[SWLUG] Alan's open letter

[Telsa Gwynne]

On Tue, Jun 08, 2004 at 10:57:00AM +0100 or thereabouts, Steve Anderson wrote:
> Telsa Gwynne wrote:
> 
> >The results of the 1999 elections for Wales are at 
> >http://www.election.demon.co.uk/epwales.html . Someone who
> >is good at statistics can figure out the tactical votes
> >needed this time round. It looks to me that of the definitely 
> >anti-software patents parties, Plaid has the best chance. 
> >I think..? 
> 
> As a paid-up member of the Liberal Democrats I should drop my oar in. Of 
> the big three UK parties, the LibDems are most anti-software patent, and 
> policies voted through last year reflect that.

I skipped them for two reasons: I was totally confused about the
Lib Dem MEPs and whether they were toeing the line on party policy
(thanks for the explanations; it starts to make more sense now!);
and I didn't think they have much of a chance in most of Wales at
European level. So for the people who can only be arsed to get
out and vote now this issue is here, I'm not sure they're the best
bet to pick. Sorry, Steve :) Now, _council_ elections, on the
other hand.. 

> I'll be voting LibDem as usual on Thursday, because they're the only 
> party that has genuine social policies now that Labour have sold their 
> souls and forgotten where they've come from; and I'm going to join LDYS 
> in having strong words with Ms Wallis - she's not in Brussels on her own 
> agenda, and needs reminding of that.

Good for you.
 
> The most important thing on Thursday though is to vote. A hundred years 
> ago the Suffragettes were ready to die for other women to get the vote, 
> and now polling is met with indifference. When more votes are cast for 
> who wins £70000 in Big Brother than who's responsible for the day-to-day 
> running of the country, you know you've got a problem.

Hear, hear. I once worked out that had I been born in 1869 instead 
of in 1969 I would not have been able to vote until I was nearly 50.
I have read what the suffragettes went through to get that far.

(And before that, there were the Chartists, of course, before
anyone thinks that all men always had the vote. We did all "do" 
the Chartists in history, right?) 

And Big Brother got more votes than elections in some segments
of the population. Faugh. 

Telsa