First Time Voters Question Time

I have just watched the titular program on BBC iPlayer. What a brilliant idea, what a farce. Yet again the politicians abuse the Queen's to avoid or ignore valid points and concerns of the, sometimes hard to understand, audience. A large portion of time was spent on voter apathy. When the panel was twice asked how we were supposed to bring ourselves, the youth, the first time voters to obtain the will and desire to vote when the 3 major parties hardly differ. Not once did the MPs representing their party say "We are different!". Not once did they dare try to criticise their own or the others' leaders in saying "We must be different! We must make our stall clear from those of the others who seek to triumph over us." Not once. They went on how they must engage us, how they must garner our support, still avoiding the blindingly obvious and continuing to fail to answer the question, and that it must come from both directions not just from the political elite. They talked about how Westminster must seem isolated and aloof. Still they did not dare question their leaders and did not answer the question.

When the politicians fail the Queen's in this manner how am I to gain trust in them, how am I going to want to vote for them, for ANY of them? Talking with friends last night I said that I was most likely to vote UKIP. This caused some consternation as it was a 'throw away vote'. Yes it may well be in a Buckinghamshire constituency, but when I see David Cameron I hear Tony Blair, I hear a man who cannot even set out a stall with tangible policies that don't contradict each other or even make sense; when I see Nick Clegg (one of the audience didn't even know his name) I do not see a liberal party, nor do I see a party with common sense and the ability to return to the people what belongs to the people; when I see Gordon Brown I see a dictator, a small man with a small mind who cannot hear nor see reason if it does not agree with him. So I want to vote for a party that will do something, anything. I have considered UKIP and they at least offer a national referendum on whether we are in or out of Europe. But why vote when it will probably merely logged as a protest vote? I want to vote but please, someone throw me a bone here!

Fopping bell

I have just had an interview, damn nervous stuff, and I feel that it could have gone better. I also think that at least one stage of an interview should be changed. You are given 30, 40, 50 minutes in which to show that you are what they want, show your wisdom, wit and intelligence. Some companies do have aptitude tests and other such programs, but at the end of the day they need to establish if they can work with this nervous wreck sitting infront of them attempting to act cool and exude confidence. How can you understand what your realtionship with them will be like after you have been, even if it is unintentional, causing them sheer terror and to sweat profusely.

How will this allow you to understand the person fully? Some people just cannot take pressure and some people thrive, in each category you will have good and bad. Why not, for one part of an interview process, invite say... 5 prospective employees, to spend the day or several hours in the pub/going bowling/watching a cricket match/doing some communal activity with you and 4 others from the company? In that situation people will eventually relax, especially if you are dirnking in a pub, you will be able to understand more about them better, saving that not too much alcohol is consumed. You will observe their ability to interact with others will have topics of conversation outside of the basic interview questions. HOW COULD THIS BE A BAD IDEA?! Company would have to pay for everything just in case the brightest star is strapped for cash, and if they offer to pay for something you will learn a little more about them.

I think the phrase ryhmes with clucking bells, dam fopping interviews. Harumph!