This man’s political thinking clearly hasn’t moved on from the outraged moralising of adolescence. He even does the old “it’s all about the oil” bit – everyone thinks this sounds sophisticated - when they are a teenager. I suppose it is possible to avoid maturity if you spend your whole life in a privileged media job with little contact with reality. He needs to calm down and grow up. By the way who the hell is he ?
@AlanTTT3 An interesting response, somewhat marred by your off target and it has to be said, pathetically adolescent jibe about 'privileged media job'
So being mature means being a right wing, bitter Daily Mail reading bigot who refuses to think about the wide reaching implications and influence big business can have on our governments and way of life. You have proved it's very possible to live in a world built on corporate corruption and be mug enough to defend it. Tragically childish.
Finally! Welcome to the 1st world! England has a "proper" multi party system. It got even better..You've got a coalition like all of Northern Europe. Ohkay, it's a gathering of tossers..yet.
This is well meant. 2-Party systems are polarized by nature. Not a good thing in a Europe that tries to advance co-operation instead of political screaming.
A history of blood&violence for hundreds of years apparently had some result.
Read "The European dream' by Jeremy Rifkin. Intrigueing dissertation.
oooh "men in suits" yeah I am TOTALLY WITH YOU ON THAT [represses urge to go into mouth-foaming rant]
The moment we see suits waltz into our company, we immediately know: Re-organization on the horizon" and oodles of rubbis-nonsensical "management tech-talk"
Wit in the end as the only result, a lower wage and more unattainable rules out of some sad rich wanker's book about "good bussiness" UGH!!
And that's only on a company-level, let alone the result if they waltz into politics.
"A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns" - Don Corleone
This was the first time I did not vote since I became eligible because it doesn't matter one jot. My dad always votes but he told me that it doesn't matter who you vote for, politicians always get in. I really have lost faith in the whole thing, this is why I am a monarchist, as far as I can tell the Queen is a bloody good egg. I'm just not sure what happens after her. Meritocracy for the win.
New Labour extreme right, Tories extreme right, UKIP extreme right, BNP extreme right, English Democrats extreme right, I could tell you were a guardian reading COMMUNIST before you even mentioned it.
New Labour extreme right, Tories extreme right, UKIP extreme right, BNP extreme right, English Democrats extreme right, I could tell you were a guardian reading COMMUNIST before you even mentioned it.
@moreslaw Those items have not advanced the human condition one bit! They have instead hindered it from advancing further. Especially the internet and videos that are on it.
Media and tech these days just seems to force people AWAY from doing anything useful.
Btw, cancer treatments are useless. As long as doctors and Pharmecutical companies can keep making copious amounts of money on treatments, they will NEVER attempt to find a cure.
Thanks bobby for giving us your opinion, its quiet rare for me to see the person behind the screen, I've not really understood the political system but its nice to hear someone explain how they feel about it especially with similiar views to mine.
I see Rimmer did series on engineering... Great British Machines - cool. I didn't know until it came into my subs box just now from CH5 (got no TV). If you were asked to do a cameo in full Kryten garb... modern robot driving old train kinda thing... would you have said yes? :)
I don't want anyone to kill a million innocent people in my name... I don't subscribe to this way of life so much... I welcome revolution and big changes, knowing that I might be a casualty of that. Etc. For these reasons and many more I have never voted. But I'll vote Lib tonight because a friend of mine in Norway has asked me to do it or her behalf. Aren't I bad!? giving my vote away to a non-citizen.
Much amused by your combined reference to Cameron and one of my favourite YouTube sensations, the "Gap Yah" video, there is a facebook group (if you are indeed a facebook user) I think you would enjoy! I shan't spam links about, just search for "The Conservatives - Still on our Gap Yah" xxx
The political parties anyone sees in their country of origin are those that pander to the desire of the proletariate best. Who can promise the most and most sincerely to their constituents. That makes you and I members of the fastest growing party in existance. The Cynical and Grumpy Party. Welcome :)
It makes a refreshing change to hear such an honest opinion from someone in your position! Your bang on the nail about the big three, big business, big profits, big debt, international bullying & the quest for big control of the people by the men in suits. What I have always found baffling is that people vote blindly, " I always vote???? because my dad did". Arrrrggggh! stupid people, your treated like a dumb sheep, so you vote like one! Glad your opening eyes Bobby!
great video. Going to Vote. Would never vote for the plastic headed prick party (conservitives) though.. I want to self ham every time i see cameron on the TV. I'm not ashamed to vote Labour though, even after all the bollocks i can't see anyone else who i would want to vote for.. But i'm allowed my opinion even if others think its wrong.
@bobbyllew I couldn't agree with you more about Trident. The cost of such a system is astronomical, which could be diverted to other areas aswell as reducing this terrible debt we have.
Personally, I don't see the need for a nuclear deterrent, since there have only ever been 2 occasions such weapons have been used.
I think Denzel Washington said it best in Crimson Tide:
"In the nuclear world, the true enemy is war itself."
You do realise that the conclusion you vote Lib Dem probably simply came from someone seeing Wet Liberal and lazy (or non-existent) research, right? I'm still undecided who to vote for, but I know that I do agree with you that everybody who can vote has to get off their bums and vote next week or we risk the Tories getting back in. Worse yet voter apathy in recent elections allowed the BNP to win seats and we as a nation CANNOT allow that to happen again.
It's really sad that the smaller political groups don't get a look in simply because the reds and the blues have dominated for so long. The great thing about having a vote is being able to hold your hand up for the party that most makes sense to you. I would love to see the 'little men' such as the English Democrats get more exposure, which sadly is what politics has become all about, marketing. Time for an even playing field as I'm not sure this is even democracy any more.
I was just thinking about what you said about being dominated by a two party system, in any election in the U.K. we have always had a number of options on who to vote for in any seat for parliment, however and correct me if I am wrong but in the U.S. don't they have just the Democrats or Republicians to vote for?. Now that would be a two party system.
Hmm, in a breakdown of BP's profits, what proportion is down to selling the black stuff? And what's wrong with big businesses that like to try and screw you Mr Apple fanboy. :P
I also will not reveal who I'm voting for, but it's because whenever you do; your friends and workmates who would otherwise treat you normally that support a different party, suddenly treat you with contempt. Sometimes even words like Thatcherite, Unionist and Wet Liberel spring fourth. I just hate it all.
It seems to me that the human race, with its new ideas of change and "equality", has been nothing but stifled in its advancement.
Honestly, when is the last time you can remember a REAL advancement of discovery to the benefit of the race as a whole? Our technological marvels as of late have been exceedingly limited to the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad...
LOL, I do marvel at how cynical I have become at 26!
I most assuredly and dearly miss the 80's and 90's though... good times, better world.
@circutracer150 Very cynical but very interesting series of comments. Here's an idea, there are two main human organisations to be scared of and those fears define your political outlook. You can fear big government, and their ability to impose profit crushing taxes, or you can fear Big Corporations, with their power and leverage to adjust history and influence government with one simple aim in mind, to make a few people at the top very very rich.
Personally, I don't really care how rich or how poor the top 1% is. Their wealth (or lack thereof) does not, in and of itself, affect me directly.
If that wealth is the side effect of a system that provides more and better services to me, then I don't see why I should care. If a reduction in the quantity and quality of the services provided would be the side effect of more equality, I don't see why I should be happy.
OTOH, if more and better services are NOT provided.... ;)
What happens when we stop fearing BOTH sides of the equation? Where shall our political outlook come from then?
I for one refuse to live or make decisions based on fear and paranoia, so which side can I stand on?... I stand on the side of my childrens future and whatever is most beneficial to that end.
Also, do you feel that we hate those at the top simply because we are not them?
The question has been posed many times. "How much money is enough?" "Just a little more than you have."
@bobbyllew I truly believe the world will be a better place NOT when we have all the answers, but when we the world stand back as a collective and realize we DO NOT have the answers!
Agreeing that we are but dust motes within a vast and wondrous creation will finally put all political and religious zealots in their place, because knowing that we do NOT know will lead to a unification, and therefore advancement.
@bobbyllew I agree with you Robert but if you had to pick witch one is the lesser of the two evils? There sould always be a 3rd choice in my book! And that why i don't vote. There is not 3rd choice and no matter whitch one you vote for it turns in to S***!
@jasonandali Name one that has ANY real impact that has been felt by future generations.
We haven't made any REAL advances that can compare to Industrial REvolution, the Car, Space Travel, Vaccines, etc... we have become woefully stagnant and complacent as a race, content with larger tv consoles and better iPods.
@jasonandali I said things that have BENEFITED the human race, NOT transformed it.
The internet has caused nothing but serious porn addictions and massive drops in the ability to interact socially in real life.
Mobile phones are a sick OBSESSION, one which I suffer from lol, and are no different that a land line phone except for mobility and games on the phone.
I think our current political system has a certain inevitability about it. When one party is in power for too long (and with a huge majority), they become complacent and a target for vested interests. We've moved to a more presidential system without the constitution to support it and scrutinise it. We need a different model, less layers but more devolved.
I hope the Lib Dems win (1000 to one shot I know) so we can have proportional representation. Under the current system most people end up voting for the least bad party that already has a good following in their constituency rather than the Party they really believe in eg they won't vote green because that is seen as a wasted vote.
I'm going to vote tactically against the Tories, I'm afraid. Until we've got proportional representation it's all we can do. If the Lib Dems hold the balance of power in a hung/balanced parliament, then we have some chance of getting rid of the FPTP system, but all I can do until then is vote in my constituency to keep the Tories out. Say what you like about Labour, but the Conservatives will be the same and worse.
I don't see a problem with strong national defense, but you don't have to be ike the Americans and have all the toys, you could just have better ones. I understand you say Obama is a good pres. well even though I am Canadian, I would have to agree. Someone finally thinking of those under him. Lastly, if you're unsure of the left-wing party, and completely disagree with both right-wing parties. . . why not start your own. If I were British I'd vote for ya! cheers.
If liberals had a hope where I was I may think about them. That said our MP has done a decent job so its a personal vote for a Labour MP for me this time.
I mostly agree with you the Trident missile program should be scrapped
On another note what happened to carpool on youtube , I hate the itunes interface its such a kludge
I was tempted to vote for the Green party but their stances on animal testing and on alternative medicine give me the impression they have no idea of science and their policies are based on extremely biased sources. Voting Lib Dem now, agree with you on Labour and especially Conservatives.
Can't believe UK still has "first past the post", you need preferential voting, so you can put who you really want 1 and do your strategic voting in your preferences. You need a proper upper house too, with proportional representation, so a stable lower house government still has to negotiate its legislation through.
HERE HERE. absolutely there with you about saying "i hate men in suits". i just dont like politicians.
my concern is (and this doesnt matter per country) is that if you dont believe in any of the parties that are running then why vote. only unless you feel that the least 'evil' one is in danger of not winning.
I could never support the Green Party because of their policies on spending public money on 'alternative medicine'. Not seemingly as bad as nuclear warheads but significant nonetheless. Lib Dem for me thus far.
I am in the same situation, the local Conservative MP is useless, but has been my MP for the last twenty years. The guy rarely votes for anything unless it is something that would upset people locally that would affect his standing as an MP like a Fox Hunt Ban. He doesn't live locally, he lives 140 miles away in West Sussex. I don't care who I vote for as long as he finally gets unseated, but if I vote strategically I vote Labour and we don't have a Pirate Party UK representative in the running.
I largely agree with everything you've said, with the possible exception of the men in suits bit. I've lived though a long period of conservative government, and now a long period of labour, and they both seemed pretty rotten. At this point I'm quite in favour of trying something else, like the libdems. Like you I also foolishly voted for Blair in '97 only to later realize that this had been a terrible error of judgement.
You have a go at the party leaders for trying to seem powerful, machismatic and well-dressed, but the evidence is that not doing so loses votes, as it did for Michael Foot (with other factors), because comprimise and modesty, especially in our consumerist culture, is mistaken for weakness.
The dishonesty of the right-wing press, the cowardice of the BBC and a capitalist - led, lowest-common-denominator culture have killed all prospect of principle, ideology and thought in favour of impulse.
And reason and tolerance are all that prevent democracy deteriorating into a Platonic tyrrany. Democracy can only work for a population which supports it, not only by voting but by endevouring to understand the issues and to question and change its own values and recieved wisdom. At present, people are persuaded, with vast amounts of marketing, that material status and manufactured gratification have more inherent value, and so we give up our power and allow ourselves to be manipulated.
It was clear to me that Blair was a corrupt, dishonest twat after the Millennium Dome fiasco. He out-Thatchered Thatcher with "collective responsibility, forcing his cabinet to state publicly that they supported it when none of them agreed with it. It was "say you like the idea or I'll resign over it and you'll all lose your seats."
Turns out an old school chum of his had the construction contract.
@johnanth I'm intrigued you think I'm posh. Is it because of my accent? I suppose some people might think that. My dad came from a very working class background, my mum was fairly posh, but I went to state schools, didn't go to University, lived in abject poverty for the first 10 years of my adult life, did loads of manual laboring jobs, so technically, I am scum with a posh accent. :-)
Im probably voting Lib Dem because Im still pissed off about the war. Labour did it, Conservatives were well up for it and only lib dems were against it (if memory serves). I think the bail out was necessary to prop up a stupid system. (short term, reforming in the long term), Im only worried that the conservatives get in and stop propping up the banks and it all goes pear shaped and we see real financial hardship for the majority.
Democracy does not work. In the end it will always fail. All people do is vote themselves gifts. The western capitalist economic collapse is starting to simmer up at the moment. The reality of whats to come for Britain is not known to the average Joe.
I'm happy with voicing my voting opinion. I'm voting Lib Dem, and not because of the recent hype about them, but because for years now they seem the only party who have ANY understanding of what it is like for the average British person. Although his views on higher education wont effect me, I want to be a teacher and I think that eliminating tuition fees for university and encouraging apprenticeships will allow so many people the chances they may otherwise not have been able to embrace.
I hate David Cameron with a passion... if he gets in as prime minister i will be distraught. not only is he incredibly annoying and transparent (he's no environmentalist!) but his policies are nothing new, and very traditionalist... i just don't see how he's going to change anything at all... i see voting conservative as voting for everything to stay the same... which is why my nan is disappointed in me :P
All the partys i know about have some reason i really woudn't wan't the vote for them except (as far as i know) the lib dems. I think they've changed at last some of it now but the greenshave been until recently very anti science.
I live in a big Conservative area as well, sadly. I see the signs all the time and just want to sabotage them - especially the large ones they have next to winding country roads spoiling the view.
First, I think I'm right in saying that B.P rebranded themselves, and it now stands for Beyond Petroleum. On that basis, maybe they are heading onto your radar Bobby. I'm not defending them; I'm not saying I'm happy about the price of fuel, etc. Just saying.
Second, I'm alarmed by the number of RED flashing lights on your Drobo.
@jumpinjon Aaah yes, Beyond Petroleum, and onto hydrogen which is stripped out of natural gas and will cost more. Sorry, I'm being overly cycnical. And the Drobo is updating, just plugged in a 2 Tb drive, it will be doing that for another day at least
As my dear old confused mother said the other day...."lets have a hung parliament, and lets see the buggers hung in public"....can't argue with that...
Britain is changing. To think that you actually consider voting for a third alternative. Soon you may go truly metric and start driving on the right side of the road. You may become... contemporary.
Just poking some fun out of my neighbors to the west, but there is a point to be had.
Although it felt horrible at the time, what do you think would have happened to the country if we didn't bail out the banks? I'm no economist but I imagine it would have been a lot worse if we hadn't bailed them out. More importantly, we are in £10billion profit on the shares (if the gaurdian can be belived) and we still have them. Lets hope they get sold at the right time!
I would say that you should call labour for what it is, ultra left-wing. Socialism in the form of a large government is still left wing, not right wing
'course, right wing is now a general slur that fits to make anyone evil. If you believe in smaller government, less taxes, and a strong national defense, you're right wing.
@Zastava I can't see how anyone could call the present Labour administration even vaguely left wing, pro big corporations, banking, nuclear re-armament,
The whole notion of right wingers either here or in the US wanting 'smaller government' is one of the biggest cons they've ever pulled. It didn't happen under Thatcher who always droned on about it, didn't happen under Reagan or Bush 1 or 2, while less tax always means burden gets shifted from the rich to the poor
@bobbyllew Incredibly Keynesian spending policies (especially with Gordon Brown), increase of funding for NHS (which I don't entirely disagree with, though the funding is mostly bureaucratic and allows such nonsense as homeopathic treatments to be covered), a large State created database of personal/private information. Those all result in more spending and a larger state organization being formed to "provide" for the people, which I would say is one of the main aims of the left.
@bobbyllew Also, I agree that those particular governments are not shining beacons of freedom or of what I see as conservatism. I admire Thatcher and Reagan for different reasons (of course, I'm a political realist, so take what you will from that).
I guess what I should say is that the terms left wing and right wing are now just too general and can be adapted by anyone to mean anything they want. When we criticize, we should just never use those words, along with socialism and fascism.
@bobbyllew You MUST tax the rich businesses less Bobby. They are the ones who give jobs and products to people and consumers! If you tax the hell out of them, where will they HAVE to pass that cost onto? We the people.
Big government is indeed a bad thing, but it will never go away and history has shown us that.
when i saw the title i though you were saying you would vote lib dem, i would have said did you see the debates, all nick cleg said was something like im not brown or cameron vote for me, and he looks like a bank manager
I genuinely enjoy hearing your perspective and opinions about events. I couldn't agree more with what you said her. It's quite fresh to hear a non biased political view that makes sense.
For many thousands of people in England and Scotland the thought of lowering oil production or scrapping trident literally means mass unemployment and the shutting down of towns with no other industry. It's easy to sit in a middle class ivory tower when you have a life of plenty. I am still on the fence on this election and glad I am overseas and unable to vote! The only important issues at the moment are the economy, jobs, education and health.
@jasonandreoli The idea that we have to pay taxes to create unnecessary jobs
building appalling weapons we wont ever use is also slightly daft.
Why not employ those people to do something more productive instead. Its not like they're *making* the uk money, its all our taxes getting poured down the trident/military/industrial complex drain.
Oil production will lower itself. US Military report expected shortages (peak oil) from 2012.
@jasonandreoli Okay, good jab, the old Ivory Tower cliche, I actually live in a shed, but no matter. I'm afraid I cannot agree with you. Scrapping Trident, in fact, scrapping all absurd, expensive nuclear weapons would release such a massive fund of money which could be spent wisely, employing 1000's of people, building an infrastructure to generate our own power for example. I'm not expecting this to happen, but it could. It's not impossible
Well, I wouldn't exactly call Labour right wing now, Robert. I personally think they've gone more left wing, they want to abolish the hereditary peers, for goodness sakes! What's next if they win, the Monarchy? I think they've turned into far-left socialists almost boardering on communism
please,do not say you support "the man in the suit" obama? have you seen the polls? what about ukip? and if this is your view maybe i shouldn't "have been watching"
@FAB12UCB Tories were shite 13 years ago - John Major is one of the worst Prime Ministers of all time in opinion - and the Tories will be just as bad if they get elected now... screw them, I am voting Lib Dems, they really seem like they have a chance of winning this time around - and they have the best mindset in my opinion of the main 3 parties.
bobstah i dont understand how u can share the understanding that these people support a lying coercive system and still encourage people to vote. noone, even the libdems, are saying anything that is not motivated by 'winning the election' and NOTHING MORE! u dont 'vote' for a party..u only vote for the system.. and agreeing that this coercive, destructive, lying scumfuck of a system is fine by you.. because you just gave them the power to do what they like
Nick Clegg confuses me in the respect that he wants the euro, and always tends to be very vague on the issue of immigration. Young people seem to love him. I think it's that young people like to feel that they can empower such change and be different, when really he is no different - in fact I think he will be worse, having had no experience of the party leading in so long.
Like you, my area is ridiculously Tory (Bedfordshire) but I'm quite happy to vote them just to keep Brown/Clegg out.
Great video mate. Its nice to see a more known celebrity on youtube talking honestly but without trying to turn everyone to their point on view. Tis refreshing to say the least. Sub'd. :) Problem i have with British politics (as a 19 year old) Is that i find it so immensely boring. I found it (Much to my annoyance) Easier to get into American politics than i do British. But when I say, saw the politics shows on TV. It always seemed to just be a pissing contest in the house of commons. :/
Eh up bob hows it going stranger :) personally i think recession+hung parliment=nightmare.Labour will carry us out of recession after that anything goes.
its sickening that(according to our media) so many people believe Camerons BS,and that were still trapped in this two almost identical party system after all these years,and how many millions of innocent deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan?
gap yah was great,in a sad but true kind of way..even found a gap yah dubstep remix!
@ma4very ur vote means absolutely nothing.. the fact that this is our only 'voice' is a cruel joke of a 'freedom' and using this vote is only sanctioning their immoral actions..you are admitting that this is democracy..u are saying 'yes..i vote..i agree this is how things should be run' and then go to sleep for another 5 years while thousands more people are tortured and killed
I wish people would stop having a go at Cameron because he went to Eton . He would've been 11 years old when he went there, and how many 11 year olds get that much choice in which school you go to. If that's where Cameron went he's been groomed to be like this.
BTW I am not endorsing the Tories just trying to make a point, good on you saying you won't say how you're going to vote - much respect.
I love you're posts, they rock and full of great ideas
This video is refreshing in the fact I am having the exact same issues in Canada. I'm in a heavily populated tori area, I lean more towards liberal and green, however I know the people that get hired into those parties at will eventually bugger their reputation and my own. My first time voting I voted liberal, and less that a few months later the guy I voted in stepped down because he happened to be part of a cabinet that had a scandal and then torie's got in. ARG.
I'm not sure it's really much to boast about that one never believed there were weapons of mass destruction. Iraq certainly did have WMDs during the war with Iran and used them often, and they used them against the Kurds and other groups. A more reasonable position at the time would just be that their claimed destruction had not been adequately verified, and that the UN inspectors should have been given more time and resources, thus we didn't yet have a viable case for war.
@TravisMorien Fair point, well made. I certainly didn't want to give the impression that I thought Saddam was anything other than a low life. Of course, we also shouldn't forget the West was very happy to support him and sell him weapons when he was fighting the Iranians.
@bobbyllew Perhaps the lesson, if anyone needed learning it, is that no responsible nation should offer their military support to vile tyrants or extremist groups, even against common enemies, lest they turn against us some day.
But if we did adopt such a principal we'd have let Hitler have his way with the Soviets, and then when the Soviets did overcome him in the end they'd have run straight over Europe.
Which I guess all means the world is complex, and inflexible rules don't work.
@TravisMorien The notion that Iraq lacked WMDs wasn't based on belief. There where inspectors there. They concluded that Iraq lacked WMDs but also said that they would like more time to investigate if only to silence the warmongers. The US and the UK never gave them that time. I always wondered why myself.
@GeminiPrimeX Their conclusion was certainly not an emphatic one, indeed the inspectors did note frequent lack of cooperation and had reason to believe they were being mislead. Certainly, the Iraqis were unable to provide conclusive evidence that the WMDs had been destroyed, as opposed to hidden. Today, it would appear that Saddam's strategy was to use this ambiguity as a deterrent, he wanted others to think he still had WMDs. With hindsight, not a good strategy!
@TravisMorien So? That´s what I said. They couldn't find any evidence of WMDs but asked for more time. The US and the UK said no and started their invasion before further investigations could be had. Since we are using hindsight to speculate we could speculate as to why The US and the UK wouldn't allow for further inspections. Did they have concerns that Saddam would move his WMDs or did they have concerns that no WMDs would be found at all?
@GeminiPrimeX I'm a big believer in the idea that one shouldn't credit malice with that which can be easily explained by stupidity. For my part, I do accept the idea that the people pushing for the war genuinely believed that Saddam had WMDs and that he was sharing them with Al Qaeda, and that their belief was so strong that they were not concerned about exaggerating the intelligence, much like a cop framing a man he "knows" to be guilty, to ensure that the criminal gets what is coming to him.
@TravisMorien That is a very nice of looking at the matter and I agree with your hypothesis. It is a plausible scenario indeed. I still find it disturbing that we must hypothesize on the motives of a war.
You make some really interesting points. I'm sure no 1 party is perfect, and in an ideal world we could all work together and have a ballence of ideas.
I'm torn between the Green Party and Lib-Dems right now. They both have some really good ideals, especialy when it comes to combating climate change. Although I somewhat doubt that Green will get a chance since they don't seem to have one person representing them much. They've been in 1 debate so far and are hugley simular to lib-dems.
My concern with the Lib-Dems is they have a history of following Labour's lead. I'm not a fan of labour to say the least. That's not to say I don't think David Cameron is a slimy weasel trying to do the Tony Blair thing :P
Unfortunately, I'm more or less compelled to vote for the Lib Dems. There are 6 candidates in my constituency: Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem, BNP, UKIP or the National Front (!). So, my choices are guy in a suit, or ultra-right wing bigot. I could just not vote at all, but I've done that in every other election and look what that got me ;)
There's a site called VoteMatch that tells you which party most closely matches your views on the important issues. I tried it and it said my views were closest to the Lib Dem manifesto. It might help you decide one way or the other.
British politics has become so bland, every political party is trying to appeal to the mainstream that they've become homogenized. There's no clear distinction between any of the three big hitters. The only parties that have clear identifiable policies are on the extreme (this is why the nightmare of BNP MP's has become a reality).
Labour have become Diet-Conservative, the Conservatives are stuck in a time-warp somewhere pre-Suez, waiting for Thatcher's second-coming and the return of Empire, and the LibDems are I'm afraid suffering from a little bit of premature-election excitement, with the upswing in their popularity recently.
But as much as I despair for British politics, its the British electorate that really get me down. Look at the recent TV debates between the main party leaders. The only way to engage the public was to make it a copy of "Weakest Link". It wasn't a political debate, it was a cheap game-show.
It's common sense that individual sovereignty is the natural order mate. I voted for 'autonomous' (the right to self-governance) and respect others equally. peace peace
Well, I have to say Bobby, I've never been into contemporary politics (yes, I've always found ancient politics more interesting), and therefore I haven't been interested in voting before. Your video has inspired me, though. Mainly because I went through an online questionnaire a few years ago to predict which would be the best party choice for me. My result was the Green Party, which is curious after what you have been saying. Hmm... time to trawl some websites.
All three parties want to replace Trident with a new delivery system, the Lib Dems are pro-nuclear weapons, they just want to find a cheaper way of killing everyone.
As for pro-war, again the Lib Dems were enthusiastic about invading Iraq (they just wanted to wait for a new UN mandate) although they've tried their best to rewrite history when the war became a complete disaster. They support the war in Afghanistan and have consistently been among the most hawkish of parties (think Yugislavia).
@RevolutionarySpectre As for portraying the LIb Dems as standing apart from two right--wing parties, this is nonsense. Kennedy was left of Blair (hell, Thatcher was probably left of Blair) but the same does not hold true for their parties, especially today. The Lib Dem policies on the economy put them overtly to the right of Labour and closer to the Tories (Clegg has move the party way back to the right of Labour).
@RevolutionarySpectre I think this is all the more reason I don't wish to align myself with any political party. I agree with you, but the very fact that Clegg even questioned the sanity of the Trident program is a plus in my book.
@bobbyllew According to the BBC's reality check (I'd post a link but youtube won't let me), Trident probably is the best system in terms of price and capability (there must have been a reason to go that way in the first place). So the real question is do we want a deterrent or not (and none of the big 3 say "no")?
Btw, I don't think it's fair to lump the Tories in with the BNP.
@RevolutionarySpectre you are correct that the lib dems do not want trident, but are very wrong about them being pro nuclear, read page 59 of their manifesto. Also, you cannot speculate that the lib dems are hawkish when they have not endorsed any action of invasion of war.
@ProGuitarTuition They will not seek to abolish our nuclear weapons unilaterally. That for the time makes them pro-nuclear weapon.
It's not speculation. The Lib Dems favoured military intervention in Iraq, they just wanted to go about it differently. They have fully supported the war in Afghanistan and have supported every single war or 'military intervention' Britain has been involved in since they were founded. Ashdown was especially aggressive.
If you hate big companies that supply sh1te products, look behind you, mac supply over priced products and make huge profits, you obviously dont hate them.
Also look at all those products in your office which are made from plastic, where did it all come from?
@BitCrushingCog Very interesting comment. I don't think I was implicitly saying I don't think companies should make money. I have particular criticisms of rapacious oil companies grossly inflated profits and maintaining that market position by subtly poisoning public opinion against any alternative. I also don't want to waste oil by burning it in outdated machinery. I would rather it was used to make useful products like those on my desk
@AlanTTT3 He's Robert Llewellyn for crying out loud, he's a legend!
michael96686 3 months ago
This man’s political thinking clearly hasn’t moved on from the outraged moralising of adolescence. He even does the old “it’s all about the oil” bit – everyone thinks this sounds sophisticated - when they are a teenager. I suppose it is possible to avoid maturity if you spend your whole life in a privileged media job with little contact with reality. He needs to calm down and grow up. By the way who the hell is he ?
AlanTTT3 10 months ago
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carpoolUK 10 months ago
@AlanTTT3 An interesting response, somewhat marred by your off target and it has to be said, pathetically adolescent jibe about 'privileged media job'
So being mature means being a right wing, bitter Daily Mail reading bigot who refuses to think about the wide reaching implications and influence big business can have on our governments and way of life. You have proved it's very possible to live in a world built on corporate corruption and be mug enough to defend it. Tragically childish.
bobbyllew 10 months ago 2
Typical liberal living in a media bubble.
EnglishG3nt 1 year ago
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carpoolUK 10 months ago
@EnglishG3nt Typical ignorant right wing blinkered comment. Try harder. Pathetic and stupid.
bobbyllew 10 months ago
Finally! Welcome to the 1st world! England has a "proper" multi party system. It got even better..You've got a coalition like all of Northern Europe. Ohkay, it's a gathering of tossers..yet.
This is well meant. 2-Party systems are polarized by nature. Not a good thing in a Europe that tries to advance co-operation instead of political screaming.
A history of blood&violence for hundreds of years apparently had some result.
Read "The European dream' by Jeremy Rifkin. Intrigueing dissertation.
diakrite 1 year ago
oooh "men in suits" yeah I am TOTALLY WITH YOU ON THAT [represses urge to go into mouth-foaming rant]
The moment we see suits waltz into our company, we immediately know: Re-organization on the horizon" and oodles of rubbis-nonsensical "management tech-talk"
Wit in the end as the only result, a lower wage and more unattainable rules out of some sad rich wanker's book about "good bussiness" UGH!!
And that's only on a company-level, let alone the result if they waltz into politics.
diakrite 1 year ago
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diakrite 1 year ago
Yeah hung parliament, that is a disaster, because it ends up with David Cameron getting into power lol.
fullfrontalfrank 1 year ago
Turns out the LibDems are extremely right wing too huh?
Dibdin100 1 year ago
"A lawyer with his briefcase can steal more than a hundred men with guns" - Don Corleone
This was the first time I did not vote since I became eligible because it doesn't matter one jot. My dad always votes but he told me that it doesn't matter who you vote for, politicians always get in. I really have lost faith in the whole thing, this is why I am a monarchist, as far as I can tell the Queen is a bloody good egg. I'm just not sure what happens after her. Meritocracy for the win.
jacksawild 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
New Labour extreme right, Tories extreme right, UKIP extreme right, BNP extreme right, English Democrats extreme right, I could tell you were a guardian reading COMMUNIST before you even mentioned it.
LOL!
TheTVLicence 1 year ago
New Labour extreme right, Tories extreme right, UKIP extreme right, BNP extreme right, English Democrats extreme right, I could tell you were a guardian reading COMMUNIST before you even mentioned it.
LOL!
TheTVLicence 1 year ago
MR LONG-LEGGY-CLEGGY-WEGGY
peppers515 1 year ago
@moreslaw Those items have not advanced the human condition one bit! They have instead hindered it from advancing further. Especially the internet and videos that are on it.
Media and tech these days just seems to force people AWAY from doing anything useful.
Btw, cancer treatments are useless. As long as doctors and Pharmecutical companies can keep making copious amounts of money on treatments, they will NEVER attempt to find a cure.
circutracer150 1 year ago
Thanks bobby for giving us your opinion, its quiet rare for me to see the person behind the screen, I've not really understood the political system but its nice to hear someone explain how they feel about it especially with similiar views to mine.
Fizland 1 year ago
I see Rimmer did series on engineering... Great British Machines - cool. I didn't know until it came into my subs box just now from CH5 (got no TV). If you were asked to do a cameo in full Kryten garb... modern robot driving old train kinda thing... would you have said yes? :)
McPrfctday 1 year ago
I don't want anyone to kill a million innocent people in my name... I don't subscribe to this way of life so much... I welcome revolution and big changes, knowing that I might be a casualty of that. Etc. For these reasons and many more I have never voted. But I'll vote Lib tonight because a friend of mine in Norway has asked me to do it or her behalf. Aren't I bad!? giving my vote away to a non-citizen.
McPrfctday 1 year ago
Much amused by your combined reference to Cameron and one of my favourite YouTube sensations, the "Gap Yah" video, there is a facebook group (if you are indeed a facebook user) I think you would enjoy! I shan't spam links about, just search for "The Conservatives - Still on our Gap Yah" xxx
mrsjodickson 1 year ago
"For Change!?" haha
themuffin 1 year ago
The political parties anyone sees in their country of origin are those that pander to the desire of the proletariate best. Who can promise the most and most sincerely to their constituents. That makes you and I members of the fastest growing party in existance. The Cynical and Grumpy Party. Welcome :)
RyuDarragh 1 year ago
Narthen young man,
It makes a refreshing change to hear such an honest opinion from someone in your position! Your bang on the nail about the big three, big business, big profits, big debt, international bullying & the quest for big control of the people by the men in suits. What I have always found baffling is that people vote blindly, " I always vote???? because my dad did". Arrrrggggh! stupid people, your treated like a dumb sheep, so you vote like one! Glad your opening eyes Bobby!
DingleZilla 1 year ago
Wait a second Rob, if I remember correctly you're the proud owner of a fine "Siverde Tailors" suit!
Tubilak 1 year ago
great video. Going to Vote. Would never vote for the plastic headed prick party (conservitives) though.. I want to self ham every time i see cameron on the TV. I'm not ashamed to vote Labour though, even after all the bollocks i can't see anyone else who i would want to vote for.. But i'm allowed my opinion even if others think its wrong.
thrusterbuster 1 year ago
@thrusterbuster --' self ham' --LOL
Padata3000 1 year ago
Mr Bob. You are music to my ears good sir. Sod the corps. Political pragmatism all the way!
PactPrimeval 1 year ago
@bobbyllew I couldn't agree with you more about Trident. The cost of such a system is astronomical, which could be diverted to other areas aswell as reducing this terrible debt we have.
Personally, I don't see the need for a nuclear deterrent, since there have only ever been 2 occasions such weapons have been used.
I think Denzel Washington said it best in Crimson Tide:
"In the nuclear world, the true enemy is war itself."
Fatheed666 1 year ago
You do realise that the conclusion you vote Lib Dem probably simply came from someone seeing Wet Liberal and lazy (or non-existent) research, right? I'm still undecided who to vote for, but I know that I do agree with you that everybody who can vote has to get off their bums and vote next week or we risk the Tories getting back in. Worse yet voter apathy in recent elections allowed the BNP to win seats and we as a nation CANNOT allow that to happen again.
idontlikegravy 1 year ago
It's really sad that the smaller political groups don't get a look in simply because the reds and the blues have dominated for so long. The great thing about having a vote is being able to hold your hand up for the party that most makes sense to you. I would love to see the 'little men' such as the English Democrats get more exposure, which sadly is what politics has become all about, marketing. Time for an even playing field as I'm not sure this is even democracy any more.
DjaveBikinus 1 year ago
I was just thinking about what you said about being dominated by a two party system, in any election in the U.K. we have always had a number of options on who to vote for in any seat for parliment, however and correct me if I am wrong but in the U.S. don't they have just the Democrats or Republicians to vote for?. Now that would be a two party system.
pw30835 1 year ago
Haha! Hilarious that "suits" is a is a tag. Don't trust a tosser in a suit!
Craigfunkulus 1 year ago
i know everyone is putting really clever comments down, but i MUST mention that i cannot stop laughing at "um.... er... the Cameron man" XD
guitarheroewe1 1 year ago
vote for change more like beg for change but thats what there twisted humor is like and they think we dont see it.
aciidtube 1 year ago
Hmm, in a breakdown of BP's profits, what proportion is down to selling the black stuff? And what's wrong with big businesses that like to try and screw you Mr Apple fanboy. :P
I also will not reveal who I'm voting for, but it's because whenever you do; your friends and workmates who would otherwise treat you normally that support a different party, suddenly treat you with contempt. Sometimes even words like Thatcherite, Unionist and Wet Liberel spring fourth. I just hate it all.
BigglesPiP 1 year ago
It seems to me that the human race, with its new ideas of change and "equality", has been nothing but stifled in its advancement.
Honestly, when is the last time you can remember a REAL advancement of discovery to the benefit of the race as a whole? Our technological marvels as of late have been exceedingly limited to the iPod, the iPhone, and the iPad...
LOL, I do marvel at how cynical I have become at 26!
I most assuredly and dearly miss the 80's and 90's though... good times, better world.
circutracer150 1 year ago
@circutracer150 Very cynical but very interesting series of comments. Here's an idea, there are two main human organisations to be scared of and those fears define your political outlook. You can fear big government, and their ability to impose profit crushing taxes, or you can fear Big Corporations, with their power and leverage to adjust history and influence government with one simple aim in mind, to make a few people at the top very very rich.
bobbyllew 1 year ago
@bobbyllew
Personally, I don't really care how rich or how poor the top 1% is. Their wealth (or lack thereof) does not, in and of itself, affect me directly.
If that wealth is the side effect of a system that provides more and better services to me, then I don't see why I should care. If a reduction in the quantity and quality of the services provided would be the side effect of more equality, I don't see why I should be happy.
OTOH, if more and better services are NOT provided.... ;)
LordZentei 1 year ago
What happens when we stop fearing BOTH sides of the equation? Where shall our political outlook come from then?
I for one refuse to live or make decisions based on fear and paranoia, so which side can I stand on?... I stand on the side of my childrens future and whatever is most beneficial to that end.
Also, do you feel that we hate those at the top simply because we are not them?
The question has been posed many times. "How much money is enough?" "Just a little more than you have."
circutracer150 1 year ago
@bobbyllew I truly believe the world will be a better place NOT when we have all the answers, but when we the world stand back as a collective and realize we DO NOT have the answers!
Agreeing that we are but dust motes within a vast and wondrous creation will finally put all political and religious zealots in their place, because knowing that we do NOT know will lead to a unification, and therefore advancement.
circutracer150 1 year ago
@bobbyllew I agree with you Robert but if you had to pick witch one is the lesser of the two evils? There sould always be a 3rd choice in my book! And that why i don't vote. There is not 3rd choice and no matter whitch one you vote for it turns in to S***!
cartoonkeith1 1 year ago
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cartoonkeith1 1 year ago
@bobbyllew Can we not just fear both Robert?
Thomkinsson 1 year ago
@circutracer150 Are you kidding? The advances in the last 15 years have been bigger than the industrial revolution.
jasonandali 1 year ago
@jasonandali Name one that has ANY real impact that has been felt by future generations.
We haven't made any REAL advances that can compare to Industrial REvolution, the Car, Space Travel, Vaccines, etc... we have become woefully stagnant and complacent as a race, content with larger tv consoles and better iPods.
circutracer150 1 year ago
@circutracer150 I'll give you two - the internet and mobile communication. They've transformed the world beyond recognition.
jasonandali 1 year ago
@jasonandali I said things that have BENEFITED the human race, NOT transformed it.
The internet has caused nothing but serious porn addictions and massive drops in the ability to interact socially in real life.
Mobile phones are a sick OBSESSION, one which I suffer from lol, and are no different that a land line phone except for mobility and games on the phone.
circutracer150 1 year ago
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Padata3000 1 year ago
Why not support BP? Using 100% recycled dinosaur fossils as fuel seems pretty ecological. :)
Seriously though... pro war isn't a way to be, but keeping the peace means being ready and having the means to defnd ones people if necessary.
Secondly, if you think Obama is a good president in ANY way shape or form, you are sadly mistaken my good man. He is a CANCER to the USA!
circutracer150 1 year ago
I think our current political system has a certain inevitability about it. When one party is in power for too long (and with a huge majority), they become complacent and a target for vested interests. We've moved to a more presidential system without the constitution to support it and scrutinise it. We need a different model, less layers but more devolved.
dafyddt 1 year ago
I hope the Lib Dems win (1000 to one shot I know) so we can have proportional representation. Under the current system most people end up voting for the least bad party that already has a good following in their constituency rather than the Party they really believe in eg they won't vote green because that is seen as a wasted vote.
Prunesqualer 1 year ago
Why do we have banks now bobbyllew, we cant ever get a morgage just fines on our wages,
Hokumratrun 1 year ago
....but tell us how you really feel. :)
burrismp 1 year ago
I'm going to vote tactically against the Tories, I'm afraid. Until we've got proportional representation it's all we can do. If the Lib Dems hold the balance of power in a hung/balanced parliament, then we have some chance of getting rid of the FPTP system, but all I can do until then is vote in my constituency to keep the Tories out. Say what you like about Labour, but the Conservatives will be the same and worse.
feckingbillgates 1 year ago
I don't see a problem with strong national defense, but you don't have to be ike the Americans and have all the toys, you could just have better ones. I understand you say Obama is a good pres. well even though I am Canadian, I would have to agree. Someone finally thinking of those under him. Lastly, if you're unsure of the left-wing party, and completely disagree with both right-wing parties. . . why not start your own. If I were British I'd vote for ya! cheers.
David170106 1 year ago
At 7.0 was mental ROFLOL to most of the video,you tell them Bobby and thumbs up as always lol.
startazz 1 year ago
If liberals had a hope where I was I may think about them. That said our MP has done a decent job so its a personal vote for a Labour MP for me this time.
I mostly agree with you the Trident missile program should be scrapped
On another note what happened to carpool on youtube , I hate the itunes interface its such a kludge
UK1774 1 year ago
I love your office, it's like my perfect workspace.
larztallica316 1 year ago
I was tempted to vote for the Green party but their stances on animal testing and on alternative medicine give me the impression they have no idea of science and their policies are based on extremely biased sources. Voting Lib Dem now, agree with you on Labour and especially Conservatives.
IAmNotKira 1 year ago
Can't believe UK still has "first past the post", you need preferential voting, so you can put who you really want 1 and do your strategic voting in your preferences. You need a proper upper house too, with proportional representation, so a stable lower house government still has to negotiate its legislation through.
GrantQuinn1 1 year ago
HERE HERE. absolutely there with you about saying "i hate men in suits". i just dont like politicians.
my concern is (and this doesnt matter per country) is that if you dont believe in any of the parties that are running then why vote. only unless you feel that the least 'evil' one is in danger of not winning.
dragade101 1 year ago
I could never support the Green Party because of their policies on spending public money on 'alternative medicine'. Not seemingly as bad as nuclear warheads but significant nonetheless. Lib Dem for me thus far.
alexvegas 1 year ago
No love for the Monster raving loony party?
Come on can they do any worse than any other parties
samuelellisuk 1 year ago
I am in the same situation, the local Conservative MP is useless, but has been my MP for the last twenty years. The guy rarely votes for anything unless it is something that would upset people locally that would affect his standing as an MP like a Fox Hunt Ban. He doesn't live locally, he lives 140 miles away in West Sussex. I don't care who I vote for as long as he finally gets unseated, but if I vote strategically I vote Labour and we don't have a Pirate Party UK representative in the running.
koorb 1 year ago
I largely agree with everything you've said, with the possible exception of the men in suits bit. I've lived though a long period of conservative government, and now a long period of labour, and they both seemed pretty rotten. At this point I'm quite in favour of trying something else, like the libdems. Like you I also foolishly voted for Blair in '97 only to later realize that this had been a terrible error of judgement.
motters2001 1 year ago
I say we start a "wet liberals" party, with Bobbyllew as leader, who can appear at leaders debates wearing anything but a suit.
mirgefg 1 year ago
David Cameron: Gap Yah chunder merchant
Taheki 1 year ago
Fucking electirc cars!
DrStrangeweird 1 year ago
You have a go at the party leaders for trying to seem powerful, machismatic and well-dressed, but the evidence is that not doing so loses votes, as it did for Michael Foot (with other factors), because comprimise and modesty, especially in our consumerist culture, is mistaken for weakness.
The dishonesty of the right-wing press, the cowardice of the BBC and a capitalist - led, lowest-common-denominator culture have killed all prospect of principle, ideology and thought in favour of impulse.
n14e5o15 1 year ago
And reason and tolerance are all that prevent democracy deteriorating into a Platonic tyrrany. Democracy can only work for a population which supports it, not only by voting but by endevouring to understand the issues and to question and change its own values and recieved wisdom. At present, people are persuaded, with vast amounts of marketing, that material status and manufactured gratification have more inherent value, and so we give up our power and allow ourselves to be manipulated.
n14e5o15 1 year ago
I've two things to say:
"Milk snatcher Thatcher" (Guess which generation I'm from!)
"Bring back Spitting Image"
And
"Tell It Like It Is!"
Three! Three things to say :D
TheEverTwistedOne 1 year ago
It was clear to me that Blair was a corrupt, dishonest twat after the Millennium Dome fiasco. He out-Thatchered Thatcher with "collective responsibility, forcing his cabinet to state publicly that they supported it when none of them agreed with it. It was "say you like the idea or I'll resign over it and you'll all lose your seats."
Turns out an old school chum of his had the construction contract.
He was ALWAYS an evil fucking git.
bdf2718 1 year ago
RIght-wing banker or wanker?
bdf2718 1 year ago
I'd vote for you!
amigang 1 year ago
Posho? Like you ain't one!
johnanth 1 year ago
@johnanth P.S. I live in South Norfolk but Lib Dems are not heavily advertising here, which is a surprise as this is a quite liberal constituency...
johnanth 1 year ago
@johnanth I'm intrigued you think I'm posh. Is it because of my accent? I suppose some people might think that. My dad came from a very working class background, my mum was fairly posh, but I went to state schools, didn't go to University, lived in abject poverty for the first 10 years of my adult life, did loads of manual laboring jobs, so technically, I am scum with a posh accent. :-)
bobbyllew 1 year ago
@bobbyllew I went to University and I sound like a pirate. Can it be possible for a posh person to sound like scum?
TheDensley7 11 months ago
Im probably voting Lib Dem because Im still pissed off about the war. Labour did it, Conservatives were well up for it and only lib dems were against it (if memory serves). I think the bail out was necessary to prop up a stupid system. (short term, reforming in the long term), Im only worried that the conservatives get in and stop propping up the banks and it all goes pear shaped and we see real financial hardship for the majority.
MrPingostar 1 year ago
Democracy does not work. In the end it will always fail. All people do is vote themselves gifts. The western capitalist economic collapse is starting to simmer up at the moment. The reality of whats to come for Britain is not known to the average Joe.
Does not matter who wins the result is the same.
goodagofilms 1 year ago
Been looking forward to another wet Liberal. Sorry for being smart on twitter saying it takes a news article for you to make a new video :P
Keep them coming!!
TheAussieBlogger 1 year ago
I'm happy with voicing my voting opinion. I'm voting Lib Dem, and not because of the recent hype about them, but because for years now they seem the only party who have ANY understanding of what it is like for the average British person. Although his views on higher education wont effect me, I want to be a teacher and I think that eliminating tuition fees for university and encouraging apprenticeships will allow so many people the chances they may otherwise not have been able to embrace.
OMGitsSeppie 1 year ago
I hate David Cameron with a passion... if he gets in as prime minister i will be distraught. not only is he incredibly annoying and transparent (he's no environmentalist!) but his policies are nothing new, and very traditionalist... i just don't see how he's going to change anything at all... i see voting conservative as voting for everything to stay the same... which is why my nan is disappointed in me :P
OMGitsSeppie 1 year ago
we all made the "tony blair" fuck up
jo7414 1 year ago
All the partys i know about have some reason i really woudn't wan't the vote for them except (as far as i know) the lib dems. I think they've changed at last some of it now but the greenshave been until recently very anti science.
BillyBobsEel 1 year ago
Brilliant video, as always. Nice to hear you again and nice to get an idea of what's going on in the election across the pond from an actual person.
VarmitC 1 year ago
I live in a big Conservative area as well, sadly. I see the signs all the time and just want to sabotage them - especially the large ones they have next to winding country roads spoiling the view.
jimmicampkin 1 year ago
Gotta say Bobby, neither the Tories nor Labour are extremely right wing. Both of them are left of both of the main parties in America.
Slugsie1 1 year ago
I really like your desk, where is it from?
kennythekettle 1 year ago
@kennythekettle Same
jammybizzle666 1 year ago
Great video Robert! Glad to have your perspective! :-)
Tomurow 1 year ago
2 things..
First, I think I'm right in saying that B.P rebranded themselves, and it now stands for Beyond Petroleum. On that basis, maybe they are heading onto your radar Bobby. I'm not defending them; I'm not saying I'm happy about the price of fuel, etc. Just saying.
Second, I'm alarmed by the number of RED flashing lights on your Drobo.
jumpinjon 1 year ago
@jumpinjon Aaah yes, Beyond Petroleum, and onto hydrogen which is stripped out of natural gas and will cost more. Sorry, I'm being overly cycnical. And the Drobo is updating, just plugged in a 2 Tb drive, it will be doing that for another day at least
bobbyllew 1 year ago
Great to have Wet Liberal Weekly / Whenever back , i thought you had ended it .
doctorwhoone 1 year ago
As my dear old confused mother said the other day...."lets have a hung parliament, and lets see the buggers hung in public"....can't argue with that...
ajutd 1 year ago
Britain is changing. To think that you actually consider voting for a third alternative. Soon you may go truly metric and start driving on the right side of the road. You may become... contemporary.
Just poking some fun out of my neighbors to the west, but there is a point to be had.
GeminiPrimeX 1 year ago
Although it felt horrible at the time, what do you think would have happened to the country if we didn't bail out the banks? I'm no economist but I imagine it would have been a lot worse if we hadn't bailed them out. More importantly, we are in £10billion profit on the shares (if the gaurdian can be belived) and we still have them. Lets hope they get sold at the right time!
billagordon 1 year ago
welcome back rob
dwg316 1 year ago
I would say that you should call labour for what it is, ultra left-wing. Socialism in the form of a large government is still left wing, not right wing
'course, right wing is now a general slur that fits to make anyone evil. If you believe in smaller government, less taxes, and a strong national defense, you're right wing.
Zastava 1 year ago
@Zastava I can't see how anyone could call the present Labour administration even vaguely left wing, pro big corporations, banking, nuclear re-armament,
The whole notion of right wingers either here or in the US wanting 'smaller government' is one of the biggest cons they've ever pulled. It didn't happen under Thatcher who always droned on about it, didn't happen under Reagan or Bush 1 or 2, while less tax always means burden gets shifted from the rich to the poor
bobbyllew 1 year ago 8
@bobbyllew Incredibly Keynesian spending policies (especially with Gordon Brown), increase of funding for NHS (which I don't entirely disagree with, though the funding is mostly bureaucratic and allows such nonsense as homeopathic treatments to be covered), a large State created database of personal/private information. Those all result in more spending and a larger state organization being formed to "provide" for the people, which I would say is one of the main aims of the left.
Zastava 1 year ago
@bobbyllew Also, I agree that those particular governments are not shining beacons of freedom or of what I see as conservatism. I admire Thatcher and Reagan for different reasons (of course, I'm a political realist, so take what you will from that).
I guess what I should say is that the terms left wing and right wing are now just too general and can be adapted by anyone to mean anything they want. When we criticize, we should just never use those words, along with socialism and fascism.
Zastava 1 year ago
@bobbyllew You MUST tax the rich businesses less Bobby. They are the ones who give jobs and products to people and consumers! If you tax the hell out of them, where will they HAVE to pass that cost onto? We the people.
Big government is indeed a bad thing, but it will never go away and history has shown us that.
circutracer150 1 year ago
very entertaining, you seem to have views that mirror my own
sminkly 1 year ago
I'd like to think this return was because of my nagging tweet but I very much doubt it XDDD Brilliant Bobby =) xxxxxxxxxxxx
PurpleFunnyChocolate 1 year ago
when i saw the title i though you were saying you would vote lib dem, i would have said did you see the debates, all nick cleg said was something like im not brown or cameron vote for me, and he looks like a bank manager
thestalkinghead 1 year ago
Awesome new office table. Looks like a building reception desk. haha
Bigfinlach 1 year ago
so you're voting lib dem then
cuntscab555 1 year ago
I genuinely enjoy hearing your perspective and opinions about events. I couldn't agree more with what you said her. It's quite fresh to hear a non biased political view that makes sense.
DirectorToby 1 year ago
For many thousands of people in England and Scotland the thought of lowering oil production or scrapping trident literally means mass unemployment and the shutting down of towns with no other industry. It's easy to sit in a middle class ivory tower when you have a life of plenty. I am still on the fence on this election and glad I am overseas and unable to vote! The only important issues at the moment are the economy, jobs, education and health.
jasonandreoli 1 year ago
@jasonandreoli The idea that we have to pay taxes to create unnecessary jobs
building appalling weapons we wont ever use is also slightly daft.
Why not employ those people to do something more productive instead. Its not like they're *making* the uk money, its all our taxes getting poured down the trident/military/industrial complex drain.
Oil production will lower itself. US Military report expected shortages (peak oil) from 2012.
gug1970 1 year ago
@gug1970 With you 100%. Such an insane waste of money just so we can swagger around the UN saying 'yah, we're a nuclear power yah.' Tragic.
bobbyllew 1 year ago
@jasonandreoli Okay, good jab, the old Ivory Tower cliche, I actually live in a shed, but no matter. I'm afraid I cannot agree with you. Scrapping Trident, in fact, scrapping all absurd, expensive nuclear weapons would release such a massive fund of money which could be spent wisely, employing 1000's of people, building an infrastructure to generate our own power for example. I'm not expecting this to happen, but it could. It's not impossible
bobbyllew 1 year ago 5
Kryten for PM! =P
unknownzomibie 1 year ago
Well, I wouldn't exactly call Labour right wing now, Robert. I personally think they've gone more left wing, they want to abolish the hereditary peers, for goodness sakes! What's next if they win, the Monarchy? I think they've turned into far-left socialists almost boardering on communism
kanenkitten 1 year ago
please,do not say you support "the man in the suit" obama? have you seen the polls? what about ukip? and if this is your view maybe i shouldn't "have been watching"
th86stone 1 year ago
Check out Demos (the policy advice company) that ALL THREE of the main parties use. Also check out "Common Purpose" and "CP Exposed"
TheHolySpirit 1 year ago
Fuck you David Cameron. Fuck you Conservatives.
FAB12UCB 1 year ago 6
@FAB12UCB Tories were shite 13 years ago - John Major is one of the worst Prime Ministers of all time in opinion - and the Tories will be just as bad if they get elected now... screw them, I am voting Lib Dems, they really seem like they have a chance of winning this time around - and they have the best mindset in my opinion of the main 3 parties.
johnanth 1 year ago
bobstah i dont understand how u can share the understanding that these people support a lying coercive system and still encourage people to vote. noone, even the libdems, are saying anything that is not motivated by 'winning the election' and NOTHING MORE! u dont 'vote' for a party..u only vote for the system.. and agreeing that this coercive, destructive, lying scumfuck of a system is fine by you.. because you just gave them the power to do what they like
thewirrow 1 year ago
Nick Clegg confuses me in the respect that he wants the euro, and always tends to be very vague on the issue of immigration. Young people seem to love him. I think it's that young people like to feel that they can empower such change and be different, when really he is no different - in fact I think he will be worse, having had no experience of the party leading in so long.
Like you, my area is ridiculously Tory (Bedfordshire) but I'm quite happy to vote them just to keep Brown/Clegg out.
daveyboyz 1 year ago
It's men in pin-stripe suits you need to watch out for.
simeoneous 1 year ago
Great vid - made me lol =]
stufish4040 1 year ago
Great video mate. Its nice to see a more known celebrity on youtube talking honestly but without trying to turn everyone to their point on view. Tis refreshing to say the least. Sub'd. :) Problem i have with British politics (as a 19 year old) Is that i find it so immensely boring. I found it (Much to my annoyance) Easier to get into American politics than i do British. But when I say, saw the politics shows on TV. It always seemed to just be a pissing contest in the house of commons. :/
TaoFyre 1 year ago
Eh up bob hows it going stranger :) personally i think recession+hung parliment=nightmare.Labour will carry us out of recession after that anything goes.
spiralisedcat 1 year ago
It's Labour's civil liberty record that prevents me from voting for them. I just can't do it.
BaubleRob 1 year ago
true
its sickening that(according to our media) so many people believe Camerons BS,and that were still trapped in this two almost identical party system after all these years,and how many millions of innocent deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan?
gap yah was great,in a sad but true kind of way..even found a gap yah dubstep remix!
mrlowdangle 1 year ago
I'm clueless about how to vote for....????
Can I vote for you :)
spaceman300 1 year ago
@spaceman300 spoil ur ballot
thewirrow 1 year ago
But the best thing anyone can do is vote.
That is the only voice we have and we take it for granted so easily.
Just imagine for 1 second if you weren't allowed to vote for anything.
ma4very 1 year ago
@ma4very ur vote means absolutely nothing.. the fact that this is our only 'voice' is a cruel joke of a 'freedom' and using this vote is only sanctioning their immoral actions..you are admitting that this is democracy..u are saying 'yes..i vote..i agree this is how things should be run' and then go to sleep for another 5 years while thousands more people are tortured and killed
thewirrow 1 year ago
When you look at the economy when Labour were voted in, and the economy now, you quickly see why Labour are slimy bastards ;)
And Cameron makes me cringe. No-ones' head should be that shiny. He's like the bastard child of Piers Morgan and a wet lettuce.
sheps999 1 year ago
I wish people would stop having a go at Cameron because he went to Eton . He would've been 11 years old when he went there, and how many 11 year olds get that much choice in which school you go to. If that's where Cameron went he's been groomed to be like this.
BTW I am not endorsing the Tories just trying to make a point, good on you saying you won't say how you're going to vote - much respect.
I love you're posts, they rock and full of great ideas
chuggieforever 1 year ago 2
Fair enough. Nice desk.
wibblywobblyjerry 1 year ago
This video is refreshing in the fact I am having the exact same issues in Canada. I'm in a heavily populated tori area, I lean more towards liberal and green, however I know the people that get hired into those parties at will eventually bugger their reputation and my own. My first time voting I voted liberal, and less that a few months later the guy I voted in stepped down because he happened to be part of a cabinet that had a scandal and then torie's got in. ARG.
IISharperII 1 year ago
One of the only political videos that has ever kept me watching to the end ha ha!
Your office is very empyt mate, but at least you have a Back to Earth poster...! Great!
And your computer boxes make it look a bit like a space ship lol... cheers Rob ;o)
interghost 1 year ago
I'm not sure it's really much to boast about that one never believed there were weapons of mass destruction. Iraq certainly did have WMDs during the war with Iran and used them often, and they used them against the Kurds and other groups. A more reasonable position at the time would just be that their claimed destruction had not been adequately verified, and that the UN inspectors should have been given more time and resources, thus we didn't yet have a viable case for war.
TravisMorien 1 year ago 3
@TravisMorien Fair point, well made. I certainly didn't want to give the impression that I thought Saddam was anything other than a low life. Of course, we also shouldn't forget the West was very happy to support him and sell him weapons when he was fighting the Iranians.
bobbyllew 1 year ago 8
@bobbyllew Perhaps the lesson, if anyone needed learning it, is that no responsible nation should offer their military support to vile tyrants or extremist groups, even against common enemies, lest they turn against us some day.
But if we did adopt such a principal we'd have let Hitler have his way with the Soviets, and then when the Soviets did overcome him in the end they'd have run straight over Europe.
Which I guess all means the world is complex, and inflexible rules don't work.
TravisMorien 1 year ago
@TravisMorien The notion that Iraq lacked WMDs wasn't based on belief. There where inspectors there. They concluded that Iraq lacked WMDs but also said that they would like more time to investigate if only to silence the warmongers. The US and the UK never gave them that time. I always wondered why myself.
GeminiPrimeX 1 year ago
@GeminiPrimeX Their conclusion was certainly not an emphatic one, indeed the inspectors did note frequent lack of cooperation and had reason to believe they were being mislead. Certainly, the Iraqis were unable to provide conclusive evidence that the WMDs had been destroyed, as opposed to hidden. Today, it would appear that Saddam's strategy was to use this ambiguity as a deterrent, he wanted others to think he still had WMDs. With hindsight, not a good strategy!
TravisMorien 1 year ago
@TravisMorien So? That´s what I said. They couldn't find any evidence of WMDs but asked for more time. The US and the UK said no and started their invasion before further investigations could be had. Since we are using hindsight to speculate we could speculate as to why The US and the UK wouldn't allow for further inspections. Did they have concerns that Saddam would move his WMDs or did they have concerns that no WMDs would be found at all?
GeminiPrimeX 1 year ago
@GeminiPrimeX I'm a big believer in the idea that one shouldn't credit malice with that which can be easily explained by stupidity. For my part, I do accept the idea that the people pushing for the war genuinely believed that Saddam had WMDs and that he was sharing them with Al Qaeda, and that their belief was so strong that they were not concerned about exaggerating the intelligence, much like a cop framing a man he "knows" to be guilty, to ensure that the criminal gets what is coming to him.
TravisMorien 1 year ago
@TravisMorien That is a very nice of looking at the matter and I agree with your hypothesis. It is a plausible scenario indeed. I still find it disturbing that we must hypothesize on the motives of a war.
GeminiPrimeX 1 year ago
Hammer and Sickle flag, lol... want to borrow mine?
MrBoyuki 1 year ago
Nice desk, Robert ;)
thecreepingmess 1 year ago
You make some really interesting points. I'm sure no 1 party is perfect, and in an ideal world we could all work together and have a ballence of ideas.
I'm torn between the Green Party and Lib-Dems right now. They both have some really good ideals, especialy when it comes to combating climate change. Although I somewhat doubt that Green will get a chance since they don't seem to have one person representing them much. They've been in 1 debate so far and are hugley simular to lib-dems.
Nightmare060 1 year ago
My concern with the Lib-Dems is they have a history of following Labour's lead. I'm not a fan of labour to say the least. That's not to say I don't think David Cameron is a slimy weasel trying to do the Tony Blair thing :P
gpdl00355 1 year ago
Unfortunately, I'm more or less compelled to vote for the Lib Dems. There are 6 candidates in my constituency: Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem, BNP, UKIP or the National Front (!). So, my choices are guy in a suit, or ultra-right wing bigot. I could just not vote at all, but I've done that in every other election and look what that got me ;)
PraedicoVindes 1 year ago
There's a site called VoteMatch that tells you which party most closely matches your views on the important issues. I tried it and it said my views were closest to the Lib Dem manifesto. It might help you decide one way or the other.
Steve7508 1 year ago
I still have no idea whatsoever who/what I'm going to vote for.
xeractus 1 year ago
I am very jealous of your work station. It's so neat. Did you have a quick tidy?
WOODSYMAN 1 year ago
British politics has become so bland, every political party is trying to appeal to the mainstream that they've become homogenized. There's no clear distinction between any of the three big hitters. The only parties that have clear identifiable policies are on the extreme (this is why the nightmare of BNP MP's has become a reality).
bshieldsbb01 1 year ago
Labour have become Diet-Conservative, the Conservatives are stuck in a time-warp somewhere pre-Suez, waiting for Thatcher's second-coming and the return of Empire, and the LibDems are I'm afraid suffering from a little bit of premature-election excitement, with the upswing in their popularity recently.
bshieldsbb01 1 year ago
But as much as I despair for British politics, its the British electorate that really get me down. Look at the recent TV debates between the main party leaders. The only way to engage the public was to make it a copy of "Weakest Link". It wasn't a political debate, it was a cheap game-show.
bshieldsbb01 1 year ago
It's common sense that individual sovereignty is the natural order mate. I voted for 'autonomous' (the right to self-governance) and respect others equally. peace peace
libertylives2 1 year ago
Well, I have to say Bobby, I've never been into contemporary politics (yes, I've always found ancient politics more interesting), and therefore I haven't been interested in voting before. Your video has inspired me, though. Mainly because I went through an online questionnaire a few years ago to predict which would be the best party choice for me. My result was the Green Party, which is curious after what you have been saying. Hmm... time to trawl some websites.
JonnoBones 1 year ago
All three parties want to replace Trident with a new delivery system, the Lib Dems are pro-nuclear weapons, they just want to find a cheaper way of killing everyone.
As for pro-war, again the Lib Dems were enthusiastic about invading Iraq (they just wanted to wait for a new UN mandate) although they've tried their best to rewrite history when the war became a complete disaster. They support the war in Afghanistan and have consistently been among the most hawkish of parties (think Yugislavia).
RevolutionarySpectre 1 year ago
@RevolutionarySpectre As for portraying the LIb Dems as standing apart from two right--wing parties, this is nonsense. Kennedy was left of Blair (hell, Thatcher was probably left of Blair) but the same does not hold true for their parties, especially today. The Lib Dem policies on the economy put them overtly to the right of Labour and closer to the Tories (Clegg has move the party way back to the right of Labour).
RevolutionarySpectre 1 year ago
@RevolutionarySpectre I think this is all the more reason I don't wish to align myself with any political party. I agree with you, but the very fact that Clegg even questioned the sanity of the Trident program is a plus in my book.
bobbyllew 1 year ago
@bobbyllew According to the BBC's reality check (I'd post a link but youtube won't let me), Trident probably is the best system in terms of price and capability (there must have been a reason to go that way in the first place). So the real question is do we want a deterrent or not (and none of the big 3 say "no")?
Btw, I don't think it's fair to lump the Tories in with the BNP.
marscentral 1 year ago
@RevolutionarySpectre you are correct that the lib dems do not want trident, but are very wrong about them being pro nuclear, read page 59 of their manifesto. Also, you cannot speculate that the lib dems are hawkish when they have not endorsed any action of invasion of war.
ProGuitarTuition 1 year ago
@ProGuitarTuition They will not seek to abolish our nuclear weapons unilaterally. That for the time makes them pro-nuclear weapon.
It's not speculation. The Lib Dems favoured military intervention in Iraq, they just wanted to go about it differently. They have fully supported the war in Afghanistan and have supported every single war or 'military intervention' Britain has been involved in since they were founded. Ashdown was especially aggressive.
RevolutionarySpectre 1 year ago
Why hate a company for making money?
If you hate big companies that supply sh1te products, look behind you, mac supply over priced products and make huge profits, you obviously dont hate them.
Also look at all those products in your office which are made from plastic, where did it all come from?
Stop being such a hypocrite.
but I still love Kryton
BitCrushingCog 1 year ago
@BitCrushingCog Very interesting comment. I don't think I was implicitly saying I don't think companies should make money. I have particular criticisms of rapacious oil companies grossly inflated profits and maintaining that market position by subtly poisoning public opinion against any alternative. I also don't want to waste oil by burning it in outdated machinery. I would rather it was used to make useful products like those on my desk
bobbyllew 1 year ago