My own political beliefs
I don't fit the unemployed stereotype
Some people are convinced that benefit claimers are all habitual Labour voters. I therefore feel that it is worth saying something about my own voting habits and political beliefs, although these are not directly relevant to anything else I have to say. I don't judge people on their political beliefs, although I might judge them on the manner in which they express those beliefs; I'd rather discuss politics with somebody who disagrees amicably than with an intolerant person who basically shares my views. The intolerant person is likely to fall out with me by focusing on our differences, however few they may be. On the other hand, I've had some interesting discussions with tolerant people who have very different views from my own. We each know that we won't change the other's opinion in any fundamental way, but by discussing the issues, we may each learn something and maybe even influence each other a little, though that would be a bonus. Of course, those who are not only intolerant but who disagree with me on most issues are a complete waste of my time.
Unemployment affects thinking
Two long spells out of work have given me another perspective on life. My fundamental beliefs have not changed, but I have moved leftwards to varying degrees on some issues. While the 2008 banking crisis shows what happens when capitalism gets out of control, I remember the seventies, when socialism got out of control. Just as laws were changed to curb the worst excesses of socialism, so the worst excesses of capitalism can and will be curbed by legislation.
My voting history
The 1970 election was the first in which I became eligible to vote. I am basically Conservative, but Edward Heath was a disaster, remembered most vividly for the three-day week and entry into what is now the European Union (it was called the European Economic Community back then). As Harold Wilson had been a failure in his first spell as prime minister from 1964 to 1970 (the Open University was his idea, but he is better remembered for a major devaluation of the pound), I abstained in the February 1974 and October 1974 elections. Following further industrial strife culminating in the winter of discontent, I voted Conservative enthusiastically in 1979, 1983 and 1987. Margaret Thatcher eventually sorted out the trade unions, but following the abolition of the national dock labour scheme in 1989, the Conservatives lost their way, almost as if their work was done. Even a change of leader couldn't inspire them, so I came close to abstaining in 1992. My misgivings were well-founded, as demonstrated first by black Wednesday and later by rail privatisation (though I didn't object to the principle of rail privatisation, only the way in which it was carried out), so I voted Labour in 1997, doing my bit to get rid of the disastrous John Major. I abstained in 2001 but I returned to my Conservative roots in 2005.
2010 offers no hope
I abstained at the 2010 election as the Conservative and Labour parties appeared to be equally uninspiring. David Cameron lacked a clear vision, therefore he reminded me too much of Edward Heath and John Major. Not only that, but both he and Theresa May, then shadowing work and pensions, made very clear their negative attitude to unemployed people.
Please note that deciding to abstain is entirely different from being completely disinterested or being too lazy to vote. Some people refuse to acknowledge the distinction, but that's their problem not mine. I emphatically didn't want to endorse any of the main parties and I have never seen any point in voting for any of the minor parties. Maybe a time will come when I'll see some point in voting for a minor party, perhaps at a local election, but it hasn't happened yet. We live in a free country and I'm not in the business of telling other people how or even whether to vote, but nor do I want other people telling me how or whether to vote. One of the freedoms we have in this country is the freedom to vote or not to vote as we choose. Let's keep it that way.
We ended up with a coalition government and it remains to be seen how things turn out, but while I was pleased that Theresa May didn't get the cabinet role in charge of work and pensions, I doubt that Iain Duncan Smith will pursue policies that impress me either. I know that whatever happens, I qualify for pension credits in March 2013 if I don't find a job before then (the changes announced in October 2010 do not affect me), but a lot of people won't. Now that I've been sucked into the whole unemployment system, I am concerned about those people who will be on it for a long time to come.
People will say that I can't complain if it works out badly because I didn't vote, and in a sense they're right about that much, but I would have expected the worst whatever government emerged from the 2010 election, given the political cross-party consenus about unemployed people. I have the satisfaction of being able to say that I didn't endorse any party at the 2010 election, so nobody can say that I have only myself to blame for supporting a party that did things that worked against me. I knew that my views wouldn't be represented and that's exctly why I didn't vote. Nevertheless, I'll follow developments with interest. After all, whatever policies are implemented directly affect me.
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