A visit to A&E - some thoughts

[Gordon]

Just choosing anything other than the Tories has to better, in that you'd not be supporting the likes of Johnson, Raab, Patel, Truss et al. Even if your local MP is a decent guy his party is responsible for the current Brexit shambles and his leader is a liar.

Pity you can't vote SNP.

[Stranger]

All these negative rants are useless and get nobody anywhere.  How about coming up with the two least worst and saying how they would be better.

If you don't feel very positive about any of them, then the negatives become the deciding factor. In fact any of the others (Labour, Green, Lib Dem) would be better because they'd end the pointless, crippling austerity and do something to save the NHS and other public services that have been decimated by Tory cuts. They'd also give us a chance of reversing the Brexit idiocy.

The Conservatives always benefit the rich and privileged at the expense of the poor and vulnerable - I really don't see why that isn't a good reason to vote for somebody (anybody) else unless you're rich, privileged, and selfish. Don't get me wrong, I do understand that people who aren't rich, privileged, and selfish do vote Tory, I just don't understand why.

Have you ever taken the Political Compass test? If you do, you can then compare with the parties in this election: UK Parties 2019 General Election. My problem is that my result is here: Stranger's Compass - so I'm not very near any of the parties.

I have known my local MP for many years. He is a decent man.

"I'm not arguing there are no decent people in the Tory party, but they're like bits of sweetcorn in a turd; technically they've kept their integrity, but they're still embedded in shit."

-- Holly in The Quarry by Iain Banks

[SusanDoris]

Just choosing anything other than the Tories has to better, in that you'd not be supporting the likes of Johnson, Raab, Patel, Truss et al. Even if your local MP is a decent guy his party is responsible for the current Brexit shambles and his leader is a liar.

Pity you can't vote SNP.

Apart from the fact of the majority vote here, any vote is going to produce a choice of PM to Corbyn or Johnson. Which do you think is the lesser of those two depressing choices?

[Stranger]

Apart from the fact of the majority vote here, any vote is going to produce a choice of PM to Corbyn or Johnson. Which do you think is the lesser of those two depressing choices?

Corbyn by a country mile - but he's very unlikely to get an actual majority anyway, so we're really looking at a Boris majority (most likely and most horrific) or a Corbyn minority government that will have to compromise with other parties.

[Outrider]

Corbyn by a country mile - but he's very unlikely to get an actual majority anyway, so we're really looking at a Boris majority (most likely and most horrific) or a Corbyn minority government that will have to compromise with other parties.

Unfortunately, we're more likely to get a Tory minority government than a Labour one - Johnson backed up by the hate-mongering spite-merchants in the DUP and any UKIP/Brexit candidates that get through...

O.

[Aruntraveller]

All these negative rants are useless and get nobody anywhere.  How about coming up with the two least worst and saying how they would be better.

As for equating me, in a sweeping generalisation,  with the party liked least, well, that is of course a wrong idea. I was going to say 'unfair', but that would be a feeble and silly response.

I have known my local MP for many years. He is a decent man.

But negative rants is where our politics are now.

Of course, I could point out that of the major developed economic nations in the West we have the largest gap between the richest and poorest in society, yes larger even that the USA. That the Labour party would seek to address that is a good thing, not a negative thing. I could point out that the NHS has been underfunded by the Tories for the last 9 years, and that the Labour party would seek to address that. That is a positive thing, not a negative thing. I could point out that the Labour party would fund social care properly, so that old people are not forced to use up their life savings to pay for dementia care. That is a positive thing, not a negative thing. I could point out that the Labour party is going to cut class sizes to 30 pupils. That is a positive thing, not a negative thing.  I could go on, but I doubt being a Tory you will pay me any heed.

However let me leave you with one last thought.

Boris Johnson is a negative thing, it shows in his every action and utterance. Remember, he has lied to his wife, his mistress, his boss, the Queen. Why on Earth do you think he is not lying to you?

And this, however you justify it, is who you are voting to put in charge of the (disunited) UK.

[SusanDoris]

But negative rants is where our politics are now.

Thank you for your - positive! - reply. I have spent some time writing a thought-out response, clicked on post … only for it to come up with the 'can't reach this page' notice, so I've lost it.  If I can face it, I'll try again … … *shakes head sadly*

[Gordon]

Apart from the fact of the majority vote here, any vote is going to produce a choice of PM to Corbyn or Johnson. Which do you think is the lesser of those two depressing choices?

Corbyn by a mile, and especially since he'd probably need to work with the SNP and Lib Dems: and anything is a better alternative than Johnson and the Tories.

If I had a magic wand, which sadly I don't, I'd revoke A50 and then arrange a review of how the current UK state is organised and managed so that the 4 nations can then decide whether they can agree a new basis to be 'united' or not, and then deal with the implications that raises in terms of the EU.

That way the electorate in England and Wales, where support for the Tories/Brexit is strongest and concentrated in some localities, can sort out for themselves where they stand on the Tories and the EU without dragging Scotland down with them - hopefully enough of the electorate in England would realise that the Tories are useless and Brexit is a fools paradise.     

[Anchorman]

TV's response to SusanDoris was excellent. If Johnson is elected PM, I cannot see how he can fulfill his party's core objective. The name of the party 'Conservative and Unionist' is somewhat anachronistic, sincwe the union he would lead is anything but united. Not only will Scotland - yet again - be governed by a party the vast majority reject, but Johnson's inept handling of the situation in Northern Ireland, the divisive nature of his persona in Wales, and his completely ignoring Giberalter as far as Brexit goes, shows that his policies, far from unifying, are dividing the less-than-united-kingdom further each time he uttersanother falsehood. A further five or six years of Tory misrule will only exacerbate the unrest, division and mistrust. He might well 'get brexit done' - or at least start to do so - but in doing so, his ignoring the elephant in the room - the democratic deficit - might well prove a far bigger hurdle - or ditch - for him to overcome.

[Nearly Sane]

If I had a magic wand I would put Walter and Gabriella in charge

[Nearly Sane]

]

All these negative rants are useless and get nobody anywhere.  How about coming up with the two least worst and saying how they would be better.

As for equating me, in a sweeping generalisation,  with the party liked least, well, that is of course a wrong idea. I was going to say 'unfair', but that would be a feeble and silly response.

I have known my local MP for many years. He is a decent man.

So did he vote against Universal Credit?

[Udayana]

As always would just say that you are not voting for a party or party leader but for an individual to send to the Commons.

Vote for the person you think is the most compassionate, intelligent, and competent in the areas you think are most important, eg. in this case on NHS funding.

[Bramble]

Voting Tory is voting for the rich and privileged, against ordinary people, and is a kick in the teeth for anybody needing any help from the state. It's a vote against honesty in politics and for a narcissistic, self-serving, serial barefaced liar who cares about nothing but himself.

And yet, if we get a Tory majority it will be in large part because of the support of 'ordinary people' in traditionally Labour voting areas who seem determined now to 'get Brexit done' by voting for the very elite they claim to loathe. Go figure.

[Aruntraveller]

And yet, if we get a Tory majority it will be in large part because of the support of 'ordinary people' in traditionally Labour voting areas who seem determined now to 'get Brexit done' by voting for the very elite they claim to loathe. Go figure.

Indeed. Seldom has that famous saying about turkeys and Christmas been more apt.

[Bramble]

Indeed. Seldom has that famous saying about turkeys and Christmas been more apt.

And as we now know, because they've told us, these turkeys knew exactly what they were voting for.

[Outrider]

As always would just say that you are not voting for a party or party leader but for an individual to send to the Commons.

Vote for the person you think is the most compassionate, intelligent, and competent in the areas you think are most important, eg. in this case on NHS funding.

Except that you aren't only voting for that, you are in addition contributing to the decision of who is going to be Prime Minister - your vote has consequences beyond which local MP you get.

O.

[Udayana]

And as we now know, because they've told us, these turkeys knew exactly what they were voting for.

All turkeys know that "Christmas" is just project fear. After all, no-one has actually seen one!

[Udayana]

Except that you aren't only voting for that, you are in addition contributing to the decision of who is going to be Prime Minister - your vote has consequences beyond which local MP you get.

O.

Or.. contributing to the reining back of a PM over whose installation your vote has negligible influence.

[Nearly Sane]

As always would just say that you are not voting for a party or party leader but for an individual to send to the Commons.

Vote for the person you think is the most compassionate, intelligent, and competent in the areas you think are most important, eg. in this case on NHS funding.

Unless you are voting for a maverick who calls out party policy though, then you are voting for party policy.

[Udayana]

Unless you are voting for a maverick who calls out party policy though, then you are voting for party policy.

Indirectly yes. However every party has a bundle of policies some you may like, others that you don't. Those policies will be discussed, reviewed, amended and passed as legislation before implementation - the last thing you want is for a wind-up slogan pusher to be making the decisions on them.

[Nearly Sane]

Indirectly yes. However every party has a bundle of policies some you may like, others that you don't. Those policies will be discussed, reviewed, amended and passed as legislation before implementation - the last thing you want is for a wind-up slogan pusher to be making the decisions on them.

Which is effectively most of them - if you don't know your MP will vote against party policy and what they will vote against, then you either know they will vote for it, or need to assume that they will

[SusanDoris]

And yet, if we get a Tory majority it will be in large part because of the support of 'ordinary people' in traditionally Labour voting areas who seem determined now to 'get Brexit done' by voting for the very elite they claim to loathe. Go figure.

And why shouldn't they, I ask myself. I am absolutely a remainer, but the majority of those who bothered to vote in the referendum was in favour of leave, so I think it would be an insult to them, however much I disagree with them and would like to give them a good shaking for voting that way, if that result was simply overturned. That is also why I think that if the Labour Party voted for a second referendum, I'd be tempted to vote leave.

[SusanDoris]

Trent Voyager

My apologies - I have made an attempt to recreate my response to your post but I've given up. I can assure you, however, I did heed what you said, and gave a thought-out response.

I did finish with, Okay, that's enough politics for now. I usually stay well away from political discussions.

[wigginhall]

I am scared of a Tory win, as I use the NHS a lot.  It has visibly deteriorated in recent years.  I used to get GP appointment next day, now it's 2 weeks, non-emergency, and I don't believe anything Boris says.  As Kinnock used to say, don't get ill, don't get old, or poor, in the next few years.

[Walter]

Mine was not a visit to A&E but I would like to tell you this .
On Monday this week I finally decided to phone my doctors for an appointment to discuss a cough I've had for about 3 months
The receptionist said a triage doctor will ring me back . This happened within 2 hours and I was in the surgery 3 hours later
Tuesday ( yesterday) I was in the hospital for blood tests and x-rays .
Total time waiting in hospital was less than 45 mins
Test results could be ready by Friday .
This seems like a pretty good service to me , or was I just lucky ?

What do you think Wiggy?