I'm going to run for election...

[ASKDodge]

I'm tired of my local representative and his potential replacements (All members of the big parties) and their total lack of concern for my town. To them, Great Yarmouth is just a seat in parliament and for the parties involved just another stepping stone to power.

Why can't our representatives do what is right for the people? I've watched as my town continues to die and decay, a nothing-town, forgotten and left like so many other places in this country that used to rely on primary industry (Fishing, mining, manufacturing). This was Nelson's home port, a setting for famous books like David Copperfield and is a gateway to the some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK.

Well, I don't want to watch anymore. I'm going to get the ten nominations required and pay the eligibility deposit.

I can't match the spending of the big parties for their campaigns and I don't have an army of party loyalists shipped to do all the work.

What I do have are my ideals and my intense desire to save the heart of this town from the ignorance of party politics. Fighting for funding for the much needed social spending in the area, I will not tow the party line because I won't have one. The people in my town are good, honest folk who deserve better than the empty promises and token rejuvenation projects thrown at this constituency like table scraps. This, and so many other towns in this country desperately need help and to have their problems, if not immediately addressed then at the very least acknowledged.

Even if I'm not elected, I want the people to think about politics again and maybe believe that their votes and voices can make a difference in our democracy. If at the end of it, that's all I have achieved, I will go home a happy man.

Apologies for going on, but I wanted to see what people here think about the idea and whether they think one man can make a difference.

[Ironosaur]

Have fun with that.

[KeithHybrid]

I'm not certain you'll succeed, but I definetly admire your determination. Best of luck.

[Dawnslayer]

More power to you, sir. We wish you luck in your endeavor.

[killxp]

Admire your intentions and your love for your town but you would be better off just doing first. Wish you the best of luck. Now make like Nike and JUST DO IT! Keep us posted. Late.

[Tony-DarkGrave]

good luck wasting your time and money.

[kraor024]

I wish you luck good sir, but don't bet on winning.

[Tony-DarkGrave]

At 6/12/09 06:49 AM, J00blix wrote: Too bad he'll most likely fail.

more like Ron Paul or Ralph Nader FAIL

[HVK]

I wish you luck in that endeavor, I have to agree that party politics is a flawed system, and I hope you can break that mold.

[Al6200]

At 6/11/09 07:40 PM, ASKDodge wrote:

Even if I'm not elected, I want the people to think about politics again and maybe believe that their votes and voices can make a difference in our democracy. If at the end of it, that's all I have achieved, I will go home a happy man.

Apologies for going on, but I wanted to see what people here think about the idea and whether they think one man can make a difference.

Even if you have to compromise a little, you should probably try to attach yourself to a major political party, if only to get their support. Politics is a game of building connections. You make friends with people who are influential by supporting them, and they use their influence to support you. Of course, it is possible to become influential without doing this (think Ron Paul and Ross Perot), but it's a lot easier if you make friends within the party.

Also, if you end up losing the parliamentary election, you might want to look into running for the provincial parliament (if it exists). In the US each state has a government that sort of reflects the structure of the federal government. Each state has a governor who acts like the President and a House of Delegates which acts like the Congress. Usually it is easier to win these seats, and they are seasonal positions that only run for a small portion of the year.

[JeremieCompNerd]

I would recommend setting time aside to create a page of political issues:
Abortion
Gay Marriage
Bigger/Smaller Government
More/Less taxes

Think of as many as you can, then look more up. Decide your stance on each of them. Decide which ones are popular opinions that you can publicise to gain support, and which ones you need to spend as little time on as possible to minimize damage.
Decide which ones you might be willing to sacrifice if absolutely necessary.

Next look at spending.
Observe the position you would be in, and determine what that position has control over.
How much money will you allot to schools? To roads? To buildings? To homeless shelters? To creating jobs?

Next up look at charitable organizations.
Which ones do you think you could get to sponser you? You will need money, even if only to put up signs.

Go big and go bold.
Do something HUGE to get on the news. I've played a game called farkle for many years, and one of the fun things about it is that you have to get a certain number of points on your first scoring role to even get your name on the board. No matter how well you conduct yourself, you wont get credit for it unless the world is watching.

Be sure you have all of this down pat. Know who you are, what your doing, and who your doing it for.
With all that advice given, I have one more parting word. Good luck.

[Patton3]

If you do go through with it, be sure to post news articles and such on how it's going.

[Jon-86]

I don't know why but you made me think of this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bckCZW2uI b4

[ASKDodge]

Thanks for the (mostly...) kind words.

I'm posting just to let you know there is a bit of an update. I took some of the advice you guys gave and got in contact with some local groups and some of the smaller parties operating in the area. I've also looked at scaling down the level of campaign from MP to councillor (i.e. local borough elections next year). It's not exactly going to change the world overnight, but it will get me on the local political radar and allow me to gain experience of being in office (If I win, of course...).

After sending an open letter of intent to some smaller parties for support, I had a surprising response. A friend of mine had given me the mailing list and I sent it before checking which parties were on it. I was a little shocked to find that I had responses from parties from every part of the political spectrum, including the Greens, the Communist Party and even the BNP (The BNP want me to stand as a candidate for them >.<' )

Anyway, this will probably be the last update in this thread as I know this should probably just be a News article on my user page, thanks again for the constructive criticism and cautious optimism you've shown.

[mikailus]

Go for it! Go far and hard!

[Jon-86]

At 6/16/09 04:59 PM, ASKDodge wrote: (The BNP want me to stand as a candidate for them >.<' )

lol of course they do, they need as many people as they can brainwash. But go with them and you will never make any real progress politicaly or even the changes YOU want. You will be doing the bidding of a joke party. Except their a bad joke and nobody is laughing.

But I am not surprised by the response you got. Most partie welcome help, new members and volunteers!

[ASKDodge]

Thanks again for the supportive comments, I know I said my previous message would be my last, but I just wanted to take this chance to quickly make a reply.

I know that democracy isn't perfect, and I also know that the UK's form of democracy is quite old and mired in tradition that, although proud, can sometimes be a barrier to progress. I believe that it is the inherent right and responsibility for all citizens within a democratic system to exercise their ability to vote. To not vote, whether through apathy or in protest, is pushing us towards an inexorable destination of a dictatorship of apathy whereby political parties cease to care about improving the country, and become nothing more than conductors of popular opinion, swaying to-and-fro in an attempt to second guess the voters opinion.

"But that's politics", I have no doubt that is what some of you will say. I cannot and will not accept this. What happened to the ideals of a new generation? The desire to improve and build? To correcting the mistakes of the past, in order to improve our future?

To hell with showmanship, empty promises and half-baked initiatives designed solely for a sound bite for the mass media. Where is the passion? Where is the determination? I believe that we can always make things better, that through work and direction you can achieve and improve.

This is why I reject the major parties and their inconsequential babble as they squabble for favourable reviews in the national news. Westminster needs reform, but for now my home town is in need of help. I do not want money taken from other areas in need, all I ask is for what is fair and something that all areas of the UK should have;

-Health - Not more funding, but reform and better management in our health service.

-Peace - Anti-social behaviour and crime would be reduced from improved business investment, compulsory education and policing without bureaucracy.

-Prosperity - Primary industrial jobs for school leavers, enticing business investment and an improvement in both road and rail infrastructure (Which has been promised, but not delivered, every year since 1993!!)

Apologies that this is changing into a bit of a manifesto post, but I just felt the need to outline some broad concepts.

[Tony-DarkGrave]

if a party wants you you should probably be in the BNP or the greens party.

[Generalissimus]

I admire your tenacity and dedication. I would vote for you if I could, but I live in the US. I wish you luck in your election though!

[Tony-DarkGrave]

plus you dont want to be part of the leftist groups thats only asking for trouble.

[Ledgey]

You've stated alot of your national policies, which is sort of pointless. Independants mainly get in based on local problems. You can't start shouting about NHS reform on a national scale whilst the electorate know that only party-elected MPs can sort that.

If you're serious about running, pick local issues and stress them.