h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

As an aside but perhaps an example of how annoying the system can be, there are local elections taking place in Scotland soon. In Dundee there is a very good and popular independent councillor standing for re-election. Yesterday I saw the glossy election leaflet produced by the SNP. It's dominated by the 3 words "Dundee" "INDEPENDENT" and "SNP". It's a clear attempt by the SNP to confuse the electorate, something that is distressingly easy to do. I've put a complaint in to the Electoral Commission but the big parties increasingly run roughshod over rules such as this, confident that they have the lawyers, influence and money to mitigate the consequences. Independent candidates rarely have such resources though.

Well, yes. But that's what I'm saying.

An economy structured around Invisible Earnings centred around the London financial markets means that there are jobs and therefore expensive houses in South East England. In (eg) Scotland there are fewer jobs but cheaper houses.

Which parts of the UK voted for and against governments that relentlessly pursued the ideology that the UK would do best with a 'post-industrial' economy? Presumably voters were fully aware of the pain that was being felt in some parts of the UK but were thinking of the wider benefits for all.

I feel you pain and all - but you can't knock democracy.

Living in Coventry we regularly elect a red of some hue. Geoffrey (lucky) Robibnson, Bob (Personality) Ainsworth, and Jim (No answer) Cunningham being the current stalwarts.

Having s minor involvement in local politics I am convinced there is very little to choose between the majority of candidates and parties, they are of an ilk. Or possibly an oik.