Well done Farage
May 4th 2013, 11:22 am
#16
Bored liberal
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Over there ----->
Posts: 13,713
Re: Well done Farage
What concerns me is how much of UKIP's support is coming from the racists who think that UKIP has a better chance of doing something about "all the foreigners" than the BNP does. How many people who voted for UKIP last week have the first idea about what their policies are on *anything* other than immigration? How many even *care*?
It's troubling that every week on Facebook I'll end up having to read one of those tiresome and *always* completely untrue "asylum seekers get every benefit going as soon as they arrive in the UK while British pensioners starve and freeze - like and share this if you think it's wrong" things being liked/shared by someone I know, and inevitably there are many more "likes" underneath it, because stupid people (and there are *many* stupid people out there) believe everything they read on Facebook that supports their own prejudices. I'm sure that quite a few of them would have voted for UKIP, and I'm also sure that UKIP leverages that sort of thing rather than being honourable and pointing out the factual inaccuracies.
It's troubling that every week on Facebook I'll end up having to read one of those tiresome and *always* completely untrue "asylum seekers get every benefit going as soon as they arrive in the UK while British pensioners starve and freeze - like and share this if you think it's wrong" things being liked/shared by someone I know, and inevitably there are many more "likes" underneath it, because stupid people (and there are *many* stupid people out there) believe everything they read on Facebook that supports their own prejudices. I'm sure that quite a few of them would have voted for UKIP, and I'm also sure that UKIP leverages that sort of thing rather than being honourable and pointing out the factual inaccuracies.
May 4th 2013, 11:34 am
#17
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,553
Re: Well done Farage
Unfortunately, those of the electorate saying "get us out of Europe NOW!" are the kinds of people who would support a campaign saying "Ban dihydrogen monoxide!" - in other words, somewhat hard-of-thinking and easily led if you know how to press their buttons. Immigration, asylum seekers and Muslims are usually reliable topics to get them foaming at the mouth.
The arguments over whether the UK should be part of the EU are complex and nuanced, so of course there's no hope of them being properly debated ahead of any referendum. The "anti" vote is going to be motivated almost entirely by ignorance, racism and debate on the level of a Sun headline. Sorry, but it is.
He's an ex-Tory who made his money in the City and now heads an anti-immigration party.
If it looks like a ****** and sounds like a ******...
The arguments over whether the UK should be part of the EU are complex and nuanced, so of course there's no hope of them being properly debated ahead of any referendum. The "anti" vote is going to be motivated almost entirely by ignorance, racism and debate on the level of a Sun headline. Sorry, but it is.
He's an ex-Tory who made his money in the City and now heads an anti-immigration party.
If it looks like a ****** and sounds like a ******...
Re your other point - there are also plenty of people (let's call it 'millions') who have shaken their heads in bewilderment at the obvious unwillingness of politicians to examine how undemocratic and corrupt the EU is, how it actually makes us worse off, and how in an increasingly global marketplace, the introspective nature of the protective EU is destroying jobs and livelihoods, particularly in the so-called peripheral countries.
At last, they might just have found a party with a leader that gives them a voice.......
May 4th 2013, 11:46 am
#18
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,094
Re: Well done Farage
What concerns me is how much of UKIP's support is coming from the racists who think that UKIP has a better chance of doing something about "all the foreigners" than the BNP does. How many people who voted for UKIP last week have the first idea about what their policies are on *anything* other than immigration? How many even *care*?
It's troubling that every week on Facebook I'll end up having to read one of those tiresome and *always* completely untrue "asylum seekers get every benefit going as soon as they arrive in the UK while British pensioners starve and freeze - like and share this if you think it's wrong" things being liked/shared by someone I know, and inevitably there are many more "likes" underneath it, because stupid people (and there are *many* stupid people out there) believe everything they read on Facebook that supports their own prejudices. I'm sure that quite a few of them would have voted for UKIP, and I'm also sure that UKIP leverages that sort of thing rather than being honourable and pointing out the factual inaccuracies.
It's troubling that every week on Facebook I'll end up having to read one of those tiresome and *always* completely untrue "asylum seekers get every benefit going as soon as they arrive in the UK while British pensioners starve and freeze - like and share this if you think it's wrong" things being liked/shared by someone I know, and inevitably there are many more "likes" underneath it, because stupid people (and there are *many* stupid people out there) believe everything they read on Facebook that supports their own prejudices. I'm sure that quite a few of them would have voted for UKIP, and I'm also sure that UKIP leverages that sort of thing rather than being honourable and pointing out the factual inaccuracies.
May 4th 2013, 12:03 pm
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Posts: 13,553
Re: Well done Farage
May 4th 2013, 1:16 pm
#20
Bored liberal
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Over there ----->
Posts: 13,713
Re: Well done Farage
I doubt it. It's a protest vote at local elections which are not seen as important. People will still vote for the main parties at a general election.
May 4th 2013, 2:17 pm
#21
Big Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,889
Re: Well done Farage
What concerns me is how much of UKIP's support is coming from the racists who think that UKIP has a better chance of doing something about "all the foreigners" than the BNP does. How many people who voted for UKIP last week have the first idea about what their policies are on *anything* other than immigration? How many even *care*?
I've given up following UK politics, to me all of the politicians and parties are the same. Overpaid, stand up in the HoC and argue like children, swap power then screw things up again.
May 4th 2013, 2:23 pm
#22
Concierge
Joined: May 2006
Location: ex ex-pat, in Taunton
Posts: 27,211
Re: Well done Farage
certainly some of the candidates were, as shown by a couple of them posting photos on social media sites, one in a Nazi uniform, and the other having photoshopped his face onto a load of people surrounding Hitler, and yes I know Farage did get rid of them from UKIP, but as they were already on the ballot papers they had to stay and be classed as candidates. Several others turned up at the various counts in fancy dress, and some of these just might be on a local council near you.
May 4th 2013, 2:25 pm
#23
Hit 16's
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
May 4th 2013, 2:52 pm
#24
Big Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,889
Re: Well done Farage
certainly some of the candidates were, as shown by a couple of them posting photos on social media sites, one in a Nazi uniform, and the other having photoshopped his face onto a load of people surrounding Hitler, and yes I know Farage did get rid of them from UKIP, but as they were already on the ballot papers they had to stay and be classed as candidates. Several others turned up at the various counts in fancy dress, and some of these just might be on a local council near you.
May 4th 2013, 4:34 pm
#25
Soupy twist
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,271
Re: Well done Farage
Of course, it will also attract people who *aren't* naturally afraid of people who aren't like them, but who don't understand the first thing about the EU and think it involves the UK giving it huge amount of money and getting nothing back in return. Either way, do we want people deciding on the UK's EU membership based on those criteria?
I do hope it's just a midterm protest vote, but judging by the sheer amount of staggeringly ignorant anti-immigrant vitriol you see on Facebook, there are enough racist knuckledraggers out there who will believe any old bollocks as long as it plays to their prejudices about "forriners" to give Farage an entirely undeserved level of influence in national policymaking.
Last edited by Eeyore; May 4th 2013 at 4:38 pm.
May 4th 2013, 5:54 pm
#26
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,553
Re: Well done Farage
There is a serious level of bullshit being spouted in this thread - isn't the sweeping 'racists' label equally misinformed? Who were these so-called racists voting for before UKIP came along?
A protest vote is usually about 2-3 percent, not 25-ish. 2nd place in just about every by-election that comes along......... whatever. A lot of people are reporting that this has a very different feel to it - and why would anyone vote Dim Lib again, after they sold out to the Tories? And why vote Tory, for that matter? (UKIP are where the Tories should be).
I think you lot have got a shock coming............ expect a desperate deal to be offered by Cameron to Farage pre-2015 GE............
A protest vote is usually about 2-3 percent, not 25-ish. 2nd place in just about every by-election that comes along......... whatever. A lot of people are reporting that this has a very different feel to it - and why would anyone vote Dim Lib again, after they sold out to the Tories? And why vote Tory, for that matter? (UKIP are where the Tories should be).
I think you lot have got a shock coming............ expect a desperate deal to be offered by Cameron to Farage pre-2015 GE............
May 4th 2013, 6:32 pm
#27
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,553
Re: Well done Farage
Protest vote? From a Twitter mate:
"Out of 1750 UKIP candidates, only 38 scored below 10% of the poll, a huge achievement. Looking good for the Euro elections!"
"Out of 1750 UKIP candidates, only 38 scored below 10% of the poll, a huge achievement. Looking good for the Euro elections!"
May 4th 2013, 6:39 pm
#28
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
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Posts: 15,887
Re: Well done Farage
It would have been more if Farage was allowed at the televised debate. Like what he is saying or not, it is impossible to not notice his brilliance as a speaker and his ability to connect to the common voter - something Arse-face and Weasel will never achieve.
May 4th 2013, 7:05 pm
#29
Soupy twist
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,271
Re: Well done Farage
Who were these so-called racists voting for before UKIP came along?
2nd place in just about every by-election that comes along
And just to reiterate, I do wonder how many of the people who voted UKIP had the faintest idea about any of their policies beyond immigration control?
May 4th 2013, 7:26 pm
#30
Soupy twist
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,271
Re: Well done Farage
Just read the latest Private Eye - very good 
"THOSE UKIP POLICIES IN FULL
1. Smoking to be allowed in pubs.
2. Waxed jackets to be made mandatory.
3. Chaps not obliged to help with the washing up.
4. VAT on beards.
5. Massive investment in golf club construction.
6. Driving gloves to be worn in cars at all times.
7. Bring back Robertson's Golly on marmalade jars.
8. Police permitted to give young offenders a clip round the ear.
9. Black and white TV to return.
10. Johnny Foreigner to get marching orders... whoops"
"THOSE UKIP POLICIES IN FULL
1. Smoking to be allowed in pubs.
2. Waxed jackets to be made mandatory.
3. Chaps not obliged to help with the washing up.
4. VAT on beards.
5. Massive investment in golf club construction.
6. Driving gloves to be worn in cars at all times.
7. Bring back Robertson's Golly on marmalade jars.
8. Police permitted to give young offenders a clip round the ear.
9. Black and white TV to return.
10. Johnny Foreigner to get marching orders... whoops"