don’t encourage them
April 30th, 2008A correspondent for Principia Dialectica writes:
“Don’t Vote It Only Encourages them”? Remember that slogan? We understand peoples disillusionment and share it but not voting can encourage the worst.
First the BNP came within a whisker of getting a seat four years ago. The travails of UKIP make their election all the more likely with one or maybe even two seats. Anybody that votes for a party on that list reduces their chances of getting on even if the party you vote for hasn’t a cat’s chance in getting in themselves. Anybody that considers themselves an anti fascist should vote to help keep the BNP out. The party lists are selected by proportional representation and every vote will count. Every vote that is not for the BNP reduces their share of the vote.
Many would be appalled at the very thought of putting Livingstone on their ballot paper. Yes, Livingstone’s stance on Menezes was a disgrace. But do we really believe Johnson would have done anything different whatever he says when in opposition?
Courting Qaradawi was scandalous and only now is he beginning to realise what that man really stands for and is backtracking. In that case it was some of his advisors working to their own agenda who were responsible. They should be sacked if Livingstone is re-elected. Many of the real problems with the administration are caused not by Livingstone himself but by his flunkeys.
However, second preference votes are best used to decide which of the two front runners are the least worst - not to endorse all their policies and actions.
Johnson has been very cleverly packaged by the Tory party. He has the undying support of the Evening Standard. However do you really think he is up to the job? That he is competent?
Add to that the fact that Johnson edited the Spectator which at times degenerated into a racist bile sheet. He will in all likelihood support flogging off the tube to the highest bidder and we will end up with a still worse service (unprofitable lines could be closed or run down). His plans for the buses are ill thought out and unnecessarily expensive. In place of Livingstone’s advisors, Johnson will fill City Hall with an assortment of fellow Old Etonians and Hooray Henries - unemployable public school boys whose inflated salaries we will have to pay through our council tax.
We must never forget that people like the Chartists and Suffragettes got us the vote so that people like Johnson did not have a monopoly on political power. Often the results are lousy, but that’s democracy. The alternative is infinitely worse.
Our recommendations are
1. Vote for a left candidate to keep out the BNP.
2. Livingstone as second preference to keep out Johnson - and then a stiff drink after to recover if you think you need it.
Vote - Use it or lose it. Don’t Encourage them.”
