Dutch elections (again) tomorrow: dilemma of a Eurocommie

[Hueij]

Okay, we are voting for the second time in a year tomorrow. Last May was fairly simple, I voted for the Socialist Party. During that elections the Social Democrats lost almost half of their seats in parliament.

Tomorrow it's more complicated. The Social Democrats are looking, if the polls are right, at a miraculous resurrection. They have a good shot at getting to be the largest party, bypassing the Christian Democrats who were sure, three weeks ago, to easily surf into a coalition with the Liberals (right wing over here). So I knew I would be voting Socialist again.

But now the Social Democrats have a chance to become the largest party and thereby keeping the dreaded conservatives out of government I keep thinking that I should vote for them, even though I vowed never to vote for them again.

It's now 12.30 AM and I'll be voting at 8 AM, so I only have 7 1/2 hours to decide and I have to sleep during that time too

What to do, what to do... follow my heart and vote Socialist or vote tactically, Social Democrats (nothing socialist about them anymore)?

[The Viceroy]

Ohh the dreaded tactacle vote .. been there a few times, in Lib/Con seats where Labour has no chance.

If you vote Social Democrats, then there lead depends on your views, if they don't move to the left, you can bury them in the next election (next week is that ?? ha ha ha ha).. so you are actually putting pressure on them to lean in your direction.

You can look at it the other way, and say if everybody who were socialist voted socialist, then they would probably do astoundingly well ..

Personally, id rather live with a pliable government, than a conservative one .. but thats my personaly opinion.

[Hueij]

(next week is that ?? ha ha ha ha)

You know about Dutch politics?

Man, we sunk even deeper than Italy

[Hueij]

If you vote Social Democrats, then there lead depends on your views, if they don't move to the left, you can bury them in the next election (next week is that ?? ha ha ha ha).. so you are actually putting pressure on them to lean in your direction.

Wish that was true. If they form a coalition with the Christian Democrats (and it looks like they have to) they'll have to compromise and therefore move to the right (even more).

I can't believe I was an active member during the late 70's and 80's

[Ned]

Heeij, speaking as a conservative, vote Socialist.

I hope the reverse psychology helps.

[Hueij]

Originally posted by Ned
Heeij, speaking as a conservative, vote Socialist.

I hope the reverse psychology helps.

Never, I repeat, NEVER would I vote conservative. I vowed to never become a cynical egoist while I'm still alive...

[Datajack Franit]

Democrats losing ground everywhere in Europe should help you making your mind

[The Viceroy]

Vote Social Democrat .. as I say you can withdraw your vote the next time if they stuff.

Frankly im pleased we have first past the post in this country, and suffer very rarely from coalition government. I can see how irritating it is to choose between a slightly right wing, or completely right wing .. still, there is no choice really ..

I share your complete contempt for conservatives, however, Id probably want to point out to ned, Euro Conservatism, is not the same as American conservatism .. in the US, the main 2 parties (on a euro model) are right wing .. just different shades of it. Euro right wing tends to be much more jingoistic, nationalistic ..

[DinoDoc]

Re: Dutch elections (again) tomorrow: dilemma of a Eurocommie

Originally posted by Hueij
The Social Democrats are looking, if the polls are right, at a miraculous resurrection. They have a good shot at getting to be the largest party, bypassing the Christian Democrats who were sure, three weeks ago, to easily surf into a coalition with the Liberals (right wing over here).

Anything happen to precipitate this turn of events?

[Hueij]

Originally posted by Datajack Franit
Democrats losing ground everywhere in Europe should help you making your mind

It's not the Democrats I'm worried about, it's the Christian Democrats. I don't want to return to 1950's values, shops closed on Sundays, illegal soft drugs, turning back our euthanasia laws, our abortion laws.

Nor their xenophobia and putting the burden of present economic hardships on the shoulders of the people that have no voice, people on wellfare, the homeless, the sick...

[Hueij]

Re: Re: Dutch elections (again) tomorrow: dilemma of a Eurocommie

Originally posted by DinoDoc

Anything happen to precipitate this turn of events?

Had to look up that one in the dictionary

No, nothing. Only that the Social Democrats came up with a young, good looking, smooth talking new leader a couple of months ago. Like Blair...

It looks like he takes his new won votes from the Greens and the Socialists though The Socialists looked like they were doubling again but now it looks they only win moderately

Maybe i should post pics of the leader of the greens (man, she is cute) or the runner up of the Socialists (she looks devastating in her tight leather pants)

[raghar]

go and elect yourself
Go for it You can do IT.

re "Never, I repeat, NEVER would I vote conservative. I vowed to never become a cynical egoist while I'm still alive..." and "the Christian Democrats. I don't want to return to 1950's values, shops closed on Sundays, illegal soft drugs, " You are doomed.

Well, you can pray for realy big tidal wave. 'Cose this year elections in Europe looks bad in every country.

[Hueij]

go and elect yourself

Hehe... I was active in the Social Democrat party during the 80's, when it was still a left wing party, but once I found out how politics work (it has nothing to do with ideals, only with personal ambitions) I couldn't be bothered anymore...

You are doomed.

That goes without saying

[S. Kroeze]

To be honest I just do not understand your problem.

In my opinion J.Cohen would be a better Premier than Balkenende. Yet I think one should make a choice based on political ideas not on personalities.
As long as the so-called 'Liberals' (who are actually Liberal Conservatives) and Christian Democrats (who are actually Christian Conservatives) will not obtain a majority, you can be reasonably sure that the Social Democrats will be part of the next government.
I do not understand your fears about shops closed on Sundays, abortion etc., as long as the Christian parties do not obtain a majority, something which will never happen again.

So in my view it doesn't matter as long as you do not vote either VVD, LPF or CDA.
I will vote for SP, Agnes Kant. I was rather disappointed about the performance of Marijnissen(SP).
Would you support the attack on Iraq and the policy of Bush and Sharon?

Anything happen to precipitate this turn of events?

The new party leader of the Social Democrats (PvdA), Wouter Bos, is an excellent debater, quite young, a truly nice person and very good-looking, the ideal son-in-law.
He has learnt that people like politicians that do not act like they rule this country, which was the aura of his predecessor.

[Zopperoni]

Re: Dutch elections (again) tomorrow: dilemma of a Eurocommie

Originally posted by Hueij
What to do, what to do... follow my heart and vote Socialist or vote tactically, Social Democrats (nothing socialist about them anymore)?

O bugger, now I have that song in my head.

"Stem voor, Stem SP!"

o_O

Go for SP, I don't want Cohen to become PM. Not that I think he'd be a bad one, but I don't want him out of Amsterdam =)