The Prime Minister doesn't like me*

[elisi]

... and I don't like her.

*this is not hyperbole. The Tories (and UKIP) are the only parties who have not signed a document to protect EU citizens' rights.

But then, she's not keen on human rights of any for her citizens. (Theresa May: Human rights laws could change for terror fight)

I'm not feeling very optimistic about politics (or anything really), but figured I should probably post something before the election. If she wins - as she probably will, although it'll hopefully be a much smaller victory than she was counting on - Ms May also wants to clamp down on the internet, so it'll be interesting to see if we'll still be here in a year's time. Of course, she is also the woman who cut police numbers by 20,000 and sells weapons to the Saudis, so her definition of 'safety' and 'fighting terrorism' differs somewhat from mine.

ETA: Here is what her internet 'clamp down' would mean:

Theresa May wants to ban crypto: here's what that would cost, and here's why it won't work anyway (Aaron Swartz once said, "It's no longer OK not to understand how the Internet works.") But hey - this is what I said! I'm not that bothered about the Russians, our PM is hot on their heels!

Related:

Vox: Londoners aren’t freaking out about the terrorist attacks. Some politicians are.

I also collected some election links, am putting them under a cut so I don't take up your whole flist:

BBC: Election 2017: Five key things about the Question Time special

Huff Po: Jeremy Corbyn Won’t Be Perfect, But He Has The Qualities I Want In A Strong And Stable Leader

Facebook video: Krishnan Guru-Murthy OWNS Tory Brexit Secretary David Davis. Must watch! (Best smackdown of the election)

Also via facebook: Corbyn speech

BBC: Election 2017: 10 things you need to know about the campaign


Basically, if you don't know who to vote for, Vote For Policies

(Jonathan Pie video here)

Finally, then from one vicar's daughter to another (OK, my father is a deacon, but same diff, I grew up in presbyteries), then I don't understand how she squares her faith with attacking those who are 'hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison', just to get Biblical for a moment (x).

So - REMEMBER TO VOTE TOMORROW!! Here is to hoping all the young people turn out, as well as the old.

(Miss M will be voting for the first time! Having studied politics as one of her A-Levels for two years now, she is very very aware of all the issues...)

ETA: Meant to say, that the encouraging thing is that it IS going to be close, hopefully. Who could have foreseen that six weeks ago? I don't know if I like Corbyn, but I respect him. He has principles and he does his best to stick to them. Labour actually stands for something again, who'd have thunk.

ETA2: It's also important to remember that we can't dismiss everyone who disagrees with us. They aren't evil. And saying that they are will get us nowhere...

Comments

[kerkevik_2014]

I will be studying the local temperature to decide whether to vote Lib Dem, or vote 'against' the Tories if they feel too close here.

I do not feel encouraged.

In fact on top of real life I feel more depressed about this country than I have ever done; even under Thatcher, for now it feels as if there is no actual opposition except for a few people trying to keep hope alive in small and futile ways.

I won't be down on for York Pride as I have totally got my dates screwed with all the stress and have not enough money to get through to next Monday. Actually, since I feel my priority should be Northern Ireland, I might forego Edinburgh as well so that I can prepare for the Pride marches over there. It seems a foregone conclusion I won't be at Glasgow.

kerk

[elisi]

I will be studying the local temperature to decide whether to vote Lib Dem, or vote 'against' the Tories if they feel too close here.
Yes, tactical voting is the name of the game. At least you CAN vote, that is not a luxury I am allowed...

In fact on top of real life I feel more depressed about this country than I have ever done; even under Thatcher, for now it feels as if there is no actual opposition except for a few people trying to keep hope alive in small and futile ways.
I was actually thinking about amending the post to say that I feel more encouraged now, than I did when they first announced the election. I don't think Labour will win, but it's so much closer. And Labour actually stands for something again, which is good. Corbyn has genuine principles, and he follows them. You may not agree with them, but he won't do a U-turn because it's politically expedient.

I won't be down on for York Pride as I have totally got my dates screwed with all the stress and have not enough money to get through to next Monday.
D: I'm sorry I've not been in touch, life has just run away with me. (I'll message you.)

Actually, since I feel my priority should be Northern Ireland
Expensive, but yes, I can see why. Good luck with it.

[owlboy]

Lol, so for all the people who complained about the last Dr Who episode saying ''it's unrealistic people would just forget that easily'', I give you post-Thatcher Britain~

[elisi]

Yeah, that might have occurred to me also... I am currently trying to get all my thoughts properly lines up, and wondering just how political I want to be. ;)

Also - *points to icon* Most accurate thing Moffat as ever written.

[owlboy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv0JYIbRSCI

[elisi]

Seen it before, but always worth watching. <3

[beer_good_foamy]

Best of luck.

I still don't get how the Brexit thing can be so contentious, and yet the party who promise a hard Brexit are expected to win by a wide margin, but I guess Labour are too divided on it to make it a big election issue...?

I'm hoping to visit the UK this summer, and I've been joking that I better take the chance while I can. Listening to Theresa May, I'm not sure it's a joke anymore.

ETA: Also, that someone can run for PM and refuse to debate her opponents? Makes me think of this.

We paid for this seat, and I think it's a damn liberty that we should have to stand for it as well!

[elisi]

Best of luck.
Thank you. We'll need it.

I still don't get how the Brexit thing can be so contentious, and yet the party who promise a hard Brexit are expected to win by a wide margin, but I guess Labour are too divided on it to make it a big election issue...?
Well, it's complicated. I still have no idea why people vote Tory, so I'm not really the best person to ask.

I'm hoping to visit the UK this summer, and I've been joking that I better take the chance while I can. Listening to Theresa May, I'm not sure it's a joke anymore.
We'll come while you can. And before we turn into the latest Dr Who episode.

ETA: Also, that someone can run for PM and refuse to debate her opponents? Makes me think of this.
*snerk* And who knows. She keeps bleating 'Strong and stable' and how she's the only person who can get a good Brexit deal, but she's too cowardly to meet her political opponents. (As someone on Twitter said, she's missed several job interviews now, someone should sanction her benefits.) However, she has the rich on her side, so...

[gillo]

My instinct is to say the worst Tories do evil, but no doubt they sleep at night by explaining to themselves why their policies are right and Good.

I hope it's going to be close, but I've read some alarming things about Tory use of Facebook recently, which may suggest it's going to be less close than we hope.

And how can Miss M be voting? She's 13, surely? (And the Cherub is a toddler. I know...) I'm sure you have brought her up to vote thoughtfully - and to vote - and I sincerely hope all her friends will vote too.

Also, Marina Hyde sums it up for me: "For all his crowds now, however, it is notable that both Corbyn and May failed to meaningfully turn up for the EU referendum campaign last year, and saw the side that they nominally backed lose. To see them offered now as an either/or to the electorate is an unfortunate reminder that the cop-outs have inherited the Earth." Not to mention "May should no longer suffer from delusions of adequacy. For many Conservatives, in perennial search of a new Iron Lady, she has revealed herself as the Iron Pyrite Lady."

[elisi]

My instinct is to say the worst Tories do evil, but no doubt they sleep at night by explaining to themselves why their policies are right and Good.
Yeah, I don't think anyone sets out to deliberately hurt people. Maybe they live in an echo chamber, I dunno. I'm reminded of all the Republicans celebrating when they took the first step to repealing Obamacare. Like - hoe *celebrates* 20+ million people losing health insurance???

I hope it's going to be close, but I've read some alarming things about Tory use of Facebook recently, which may suggest it's going to be less close than we hope.
They've clearly taken a leaf out of Trump's book.

And how can Miss M be voting? She's 13, surely? (And the Cherub is a toddler. I know...)
LOL. She's off to uni this September. The Cherub is starting secondary school. Impish girl is off to Sixth Form.

I'm sure you have brought her up to vote thoughtfully - and to vote - and I sincerely hope all her friends will vote too.
She could lecture anyone know, she lives & breathes politics. (The more they learn [in A-Level politics], the angrier they get.)

Also, Marina Hyde sums it up for me
Yeah, there's a good bit of truth in that. But hey - we need to vote for the right lizard, so the wrong ones don't get in.

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

I just wish some of the slandering and name calling could have been left out, but then I should know better as I've been voting for nearly 40 years *iz old*....

[elisi]

Aye. :(

I hope my post isn't too horrible. I'm just feeling gloomy.

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

No, not a horrible post at all.

I think the fact that we have access to so much information these days means we are inundated with so much about all the parties that it starts to get very confusing and also unpleasant as there is so much fake news and horrible news, u-turns, denial of u-turns, digging up old (and usually wrong) news stories about parties, and, and ..... y'know....

[elisi]

No, not a horrible post at all.
It's been brewing for a while. I didn't want to write something, but on the other hand I didn't want to say nothing.

I think the fact that we have access to so much information these days means we are inundated with so much about all the parties that it starts to get very confusing and also unpleasant as there is so much fake news and horrible news, u-turns, denial of u-turns, digging up old (and usually wrong) news stories about parties, and, and ..... y'know....
Ugh. Yes. And I don't know what the cure is, if any.

[kita0610.livejournal.com]

I do not approve of the way May phrased it (or May in general FWIW) but correct me if I'm wrong? She said she wants to curb travel of anyone already being investigated for terrorist activity. I don't see how that is human rights violation. But I'm also obvs not British and aware I may be missing a lot of subtleties.

[elisi]

It's... more complicated. And when it comes to terrorism a lot of it is home grown.

Plus, she cut the police, so they can obviously not do as good a job as they used to with fewer people, that's basic maths. Her solution is to crack down on 'the internet', thus actually making is LESS safe.

For me personally, it's more about Brexit. There are 3 million EU citizens living in the UK. The government has refused to guarantee our rights for nearly a year now, and that does not look set to change. We are nothing more than bargaining chips to them, and that's... not a nice feeling. (Of course within that I am hugely privileged, but that's not the point.) Plus restricting people's movement will be disastrous for the health service, industry, universities etc. It's a bit like Trumps travel ban/wall. Making a show of strength, whilst actually undermining things.

Everyone wants to stop terrorism, that goes without saying. But I don't trust her methods. ETA: Before you know it, we'll have people detained indefinitely (etc.) all to 'keep us safe'.

[sea_thoughts]

from one vicar's daughter to another (OK, my father is a deacon, but same diff, I grew up in presbyteries), then I don't understand how she squares her faith with attacking those who are 'hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison', just to get Biblical for a moment

I think she's divided people into the Chosen and the Damned and she isn't interested in saving the Damned because they don't deserve it.

I don't think the human rights act should be ripped up just for terrorists. That would be letting them win. I wish I could express it more elegantly.

[elisi]

I think she's divided people into the Chosen and the Damned and she isn't interested in saving the Damned because they don't deserve it.
Having just seen Wonder Woman, I want to sit her down and watch it too, and not leave until she understands it.

I don't think the human rights act should be ripped up just for terrorists. That would be letting them win. I wish I could express it more elegantly.
I know what you mean. (My brain isn't functioning either...)

[sea_thoughts]

I am seeing it tomorrow (AFTER voting) I AM SO EXCITED.

[elisi]

IT IS SO GOOD!!

We do not deserve Diana. But we most definitely need her.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Personally I think a government that is forced to use more than a single party to achieve a majority is the best possible government - so a tiny majority either way seems best to me. I laughed when TM said no-one in Europe would take such a government seriously - it is how so many European governments function.

And as for the encryption - my first thought, when she started on about it again, was 'I presume she doesn't use on-line banking...' S2C, who worked in on-line banking, and I decided it had never occurred to her that such things are, you know, encrypted.

[elisi]

Personally I think a government that is forced to use more than a single party to achieve a majority is the best possible government - so a tiny majority either way seems best to me.
This. It stops them going too far in any direction, which is good!

I laughed when TM said no-one in Europe would take such a government seriously - it is how so many European governments function.
*snerk* Yeah, it's what I grew up with. Mind you, then they argued for years about anything & everything, but hey ho.

S2C, who worked in on-line banking, and I decided it had never occurred to her that such things are, you know, encrypted.
... I fear he may be right. *headdesk*