Slow and difficult.
I genuinely and firmly believe democracy to be overrated. 'The people' are cunts who don't have a fucking clue what is or is not in their (or indeed anyone else's) best interests. These people go to Spain and eat full English Breakfasts, they are the same mindless cretins who 'read' the NOTW voraciously for over a hundred years. 'The people' passed burgers through the school gates when Jamie Oliver was trying desparately to feed their children nutritious food. They enjoy 'Ant and Dec' and 'voted off' people from 'Strictly'.

How on earth is giving people with such demonstrably flawed judgement a say in anything more taxing than which football team to support a good idea? EH????
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:47, 114 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

because the alternative is demonstrably much worse?
I do however agree with the sentiment.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:49, Reply)

Benevolent(ish) dictatorship with me as Der Fuhrer is NOT demonstrably much worse.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:52, Reply)

well, granted, it's not be tried with you
but it doesn't have a great past record as a system of government.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:53, Reply)

People should have the right to sit a test in order to win the right to vote
rather than having it as standard. Too many people vote for the wrong reasons, without having any idea what they're voting on.
( Kroney, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:51, Reply)

If you have ever paid for a copy of the Daily Mail
you're denied the vote on principle.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:52, Reply)

That way lies tyranny
I don't care what their pololitics are, so long as they understand them.
( Kroney, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:54, Reply)

that's not about politics
it's about stupidity.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:55, Reply)

And who'd be the judge?

(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:55, Reply)

I'll fucking do it.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:56, Reply)

Yeah
that's why I wouldn't want a system like that. We'd soon be out of anything that is nice and caring, and will be governed by sadness.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:58, Reply)

Sadness and torture. Don't forget torture.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:02, Reply)

Yeah
Utopia.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:18, Reply)

I don't know, AQA or some other panel who've experience with marking tests.

( Kroney, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:57, Reply)

Plus their single 'Barbie Girl' is a feelgood catchy dancefloor classic.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:12, Reply)

*visibly winces*

( Kroney, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:19, Reply)

That old 'docking' injury playing up again?

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:31, Reply)

I think people should have to pass a personality test to gain the right to vote
most MP's would fail it.
( Peej, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:52, Reply)

no, because they'd be the ones
setting the criteria
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:54, Reply)

No
I would.
( Peej, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:58, Reply)

There's a very easy system to deal with MP selection
anyone that actually wants to be a politician shouldn't be allowed to be one.

Also, anyone that did PPE at Oxford shouldn't be allowed cutlery unsupervised, let alone any say in the running of a country.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:55, Reply)

I think people should pass a personality and hability test
before trying to be an MP. In that case, no matter how stupid the voters are, only good MPs could be elected.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:56, Reply)

Because the people who are supposed to know
the people who rule the country and act in our best interest, are usually cunts and they only behave if they think they can be out of work if they don't do things right.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:55, Reply)

all humans are cunts
therefore humans shouldn't vote.

Give the vote to stoats
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:56, Reply)

The stoat vote gets my.....erm......goat

( sporters I’m sincerely gratitude to you, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:18, Reply)

gormless. farting. skittles.

( rachelswipe with a fork, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:56, Reply)

You don't like this question?

(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:58, Reply)

It's three-word sweet association
quizzical jogging starburst.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:03, Reply)

Vigorous wanking marathon.

(Tugnut Ex of this parish, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:04, Reply)

TUNUT - - WINS.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:04, Reply)

Sorry - I was answering the non existent...
...what are you doing for lunch alt question.
(Tugnut Ex of this parish, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:08, Reply)

aw, man
it's not the same when you're wanking snickers.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:05, Reply)

Racist!
Oops sorry - that says 'snickers'
(Tugnut Ex of this parish, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:09, Reply)

I think she was replying to the 'what are you up to this weekend?' thread.

(Zoz prayed for twink on, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:04, Reply)

ha, no, sorry
it's a paraphrasing of a charlie brooker quote about how awful people are in general.
( rachelswipe with a fork, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:46, Reply)

I think politicians should become more patronising and aloof,
voter turn out of about 15% should be the goal, only the people that understand and care should bother.
(PsychoChomp, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:57, Reply)

doesn't work
encourages extremeist minorities.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:58, Reply)

Works if you're in an extremist minority

(PsychoChomp, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:59, Reply)

As is your case?

(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:00, Reply)

I'm really into Yogic flying.

(PsychoChomp, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:04, Reply)

It seems extremists
are the only ones to vote all the time.

I still think politicians should pass a test before trying to be MPs, so only good ones could win. (Good like in able)
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 1 Aug 2011, 12:59, Reply)

Can I have a position of power within your dictatorship?
I can get rid of any "Undesirables" I don't want to go in to too much detail until they're safely on the trains and on their way to the camps.
( Peej, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:01, Reply)

Yup, I'd already pencilled you in for the Himmler job before you asked.
Glad to have you on board.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:06, Reply)

Fantastic news!
Ich Bin Der Reichsführer!
( Peej, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:13, Reply)

I've met he 'man in the street'.
And he is a cunt.
(Tugnut Ex of this parish, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:02, Reply)

Monty is right
UNCLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAN
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:05, Reply)

What's my uncle Ian got to do with this?

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:06, Reply)

Hur hur

( Agnostic Antichrist Baltimora, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:12, Reply)

That's his famous Uncle Ben the rice magnate.

(Tugnut Ex of this parish, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:15, Reply)

two legs bad four legs good
I say let the pigs decide
(Bonzodog29 is an unemployed sponge of the worst kind, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:12, Reply)

In Communist Russia
bacon eats you
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:14, Reply)

I propose Oligarchy.
The top bods in their given fields on a council of decision-making experts. So, the military top brass make decisions on military matters, with other council members having a say to prevent rash or deranged errors, etc. Not a total dictatorship, but removing the imbecilic 'public' from a say in the important stuff. Maybe a council of about 300 experts should do it.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:15, Reply)

Can I be in charge of Ballroom?
I'll show that Frances Dawson what for
(Darth Foxtrot A one-man army dedicated to making fetch happen, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:17, Reply)

That's not really an area of national importance I'm afraid.
That's kind of a specialist minority interest. Like farming.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:19, Reply)

First they came for the ballroom dancers...
..I didn't speak out because I am not a ballroom dancer.
(Tugnut Ex of this parish, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:22, Reply)

The good news is that the majority of the public
couldn't even spell "oligarchy", thus making their protests laughable, at best.
( Kroney, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:21, Reply)

If it makes you feel any better
the reality in this country is that almost nobody has any say in the political make-up of the country.
( WormuIus, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:23, Reply)

Truth be told I'd have confessed to the Moors murders
if it had got the topic of conversation away from their fucking underwear.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:26, Reply)

Fortunately your secret remains safe

( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:06, Reply)

Well, not anybody worth mentioning.

(Tugnut Ex of this parish, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:26, Reply)

I quite like the Falcons.
OH YOU'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT SORT OF FOOTBALL!
rofflecopters

I didn't sleep very well, someone hold me.
( Lisette von Falcon, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:24, Reply)

Gladly.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:29, Reply)

I shouldn't be given the right to vote, I've always said this.
Although it is my duety to educate myself on politcal matters, I don't. I am not informed enough to make an informed desisision. Nobody represents my views, on the political stage. I don't not believe anyone is right or wrong on every issue. I think the people who have my best interests at heart are Clendrix and some family members, I would vote them into power... which is why I shouldn't be given the responciblity of choosing who govens over 60m people.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:26, Reply)

I would like to see the people in power all spend a month on benfits and nothing else, and see how they like it.
I would also like to see them all spend a week in hospital in pain and all that, but that one isn't actually humainly possible. They would probably say the first one isn't humainly possible eaither, but they should have a taste of what it's like to ring around phamacies on a sunday or be in a medical queue for over 8 months for something that would more or less fix them. They need to know what it's like to choose between eating and heating. They can go back to their privalidged worlds afterwards, but in the mean time, I want them to know what it's like to live in the shoes of someone who is told "It'll be sorted in a few days" when the banks won't give them an overdraft full-stop.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:29, Reply)

The problem with this idea is that if you know you have a maximum of a month to endure,
then it wouldn't be so hard to bear. Plus the slimy cunts would all find ways round it, much like Leicester's r'n'b dwarf superstar and serial policeman-Tazerer 'Mark Morrison' with his communiuty service.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:33, Reply)

Yeah', I know what you mean.
This is why the likes of Tommy Robinson can talk about "I'm talking for the average man on the street", and spout his views talking for the average person. Someone from Eton can't do that.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:43, Reply)

Micheal Portillo spent a week living in a council flat on benefits,
it was actually a good documentary.
(PsychoChomp, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:35, Reply)

Did he resort to 'turning tricks' to make 'ends meet'?
He's actually slightly less of a cunt in person than one might imagine, I am told.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:36, Reply)

I watch This Week every so often and he seems nice enough,
the fact he gets on with both Dianne Abbot and Andrew Neil shows he must be a nice enough guy.

Nope but he was shocked he couldn't buy a daily broardsheet and get meat on the same day and stuff like that.
(PsychoChomp, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:41, Reply)

Oh, I always thought it was "Ends Meat", like, to get the cut-offs cheap bits of meat.

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:43, Reply)

I think it's to do with tightening belts and that, squeezing until the two ends meet

(PsychoChomp, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:45, Reply)

Nope.
The internet throws up several not-very-convincing origins for this, most plausible to my mind is that it’s from bookkeeping, in which the total at the bottom (“end”) of the column of income must at least match that at the bottom of the expenditure column if one is not to be living beyond one’s income.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:48, Reply)

I don't see why we shouldn't set MPs pay exactly at benefit level
they can claim housing benefit and child benefit and whatever else they'd be entitled to, but should have to interview every couple of weeks and specify what exactly they've done in parliament in order to receive their giro.

They're all going to walk into fat consultancies afterwards anyway.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:09, Reply)

I wouldn't quite go that far, but the sentiment is totally right.
I'd also like to see it that it would be impossible for any councilor or MP to recieve higher wages than the PM.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:26, Reply)

What the fuck is a councilor anyway?

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:26, Reply)

someone who is elected to serve on a town or borough council
local government for local people.

Why not go that far? If unemployment benefit is enough to live on, as MPs claim, why not pay MPs only that much? They might be a bit more inclined to improve the lot of the unemployed and less given to moaning about dole scum.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:34, Reply)

Does this make me one of those people?
Just went to the library, got back and couldn't find my key. Thought fuck it, it's lost. So went round the back and started to climb the conservatory to get in through my open window. Nearly pulled it down hoisting myself onto the roof, and then as I crawled on my belly towards my windows I bottled it and decided if this crashes in on itself I'm going to have to flee home and avoid my mum for the rest of my life. So I jumped off, which fucking killed, and went round the front to work out what to do. And as I got round, what did I see gleaming in the keyhole of the front door? Yes, my beloved key which I'd left in there from when I went out earlier. Great times.
(Barry from Eastenders is, despite the words written above, not a woman, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:27, Reply)

You utter spanner Bal.
No voting for you in the glorious new era. Soz.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:29, Reply)

I think if I did it right I could have done it.
As long as I didn't stand on the roof and instead spread my body weight across it by lying down and then using the window ledge to pull myself into my room I'd have been fine. But there's literally nowhere to fall in my garden unless you want to break many a bone. My ankle is in agony from jumping off.
(Barry from Eastenders is, despite the words written above, not a woman, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:31, Reply)

You daft bugger.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:37, Reply)

What we need, is a system to monitor how much ITV people watch.
1 hour or less, no problem.
More than 1 hour a week, remove voting rights.
( Bartleby A dead man on vacation, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:32, Reply)

There is no democracy.
You get to vote. For the same pile of shit by another name.

Big business and the WorldBank are kings.

It's an illusion, just look around, sheeple.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:44, Reply)

You forgot 'SHEEPLE'

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:48, Reply)

Why don't you L-E-A-R-N.
Better?
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:50, Reply)

Infinitely so. Thanks awfully.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:51, Reply)

Pleasure old boy.
If only my typing was up to the level of the lecture that is required in response to this question.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:56, Reply)

I just wanted to stop the 'underwear chat' before it hit the shameful 250 reply mark.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:58, Reply)

'The man on the street' has always been a cunt
My own personal viewpoint on the world at the moment consists of anyone that actually calls themselves an anarchist should be summarily shot. Same for freegans and their like
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:48, Reply)

'Freegans'? Oh no - this is a new one on me.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:49, Reply)

Are these the cunts that collect "good" food from supermarket bins?

(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:51, Reply)

You're thinking of 'mendicant vagrants'

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:52, Reply)

Or when I was working nights at Tesco and did it.
someone with the munchies who deliberatly "throws away" doughnuts.
(PsychoChomp, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:54, Reply)

Hahah
One of my friends worked delivering pizzas whilst studying. He just could not help but get the orders wrong with alarming regularity. Instead of making them the pizzas they'd ordered he would accidentally make the ones he liked best. How odd.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:57, Reply)

For me that would be like working with money.
You KNOW I am going to steal whatever I can.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:59, Reply)

Basically try to consume/spend as little as possible.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeganism
(PsychoChomp, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:52, Reply)

Shit I need to join these chaps.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:52, Reply)

They're absolute cunts
can't stand them. They whine about people always using the same point to attack them, but can't refute it.
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:57, Reply)

They wouldn't let Monty join.
Too fundamentalist for their middle of the road beliefs.
(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:58, Reply)

That point being?

(PsychoChomp, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:58, Reply)

if everyone sponged off others
rather than producing, then the big corporations and the waste they produce wouldn't be there for them to sponge off.
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 13:59, Reply)

you can understand where they are coming from
if someone squares up to your beliefs with an irrefutable point then you aren't going to be able to refute it
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:05, Reply)

Well that's fair enough,
but that's a bit of an extreme end of the argument, like saying to a vegan that if no one ate meat then all the livestock would have to be killed.
(PsychoChomp, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:06, Reply)

broadly true though

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:08, Reply)

Yeah, but practically it's never going to happen.

(PsychoChomp, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:09, Reply)

Surely
"that's a good argument why not everybody should do it, but it's a shit argument for why *I* shouldn't do it"

would be enough of a refutation?
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:13, Reply)

How about the argument
'it makes you a worthless sponger who should take their anarchist principles and fuck off and die.'
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:18, Reply)

I'm in two minds about 'Freegans'.
On the one hand, it's a colosal waste that our supermarkets just bin stuff that they can't sale anymore, that it doesn't even end up as cattle feed or something... in the mean time, people are starving on the streets. On the other hand, most people who are 'freegans' are middle-class people from good homes with good money.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:01, Reply)

Where is your dichotomy?

(Set your faces to Stunned Bigly, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:02, Reply)

my what?

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:07, Reply)

he's asking about your cock

( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:27, Reply)

Oh, it's alright, nothing special, it's no Ainsly Harriot or Andi Peters, but I reckon it could square off against Wayne Roony

( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:29, Reply)

Isn't it sad
that even the football question is having more support than this? Clearly b3tans shouldn't be allowed to vote.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:36, Reply)

It certainly is.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:42, Reply)

I suppose
that's confusing for you. Do sad things make you happy? Or is it a strange feeling of pleasure and disgust? Like a sweet&sour sauce?
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Mon 1 Aug 2011, 14:56, Reply)

Sweet and sour sauce is strictly 'disgust' for me.

( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Mon 1 Aug 2011, 15:18, Reply)