If you were not to vote, at least spoil your ballet paper. Just so we can see the percentage of people who believed that no one was up to the job. It's not that people can't be bothered, it's because people have such a shit choice
+Deb Fowler Non-voters are largely the people who don't care. Most non-voters aren't protesting anything, so refusing to vote as a protest makes you indistinguishable from the dispassionate.
theprez96 yes he did! he even said Cameron was an idiot. not that that means anything, but the fact he admitted to not voting and had the balls to go on the graham Norton show and act all anti-establishment, taking brand's ideas, was shameful to say the least.
Not voting is a valid protest and is also a right that people fought and died for. It is your democratic right to reject all of the above, ie the establishment. If you are 'obliged' to vote for one then that democratic right has been taken away has it not?
max rav if you cant decide or dont want to vote to "protest" you could atleast have the fucking decency to vote on the party that will provide young people like me (16) with the best future
Stabler Jet Your future is in your hands not the bloody Governments son. The policy of the country is decided by senior unelected civil servants not those people voted in for a mere five years.
The thing is that with FPP there is next to no point in voting unless you live in a marginal constituency. STV would improve the turn out and mean people's votes won't be worth jack shit
sadly, Paxman is a clever articulate man, who's dry humour is quite funny, but this is clearly not him, I mean does anyone believe this isn't clearly an autocue. this was beneath him
Paxman reading some other writers bollox from an autocue, how very 'trendy' and original. Glad I never voted, as for 3:52 no it's not but electing a government that will DO what they say they will is very difficult YOU should know Paxman you spent an entire lifetime questioning politicians about their U turns lies and scandals didn't you?
The system isn't appealing? Don't talk to us like we're 15 years old, smoking weed in our parents basements thinking Russell Brand is anything more than an utter moron. The system isn't unappealing, it's not a branding issue. It is not a democratic institution in any real sense, popular vote has only a partial effect on the system, and even that can be pretty much predicted by looking to where the money is going. The worst part is he surely gets that, read what he said about the 2010 election. I suppose it wasn't necessarily the same message, he just found the parties too "unappealing", which is a far worse reason not to vote than a belief that the system is incapable of reflecting popular will!
***** It's a really big problem, the British electoral system. It drastically needs reform. But not voting won't change anything. Ever. Even though this is intended to be comedic, the point is accurate. The people who do vote will get their say, the people who don't won't. That is why we have another Conservative government, and not a left leaning one. It desperately needs reform. The thing is, as well, I think that most people are voting for the leaders. Having a more national system, where we all vote as a nation for the party we want to lead the country, is something that needs to happen. But it is the liberal voices that we need in place for that to happen. The liberal voices in parliament won't get there if the only the conservative voices and traditionalists are voting, will they?
***** No, keep in mind though I don't think we can have democracy until we balance our wealth distribution, and we can't have wealth distribution until we have democracy; it's a tricky one.
Sir George Severn Oh of course, I agree. I was talking about Paxman's condescending tone about an institution he knows isn't functional. Nothing has made me more sickened by this election by lazy, pretentious, bourgeoisie liberals pretending that they're doing their bit to enact change. We've literally just had 13 years of the neo-liberal left, and it's not all that much different to the neo-libeal right !
I've never voted in my life and wouldn't want to ever and think it rather bigoted that people call non-voters morons! We should respect what people want to do and people should have the right not to vote if they so wish. Voting to me, is a waste of time and unfair as one would expect to see a none of the above option on the ballot paper??
It took until 1918 for all men to get the vote, 1928 for all women. Isn't that not worth getting off you ass, going to the polling station and vote every five years? It is people like you who the dictators love. Yes, the quality of the candidates is appalling, but we must vote, use it wisely. Not voting is a disgrace to the memory of the men and women who fought so hard for centuries to get the right to vote for ALL.
yup couldn't agree more - all those people who fought to get the right to vote has all been a waste of time because since 1928 nothing has changed! Like you perplexingly stated, we still are ruled by dictators! Voting IS a waste of time and always will be! Non-participation is the best silent protest one can ever adopt!
Non participation allows the smaller factions to grow, develop and become the majority. Sitting on your arse and not voting causes this. I am from Northern Ireland. In the 1960s Roman Catholics had ONE vote per household, usually only the person who was working, and if there was no one working, just the man of the household. Protestants had multiple votes - such as, if you had a business you had an extra vote. Then we voted to kick out of office the unionists who controlled this, and we got a change in the voting system. That is the power of a vote.
John King so you live in n Ireland, use the voting system but n ireland still remains part of UK! hmm great system you have it seems! moreover you fail to acknowledge the actual power of non participation, the power of silence and disinterest. Let's say you was a pop artist and you organise a gig in Birmingham. nobody turned up. would you return? err I don't think so and you'd certainly have to rethink your strategy!
Hi Peter. I don't get what you are trying to convey. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, yes. So what? Things have changed a lot here. What is your point? Northern Ireland's system for voting MPs to parliament is the normal first past the post system, however for our local devolved government we us PR STV system, 1,2,3,4 etc voting.
£600 jeezze that won't get much except some druggie desperate for cash. More like £6000 for starters then moving up the scale. Paxo Paxman very good presenter, witty, sarcasm and facts. Whats not to like?
I voted for the first time at this election. Being 36 I can see both points of view. If the disillusionment returns then I'm definitely going to vote for one of the more 'out there' minority parties that are going nowhere instead of doing fuck all. Indulge your sense of humour if nothing else. Taking the time to vote for a joke party is a bigger slap in the face to the political elite than doing nothing. Probably.
True. I guess if we have an electoral reform than people would vote for parties they really believe in instead of voting tactically to keep one in power and the other out.
I like how its obviously propaganda and how he's reading a script (yet nobody seems to care). I also like the perfect analogy about voting and restaurants! Obviously not voting is the exact same as walking into a restaurant, not reading the menu, not ordering and still complaining about not getting what you wanted, but at the very least you can say: welp, I didnt order this. Ohh what this would mean for the entire voting system!! - If not voting is the same as not ordering food and complaining, that can only mean voting means: going to a street, talking about restaurants, you say this one but somehow this one just doesnt cut it so you end up somewhere else, where you order something put end up with something else yet again and just when you think it couldnt be any better, you have to pay the bill for the shit that you didnt want nor asked for.. and best of all, you cant even say: welp, I didnt order this.. because you did, you fuck.. you could've simply *not gone out to eat and figure it out on your own*
"he'll make it look like a gardening accident, tell him J-Dog sent you" hahaha is that Paxman's underground MC name
If you were not to vote, at least spoil your ballet paper. Just so we can see the percentage of people who believed that no one was up to the job. It's not that people can't be bothered, it's because people have such a shit choice
Tom Pike "It's not that people can't be bothered, it's because people have such a shit choice" - Quite easily both.
AnHumanOnTheInternet Indeedy
+Tom “Pikey” Pike Like selecting the right lunatic to run the asylum.
+Tom “Pikey” Pike I THINK and it's a radical notion that the NON VOTERS are that percentage. Blow me mate isn't rocket science.
+Deb Fowler Non-voters are largely the people who don't care. Most non-voters aren't protesting anything, so refusing to vote as a protest makes you indistinguishable from the dispassionate.
Didn't Paxman admit that he didn't bother to vote in the last election?
Fking brand
Yes he did
theprez96 yes he did! he even said Cameron was an idiot. not that that means anything, but the fact he admitted to not voting and had the balls to go on the graham Norton show and act all anti-establishment, taking brand's ideas, was shameful to say the least.
Yuri muckraker Cameron, like most other politicians, are idiots.
+theprez96 YES.
Not voting is a valid protest and is also a right that people fought and died for.
It is your democratic right to reject all of the above, ie the establishment.
If you are 'obliged' to vote for one then that democratic right has been taken away has it not?
max rav if you cant decide or dont want to vote to "protest" you could atleast have the fucking decency to vote on the party that will provide young people like me (16) with the best future
Stabler Jet
Your future is in your hands not the bloody Governments son. The policy of the country is decided by senior unelected civil servants not those people voted in for a mere five years.
***** SHUT UP BELLEND
that was a bit rude rocky
No one died for the right not to vot
Spot on!
The thing is that with FPP there is next to no point in voting unless you live in a marginal constituency. STV would improve the turn out and mean people's votes won't be worth jack shit
Piece of advice : Nobody likes being patronised by an establishment fop !
011258stooie "Phop"? What the hell is that? Do you mean fop?
***** A very good point. Time will tell, how far Brand is willing to stoop.
***** Spelling not my strong point, but you get my drift..
011258stooie Yep, but I never thought of him as being particularly foppish. Bit too much of a caustic grump for that.
If elections do change anything,they would have never allowed us to vote. Mark Twain.
SNP got 1.5m votes. 56 seats. LibDems got 2.5m votes. 7 seats. UKIP got 3.5m votes. 1 seat.
If Paxo scripted this himself, then he's just gone up in my estimation. We need more of this.
Against my better judgment I read a few of the comments and yup people really don't have a sense of humour these days
+Amadeus Dredd Wonder why? Maybe they voted and NOTHING changed. Soon lose your humour when your life is fucked over without your say so.
The truth hurt approximately 121 people
I can't believe Paxman read a telly prompter. How sad. What does he do now?
Surely not voting is more like looking at the menu, deciding you're not hungry then being fed chips through a tube? I voted btw xD
Lots of people saying that the English are idiots becuase they voted Tory. Why can't they respect people's opinions?
sadly, Paxman is a clever articulate man, who's dry humour is quite funny, but this is clearly not him, I mean does anyone believe this isn't clearly an autocue. this was beneath him
With his first starter for 10
Paxman reading some other writers bollox from an autocue, how very 'trendy' and original. Glad I never voted, as for 3:52 no it's not but electing a government that will DO what they say they will is very difficult YOU should know Paxman you spent an entire lifetime questioning politicians about their U turns lies and scandals didn't you?
What a lovely old man..
*No Jeremy not voting is leaving the fucking restaurant!*
dan taylor Leaving the restaurant would be leaving the country.
Vachel Novesha Jes metaphors are truly lost on the youth of today
dan taylor Have you left the country then? If not you are still eating at the restaurant.
Ofir Gal Nope I never ordered anything. I got up and left!
dan taylor Evasive.
that was surreal AND sinister
The system isn't appealing? Don't talk to us like we're 15 years old, smoking weed in our parents basements thinking Russell Brand is anything more than an utter moron. The system isn't unappealing, it's not a branding issue. It is not a democratic institution in any real sense, popular vote has only a partial effect on the system, and even that can be pretty much predicted by looking to where the money is going.
The worst part is he surely gets that, read what he said about the 2010 election. I suppose it wasn't necessarily the same message, he just found the parties too "unappealing", which is a far worse reason not to vote than a belief that the system is incapable of reflecting popular will!
***** It's a really big problem, the British electoral system. It drastically needs reform. But not voting won't change anything. Ever. Even though this is intended to be comedic, the point is accurate. The people who do vote will get their say, the people who don't won't. That is why we have another Conservative government, and not a left leaning one.
It desperately needs reform. The thing is, as well, I think that most people are voting for the leaders. Having a more national system, where we all vote as a nation for the party we want to lead the country, is something that needs to happen. But it is the liberal voices that we need in place for that to happen. The liberal voices in parliament won't get there if the only the conservative voices and traditionalists are voting, will they?
Even if you are 15, you should have the right to cast your vote and take part in democracy.
Agreed. With the Tories in power, sadly, reform won't be the case.
***** No, keep in mind though I don't think we can have democracy until we balance our wealth distribution, and we can't have wealth distribution until we have democracy; it's a tricky one.
Sir George Severn Oh of course, I agree. I was talking about Paxman's condescending tone about an institution he knows isn't functional. Nothing has made me more sickened by this election by lazy, pretentious, bourgeoisie liberals pretending that they're doing their bit to enact change. We've literally just had 13 years of the neo-liberal left, and it's not all that much different to the neo-libeal right !
Perfectly true
I've never voted in my life and wouldn't want to ever and think it rather bigoted that people call non-voters morons! We should respect what people want to do and people should have the right not to vote if they so wish.
Voting to me, is a waste of time and unfair as one would expect to see a none of the above option on the ballot paper??
It took until 1918 for all men to get the vote, 1928 for all women. Isn't that not worth getting off you ass, going to the polling station and vote every five years? It is people like you who the dictators love. Yes, the quality of the candidates is appalling, but we must vote, use it wisely. Not voting is a disgrace to the memory of the men and women who fought so hard for centuries to get the right to vote for ALL.
yup couldn't agree more - all those people who fought to get the right to vote has all been a waste of time because since 1928 nothing has changed! Like you perplexingly stated, we still are ruled by dictators! Voting IS a waste of time and always will be!
Non-participation is the best silent protest one can ever adopt!
Non participation allows the smaller factions to grow, develop and become the majority. Sitting on your arse and not voting causes this. I am from Northern Ireland. In the 1960s Roman Catholics had ONE vote per household, usually only the person who was working, and if there was no one working, just the man of the household. Protestants had multiple votes - such as, if you had a business you had an extra vote. Then we voted to kick out of office the unionists who controlled this, and we got a change in the voting system. That is the power of a vote.
John King so you live in n Ireland, use the voting system but n ireland still remains part of UK! hmm great system you have it seems! moreover you fail to acknowledge the actual power of non participation, the power of silence and disinterest. Let's say you was a pop artist and you organise a gig in Birmingham. nobody turned up. would you return? err I don't think so and you'd certainly have to rethink your strategy!
Hi Peter. I don't get what you are trying to convey. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, yes. So what? Things have changed a lot here. What is your point? Northern Ireland's system for voting MPs to parliament is the normal first past the post system, however for our local devolved government we us PR STV system, 1,2,3,4 etc voting.
Morons? I think you meant conscientious objectors ;p
He'll be doing stand-up next.
was this before or after the russel brand interview
Happy 65th birthday Jeremy!
I thought this an embarrassment for Paxman, whom I admire greatly.
A comedian manqué? Good Lord.
£600 jeezze that won't get much except some druggie desperate for cash. More like £6000 for starters then moving up the scale. Paxo Paxman very good presenter, witty, sarcasm and facts. Whats not to like?
I voted for the first time at this election. Being 36 I can see both points of view. If the disillusionment returns then I'm definitely going to vote for one of the more 'out there' minority parties that are going nowhere instead of doing fuck all. Indulge your sense of humour if nothing else. Taking the time to vote for a joke party is a bigger slap in the face to the political elite than doing nothing. Probably.
True. I guess if we have an electoral reform than people would vote for parties they really believe in instead of voting tactically to keep one in power and the other out.
I like how its obviously propaganda and how he's reading a script (yet nobody seems to care).
I also like the perfect analogy about voting and restaurants! Obviously not voting is the exact same as walking into a restaurant, not reading the menu, not ordering and still complaining about not getting what you wanted, but at the very least you can say: welp, I didnt order this. Ohh what this would mean for the entire voting system!!
-
If not voting is the same as not ordering food and complaining, that can only mean voting means: going to a street, talking about restaurants, you say this one but somehow this one just doesnt cut it so you end up somewhere else, where you order something put end up with something else yet again and just when you think it couldnt be any better, you have to pay the bill for the shit that you didnt want nor asked for.. and best of all, you cant even say:
welp, I didnt order this.. because you did, you fuck.. you could've simply *not gone out to eat and figure it out on your own*
North Korea has compulsory voting.
North Korea has dictatorial voting
Sir George Severn So do lots of countries, except in those there're different parties other than Kim Jong-Un's Wank Fest of the People.
But just because other countries do it means it is right?
oh dear god
Ed miliband is jewish. Not white. Odd admission
Yes Democratic system vote now The system. Is for the people. By the people The Fight here in America the fight is Citizen United
He's correct. look at sadiq khan.
Coventry World of Bollards? Making stuff up now Jeremy.
Whoever voted needs a wake up call and a new brain.
People fought and died for my right not to vote also. It is a two-way street.
Nonsense. Nobody ever fought and died for apathy.
Hear hear
Who's John Oliver?
Sudin Pramanik American Comedian of British origin
A British comedian actually. Born and raised in Britain, moved to the US for a career and married an American war surgeon.
lol Jon stewart he is not
How the mighty have fallen
Does voting change anything? 3 years ago I voted to leave the EU, I’m still waiting.
Are you satisfied now?
American styled. Cringing.
Not a bright book writer
I thought paxman didn't vote?