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[cem_devecioglu]

Maybe the answer is that we should have to take two tests before we can vote. The first test would be a test of intelligence to establish we are capable of understanding the issues.The second test would be a test of political awareness, to discourage people voting in ignorance or being too easily swayed by x-factor type campaigning.Having left wing tendencies would of course automatically disqualify you on both counts.

I agree with the highlighted part .. definitely required..and may be more..

[Drewomega]

Note those sceptics of the value of BBC political coverage that all the very many programmes I have been watching on my favourite, unbiased, channels the BBC 1, 2 and 80, News Channel, it has been made very clear that Gordon Brown is acting very statesman like. 

He is following correctly his duties under the [unwritten] consititution to remain in No. 10 as PM until the Conservatives, with maybe the Lib Dems, decide what course their claim on leading the country will take.  If the current talks fail, then it is still the right of Gordon Brown to seek an alliance / coalition with other parties as PM, even though that seems most unlikely.

For once then Gordon Brown is taking exactly the right course of action

It is only the gutter media, like SKY and the tabloids, that suggest anything else.

Thank God for the BBC!! 8-) 8-) 8-)

Lizzie! believe me, that the BBC is not the BBC we all knew and loved many years ago. They, in my opinion are just as biased as any of the so called "gutter media". See my other rant on the BBC. 
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1270749731

[cem_devecioglu]

from Lizzie

"Thanks Cem

But that is the problem; the line between a full democracy and a one party dictatorship is always very fine. Throughout history philosophers have expressed their well thought beliefs on how any nation should be ruled.  Plato had envisaged a meritocracy , where Philosopher Kings would decide on the worth of the nations citizens, in bands of bronze, silver, or gold, and how they should perform in their society, with powers limited to their rank.
Hobbes envisaged of course one supreme ruler who would stop individual man continually "warring against man", as that was a mans natural trait, by governing tightly in what would seem to be a dictatorship.  Nietzsche considered a society of "supermen" to rule and protect the weak, which of course the Nazis corrupted to form the base of their political system.
Marx believed in a society of equals, all benefiting fairly from their labours, whilst being able to exercise their creativity.

Locke though fully supported the belief of the God given right of men to exercise complete freedom, providing they harmed no one and they applied themselves to a social contract with the rest of society. Mills however, considered a utilitarian society, where everything is the for the greatest good for the greatest number, but individual liberty is protected, whilst working with all society. 

Two cut a very long story short, the philosophy of Mills in particular, but also Locke, has shaped political thinking in the 20th century to form a liberal society which certainly includes in the 21st century more of Locke's form of regulatory protection to stop individuals in hurting themselves. 

The society of the UK has been built on these beliefs, with the idea of a free represenative democracy deciding who should rule on behalf  of the people, to advance their political wishes.  By natural progression we have now arrived at a situation whereby a multi-party political system is being voted for by the people wishing for many varied policies, but in a tradition
two party reality, that reflects more of the political landscape of 1910, when the Conservatives or Liberals where the driving forces to be voted for. 
Simple, straightforward, but in many ways it resulted in whole sections of society not being faithfully represented, such as women and the working class!! 

So Cem the BIG question is..........does society in the UK now want to revert
to a simple political system limited to just two parties, and trust they can represent the views of the majority, and without slipping into the early
stages of a dictatorship??    

How this could be achieved, with the desires of the individual people expecting their liberty to express particular political aspirations, is the next BIG question?"




Lizzie, living in this century and having witnessed many events in different countries, about democracies I can say that its far from being ideal..


Briefly the level of democracy is an equilibrium point between the internal powers of classes and external powers in relation with that nation/country..

Any theory/statement/application/trial regarding these power vectors and equation will likely fail..


Considering the power of rich classes its something natural that we, middle classes can balance that equation mostly on the looser side..


No matter who you vote, what parties involve in election, which candidates they assign these power vectors will find its way through and take its commanding seat.. Now, blaming the driver(s) coming one after another may relax you somehow but in reality wont change the fact that the real driver remains untouched and doesnt change that frequently.. :-/