who should you vote for ...

Oh and I'm not a closet Tory. I have always been open about how I feel, even if I know my view is unpoular. For example I fail to see the fairness in higher tax brackets for higher earners. (especially at present where the 40% threshhold sits somewhere in the £30 K region...hardly whatI'd call a high income. I wouldn't even call it reasonable in London.

Actually, I hate to do this to you, but I realised that because of the lay out of this screen I had clicked 'neutral' where I actualy agreed so my real result was as follows: Conservative -53 Liberal Democrat 86 Green 52 Labour 8 UK Independence Party -10 I knew I couldn't have beaten jude on the old ukip count.

"The threshold for 40% income tax remains largely unchanged at around £33,000. Year by year inflation erodes the value of money yet the threshold remains constant dragging more and more people into the 40% tax bracket. £33,000 used to be a significant wage. £33,000 is now in danger of becoming the average salary. With more people in the 40% tax bracket that ore tax revenue for labour"

Are you quoting yourself there?

No but its just what I was thinking

Some particularly daftly worded questions there - if you ask whether British troops should remain in Iraq as long as necessary, how can you do anything but agree? The issue is how 'necessary' might be determined. I was fairly equal between Green and Lib Dem, perhaps because I'm an anti-Federal Europe, anti local income tax LibDem at heart. I have just recalled that the only vote I ever did cast in my life, in a European election, was for the Green party, so perhaps it isn't too far out.

I just wondered who said it? To be honest I can see that £33,000 with a 40% tax rate in london wouldn't last long. My problem is that ever since my parents died I've always been very poor, and never had any savings or anything, and sometimes have lived on bread and butter, I sort of know it is possible to have quite a nice quaility of life with 'less'. I am by no means advocating poverty for a better way of life, but I am saying that the idea of me ever earning £33,000 a year seems ridiculous, and the idea that people need 'more' all the time and don't want to be taxed I find interesting, and surprising. I feel frustrated I cannot donate more money to good causes, but do volunteer my time quite a lot instead, because I can only look at the world in terms of, 'I wouldn't like to be poor/sick/lonely/lost/unlucky, and so want to help others not be that way too.' Most people spend to their limit, whatever they earn, these days. And there is only so much luxury people need... at least there is if it is at the expense of the less fortunate in society. No matter what anybody says to me, I will never be able to see the justification in some people being paid loads and loads and loads to just accumlate things and stuff and things, when some people cannot afford to eat, or are on the streets, or cannot afford to get themselves an education or whatever. I just can't. Some may say that high earners 'earn' it - and yes many work hard - but so does everybody - in general - and there is only so much money people really need. I think.

I wonder what makes us have the views we have....

People who earn more pay more but why not at the same rate? Twenty something percent of £100K is a lot more than twenty something percent of £33K which is more than twenty something percent of £15K. It isn't about wanting more and more. It is about being able to strive for success without feeling you are only going to have your success beaten out of you. I've always felt people who say the rich should be taxed at higher levels are like bitter, jealous kids scraping car keys along the paintwork of a fancy car. How would you feel if you were charged twice as much as the person next to you in the plane because you earned more? And with so many people in middle income brackets unable to afford an ex-council house it is sometimes like being on a plane and having paid twice as much for your economy seat as someone in Business. I have become a lot better than I was 5 years ago when I though all incometax should be scrapped for an existence tax. Everone pays a flat tax for their existence and that of their dependents. Mind you I was a bit mad at the time!

I got: Labour -2 Conservative -37 Lib Dem 50 UKIP 2 Green 52 Interesting, given that I'm going to be voting Labour. That said, my local Labour MP opposes Labour policy on Iraq, Europe and Foxhunting (to name but three) and holds broadly similar views on those things to me.

It's not the same on a plane though, I don't think. I can see what you ares saying, but it's not for me. Maybe when I'm rich I won't feel the same. (Actually I've had the chance to be richer in the past, but it doesn't sit well on my shoulders....) and I'm not jealous. I'm perfectly happy with the way my life has been - am not the stereotyped socialist that some people imagine (and who do exist sometimes, as I've met a few) who hates every body who has it better than them to the point of an almost homoerotic fascination. 'I've always felt people who say the rich should be taxed at higher levels are like bitter, jealous kids scraping car keys along the paintwork of a fancy car.' doesn't really count for me, I don't think. I am a big advocator of the individual as well as the many - I think there can be a fairer balance between the two than there is in some cases.... I don't see it as an either/or scenario, or mutually exclusive. I just don't feel so good about there being a lof of people in discomfort, tis all.

My Father who I greatly admire is a long greasy haired hippie/ socialist who thinks Bob Dylan made good music. I certainly didn't get my views from him! It kind of winds me up when people think because of my views Mummy and Daddy probably sent me to private school and paid for everything. The truth is they didn't have much money when I was growing up and when they did certainly didn't throw any my way! My father didn't agree with private schools. Some have suggested it is a rebellion thing. They could be right in the sense I remember growing up resenting the fact that my friends all had large houses, two working parents and two nice cars and went abroad on holiday. I had 5 siblings, no car (or TV for a while) and we went caravaning on the English coast every year. I grew up and swore that would not be consigned to the same fate and have since I graduated flown all over the world, bought a lovely flat and had loads of fun. Then I realised that the whole in me where something desperately important was missing couldn't be filled with money!

the hole in me not whole in me!

The government in this country define people living in poverty as those earning less than X% of the something percentile of the av income. In other words (My maths fails me here) if everyone's household income in this country doubled we would still have the same number of people living in "Poverty". The concept needs redefining. Those in so called poverty have education for their children paid for, housing paid for, health care paid for. They even get cash payments for transport, food, cigarettes. Some of them even have cars. That's not poverty! Although I am glad you said "discomfort". I agree that I don't like to see someone having a vital op cancelled for the 8th time or a pensioner scared to put the heating on. But despite their discomfort they are not "poor". BTW don't ya just lurve italian politics

That's the thing about money, ain't it? I certainly wasn't implying you got your views from mummy and daddy. I have no idea about your background and don't tend to judge on that level anyway. My musing was exactly that. I wonder where we get our views from. My dad was very left wing, but to the point of hypocricy I think. He was a bit of an inverted snob while at the same dime desperately wanting to join 'the gang', which is my least favourite type of 'socialism'. He didn't understand homosexuality (I used to say, 'do you actually have to?), and was the kind of man who with one hand would give my male friends a pint and talk about pulling women while telling me to behave and never have sex ever ever. I sometimes wish I could be a selfish sod. I wish I could take a moral high ground. I wish I could steam about getting just what I want because 'I deserve it'. But I can't. I don't know why. I was a very lonely kid for a time, was badly bullied, and my mum left me when I was 7. Both my parents were alcoholics in their own time. I had some other things that happened at an early age which are not the topics for this particular forum today...and then there's the classic 'my parents died' thing...oh yeah, and the divorced by the age of 23 thing too. BUT I don't consider myself as badly off - and I would never use those things as an excuse to say why I deserve this or that - though and never have done. I feel lucky for having books to read, and having got myself an education - which I did purely because I love books and words and ideas, not so i could get a good job. I feel lucky to have friends who are brilliant and inspiring and who get my sick foolish sense of humour. I wake up in the morning - even on the ones where I'm depressed - and think 'Wahayyy, the sky hasn't caved in. I am alive.' I have never thought of my life as that list of rubbish things... because i have so many other good things that have happened too. And they do outweigh the bad things. I don't know what I'm waffling about, but I am trying to say that my political views stem from the feeling of being sad when I was young, and not wanting anyone else to feel sad. And also they come from me being able to admit to myself just how easy it is to make mistakes... I make them all the time, even when I try hard, so I have to assume that other people do the same thing and not judge them so harshly...I suppose my views come from empathy. I was never the kid who'd kick a dog because I felt shit, although I did know others who were. (I was sometimes jealous of them). That is at the core of every decision I make, and will probably be the reason I never have any money, and that I will never be a recognisable 'success'. I suppose, that is a good thing actually, and you're right Jude. One thing that will never make you happy is money. That is a cliche, but it's damned true too.

Well they got my vote right but the proportions are a bit off the mark. You can change that tory figure to -25,000,000 Labour 34 Conservative -25 Liberal Democrat 30 UK Independence Party -15 Green 22

I was surprised I didn't have a higher Labour vote, but I guess it's on their current policies... But my - 53 for tories made me very happy.

Agh. I came out Lib Dem 82 Green 60 Labour 8 UKIP 2 Conservative -53 I cannot believe that my UKIP score was positive. I voted neuatral on the European constitution and agree to joining the Euro. Very odd. I will be voting Labour as my MP is opposed to the war and is a very good local MP with the unfortunate name of Lepper - and worthy folk like us must always support the disadvantaged.

My work colleague was a pupil of David Lepper and she says that he was the only teacher she liked and respected, by far. Doesn't neccessarily make him a good MP, but he is a nice bloke and he will have my vote.

You pretty much came out the same as me Tony - although I'm not sure what to do as Charles Clark is my mp and I don't think he and myself agree on anything these days (though once upon a time Charles, once upon...)

Never - Charlie boy and I were on the NUS National Executive together - we hated each other then and he probably doesn't know I exist now but I still hate him. He's a backroom politician who stitches up everything behind the scenes. I'd vote LibDem or Green or Respect if I were in your shoes!

Well, thanks for confirming my already confirmed thoughts Tony. I know I can't vote for him, despite him being abour... We have five Green councillors in Norwich South, so Green is actually an option here.... or LibDem. It does come down to personality sometimes - and whether you agree with the candidate on anything. And if I didn't know Charles Clarke was a Labour mp an I looked at his voting record I really would think he was a Conservative. Hmmm.

Im minus labour (-41 hahaha no surprise there then) and conservatives (-21), a little Ukip (ffs) pretty strongly green party, and very strongly lib dems.

yay. I was 86 lib dems, which I suppose didn't come as much of a shock really.

I cant believe I was a little Ukip either - bizarre that bit. The huge minus on the labour as well as the conservatives just confirms what I already suspected - theyre morphing into one and the same.

Liberal Democrats, apparently: Labour 12 Conservative -5 Liberal Democrat 19 UK Independence Party -9 Green -4 No UKIP, yaaaay! Not sure about the second part of this Lib Dem policy though: "They are in favour of a ban on smoking in public places, but would relax laws on cannabis. " I would have cannabis banned on mental health grounds.

Can we see Bingo doing this test? Please...

So... we are almost ALL lib dems according to this?

*notes the inclusion of 'almost' and calms down*

Really 1leg? I'm shocked! That doesn't sound like you at all. (i think the site is sponsered by the lib dems....)

ha ha ha - it said I was very strongly lib dem, then green, then labour, and minus rather a lot on the tories and ukip. Hmmmm.

Blimey, I came out Green and a bit Libdem. Am only wearing one contact lense though.

I came out exactly the same as Fergal. -44 on the Tories, I'm so proud.

Same as Rachel with greens on top. Never realised I was that way inclined.

I was -51 smilieboy! ner ner.

Shurely shome mishtake!

*hairy ankles prominent beneath dress* Unimagium voterium Toryum...upum creekum nonum paddleum...Amenum... *takes holy swig of Famous Grouse from golden chalice*

apparently I should vote conservative Labour -23 Conservative 12 Liberal Democrat -7 UK Independence Party 5 Green 1

Although the UKIP 5 score is scary...eurgh

I can't beleive it I'm a wishy-washy Liberal and put the Greens also above Labour - who I'm voting for. Still Cons came last, heh!! Liberal Democrat 49 Green 37 Labour 14 UK Independence Party -10 Conservative -33 Bugger!

I think it's because the liberals have lots of good ole fashioned labour policies that's why.... like taxing people who earn more and stuff like that. jude.... that is hilarious... you got a 5 ukip! hahhahaa! (sorry)

Its not funny, I'm distraught.

I am considering ritualisticaly disembowelling myself so as not to bring shame upon my family.

Lib Dem: 56 Green: 42 Labour: 12 Ukip: 7 Conservative - 51 hahahaha. But actually I am interested as to why 7 ukip - I said I agreed with the Euro strongly and that I agreed with the European constitution..... Jude - we couldn't be more opposite if we tried could we? We are a wonderful example of how people of opposite views can still get on famously, huh?

Conservative -51 - that's more like it!!! Jude, are you some closet Tory or what? Shame on you.

Yeah, I was pretty proud there kj - jude is no closet tory are you jude? x

I want -51, it's not fair!!!

I am not as right wing as I used to be. when I abandoned my membership of the conservative party, George said "I knew you'd come to your senses, given more time and less cider." As I said in another thread maverick Dominican friar Herbie McCabe used his broadly socialist views to provoke conservatives and once declared it was impossible to be a Christian and vote Tory. It seems a bit odd I am drawn to an order that has been seen as politically to the left and theologically towards the liberal! when I am politically to the right and theologically towards the conservative. Still it hasn't caused any problems so far except that I don't have a paper to read as the sisters order in the Guardian...yuck.

You were close smilieboy, you were close. (but no cigar, obviously)