How would Jesus vote?

 Posted elsewhere, There is an alternative  No Responses »
May 042010
 

According to an article over at ekklesia.co.uk he certainly wouldn’t have voted for any of the three established parties.

The Times newspaper has been running short pieces by Christian backers of the three big parties in Britain, getting them to say why Jesus might support their favoured political horse. Frankly, the politics of Jesus (to adapt the title of Mennonite theologian John Howard Yoder’s justly famous book) doesn’t work like that. The collusion of overbearing religion and politics killed him as a subversive, but even the grave the empire built could not contain him. Nonetheless, Jonathan Bartley decided to play ball in a good-humoured way, having got the paper at least to allow him to ask, “Would Jesus have voted ‘other’?” Here’s what he came up with…

The idea that Jesus would opt for the agenda of one of the main three parties is at best questionable. At this General Election there has been the usual push from religious leaders, churches and faith groups urging that people come out and put their cross on the ballot paper as a matter of duty. But the Cross of Christ is something which brings a different perspective to bear.

Would Jesus vote for a smaller party or independent? Would Jesus spoil his ballot paper? Would he have voted at all in a system which is so manifestly unjust and unrepresentative? Here are 10 suggestions to encourage debate about whether Jesus might in fact opt for something other than a vote for the three big three.
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 Posted by giolla at 6:01 pm  Tagged with:

Who to vote for local candidates edition

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May 032010
 

Having complained previously that so many of the “who to vote for quizzes” don’t include the minor parties but basically maintain the myth of a choice between the big three and maybe one other if we’re lucky. Well “They work for you” have come to the rescue with an “Election Quiz” based on the responses from every candidate they could get an answer from. It’s quite interesting who hasn’t responded to them, so if you’re still looking for an alternative go take the quiz and see what your candidates are actually saying.

Especially as if it’s anything like round here, no one will have been round to your door to talk to you.

 Posted by giolla at 2:26 pm  Tagged with:

A contract from a would be MP.

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May 022010
 

OH 4 MP
Over in Cambridge an anonymous jury team candidate known only as Old Holborn is causing a bit of a stir. He deserves a special mention because he meets my criteria of someone I could have a drink with (having done so) and also because he’s an excellent example of how the big three parties conspire with the media to make us think they’re our only choices, by simple things like not letting independents into hustings. He has managed to gate crash one already though. Even despite that he’s got his work cut out for him being a new candidate in a strong lib/lab seat. Mind you the incumbent Liberal Democrat, David Howarth will be collecting their £64,000 “resettlement” and standing down to spend more time with his books.

Meanwhile the Jury Team have been trying to find out what the electorate actually want and Old Holborn has written this rather fine contract with Cambridge that he’ll be asking the other candidates to sign as well, and which quite frankly is in my opinion an excellent model for all candidates to copy.

“Constituents Contract

I, Old Holborn, as candidate in the General Election 2010 hereby agree to the following contract with my constituents:

• I will remain a fiercely loyal representative for my constituents. I will not put any party or other interest, before my constituents. If I do, I will resign.

• I will work with any organisation in Scotland, the UK or Europe if it will help the people of my constituency.

• I will never promise what I know I cannot deliver.

• I will endeavor to acknowledge all letters from constituents within 24 hours between Monday and Friday.

• I will endeavor to acknowledge all emails from constituents within 24 hours between Monday and Friday but hopefully sooner.

• I will attend regular advice/consultation sessions which will be widely advertised in the constituency. I will arrange home visits for the elderly, disabled and carers.

• I will never knowingly claim credit for something when the credit is not mine.

• I will tell people my real views, even when I know they will disagree with me.

• I will do my best to keep my website updated every day. I will blog regularly.

• My calendar will be published on my website and kept up to date daily from Monday to Friday.

• I will not claim one penny in expenses that is not absolutely required for me to carry out my job as an MP. If I do not keep this pledge, I will resign.

• I will publish my expenses (if any), in full, monthly or possibly weekly on my website. If I do not keep this pledge, I will resign.

• I will not use any taxpayer funded equipment or office for any other reason that to carry out my duties of MP. If I do not keep this pledge, I will resign.

• I will be a whistleblower against anyone. In this, I will not be anonymous and I will use the press. If I am caught knowing about illegality or sleaze and not whistle blowing, I will resign.

• I will be a full time MP with no jobs outside politics nor will I take any money from anyone for access. If I do work for anyone, it will be in a voluntary capacity which will not infringe on my time as an MP.

Signed Old Holborn 27.4.2010”

 Posted by giolla at 11:06 pm  Tagged with: ,
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