The Struggle Is Real

In a former life I was Conservative voter. (I know shame on me.) Now, that seems very unlikely, but it was the 80's ('greed is good') mentality.

However, my former-self has an annoying habit of popping up at the most inappropriate moments. Often when I'm feeling old and cranky. As a nearly 50-year-old, I seem to get more and more of them.

My latest annoyance is all these austerity cuts:

Breadline Britain: Photo credits Orb Dark

Do those in power believe Breadline Britain is a thing of the past? Do we not have food banks in all British cities these days? Have they learned so little in the last few months, of their vote-winning spree, about the average electorate?

Project Get Elected (2)

« Blogged from: ProjectGetElected »

Intro:

The initial decision...

Two weeks before my 47th Birthday I decided I'd like to be an MP. But things are not always as they seem...

Is politics on the decline?

In 1945 72.8% of the electorate voted in the General Election - by 2001 that had dropped to just 59.4% - but in the last General Election, of 2010, only 65.1% of electorate bothered to turn out. (Figures from http://www.ukpolitical.info/ Turnout45.htm and exclude votes deliberately or accidentally spoiled.)

UK Political Info (2012)
Image: ukpolitical info

This general decline in political interest is caused by an apathy in the general electorate of the United Kingdom. The reason is, people are not engaging with political parties any longer. As the Guardian warned in a recent article (of 06/07/2012) British Democracy is in "long-term terminal decline... and disillusioned citizens [have] stop[ped] voting". We feel let down by the sleaze and the lies and want (even expect) more...


A state of mind can't easily be changed

As I said, things are not always as they seem. We all say "I'm too old to change now" or "its too late for me". But it isn't, you know. While ever your alive, it's never too late!

So I made a decision to change things!

The thing is, I'm a punk. I may have blue hair, but I'm no young Conservative. I'm a working man, but Labour isn't my colours either. I'm a socialist and democrat, but I'm no Liberal Democrat. Neither the Greens nor UKIP appeal, and the fanatics (BNP, SNP, etc) don't interest me in the slightest.

So what's a punk supposed to do?


Taking a stand

At first, it was one of those throw-away ideas. You know, the sort that we have from time to time; when we think "Ooh, that seems like a good idea". And that's usually as far as it goes. We make a random decision to do something, that disappears just as quickly as it comes.

But it didn't go. It lingered on, and on, and on.

By morning, the 10th of September 2012, it was clear in my mind - a need, an urge, a must...


When, if not now?

It had to be now ... or never!

So I sat down and decided to form my own party: the (British) Social Media Party was born.

But who sets off on a journey without first deciding where they are going to end up? I had one place in mind, and that was Westminster. I decided I'd become A Punk in Parliament.


Project Get Elected

As I set off down this road to Westminster I decided to document my life experiences here and on several of my blogs:

Project Get Elected is an integral part of that process. If not my actual road map, it shall become my compass - pointing me in the right direction.

Project Get Elected (Part 1)

I decided on the 10th of September, twelve days before my 47th Birthday, that I'd like to be an MP.

The thing is, I'm a punk, I'm neither a Labour man nor a Conservative. And the Liberal Democrats have been shown to be a traitor to there own policies; so they are out. I don't have faith in the fringe parties - neither Greens nor UKIP. And the fanatics don't interest me in the slightest (BNP, SNP, etc).

So I sat down and decided to form my own party: the (British) Social Media Party was born.

(Photo credit: CyberPunk65)

Within the first month I created a twitter account (@B_SocialMedia_P), a Facebook Fan Page, a Google+ page, a weblog, a mission statement and spoke about the party on two of my other blogs.

This is where I am now. I'm trying to come up with a philosophy (but it's slow going).

Social Media Party - The British Political Party That Promise You More

Reblogged from i-thorts' i-Views:

Social Media Party
Launch!  

A new British political party launched 10/09/2012: The Social Media Party. “A cross-party party” designed to appeal to members from the full political spectrum.

generic multi-axis political spectrum chart (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We believe in a state that allows individuals to take part in the decision-making process that affects their lives, to contribute fully to that society (and their own communities) to attain these ideals. United by a common belief in respect, equality, education, and social justice.    -The (British) Social Media Party’s mission statement claims.

So why is this non-entity (unknown) taking on the big three? Because with the help of the social media world any party can!

To put it in their words: “We can out-campaign them. This is a social media world and the main three are still thinking mainstream. They Tweet and Like now rules the globe.”

It’s obvious that they’re switched-on to the technicalities of a digital environment, but is it possible for a non-entity to really take on these titans?

Well the Green party was once a non-entity and now they have a nice percentage of the votes. Labour too were once newcomers on the political scene (now they are major players).

Mobile web growth (Photo credit: Will Lion)

So how does the Social Media Party expect to go from zero to hero?

“We promise all our voters power. Power of autonomy, power to choose policies, power to decide how their vote will count.”

Is this a return to a call for proportional representation?

“In social media terms, every like and each tweet counts, so should every single vote! That’s true democracy in action!”

But can they win elections?

“I believe we can! Elections are all about numbers. Twitter and Facebook are our battle grounds. Once something goes viral theirs no stopping it! We just need to go viral. Lol.”

Why wouldn't you vote for the (British) Social Media Party?

Why the Social Media Party Could Win a British Election

.: social-media-party :.
(Photo credit: cyberpunk65)

Today is the birth of a new political party

(British) Social Media Party

If you look at the party-system we currently have, its obvious none of the major players seem to have a clue how to use social media for political gain.

Once they get to grips with it not being about mico-party-political broadcasts, then they might get somewhere. But with only a handful of MPs sharing the nouce or having the gumption to use social media properly, it makes the Social Media political party very threatening to the big three.

Say, for instance, that the MPs with social media skills had formed their own party (a party formed across the political divides) with the sole purpose of changing the political scene and really allowing the people to have their say; they would sweep the boards!

It would be a landslide win!

Their former parties wouldn't know what hit them!

Social Media can be that effective.

One of the reasons social media works is diversity. So they would have to put aside previous party squabbles with this realisation in mind.

Could it work? Yes. Would politicians put aside petty differences to gain the ultimate power? You bet!

Policies are easy: let the people decide. (Then there can never be a backlash. You wanted it you got it. It was your idea.) Who could argue with such logic.
Mass media would be part of the championing process. (The British press loves an underdog. And if they try to sabotage a campaign? Then the strengths of social media would batter their arguments with mass rebuttles. Even the press can't fight - all reader demographics - everyone!)

This is the beauty of the idea. Win on all levels. It's a win win situation! That really is the power of the tweet and the like.

All we need now is a few politicians to start the ball rolling.

Got to love the (British) Social Media political party.


Now that's something to Blogs about lol....

Would you vote for the (British) Social Media Party?
[join today on Google+]

The Curious Thing About A Coalition

reblogged from i-thorts' i-Politics

COALITION CABINET
RESHUFFLE  

Cameron is said to be reshuffling his cabinet early this month (September). The move is in the hope of rekindle his party's low spirits and appeasing the right. It's hoped that fresh faces will revive Tory standing in the poles.

Twitter   September 02, 2012 at 02:27PM

• Ray Burr @cyberpunk65
  @YouGov: Update - Labour lead on 6: Latest Sunday Times results 31st Aug-2nd Sep - CON 35%, LAB 41%, LD 9%, UKIP 7%; APP -36

The call for William Hague to replace George Osborne as Chancellor of the Exchequer is a tacktick to appear like a softening of the current hardline policy concerning welfare cuts. However, will this will be enough, with Britain in the current double-dip resession and our shocking ecconomic performance of late?

Rumours has it, that all the all the 'big guns' will be staying but there are to be promotions also.

He has a juggling act to perform: He needs to keep the grassroots Conservatives happy, while appealing to the voting public. To do this he has to keep on with his policies to keep the right incheck and also seem to be for the people. Something the even a master of spin, like him, will find difficult.

Having said that, it's a curious fact that in reality, as part of a coalition government, the Tories have to appoint Lib Dems to posts (a certain fixed number), so Cameron can't do much at all. That means that he has to keep them happy too...

How David Cameron is to achieve all this and keep everyone happy is total speculation so far. But we don't have to wait too long.