“mmmmm”

“George Ferguson I believe stood as a LibDem candidate some years ago did he not Sean?

I just wonder how a well supported Independent candidate would have faired in Chew Magna yesterday?

I honestly do detect a wind of change within those of us like you and me that see logic and common sense and caring for the vulnerable as the way forward.”

“If your sense of direction is towards even more apathy, then yes, I agree with you.”

“My sense of direction has completely deserted me since they announced the closure of the Bell. But your point is well made DaveF.

I have actually advocated for years on this forum how we have been sinking gradually into an apathetic mass willing to accept mediocrity in all aspects of life at the drop of a hat.

Perhaps we need to stand back and take stock. Do we really want to put up for much longer with the nasty bullying tactics of Ed Balls and his wife or the wimpish weakness of Cameron and Osbourne?”

“Dave your a bad man lol”

“"I have actually advocated for years on this forum how we have been sinking gradually into an apathetic mass".

Do you you really advocate our sinking into an apathetic mass ?”

“Yes I do William, most definitely.

Apathy toward the abuse of expenses by MP's, apathy towards the police and media doing as they wish to obtain information and sleaze. Apathy in how we simply accept the EU failing to control its spending of our taxes, and refusing for years to audit its books. Apathy in just raising our eyebrows as Blair lies repeatedly to Parliament. Apathy as Gordon Brown allowed the banks to run us into the ground. Apathy as yet still the bankers take millions in unearned bonus's.

Then we turn to mediocrity. Children leaving school unable to recite their tables or alphabet. For close at hand mediocrity simply look at the standard of English grammar and reporting on this publication. It sometimes beggars belief.

Public Transport is another example of our undemanding acceptance of mediocrity. Don't get me going on the standard of politics William, particularly at national level. Parliament (both houses) typifies mediocrity with a massive capital M”

“No Mr L, you sense protest by the small amount that voted against the government, voted against the principal of PCC's and the lack of clarity. The turnout was so low that virtually all party faithfuls stayed away in droves. This will not be reflective of a General Election but it may make people look more favourably on Independents locally. I predict every B&NES political group but Labour to jump ship to the way the wind blows before 2015 ;)”

“At the moment the choice is useless, waste of space or numpty. Why bother?

(And I will vote. If any of them manages to promote anything worth voting for is another matter.)”

“Much of the problem with the PCC election is mentioned in VV's last post. She & everybody else plus their dog has been talking along party lines. Apart from the figure allocated to each Constabulary it had very little (should have been nothing) to do with the colour of their rosettes.

As they're retiring off policemen ever younger these days, it was disappointing no one with a bit of experience in the field could be found to stand for the A&S area.”

“There was a well supported independent standing in Chew Valley North. Andrew Tanner, who is well liked and well respected, didn't you spot him? You were there weren't you?”

“My last post appeared in the wrong place, it was a reply to Dave's response about an Independent candidate.”

“@capndave Im not sure if were sailing into the wind or the sunset”

“I think there is much to be said for independents in local Government. It's hard to argue that national party political dogma should play a part in local politics.

I would point out to Vix though that PCCs were a Labour idea that they were actively touting until, I think, 2009.”

“A rare but welcome agreement in that first sentence.

And then it's all spoilt in the second sentence. So it was proposed by a previous administration. So what? It was implemented by the current one. Party politics always seems to be 99% negativity. No wonder so many are put off politics and feel utterly disenfranchised.”

“Although agreeing with much that you say about mediocrity, and we in particular must continually be vigilent in holding those in power to account, i am most impressed by the committment, imagination and enthusiasm displayed by the young towards poverty, hunger and disease. They are using the web to cooperatively develop solutions, by-passing the secrecy of the older generations.

Despite my inability to understand many Americanisms and popular argot -lol - i am more disturbed by the BBC's determination to dumb down and be trendy than by the quality of teaching; although i still can't come to terms with the "hi class, i'm Joe" familiarity, not that i favour military subservience either.

The youngsters cannot be blamed for not understanding the lack of standards in particular EU and MP sleaze, that comes with experience; although vigilence does need to be tempered with expediency. What is encouraging is that we are becoming aware of these deficiencies, even those guardians of our morality, priests, have been exposed.

The danger is that we become as a nation apathetic to the political process. The counter to this must be confidence in an increasing number of effective representatives without loyalty to party dogma nor outside interests, and i think and hope that that is the future.”

“Rumour has it you were campaigning in the Chew Valley with a yellow rosette on, Cap'n! Are the stories true?”

“Now let me see. Where did you say? The Chew Valley! Is that anywhere near Huffington upon Severn.

Yellow rosette! Sounds like Rovers away strip. Rumours and stories, rumours and stories………”

“If Mr L perchance has been yellow rosetting around the Valleys I will eat my beret!

I understand why Labour stood candidates for the PCC election despite disagreeing in principle, none of us were to know that well heeled Independents would stand with the dosh to put themselves forward and campaign. It wasn't cheap by all accounts. The last thing we'd want inflicted on the public would be a Tory or Lib Dem PCC with no alternative on the left, I'd also bet that not too many of the Independent standees are anywhere near socialists.

I must admit to being very impressed at the quantity of spoiled ballots. Still, perhaps the electoral commission will review it all and find it undemocratic and we'll all pretend it never happened.”

“mmmmmm”

“Cat got your tongue Sean? Or has my namesake hit a certain nail on the head?”

“I no nothing”

“I for one think many have been conned, the Independent ruse in the mayoral and PCC elections are mainly deceitful and recently ex members of the two finished political Parties. Predominantly Liberal Democrats. What a cynical way to treat the public. If such a thing should happen in Bath I may notice ;)

This from a commenter on LabourList- "Ferguson only resigned from the Fib Dems 6 months ago-not on any point of principle like tuition fees or the future of the NHS or the reduction in the top rate of tax.
The only reason he resigned was because he knew the Fib Dems weren't going to win in Bristol or anywhere else for that matter. This same ruse has been used by the Fib Dems in North Wales where a Fib Dem has stood as an 'independent' for the PCC post.
What we are witnessing here is a new level of duplicity by the masters of political deceit- namely the Fib Dems".”