Voting in the future

Toko Black

So if no mainstream parties offer the policy I want, I should just not vote?

I should be disenfranchised?

Bl4ckGryph0n

What is wrong with fringe?

And what is nowadays defined as extreme, a few on here call Brexit extreme. It helps to clarify things, then again that then won't allow for changing the goal posts I guess.

SteakAndCake

Brexit party maybe, but UKIP are now what the BNP used to be.

Anyone voting for UKIP by extension of their alignment with certain people must be happy with racism.

SteakAndCake

Nowadays yes, before the Brexit referendum no...

FireCrackerJim

So will the far right just keep spawning new parties once the number of racists reaches critical mass?

Pacifico

I think you will find a significant number of the electorate that hold views on issues that are important to them and many others, but those issues are not represented or even opposed by the main parties.
That is a direct consequence of essentially having a 2 party state. The less parties with a remote chance of having any power, the more likely to not represent anyone on all issues.

If there are fringe parties that do represent those issues, it is then a matter of consciousness to value your own right to express an opinion on a single issue over the rights of many to live a life free from systemic intolerance and bigotry - should that what those fringe parties represent.

domtheone

I doubt (hope...) they'll ever get critical mass. They've not managed it in all those years, then seem to be fighting each other, splinter off and create yet another party. Unfortunately there will always be some people that are taken in by them, but they won't reach critical mass not even if they are in favour to remain or leave the EU...

In my opinion of course.

nabby

Which parties have policies of systemic intolerance and bigotry?

I asked @nabby this as an example, which party has a policy of deportation?

nabby

In a healthy democracy we should want the Lib Dems, Greens, UKIP, Brexit Party, etc, to be organically growing and challenging Labour and the Conservatives.  I don't dance on the graves of the Lib Dems, I feel sorry that they failed to capitalise on their once in a lifetime chance from 2010.  There's a lesson for all smaller parties there to learn.

Bl4ckGryph0n

There is also a lesson for the voters to learn. In many other European countries coalitions are normal, and you simply can’t get everything you may have voted for.

I think the Lib Dem’s got unfairly harsh punishment. But as long as they have Vince they won’t go anywhere.