Today, for the first time since about 1990, I exercised my democratic right to vote. There are a number of reasons for the gap. Amongst them are apathy, poll tax dodging and living overseas for a number of years. But it felt good to get back into the democratic saddle. Across the country we have the elections to the European Parliament. Which is not a gravy train, honest.
Here in London we get the added responsibility of electing a mayor. Whilst I think that cuddly Ken is probably the best man for the job I couldn’t bring myself to vote for him. He is, after all, the official Labour Party candidate and as I may have mentioned once or twice we differ in our views on ID cards and software patents.
It seems that the only parties who do agree with me on these issues, at least according to Alan Cox, are the Greens (far too hippy dippy) and the UKIP (the BNP with a pearly white smile). It could well be that we are doomed. One of these days I will regale you with the story of the time I ate a Big Mac in the main hall of the Green Party conference.
Regardless, the exercise of the vote is the important thing. If attendances at the polls continue to decline politicians will start to ignore the views of the people. Even more than they do at the moment. Tony Blair asks us to trust him because he knows what he is doing. Well I don’t believe him and have let him know in the only way available to me, especially as my MP doesn’t answer my correspondence.
The other highlight of the day was our weekly Dad’s lunch. Sadly this had to be cancelled as Sam, JFGP‘s friend, had decided that today was the day that he was going to take up projectile vomiting as a serious pastime.