Where's my blood pressure tablets?

[cromwell]

Today we have a political class who will do anything for a vote, no matter how blatantly wrong or how much it will damage the country in the long run. So many of these solutions are out. Not because of the political classes but because the voters, who have the responsibility to ensure the country is well governed, want to believe what the political classes say.

It is certainly true that many people would rather believe a comforting lie than an uncomfortable truth.

Now, let's think about that. How about we only give the vote to those who are direct recipients of benefits only. Cue howls of "unfair". I don't mean pensioners with dss topups and I don't mean working tax credits. I mean those who's sole means of support is benefits, those who have absolutely no other recourse.

If you have never worked but could have, and have always lived on benefits, then I agree. No vote.

[Workingman]

Where does the idea of barring certain groups from voting stop?

A good argument could be made for barring those with restricted intelligence - fewer than five good GCSEs, say. How about those who are members of political parties as they will be following party lines. What about those employed by the State?

The whole thing could go anywhere.

My personal preference would be to have "None of the above" on ballot papers, and if it 'won' the election in any seat that election would have to run again with different candidates. That way we might eventually get MPs who represent their constituents rather than than the party.

[Suff]

Where does the idea of barring certain groups from voting stop?

A very thorny issue WM and one I would never normally come to. Universal suffrage is a core part of my belief. However if I have to modify my beliefs to address something which will destroy the country, then it is one I'm willing to let go.

Now, do I trust the government to do this properly???? There is a bigger issue. If I trusted the government I could let them do this. In the end I believe that changing voting could only come from a referendum and that it would need to be enshrined in law that this referendum is repeated every government, in perpetuity, so long as any restrictions on voting continue.....

It's the only way I can see that it would work. But also it's the only thing I can see which will break the deadlock without massively impacting the most vulnerable in our society.