UK General Election set for 4th of July

[hammerofglass]

As an American I find that date amusing.

I've been hearing about how this is expected to be a dramatic one for a while. Should be interesting.

[name_here]

I find myself baffled by this whole thing where parliaments can up and schedule an election whenever.

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

Same here.

[hammerofglass]

Beats the four year election campaign season the USA has going on, anyway.

[Madner Kami]

I find myself baffled by this whole thing where parliaments can up and schedule an election whenever.

Not whenever. There's a set 5 year cycle at the most. Otherwise, I don't really see any problem with that. If the government feels it can't govern effectively anymore, just call for an election to get people's opinion on the matter. Doesn't strike me as the worst idea in a (largely) democratic system.

In slightly related news:






I staunchly oppose allowing people to vote below the age of 18. I also keep finding myself in the position of considering a max age as well.

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

Shame both the Tories *and* the Labour Party are full of transphobes. =/ I do not envy the UK's trangender population.

[hammerofglass]

I kinda doubt it will stay that way for long. Labour isn't going to need a convenient minority to throw under the bus as negotiating leverage anymore, and improving trans legal rights and medical access will a cheap easy PR win with younger voters and their own progressive wing. Same trick Democrats did on gay rights a decade ago when they realized which way the public opinion winds were blowing.

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

I dunno. Joanne's bazillions are still backing transphobia pretty widely.

[hammerofglass]

I could be wrong; I choose to be optimistic. Arc of the moral universe is long and all that.

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

Well, I hope you're right. I just don't have much faith in people these days, and I'm terrified by the hideous strength of our collective enemies.