done and dusted
Petersfield Constituency, Cambridge
Fat, black, soft-leaded pencils were provided, and it was all over in seconds; stab at democracy achieved (Mister D, I reckon I'm definitely homophoric). I didn't vote as I'm generally inclined to do, and while I felt a momentary stab of regret about my choosing not to, it was a conscious decision borne of my own unwillingness to compromise. Strategic voting isn't my thing; voting with my heart, is. As the recent cover of the Economist resignedly highlighted, our choices are nothing to be proud of.
On my way out of the polling station, I nipped ahead of a flustered looking woman with a double-wide pushchair in order to hold the swinging door open for her. As she thanked her way past me, I saw her two tiny babies, and knew in that second that they were spitting images of their father, and definitely boys. I grinned and quipped,
"That'll be their first election then!"
Setting her hair with her fingertips, she punctuated her broad smile with a giggle, and offered,
"I suppose so, and hopefully the first of many."
While my expression remained kind, I experienced a confusingly visceral wave of sorrow; I'm not interested in analysing it publicly, but it was disquieting, and I'm rarely phased by anything. Ah well, it's done, and as the sectarians are wont to say, "God help us."
Homophoric use of 'democracy', do you mean? (I'm being a bit slow.)
No thanks given for the link to the cover of the Economist. We're talking of a massive cringe here. Suddenly I remember how much I hated that annoying little sod from the American 'MAD' comics! This is clearly a picture of him, all grown up and tainted by more serious aspects of life.
No, not 'democracy', but don't think too hard! Yes, Alfred E. Newman; I hadn't thought about it, but you're not far off the mark. That said, the best comparison I've seen drawn with ol' Alfie was none other than Tony Blair's boss, Dubya. That man is made for caricature.
Are you sure you're not being deictic, then, in the changing meaning of the representation of Stairs?
Have you seen today's Steve Bell, by the way?
Hi Stairs,
Have just wandered over from ReTorte. Nice place you have here! I see you have a recipe for Vietnamese spring rolls...yum...I had salad rolls for lunch today, as a matter of fact: shrimp, bean sprouts, vermicelli, lettuce, fresh mint - accompanied by peanut sauce (which was only ok). I love Asian food.
How did you find me?
You do have a flair for the cryptic, sunshine. Their father? Visceral sorrow? Blimey.
Lib Dems gain Cambridge. I guess you weren't the only one voting with your heart, one way or another.
And Con gain Wimbledon. Sigh.
I'm mulling over why the universe is prone to let us play this game we think is so organized and laughable. I feel that somehow half of our nation had its head so firmly up its own ass that the cries of decent of another 4 years of this bigot bush in office was barely noticeable.
In her infinite wisdom she chooses to let us give up the petty squabbles , seeing that with a concerted effort and cooperation that our votes will mean something if we're on the same side. Now comes the hard part, which side do we choose?
K
I just hope there is something for those kids to vote for when they get older.
hi
When the only reason one has to vote is to increase the total number of votes in the vague hope of reducing the share that the BNP receives to below 5% (yes I know that losing the deposit is purely psychological, but it's the principal, dammit), I think it says a little about what I felt I was actually being offered as alternatives by the major parties.
And the BNP got 7% in the end, anyway....