tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8500025938065809262.post2634961328845776554..comments2023-11-29T19:57:51.001-08:00Comments on Not a Village in Westminster: Provoking Political ParticipationNot a Village in Westminsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06062118291841981671noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8500025938065809262.post-89503806013178576812009-04-20T01:08:00.000-07:002009-04-20T01:08:00.000-07:00Well, I'm an unashamed optimist I suppose! On a s...Well, I'm an unashamed optimist I suppose! On a serious level, despite the criticism/cynicism of my closing remarks (obviously I've been reading your blog too much Stuart!) I do believe in the importance and potential of political parties within our system. Being a member of a political party is always challenging - in my view if there is nothing you struggle with in your party you are probably not thinking enough - however it also presents the potential to make the changes to society that I believe in.<br /><br />I'm certainly not an unthinking party member - I try to be as open-minded as possible, looking to see what can be learnt from other political perspectives rather than just blindly presuming I'm right. And it can be a struggle. However, I also get the chance to see the positive impact that my party can make (we have done, I promise!) and to be motivated to be that positive change myself.Not a Village in Westminsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06062118291841981671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8500025938065809262.post-90332678096137539772009-04-17T15:15:00.000-07:002009-04-17T15:15:00.000-07:00I think election materials in Dundee have been ban...I think election materials in Dundee have been banned from lampposts etc for a while, but I think the rationale is road safety rather than environmental clutter.<br /><br />Doesn't stop the council putting huge illuminated and unsightly advertisting hoardings on the lampposts, though, but I suppose different standards apply when it comes to lining council coffers!<br /><br />But you're right, I doubt if it makes a blind bit of difference to voting, and the rest of your critique is wise words as well, but in view of that, and your closing remarks in particular, I wonder what you're doing in the Labour party, Jamie ;0)Stuart Wintonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02772436419630464325noreply@blogger.com