Voices from the streets of Crystal Palace
David Eddon – tv debate a waste of time
Sadly, socialism and conservatism are all one and the same as far as I can see. That’s the sadness about it. There’s no passion. There is no real choice. You’ll finish up with the same middle of the road attitude. You get the platitudes from them. This television debate – what a waste of time that is! A people’s assembly – that is a radical piece of thinking…. I’d scrap the House of Lords! What this country needs is another Oliver Cromwell. Turn whole thing on its head and start from scratch and start with a new broom.
Jason Herron - The election is a foregone conclusion
It’s not who we vote for, but who the people at the top decide should get in. The papers have already turned into a systematic propaganda machine. It’s the same as it always has been only more so now than ever. After Reaganism and Thatcherism, economics have created a massive loophole for business and the corporations to take over everything. Therefore, without the emoney from the corporations the government has no say. The same people will remain behind the scenes, the civil servants who are run everything.
Daniel - Parliament won’t do it
Trainee chef Daniel Stuart [right], 21, believes the election is a “load of rubbish”. “They are trying to cut wages and take money off everyone. I am not going to vote for them – forget them! If you try, they just push you to one side. There’s no difference between them. It’s better to withhold our votes and for people to come together and do things themselves. Parliament won’t do it these days - they can’t be bothered. We need to bring people in who will actually do good for London. We need jobs for young people and old people.”
Jane - do something positive
"For some time people in Crystal Palace have had an idea that they should govern themselves. We are caught between different boroughs and none of them care what happens to us here. We could do it much better ourselves. The challenge is to show that this is possible, that we can do it. It is a brilliant idea to have people's assemblies where we can come together and make a stand. You only vote to keep someone out, or for someone less bad than the one that's in already. It is a great concept to do something positive instead. I'm really proud of AWTW for finally coming up with this idea."
Andy - people are sick of politicians
"The idea of holding on to your vote is very important, because people are sick of politicians. I am sure the crisis is much deeper than they are telling us and the only ones who know are New Labour - because they have seen the books. The Tories and Lib Dems can make as many promises as they like but after the election we can't be sure what they will do. People have to be aware that there are alternatives, and that there's more to politics than party ideology. Nothing will change unless we find that alternative. We have to tackle the global corporations - the economy has to change."
Votes today don’t mean anything
Chilean author Jorge Salgado, says the situation in his country shows that “votes today don’t mean anything”
"I think the situation in my own country at the present moment is awful. After 20 years of so-called democracy, the coalition that formed the three successive governments was unable to make profound changes for the people in Chile.
They made some changes in health, housing and so on, but these didn’t reach the masses or redistribute the wealth, therefore a few people are in very good shape the majority still live in poverty.
Unfortunately after the last election, the centre-left coalition government that had been in power gave way to right wing forces – President Sebastian Pinera, a guy who is an entrepreneur, a millionaire – similar to Italian prime minister Berlusconi. He owns a leading Chilean TV channel, for example. He promised to complete his business but he didn’t. That showed right at the beginning that he is not a president, not public servant but a business man. It will take four or five years for the centre left and hopefully the left to take power again.
I believe in direct democracy and that people’s assemblies are one of the ways to go forward. The vote today doesn’t mean anything. People in power become too fond of power; they become the establishment, influenced by corporate interests. That’s the way it is. They just don’t bother, don’t care about real changes. It’s same situation in most countries."
‘None of the parties represent me’
Colette Conboy, who works for a mental health charity in Lambeth, looking after people with learning disabilities, says she wished there was a vote that said “none of the above”. She told us:
"I don’t want to vote for any of the political parties. None of them represent me or the people that I know. I just feel very angry with the way they are abusing their power, when there are people in real need – it’s totally unfair. All politicians disgust me, they really do.
I think that a People’s Assembly could work really well. People have been doing it for years and years in lots of small ways, like in workers’ co-ops and housing associations. People are quite able to run things themselves and sort things out without that extra layer of bureaucracy that dictates to them what they should or shouldn’t be doing. Assemblies would be more representative of what people really want. It’s a fairer way of sharing power so it’s not just a few people who get to decide.
We are giving all our money away and we have no say in it. I don’t want them to invest our money in arms. No way. It’s just disgusting, it really is. We’re one of the richest countries in the world and you look around and there’s children on the poverty line. It’s really crazy.
The whole system is rotten through and through. Sometimes it takes a long time for people to wake up and see what’s happening. Lots of ordinary people who may not be politically aware are now realising that the whole system is rotten. They may not feel they can do anything about it, but they can."
No faith in government
Janet Smikle, works as a security officer. “I don’t have much faith in the government at the moment and so I wasn’t thinking of voting for any of the parties. I listened to all of them but I don’t have much faith in any of them – due to the recent scandal and all that’s gone on with the expenses. I don’t think they are doing much for the economy. We don’t get pay rises. I understand benefits are going to be cut, as is the NHS. People are going to be working longer hours for less money than now. It is ridiculous.”
What does she think about the idea of people’s assemblies? “Something needs to change drastically for the foreseeable future. Otherwise the next generation is going to have a very tough time. Where will they get the money to raise families as well as do other things that we’ve enjoyed.”
