politics and issues

[russycarps]

To be fair - there is still some difference between the current right wing Labour party and an even more right wing Tory party. Of course politicians lie, just as much to get into power as when they are sitting pretty in power.

Those young people who buy into the "Cameron speaks to our generation" bullshit will get a mighty shock when their votes put his party in power.

[jameshunt]

And what exactly do yuo see as the 'true nature of Tory politics'? Because if you are reffering to Thatcherism, it certainly is not!

[alframsey]

If you think thatcher was not a liar then I think I will jump off the nearest bridge.

[alframsey]

You really think that?

[jameshunt]

Not Thatcher, she told people what she would do, then did it! No lying there.

[staggerlee]

To be fair - there is still some difference between the current right wing Labour party and an even more right wing Tory party. Of course politicians lie, just as much to get into power as when they are sitting pretty in power.

Those young people who buy into the "Cameron speaks to our generation" bullshit will get a mighty shock when their votes put his party in power.

[alframsey]

O.M.G!

[jameshunt]

Erm, yes. After all Thatcher said when compared to the torries of the 19th cen, "I am not a Tory, I am economically a classical Liberal, and social New Right!"

So you tell me, i what way it TRUE CONSERVATISM or the Torries anything like Thatcherism?

[alframsey]

She could call herself what she liked - it didn't change what she was.

If she had called herself a communist would you have believed that as well?

[russycarps]

Until you can show me anyway in which her policies were Tory, then I will not back down!!! She believed in the free market for Gods sake, Torries are inherintly Protectionist!!!

[jameshunt]

Wait, you tell me how she lied and I will admit i made a mistake here. But as far as I know she said she would cut Govt. spending, she did it. She said she would sell council houses, she did it, she said she would privatise the 'commanding heights' she did!

[jameshunt]

Until you can show me anyway in which her policies were Tory, then I will not back down!!! She believed in the free market for Gods sake, Torries are inherintly Protectionist!!!

[Sam.]

[russycarps]

Russy, so who do you suggest I vote for then? Who will give me the most honest 4 years, who will do as they say they will?

Edited March 19, 2009 by russycarps

[Peaceman]

Have to say that I think an awful lot of young people are interested in political issues - just not in the main parties who, unless you really look deep into things, come across as being all the same and all a waste of time. Certainly the impression is that the main parties consist of people whose only interest is in getting to the top, who have done nothing in life except politics and who have absolutely no idea what "real life" is like.

I work with a lot of secondary school-aged kids and, with a little bit of thought and communication, they have found out about things in the world and want to change it. Whether it's Burma, human rights, racism, whatever. We get a huge response and they all get involved in thinking up local projects that will help their school or community.

But this doesn't necessarily translate into voting as they see that none of the parties with any hope of winning under our voting system is interested in anything other than winning and that almost no MP is interested in anything other than not upsetting their constuents so they can get back in again next time.

The parties are only interested in themselves not in what's best for the country or the planet. I won't vote for them or listen to them any more, why should I expect young people to? I too have a long histort of going to Glastonbury and I would say that an awful lot of people there in the 80s & 90s were very political but not necesarily party political.

I think that most people dislike and mistrust politicians now than have done for a very long time. The options are pathetic. It seems likely that Labour will lose next time (entirely their own fault) and the tories will be back in. An awful despairing idea but there you go.

Two final things. I dont think there will be a replacement for LeftField this year as it will be back in 2010. There will be some shows that include politics - details as soon as everything is confirmed. And of course the green fields will have plenty of discussion and debate.

Finally, bombfrog mentioned that many people think getting rid of nukes would increas the chances of a conventional war. This preseumably doesn't include bed-wetting commies like Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, William Perry, Sam Nunn, Malcolm Rifkind, George Robertson, Douglas Hurd, David Owen and even good old Arnie, governor of California, who have all written articles and/or argued the case for the global abolition of nuclear weapons.

I'll shut up now.

[daveinafield]

can i just say im intensely proud that i began this thread what a great debate. I never slated youth, i slated the organisers and the veterans for letting it slip away, the thing that made Glastonbury different. Reading was always just about the music, the new ones like V and T all about the cash, Glasto is something else, hence why its so popular...cant a leftfield like stage set up on the back of a truck and ride around the site??

[staggerlee]

Have to say that I think an awful lot of young people are interested in political issues - just not in the main parties who, unless you really look deep into things, come across as being all the same and all a waste of time. Certainly the impression is that the main parties consist of people whose only interest is in getting to the top, who have done nothing in life except politics and who have absolutely no idea what "real life" is like.

I work with a lot of secondary school-aged kids and, with a little bit of thought and communication, they have found out about things in the world and want to change it. Whether it's Burma, human rights, racism, whatever. We get a huge response and they all get involved in thinking up local projects that will help their school or community.

But this doesn't necessarily translate into voting as they see that none of the parties with any hope of winning under our voting system is interested in anything other than winning and that almost no MP is interested in anything other than not upsetting their constuents so they can get back in again next time.

The parties are only interested in themselves not in what's best for the country or the planet. I won't vote for them or listen to them any more, why should I expect young people to? I too have a long histort of going to Glastonbury and I would say that an awful lot of people there in the 80s & 90s were very political but not necesarily party political.

I think that most people dislike and mistrust politicians now than have done for a very long time. The options are pathetic. It seems likely that Labour will lose next time (entirely their own fault) and the tories will be back in. An awful despairing idea but there you go.

Two final things. I dont think there will be a replacement for LeftField this year as it will be back in 2010. There will be some shows that include politics - details as soon as everything is confirmed. And of course the green fields will have plenty of discussion and debate.

Finally, bombfrog mentioned that many people think getting rid of nukes would increas the chances of a conventional war. This preseumably doesn't include bed-wetting commies like Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, William Perry, Sam Nunn, Malcolm Rifkind, George Robertson, Douglas Hurd, David Owen and even good old Arnie, governor of California, who have all written articles and/or argued the case for the global abolition of nuclear weapons.

I'll shut up now.

[Peaceman]

You're right dave, a great thread.

As for driving a truck around the site, what would Health & Safety say

[daveinafield]

You're right dave, a great thread.

As for driving a truck around the site, what would Health & Safety say

[jameshunt]

You're right dave, a great thread.

As for driving a truck around the site, what would Health & Safety say

[Spuddy]

I am finding this thread very interesting - it's rare to see any discussions regarding 'politics' on this messageboard.

Just out of interest, out of all the over 30's who replied to this post, how many of you were actually clued up or interested in politics when you were 18?

[William of Walworth]

Have to say that I think an awful lot of young people are interested in political issues - just not in the main parties who, unless you really look deep into things, come across as being all the same and all a waste of time. Certainly the impression is that the main parties consist of people whose only interest is in getting to the top, who have done nothing in life except politics and who have absolutely no idea what "real life" is like.

I work with a lot of secondary school-aged kids and, with a little bit of thought and communication, they have found out about things in the world and want to change it. Whether it's Burma, human rights, racism, whatever. We get a huge response and they all get involved in thinking up local projects that will help their school or community.

But this doesn't necessarily translate into voting as they see that none of the parties with any hope of winning under our voting system is interested in anything other than winning and that almost no MP is interested in anything other than not upsetting their constuents so they can get back in again next time.

The parties are only interested in themselves not in what's best for the country or the planet. I won't vote for them or listen to them any more, why should I expect young people to? I too have a long histort of going to Glastonbury and I would say that an awful lot of people there in the 80s & 90s were very political but not necesarily party political.

I think that most people dislike and mistrust politicians now than have done for a very long time. The options are pathetic. It seems likely that Labour will lose next time (entirely their own fault) and the tories will be back in. An awful despairing idea but there you go.

Two final things. I dont think there will be a replacement for LeftField this year as it will be back in 2010. There will be some shows that include politics - details as soon as everything is confirmed. And of course the green fields will have plenty of discussion and debate.

Finally, bombfrog mentioned that many people think getting rid of nukes would increas the chances of a conventional war. This preseumably doesn't include bed-wetting commies like Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, William Perry, Sam Nunn, Malcolm Rifkind, George Robertson, Douglas Hurd, David Owen and even good old Arnie, governor of California, who have all written articles and/or argued the case for the global abolition of nuclear weapons.

I'll shut up now.

Edited March 19, 2009 by William of Walworth

[MOONCHILD]

Wow this is an exhausting read, and its obvious that people feel very passionately...

My son is 10 next month and this will be his 3rd Glastonbury. He's a smart boy and unlike many kids, is interested in why things happen the way they do in the world. He has his own views on the credit crunch and many other political issues and feels very strongly about people being disadvantaged and hurt.

He's a huge Billy Bragg fan and has seen him 3 times and loved the Leftfield as we did. I have brought him up to have an interest in current affairs and that includes politics and do my best to explain situations as the occur.

Party politics is massively depressing at the minute but that is why we youngsters to take things forward...

[Peaceman]

Completely agree that voting is a real problem. I don't think I can bring myself to vote Labour next time but that means that the tories have a better chance of winning - it's a lose/lose situation!

Agree with Spuddy - it was a lot easier to campaign when the parties were more easily identified. But was that better for everyone? Despite the rich/poor gap a lot of people have been more prosperous in the last 10-15 years.

The Obama factor is interesting. He's not the Messiah (fill in the rest here!) and of course he has money behind him. But the election campaign was based on small amounts donated by tens of thousands of people. I know friends in the US who donated $50 or $100 on occasion and loads of people did it. A lot of grassroots activists were involved. I feel sorry for him though. If he cant keep the promises there could be real trouble in the US - expectation levels are so high!

As for Leftfield, someone went to the farm to speak with ME and as far as I'm aware, the outcome was that LeftField will be back next year. It was cock-up rather than conspiracy.

[alframsey]

Edited March 19, 2009 by alframsey