Today was the final
nail in the coffin, the Liberal Democrats will no longer get my
support. It was looking more and more unlikely that they would
receive my vote in the next election, but this most recent attack
aimed at the poorer and more disadvantaged echelons of society in the
form of benefit cuts, is the final straw. My hope that the Liberal
Democrats would somehow restrain the Conservatives and their elitist
policies did not pan out, showing no conviction in protecting what
are supposed to be the party's core values. While the disadvantaged,
who can not be held accountable for the financial mess we are in, are
attacked and demonised, the Liberal Democrats seem to either actively
support Conservative policies or fall into a state of inertia.
We can expect more of
the same over the next couple of years, inequality and poverty will
continue to increase, bringing with it all manner of social ills and
unrest. The Coalition will continue to blame the economy and
financial deficit for the crimes they commit against their own
people. Labour will of course be loud in opposition, and maybe it's
true that if they were in government the cuts would be less harsh,
but what else can they offer? They have to take a fair chunk of the
blame for this financial mess which has allowed the Conservatives to
act which such cruelty. Labour's record on human rights and civil
liberties are probably worse than that of the Conservatives, and
their aggressive foreign policy is abhorrent, thus to me, they are no
alternative.
So what voting
alternatives have we got for the next election? I'm sure UKIP and the
BNP will continue to pick up votes, these more extreme parties seem
to do well when society as a whole is suffering, but lets hope not.
Now that my faith in the Liberal Democrats has been shattered, it is
only the Green Party that I see as a viable alternative. Their
policies and values are very appealing, but it is their lack of
experience and political savvy where I have doubts. Having said that,
it's not as if they are going to find themselves in government by the
next election. A gradual rise in popularity would seem more likely,
allowing them to pick seats up here and there, gaining experience and
influence as they go. My faith in British politics is at an all time
low, it's hard to see any other than the three current mainstream
parties dominating for the foreseeable future. No wonder pessimism is
taking hold.
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