ELECTORAL DISTEMPER.
' Birthdays' listed in the
Times or Telegraph tend to confuse. How can it be that some days,
none listed are older than one is oneself, whilst on others several
may so be. What though of all the aged and seemingly haggard strewn
about one, are some older than one hears tell, or do some just seem
older than one knows oneself to be ?
Prior to 1980 one lived in
The New Forest area of Hampshire County, and being minded to do ones
bit, thought to attempt to become an Independent District Councillor
in two successive elections. One was not elected on either
occasion, despite being but pipped at the post for the second
election, but probably that was because no Liberal stood againgst me
and two Conservatives. However never did one loose ones interest in
local affairs.
One noted that on the 2nd
May 2013, the only candidate of the 79 returned to the Wiltshire
Council who received more votes than I did in the New Forest District
Council Election in 1979, was County Councillor George Jeans of Mere.
Such trivia makes one wonder how the Conservative Party retains
Wiltshire with so few votes. No wonder its Chair was rewarded with a
seat in the House of Lords.
One notes that there is to
be a County Council By election in Amesbury East on the 5th
May next. After the 2013 election that seat was held by a
Conservative who had an overall majorityof 24 votes . What one may
wonder is it that makes WILTSHIRE ELECTORALY Moribund ? One vote
is sufficient to win an election, however, surely it is time that
Wiltshire became a contentious area.
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One also notes that
Tisbury Village is yet again one presumes, to co-opt a replacement
Parish Councillor. However many does that make, that sitting
councillors rather than the public will have voted into office. One
realises that problems do arise, however every sudden departure from
the Council does make one wonder if our electoral process is all it
might be. I personally believe that an elector should either vote for
a full house, or forego his or her right to vote at all. I do not
think it is right for any of us to be too selective in our choices,
or vote as some did at the last public election for but one or two
favoured parish candidates, thus skewing the worth of others. Is one
to wonder why so many do not offer their services to the community?
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Some years after leaving
Hampshire, and well passed the age of 70, I was asked whether I
wished to become a Magistrate there ? Maybe there is a younger
generation available for all councils and offices etc, so how about
encouraging some of the younger generation here, rather than recruit
more of the same?
