Big Idea for Britain

[davidn]

This probably isn't something you hear very often, but Election 2010 Challenge has to be the cutest political site I've ever seen.

A group of stickmen queue up at the bottom of the page, and one of them bounces forwards to present its user-submitted idea for Britain to you. If you like the idea, you give it a thumb up, and the figure will celebrate among disco lights or fireworks, or release a load of balloons, then hop off to the other side of the screen while the next stickman in line boings up to talk to you. If you dislike the idea or it's incomprehensible because of the failing school system, you can bring out your inner Caesar and stab the thumbs down button, whereupon the stick figure's head will explode or be abducted by a UFO (it grows a new one), or it'll be squished by a wad of "Cash For Honours", or, wonderfully, a duck-house (it's a long story).

I'm still fascinated by the poll figures (the three links underneath the wheel). The three coloured sections have never been anywhere near that equal before, and it looks more and more likely that we're going to be stuck with a hung parliament.

Comments

[ethelfleda.livejournal.com]

I liked the fact that when I clicked 'bad idea' for 'Robert Pattinson for Pm!!!!" the stick man was crushed by the picked head of Maggie Thatcher.

[davidn]

I was very surprised by that one, especially seeing as she isn't quite yet fully dead.

[e-to-the-ipi.livejournal.com]

The last sentence is probably better expressed as "We'll be blessed with a balanced (http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/election/?p=1036) parliment for a while."

The advantages being that parties will have to be more accountable, and respect the fact that they speak for only small portions of society. Labour 'won the last election decisively', with slightly more than 35% of the popular vote. With about 61% turnout, that's not really a large mandate.

No parties seem to be putting forward radical policies that are generally popular with the majority of the country. The expenses scandal last year hurt hugely, too, of course. Why should we want one party able to push through legislation for the next term?

With any luck, a balanced parliment should put an end to the more presidential style PM we have had of late.

[davidn]

When said like that, I like it :) Among the British politicians I feel it's a blessing that I like nobody very much and that if they have to cooperate then it's more likely that some good will come out of any of them.

[e-to-the-ipi.livejournal.com]

Definitely. There's some fascinating stuff going on with the media here, at present.

For a start, the Murdoch press, which has roughly been pro-Cameron, and overall anti-Labour for a good while, has just realised that Lib Dems exist and they know none of them (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/apr/18/clegg-media-elite-murdoch-lib-dem). As a result, some insane and interesting slurring has been going on -- it feels like the entirety of the last week has been negative campaigning from all three parties. And (most of) the press.

Probably the triumph was a week ago when The Daily Mail dug up this reasonable, if blunt (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/nov/19/eu.germany) article written by minor Lib Dem MEP Nick Clegg in 2002. The article is good for two reasons. Firstly, it makes a point generally not mentioned in mass media about juvenile nationalism. Secondly, if you think "How much could you miss the point of this, misread it and misrepresent it? I mean, maximally possible distortion, misrepresentation and defamation? You'd have to be a Mail writer."

"Oh" (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/election/article-1267921/GENERAL-ELECTION-2010-Nick-Clegg-Nazi-slur-Britain.html).

[Bear in mind, above article is the first appearance in this electoral campaign of this 7.5 year old article. Staggering.]

The amazing thing about this election, whatsoever, is that absolutely no one has any idea what will happen. Interesting times in London, and the UK.

[kjorteo]

I love how that article describes a hung parliament as some sort of constitutional crisis. "What happens if there's a hung parliament?" "Well, historically, sometimes the majority party can try to hold on by forging an alliance with someone, but usually it goes down in flames and we'll just have more elections until we get it right. WE'RE ALL DOOMED"

[crassadon.livejournal.com]

that is pretty much what's happening in Canada. Though without any fire.