Ruth Gilfillan was booted down three ranks over Rangers 'banter' claim

[KYBear 0]

Doesn't the United States have a separation of Church and state?

Can you elaborate on what you mean?

 

Churches are still tax free but the restrictions on them have been lifted, even to the point of a proposal now to allow them to campaign for candidates from the pulpit.

 

Their tax free status should be revoked if they are allowed to do this.

[the gunslinger 3,366]

Cameron was not a RC. Also the present LP is she an RC? The RC population of Glasgow is far higher than 15% more likely nearer 30%.

Why are you playing this down.

 

Its clearly outwith the bounds of statistical probability.

 

 

[Gonzo79 15,293]

Some Bears do the Tim's job for him.

 

Bizarre.

[JohnMc 2,750]

Very few, if any, are disenfranchised.

 

I disagree.

In terms of those who are literally disenfranchised the Electoral Commission put that number around 7 million people, nearly 15% of the population eligible to vote. There are various reasons for this, some people clearly don't care and choose not to register, but there are other reasons too. A change in the law in 2015 meant households could no longer register people to vote, individuals had to do it themselves. This led to a large drop in registered voters. You've also got a significant number of people who have defaulted on debt, child support, credit card bills, council tax that type of thing who 'disappear' for a number of years. These people are still part of society but often working in the black economy or not working at all. I personally know a number of guys who have gone through bad divorces and almost dropped off the edge of society. They aren't registered to vote, they don't pay taxes, they no longer contribute to their communities.

 

Then you have the people who are figuratively disenfranchised. There are millions of people around the UK who simply choose not to vote. There are constituencies in this country where almost half of the residents don't bother voting. These are always some of the poorest and most deprived areas in the country. It can be no coincidence that a significant percentage of the poorest and most socially excluded people are not engaged with mainstream politics. I mean it's ironic, but it can't be a coincidence. For local elections the figures are even worse.

Edited November 21, 2017 by JohnMc

[StuGers 477]

Why are you playing this down.

 

Its clearly outwith the bounds of statistical probability.

 

Spot on. I’m baffled at those statistics.

It really is incredible.

[calscot 0]

[ranger_syntax 4,321]

I disagree.

In terms of those who are literally disenfranchised the Electoral Commission put that number around 7 million people, nearly 15% of the population eligible to vote. There are various reasons for this, some people clearly don't care and choose not to register, but there are other reasons too. A change in the law in 2015 meant households could no longer register people to vote, individuals had to do it themselves. This led to a large drop in registered voters. You've also got a significant number of people who have defaulted on debt, child support, credit card bills, council tax that type of thing who 'disappear' for a number of years. These people are still part of society but often working in the black economy or not working at all. I personally know a number of guys who have gone through bad divorces and almost dropped off the edge of society. They aren't registered to vote, they don't pay taxes, they no longer contribute to their communities.

 

Then you have the people who are figuratively disenfranchised. There are millions of people around the UK who simply choose not to vote. There are constituencies in this country where almost half of the residents don't bother voting. These are always some of the poorest and most deprived areas in the country. It can be no coincidence that a significant percentage of the poorest and most socially excluded people are not engaged with mainstream politics. I mean it's ironic, but it can't be a coincidence. For local elections the figures are even worse.

 

None of the people mentioned have been deprived of the right to vote.

[StuGers 477]

 

Care to elaborate on this? Interesting stats.

[StuGers 477]

Spot on. I’m baffled at those statistics.

It really is incredible.

 

I should have added, and even some on here seem to be happy to try and argue that it’s normal and bury their head in the sand.

[Gonzo79 15,293]

None of the people mentioned have been deprived of the right to vote.

 

You can take every word at it's literal meaning and the rest of us can all acknowledge that the English language continually evolves and being deprived of someone to vote for (because you don't approve of any current political party) is a form of disenfranchisement.

 

Hip with that?