Voting and us

17 May

While I was using my CPAP mask, it could take me some time to come round enough to clearly reply, or to take it off in a rush. The result is that Jan has taken it on to answer the door when the bell goes. That happened earlier this morning and when she got there, a youngish bloke was there. He began mumbling about doing some work for the council. Then he went off. Strange that … … …

Election problems with Police and Crime Commissioner in three areas of the Midlands. These are not cheating though, no, they are down to the way that these people are elected. It seems that there was a large number of spoiled ballot paper because some of the voters were not clear as to what to do. The problem comes with voting for two candidates, first choice and second choice. Why do you need a second choice? How will that second choice count? I’m not surprised some folks got mixed up.

Democracy has its problems just as do all the other political systems. Even so, I feel it is the best way we know to ensure that we get, what we hope at least, is a fair government. The problems with democracy begins right at the front doors of population. How can we be sure that the people entered into the yearly voting form we all get, are a, actually living there, or b, the people who will be doing the actual voting, especially where postal ballets are concerned. I’m thinking more of those communities where corruption or traditions stipulate that only the man of the household votes.

So, we turn up at our polling stations and right from the off there’s a problem for me. As the give you your ballot paper its number is noted next to you name on the role they have at the desk. I’ve actually questioned this a number of times but it’s such a normal practice that people just shrug their shoulders. Only one person has taken it at all seriously and answered in a way that made sense. Even that explanation didn’t cover why it was done, only the difficulties involved with anyone wanting to go through them to see how any one person voted. OK, maybe, but I’m still not comfortable with the practice.

We’ve voted and put our littles of paper in a large black box and toddle off on our way. At the close of voting the boxes are placed in cars or whatever and taken to central point where they are emptied, sorted and finally, counted. Many eyes watch this process simply because this is clearly the best time to slip in a number of other ballots. And yet fraud still goes on. There’s hardly an election these days when there isn’t at least one claim of fraud going on. The saddest part of it is that it isn’t limited to just one party. Most of them are at it to some degree or other. It’s not just about the number of votes cast, oh no, it takes in the amount of money spent on the run up to the election as well. So we have fair system open to abuse and is abused by those who seem to think it’s OK to do so. So sad.     

 

We went off to Asda to do some shopping last night, well, just after 7pm that is. By the time we got back we were both knackered. I’m not keen on the idea but we may have to seriously think of doing our shopping on-line. Stories of late delivery, bananas being ordered but replaced with bleach, of items close to use by dates included, and so many others, all make me edgy about doing so. However, at some point it is something we might have no choice in doing. Neither of us is really up to carrying shopping from our car to the front door these days, that is if we can get parked right outside. Doing the shopping isn’t so bad really now since I began using their scooters with large baskets on the front. Unfortunately, we can’t take those scooters outside the store. Fine, I can understand why that is but it then comes down the carrying of the shopping to and from the car. Easy with both us there, but if it’s just one of us. And let’s no go near the idea of 24 hours shopping when the they run out of stock. The amount of empty shelves was amazing last night.

And so to today’s photo …

Another from Kingsbury.

Today’s funny …

Did you hear about the monster that ate a settee and two armchairs?
He had a suite tooth.