIP did, and they are the only one of the two to have had an MP elected during a general election [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Lucas ](Caroline Lucas, Brighton Pavilion)[/url]

If the alternative is not voting then it's better than that.

It's probably who I'll go for too. Seems to be little choice.

and +1 for a "none of the above" option

It is probably worth pointing out that the Green Party had an MP a long time before UKIP did, and they are the only one of the two to have had an MP elected during a general election

There's no such thing as a "wasted vote". A number of people, all of them committed in their own way, will be standing in your area and *will* have an effect on your life for the next few years.

How you vote is up to you. People talk of things like "tactical voting" where they mainly think about who they *don't* want in power. The only trouble with such tactical voting is you can only end up with one thing; someone you don't really want. Surely, better to read up about the candidates, and use things like voteforpolicies.org.uk, to let you make a real choice.

You might be surprised; you might end up with someone you *do* want that way!!

I do have to declare an interest here, though. I'm standing as a local Green Party candidate in Old Gaywood, King's Lynn.

Rachel

Of the available options, Greens make the most sense in the long term

Weird that the media seems to avoid them though...

why is that?

Well you could say a vote is always "wasted" unless your constituency has a result decided by a single vote. And only not then if you vote for the winner. And if it makes any practical difference to the way the country is governed. Which has probably never happened in history.

I don't see how voting green could be any more wasted than voting for X in a safe seat, where X could be any other candidate.

After listening to this

cast your vote 😯

'Tactical' voting just reinforces the two-party hegemony. Everyone should vote for who they want to see in power.

You beat me to it duntstick 😆

I don't think greens have much of a chance here, and I don't agree with all their policies but I'm kind of tempted on the basis that it might give them a bit of a springboard to get a higher profile and a bit of momentum for the next election or the election after that. But still undecided.

MrNutt - Member
So, The Greens? a wasted vote or not?

Yes. It is a waste of vote.

How long have they been in politics? Still no impact whatsoever from them at all. Too idealistic and elite in their thinking by considering themselves as know it all kind of party that dictates what is good for you. Completely detach from ordinary folks ...

The case study of how long a far (?) left and green combination lasts is just across the channel. Admittedly Hollande abandoned such policies pretty quickly and the rest is history.....

[quote=hjghg5 ] it might give them a bit of a springboard to get a higher profile and a bit of momentum for the next election or the election after that.
That. Got to play the long game. Show that there's an electorate desperate to find a good alternative to the old parties and some new ones might spring up.

Have a read of their manifesto, check how they've got on running Brighton and if that sounds good to you then definitely vote for them.

I'll be voting green, although it won't go any way to unseating the Tories in my constituency. If I still lived in South Norwich I'd have a dilemma. While they could potentially win there, splitting the labour vote last time got us a lib dem and a Tory government.

Yes. It is a waste of vote.

How long have they been in politics? Still no impact whatsoever from them at all. Too idealistic and elite in their thinking by considering themselves as know it all kind of party that dictates what is good for you.

I'm thinking of voting Green because I want the mainstream parties to actually deal with the environmental problems that confront us. My thinking is that they will improve their behaviour regarding the environment if they see the greens gaining votes.

As for reading manifestos, what's the point, they're a web of lies.

I'll vote SNP this time, I believe our best chance for change is out of the UK and I dont think its over yet.
After that Green all the way.

As for reading manifestos, what's the point, they're a web of lies.

It's just that pretty much every person I know who's considered voting green had actually no idea what they stand for - barring the "Green" in the name.

SNP should start branching out into England they would get my vote 🙂

I will also be voting SNP this time.

SNP should start branching out into England they would get my vote

I wish they would do just that.

ChubbyBlokeInLycra - Member

Yes. It is a waste of vote.

How long have they been in politics? Still no impact whatsoever from them at all. Too idealistic and elite in their thinking by considering themselves as know it all kind of party that dictates what is good for you.

From a UKIP voter who claims not to be a right wing headbanger

Hey Chubby (should that simply be Fat or lard?) I think I have voted all of them in the past so I am not exactly right wing but I definitely do not want to see any party in majority as they need to earn their living harrrrddd! They need to be constantly under pressure from each others all the time. I vote to put them all under pressure. Yes, UKIP this time for me because they scare the shite out of all the main parties ... 😆

If I were in Scotland I would vote SNP ... You do know UKIP and SNP are not exactly friends when it comes to the issue of colony don't you?

How long have they been in politics? Still no impact whatsoever from them at all.

Apart from forcing the major parties to adopt green(ish) policies?

Same thing as UKIP really, the Greens are unlikely to ever hold much in the way of actual power but if enough people vote for them then the major parties will start sniffing round for policy ideas.

I've got a pretty good idea what the Greens stand for. To be honest some of their policies will have a negative impact on my life but someone has to make the difficult decisions.

I'm trying to decide where to vote - by the looks of it my London place is a safe Tory seat but my Edinburgh place could change hands from Labour to SNP, so my vote will have more potential impact in the latter.

GrahamS - Member

How long have they been in politics? Still no impact whatsoever from them at all.

Apart from forcing the major parties to adopt green(ish) policies?

Same thing as UKIP really, the Greens are unlikely to ever hold much in the way of actual power but if enough people vote for them then the major parties will start sniffing round for policy ideas.

Should be fun this time as the minor/smaller parties could be the king or queen maker ... 😆

I've got a pretty good idea what the Greens stand for. To be honest some of their policies will have a negative impact on my life but someone has to make the difficult decisions.

I think they've ok if you're just looking to register a protest vote (and safer in that regard than the LibDems, who'll sell your vote to the highest bidder) but the reports from Brighton are not good. I know a folks that live there and say the Greens have been a disaster. Given they've no chance of more than a seat or two it probably won't matter in a Westminster context.

epicsteve - Member
... (and safer in that regard than the LibDems, who'll sell your vote to the highest bidder) ...

They ALL sell your vote to the highest bidder if they are offered the chance to be in govt. Bear in mind, most of them have never tasted real power in govt so given the chance I bet the temptation is so high they will give in. Strategic or not.

but the reports from Brighton are not good. I know a folks that live there and say the Greens have been a disaster.

Of course there have been absolutely no problems with tory or labour councils over the years by which we can judge them.

Rachel, Kings Lynn? That's just up the road from me. Well, same county anyway.

Good luck lass, I hope you do better than just get your deposit back.

I'll be voting green. I Have idealistic views. I dream that the world could and should be better than it is. I could sit on my arse and not vote. I could vote for the same bunch of tits who have done nothing but line their own pockets. But instead I'll vote for a party I think could start to change that.
Now if lots of others did the same......

Epicsteve, when I vote Green it wont be a protest vote, I want them to sweep to power in a landslide victory and change [i]everything[/i] 🙂 As a matter of fact if they did i'd probably be happy to stay within the UK.
A lot of folk [i]will[/i] call it a disaster, like I said they are difficult decisions that need to be made.

Hey Chubby (should that simply be Fat or lard?)

As a matter of fact if they did i'd probably be happy to stay within the UK.

Well, good luck wherever you're moving to.

As others have said, the worst case is that you give a push to the other candidates in your ward so that they might act differently once ejected. That's not a wasted vote. Please, contact the people who are asking for your vote and ask them about issues which you feel are important. You may discover someone you can vote for.

I really hope that this in an election where people vote for someone, rather than against someone.

The Greens are not going to win loads of seats this time around, much as I'd like them to, but Caroline Lucas has shown what one person with principles can achieve so even just a few more could make a huge difference.

Like Rachel, I should probably mention that I'm standing for the Green Party, in the Haughton and Springfield ward in Darlington. (Should this technically have an imprint telling you the contact details of my agent?)

[quote=miketually ]I should probably mention that I'm standing for the Green Party, in the Haughton and Springfield ward in Darlington. (Should this technically have an imprint telling you the contact details of my agent?)Or a list of all the other candidates? 😆

Well, good luck wherever you're moving to.

I don't think i'll need to.

ChubbyBlokeInLycra - Member

Hey Chubby (should that simply be Fat or lard?)

Hilarious. I can see why you identify so closely with the UK Idiot Party

Slight hijack to address Chubby here ...

Tell you a real story that happened many years ago when I was in Leeds.

You see when I was in Leeds sharing a house with a French, Finnish couples and a hippie single parent landlord with a son, the neighbour's son usually come to play with the landlord son. We, the foreigners, thought this little boy is a bit fat or plump but we decided that he would not like us calling him fat or plump boy so instead all of us decided to call him Chubby ... guess what ... we thought we were being polite until my landlord and son explained that the boy did not wish to be address as Chubby (we all laughed including the landlord and son) We could not comprehend the reason because he was indeed fat, plump or in a better phrase Chubby. We then stopped calling him Chubby and instead, my other flatmates, started calling him fatboy (as in the Harley bike) but guess what ... he got upset too. In the end, we simply thought he was no fun so started calling him his name but that was no longer endearing ... he became boring after that.

The moral of story is that it brings back good memory of the word Chubby ... very funny too. 😀

chewkw, having just read a transcript of a radio interview with the local UKIP candidate in Newcastle, Daniel Thompson, I know where I [i]won't[/i] be wasting my vote.

Here are some highlights, it reads like a Daily Mail comments section:

"There are an awful lot of cycle routes in the North East, and having one on John Dobson Street, crack bang in the city centre, stopping people having access there, and the one running up and down Gosforth High Street's not a very good idea because there's alternative cycle routes either side."

"The reason the cycle funding has come to the North East is, first of all Newcastle City Council has given out cycling figures that are a bit misleading and they're not sure themselves how many cyclists actually use the area, but...part of the Liberal Democrat deal with the coalition was that David Cameron gives them £115 million to put into cycle funds and that's the reason Nick Clegg is sat there as deputy prime minister because he got this massively good deal for the cyclists. Subsequently there's been money allocated to different cities, Newcastle has been allocated 10.5 million, and it's just a shame that the wasn't money allocated to maybe disabled people, getting more people onto motorised wheelchairs if they need them."

"Cycling's great, but there's an over-facilitation for cycling in the North East of England. Disabled people have worked hard all their lives, but you see the cyclist lobby, the cyclist is using the road, he's not paying any insurance, he's not paying...he's not got a registration number, and they're getting a massive amount of money of central government."

"I think we have to try to encourage the cyclists not to use the pavements because I don't think you can have one rule where they're using the roadspace and another rule where they're using the pavements...we've got enough people on the pavements without the cyclists using it, but obviously in the view of Newcastle City Council the cyclist can go anywhere he wants; on the pavement, in the middle of the road, along the side of the road, across the town moor."

"You used to have to have a bell on your cycle, a lot of these people don't even have bells on their cycle any more. Now a lot of them have cameras on their hats...talk about paranoia...in case you hit them. Put it this way, I've never hit one. I think a lot of the accidents are basically because of the cyclists, maybe because they've got their earphones in, or even on their mobile phones. I've seen cyclists actually texting.The police won't do it because it's not a target. The motorist is a target, but the cyclists: they've got no control over it."

"[Why have they got a ban on mobility scooters on the Metro?] Probably because they've got a ban on cyclists and they probably think it'll be favouritising [sic] disabled people against the cyclists."

Vote green if you take the cynical view that your vote can archive nothing then you have registered your disapproval at the two choices one outcome politics of the majority parties, if you take the optimistic view then your vote will go some way to making the country better.

chewkw - Member
ChubbyBlokeInLycra - Member
Hey Chubby (should that simply be Fat or lard?)

Hilarious. I can see why you identify so closely with the UK Idiot Party
Slight hijack to address Chubby here ...

Tell you a real story that happened many years ago when I was in Leeds.

You see when I was in Leeds sharing a house with a French, Finnish couples and a hippie single parent landlord with a son, the neighbour's son usually come to play with the landlord son. We, the foreigners, thought this little boy is a bit fat or plump but we decided that he would not like us calling him fat or plump boy so instead all of us decided to call him Chubby ... guess what ... we thought we were being polite until my landlord and son explained that the boy did not wish to be address as Chubby (we all laughed including the landlord and son) We could not comprehend the reason because he was indeed fat, plump or in a better phrase Chubby. We then stopped calling him Chubby and instead, my other flatmates, started calling him fatboy (as in the Harley bike) but guess what ... he got upset too. In the end, we simply thought he was no fun so started calling him his name but that was no longer endearing ... he became boring after that.

The moral of story is that it brings back good memory of the word Chubby ... very funny too.

And what exactly is wrong with calling him his name rather than just an insult?

GrahamS - Member

chewk, having just read a transcript of a radio interview with the local UKIP candidate in Newcastle, Daniel Thompson, I know where I won't be wasting my vote.

Here are some highlights, it reads like a Daily Mail comments section:

You might think the bloke is irrational but you will very surprised that some of my friends with PhDs, rationale, know how to argue academic type hate cyclists so much I thought they have anger related issues when they see a cyclist whilst driving ... honest!

Cycle lane or not I am used to driving in the far east with scooters all over the place where as a driver I had to look out for them. I am chilled but these so called civilised friends of mine just went ape shite I kid you not.

To be honest some of the UKIP candidates do talk shite but then all politicians tend to do that except some are better rehearsed by their PR machine.

I personally will not ride on the street unless there are special lanes like those in Scandinavian countries.

padkinson - Member

And what exactly is wrong with calling him his name rather than just an insult?

It was not an insult when we called the boy chubby because it was an endearing term we showed. Sometimes we just don't call people by their names and we like to give them nicknames.

In other part of the world if you are fat you know you are fat and sometime people just state the obvious as an endearing term. They would call you fat boy or fat girl in front of everyone. They do and the person being called fat does not even bat an eye about that. No insult was intended and everyone knows that. The obvious is just obvious. Oh ya if you intend to address your elders by name you get a good smacking for being disrespectful. 😀

To be honest some of the UKIP candidates do talk s

But the spirit of what he says was also in the UKIP official manifesto (back when they had one) so the "lone nutter" defence doesn't wash.

I personally will not ride on the street unless there are special lanes like those in Scandinavian countries.

That guy runs STURR, "Stop The Unneccesary Red Route" which is a campaign specifically against installing a special traffic-free cycle lane. Oh and they claim to be pro-cycling!

I am considering a Green vote as I am probably a bit more left leaning and I just don't believe any of the major party's more centre-right, popularist speil or policies reflect what I want for the UK.

I'm not so naive as to believe the support is there for the Greens to sweep to victory, but I could see a small Green contingent perhaps forming part of a new coalition, and possibly helping to sway a Labour or even Conservative led coalition a bit away from the nastier excesses of the Right, fundamentally the opposite of what the Kippers are hoping for....

Who Knows? stranger things have happened.

People perhaps forget perhaps that voting in an election isn't about backing the winner, it's about registering your support for the candidate / party which most closely matches your views and aspirations for the country. The only "wasted" vote would be one where you don't vote for what you believe in IMO.

It was not an insult when we called the boy chubby because it was an endearing term we showed. Sometimes we just don't call people by their names and we like to give them nicknames.

Can we start calling you "Enoch" just as a [i]term of endearment[/i]...

GrahamS - Member
But the spirit of what he says was also in the UKIP official manifesto (back when they had one) so the "lone nutter" defence doesn't wash.

Not defending him at all. For me personally having cycle lane or not is a non-issue in the grant scheme of things.

That guy runs STURR, "Stop The Unneccesary Red Route" which is a campaign specifically against installing a special traffic-free cycle lane. Oh and they claim to be pro-cycling!

I don't know who they are but I know it's scary to ride on the road ...

cookeaa - Member

It was not an insult when we called the boy chubby because it was an endearing term we showed. Sometimes we just don't call people by their names and we like to give them nicknames.

Can we start calling you "Enoch" just as a term of endearment...

If you feel like it then go ahead if that is an endearment towards another person.

Bear in mind we had no ill feeling or hate towards the boy nor were we picking on him.

😮

It was not an insult when we called the boy chubby because it was an endearing term we showed. Sometimes we just don't call people by their names and we like to give them nicknames.
Can we start calling you "Enoch" just as a term of endearment...

I'd prefer to call him something more along the lines of c**t

[url= http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rivers_of_Blood_speech ]It's not far off[/url] 😉

padkinson - Member
I'd prefer to call him something more along the lines of c**t

cookeaa - Member

It's not far off

😆 We used to address or to greet all our friends as c**t in their face every time we meet. (also all the known swear words we could master ... I kid you not. We have terms that are so vulgar even we laughed when we used them.)

Put it this way we used to address all our friends with all known rude words in the world in the context of endearment.

However, you used it in the context of "conflict", "challenge" or retaliation ... that's the different. Yours is not of endearment.

I think there is a culture clash here ... 😆

Anyway, back to OP on voting Green or not.

Tch.....

No it is honestly and totally endearing in intent.. Really.

Just like calling a fat lad "chubby" when he doesn't like it.

Nice story otherwise, can't see the relevance to the topic, but it's another little anecdote that adds a bit more depth to your STW, virtual personal... Guess you had to be there.

And yes back to topic.

Decided yet OP?

cookeaa - Member

No it is honestly and totally endearing in intent.. Really.

Just like calling a fat lad "chubby" when he doesn't like it.

Nice story otherwise, can't see the relevance to the topic, but it's another little anecdote that adds a bit more depth to your STW, virtual personal... Guess you had to be there.

Oh c'mon! C'mon! You lot are getting too serious chill man, chill ...

The moral of the story is a small thing like being called names is not the end of the world. I am not trying to pretend who I am not coz that's simply hard work.

🙄

The moral of the story is actually don't tell people what they should and shouldn't like.

Just keeping it really? All power to you then brother...

Back on topic, if you think the roads are too dangerous to cycle on,
[url= https://www.greenparty.org.uk/policies-2010/transport-2010/transport-detail.html ]Why not vote green?[/url] rather than support the [url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/recreational-cycling/10846025/Cyclists-dont-vote-for-an-anti-cycling-party.html ]"anti-cycling party"[/url]..

Hnn. All the media I heard yesterday were saying minor parties could have a big influence in lokely event its a close call. Greens for me. Don't like all their policies but at least they believe in something other than the latest opinion poll.

I think the outcome of this election will be a Labour/SNP deal to form the Government.

Locally it'll be Conservative all round with a hint of UKIP getting the thick **** vote.

I'm in it for the long term and will be voting Green.

[quote=cookeaa ]Back on topic, if you think the roads are too dangerous to cycle on,
Why not vote green? rather than support the "anti-cycling party"..

You'll find plenty on here who think cyclists get in their way and shouldn't be on the roads.

Am I the only one to think that UKIP is the perfect party for chewkw to vote for having read his little anecdote?

[quote=sweepy ]Epicsteve, when I vote Green it wont be a protest vote, I want them to sweep to power in a landslide victory and change everything

On the contrary, if I thought that was likely there's no way I'd consider voting for them 😉

is a vote for the Greens a wasted vote?

of course not.

i'll be voting green because i want to show that there are voters (hopefully millions of us) who will vote for social and environmental policies.

if enough of us turn out in my constituency, then maybe we can help the Green Candidate retain their deposit.

i reckon those reasons are as good as any others.

if I thought that was likely there's no way I'd consider voting for them

I would vote for them if the vote counted

Unfortunately it may let a tory in here as its one less for labour

In FPTP do the least harm rather than vote how you wish 😥

Its a poor system IMHO

+1 ahwiles

A vote for what/who you believe in within the current system is not a wasted vote. I'll be voting Green. I'd really like to see what a Green/SNP/Plaid Cymru coalition could do.

If you want a Tory government vote for anyone but Labour. If you don't want a Tory government then vote Labour.

On a side note I haven't been impressed by Caroline Lucas at all. She isn't even a vegetarian so much for being green.

If you want a Tory government vote for anyone but Labour. If you don't want a Tory government then vote Labour.

If you want a Tory government vote for anyone but Labour. If you don't want a Tory government then vote Labour.

No. Vote for the party that most closely aligns with your beliefs and values. I'm voting Green, but if the SNP ever form an English branch, I could be tempted.

[quote=fr0sty125 ]If you want a Tory government vote for anyone but Labour. If you don't want a Tory government then vote Labour.

Interesting - so if you live in Solihull you'd suggest voting Labour in order to prevent a Tory government? 😯

I have to admit I do find that seat (and other similar ones) interesting in the context of Lib Dem supporters being disaffected with their party because they got into bed with the Tories and choosing to vote Labour instead. Unintended consequences...

Vote for the party that most closely aligns with your beliefs and values

Its naive to not vote tactically under our current system

What do people think about changing the current voting system then to a form of PR? I was gutted when changing to PR was quashed last time round.
Parties such as the Greens would do far better and you would have far less 'wasted' votes.

[quote=mrwhyte ]What do people think about changing the current voting system then to a form of PR?

Turkeys tend to avoid voting for Xmas

Obviously not aimed at the politicians who may frequent the forum 😀

But would more people on here vote for who they truly believe in if the current FPTP was reformed?

That's one of the Greens' policies, isn't it? Reform of the current voting system and Parliament.

Yep, greens in favour of PR and reform of HoLs from what I can remember.