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THE GREAT ELECTION POSTERS MYSTERY 

They probably really pee a whole lot of people off, but somehow an election wouldn’t be the same without them, would it? What are we talking about? Posters, of course!

Some of them are huge (Senator Ozouf’s). Is this an ego thing? Some of them look real cheap and tacky (Senator Ozouf’s again). Some of them – no offence meant - look as about as sincere as a David Cameron/Tony Blair election promise (Deputy Alan Maclean’s). Some have such big, scary close-up mug shots you can’t help thinking some people really should know no better at their age (Deputies Peter Troy and Sarah Fergusson), after all 17 and cute with it these two just ain’t!

Some are so tiny you can barely see them (Jeremy Maçon’s). But at least that shows he is sticking to a budget, we suppose – and let’s be fair he is around the same age as us! Some look like direction signs for a craft fair at first glance – really boring craft fairs (Senator Paul Routier’s). Hasn’t he got any photos he likes? Some just try to look too arty-farty clever and end up looking a bit daft, corny and even pretentious instead (Adrian Walsh’s). Some seem to try so hard to look different and striking, but end up just looking garish, geeky and frankly not a little like something out of Little Britain or and old Harry Enfield show (Nick Le Cornu’s).

Some have such horribly unflattering photos on them that you can’t help but wonder whatever possessed the person to OK the proofs (Ian Le Marquand’s). Some – well, most actually – are so just plain boring and deadly dull you don’t even remember who was on them. Now that just can’t be good? And some others… Well, some others just don’t even seem to exist! All the environmental guys seem to fall into this category along with Deputy Alan Breckon. We suppose the environmental guys may well be making a point and fair enough, but what’s with Deputy Breckon we wonder?

Our Guys

As for our own JDA guys Trevor and Geoff? More plus than minus we’d say. Unlike a couple of others who seem to have ripped off some of the JDA’s ‘buzz’ words for want of an original idea at least Trevor and Geoff’s really come across as genuine and to the point. They are also the most professional looking without a doubt. On the photo side Geoff’s is a really nice one with a great big smile – he should do it more, it suits him. Trevor’s on the other hand really doesn’t do him justice. If you are 48 and still look as well preserved as he does you would have thought he really would have tried to play on it. Still, maybe he was going for the statesman-like look?

The real question all of us at YouthBytes have been asking, however, has not been about the quality of the posters at all. It’s the intriguing mystery of why, a couple of weeks in, are there just so few of the damn things plastering our lampposts? Answers and suggestions to the usual address, please. Best explanation wins a laminator! OK, OK, we weren’t going to, but you’ve finally talked us into it against our better judgement…

Most Naff Poster

After much debate (well, not that much at all really – it was almost unanimous) we can declare that the most naff, most off-putting poster of all award must go to one of the Time4Change candidates - sorry Nick Le Cornu. Horrible garish yellow colour and a really unflattering photo and pose that unfortunately make the guy look like a cross between Tory Boy and Tim Nice-but-dim. Whatever were you thinking Mr Le Cornu, no one looks good against yellow! That cheesy forced smile too…Yuk! Maybe its time it was all done electronically on the net?

Youthbytes at the Hustings 

Having decided not to try and compete with the hacks at the JEP, Channel and the rest (some people have jobs and studies to worry about!) instead of sitting up all night tapping away at our keyboards YouthBytes asked people to take turns trolling along to the different Senatorial hustings and then drop us a few lines about their thoughts. Not just about our guys but anything that particularly struck them on the night. Enjoy…

ST. CLEMENT: 

First thing that you couldn’t help but notice was just how many of them there were, candidates I mean. They had to wrap the tables in a kind of dog leg around the room! The speeches were split pretty much between two types. Carefully rehearsed, sticking to the sheet no matter what, look at all the wonderful things I’ve done speeches. And, maybe from people who were more confident speakers speeches that seemed to just be built around a few important bullet points and telling it as they saw it. I preferred the second sort.

Trev’s was one of these and one of the best I thought. He was also the first to have his speech interrupted by a load of applause. Geoff seemed a bit nervous, surprisingly for someone who must be one of the most knowledgeable people standing. His answers to the questions were all as well informed as ever though, probably giving more information out than anyone. Both our candidates were good and certainly held their own. I wouldn’t like to criticise anyone on what must have been a pretty nerve-racking occasion for many, but the night did start me making up my mind right away that there were a couple of the new candidates that I didn’t think would be able to cut it in the States. I obviously won’t be voting for any of the ministers and others who voted for GST either so by that reckoning I’ve already thinned the possibles down by half. Interesting night but wouldn’t want to do it every night of the week!  Emma

How pretentious does a person have to be to tell everyone he is a member of MENSA? It just sounded really pompous and put me off the candidate right away. Not that I was going to vote for Peter Troy anyway as another one of the GST gang. Trevor’s long answer to how there really are alternatives to GST was spot on.I just think most of these politicians don’t want to listen. They look after their rich mates.  John

 Our candidates were really good. I really believe they can do it.  Amber

 Mike Vibert is a total muppet. We have to get this guy out and I think he will be. As an education minister the guy sucks.  Dan

ST. MARY: 

Apart from a youngish woman who asked about young people and the States and Shona (Deputy Pitman) I think I was the only young person looking in. Not many people there at all really, though I suppose it is a very small parish. I had to leave before the end but it was interesting. Everyone knows that Deputy Southern knows his stuff but Trevor was excellent too. He got a big round of clapping for his comments about how he couldn’t support an Education Minister who was happy to tax books and school uniforms.  

The JDA’s commitment to young people certainly came across loud and clear. Shame not more young people there but maybe there just aren’t that many in St. Mary anyway? The speeches were a mixture of boring, average and very good. The weirdest was the fairy tale one from Mr Nick Le Cornu. Whatever he was trying to say I don’t think people got it at all. Sounded quite patronising if you know what I mean. Think I’ll be voting for our two plus Alan Breckon and that will be it.  Izzy

GROUVILLE: 

Senator Ozouf was working overtime in Grouville to suck up to the crowd. Sounded so fake. The bit about the Dolphin was plain dumb because he didn’t even get it right. Telling everyone how he came top in the parish last time might be a mistake too. I think there are enough of his I’m rich so stuff you type of supporters to get him re-elected but I don’t think he will be in the top three. Few young people there. Spoke to Trevor afterward and he said he felt Geoff had been his best so far. He was good too. So was Trevor although he told me he felt this had been his least best night. Still good in my book. Adrian Walsh sounded particularly nervous and not very convincing. All of the environmental candidates suffered too because they just talk too much or at least a lot more than they have time to do. 90 seconds to answer three questions was a joke. It was good that from both Geoff and Trevor the really important things kept being brought up: controlling population growth, fair taxation and electoral reform. I just hope people listen because the JDA have got the issues spot on.  AM

Rotten lay out for the people standing. Some were actually hidden from view around a corner. One thing strikes you about the ministers – fake! Talk fast and hope no one notices all the lies. Whoever goes to the next meeting should really take a recorder because I reckon Ozouf, Maclean and Routier are already trying to nick our manifesto. Vibert and Troy are just no hopers. Didn’t think much of Sarah Fergusson either. Jeremy Maçon seems really genuine and nice. Sounded quite nervous and I doubt he’ll get in but you have to give him his due for standing. At 21 he is bound to get within in a few years. Trevor was really good with both his speech and answers. Geoff was probably even better tonight. Think I’ll go along to St.Martin’s if I can.  PW

*We’re putting comments together as they come in and hope to get some feed back from St. Martin and St. Peter to paste up soon.  If you were there at any of the hustings get in touch. You don’t need to have been sent there officially by us!

Archives

so, at what age do you become an adult then?

carry a knife – carry the consequences

  Why Should Young People Register to Vote? 

“I think that all young people should have a say in political matters in the island. The JDA give us the opportunity to do so. Really, the JDA are young people’s future and we all need to get out there and vote for them this autumn. I will be voting for the first time this year and I will definitely be voting JDA.”  Jade, 18

“Young people should register to vote because if you haven’t got a vote you can’t have your say. Young people should be entitled to voice their own opinion and these listened to. I joined the JDA because I want to be a part of changing Jersey for the better. I’ve been involved with the JDA since 2005 already, helping to leaflet and give out newsletters. We need more young politicians like Deputy Pitman too, people who understand young people and will represent us.”  Roxanne, 17

“Terry Le Sueur (Treasury Minister) is a Muppet – he seems to think you can clothe a kid for £150 a year! Maybe you can if you only shop at Charity shops. The trouble where the States is that there are too many of these idiots who have inherited more money than brains and have never known what it is like to work for a low wage. We need people in the States who know what its like to live in the real world – that’s why I’ll be voting JDA.”  Lean Bean, 20

“Young people should register to vote because we are the island’s future. If we let people like this Council of Ministers and all those who voted for GST mess Jersey up any more it will be our generation who will suffer the most! I joined the JDA because I want to help ensure Jersey has a prosperous future for all of us.”  Letitia, 17

“I believe that the JDA are a prime example of the way that Jersey should be moving to create a better future for all ages, races, religions and even political views – the JDA have got it right!”  Phil 18

“All young people should take an interest in politics because it is what’s going on all around us. If you’re 16 or older you should vote and vote JDA because they are the only ones standing up for working people. Jersey belongs to all of us not just the rich!”  Dan, 19

“If young people, working people don’t vote nothing will change. If we don’t all vote JDA nothing will change. I’ve never voted before but I will this time and I’ll sure as hell be voting JDA.”  Jamie, 22

“GST sucks! No2GST – Yes2JDA! Right on!”  BP, 17

“Jersey needs party politics because without it the Council of Scamsters can do whatever they like. Young people are Jersey’s future and that’s why I for one will be voting JDA.”  John, 16

“I think JDA R good for the island’s future and will do good things for ordinary people if we can get enough of them elected. Young people should vote and they should join the JDA. If you don’t vote you can’t really complain.”  Ashley, 19

“The Jersey Democratic Alliance is this island’s only hope. Jersey has been run by too many people who are little more than multi-millionaire gangsters for far too long and its time working people like us said enough is enough and kicked them out!”  The Terminator, 20

“I’m only just beginning to realise how important it is that you should vote, which sounds pretty bad when you are now into your mid 20’s and not just out of school or uni. But I will vote this time and I will be voting JDA so long as they have a candidate in my area.”  Emma, 24

“I’ve watched the news and read the paper the last few months and being honest this Council of Ministers looks like some kind of comedy show. This stuff with the waterfront is complete farce. Why did people vote for these idiots? I asked my dad and he seemed a bit embarrassed. Turns out he had voted for several of the Ministers himself. Conned by big, glossy election campaigns! Have to be fair to the old geezer – at least he assured me he never would again. Both going to vote for the JDA! Haven’t joined yet but I will. Do you know that’s about the only thing we agree on apart from Gerrard and Lampard not being able to play together for England!”  Chris, 19

“I’m going to vote JDA. Think that if we don’t do something we’ll all be living in rabbit hutches by the time I’m 20. Either that or having to just accept there is nothing here in Jersey for young people, unless you happen to be rich, and move away. We need more people like the JDA.” Kerry, 17

Comments on this Website

Age to become an adult:

“Nice one - About time someone gave some thought to including young people. As far as becoming an adult…what the hell is that anyway? Half the adults I meet behave like they should be back in reception. If you ask me though it should be 16 all round. Won’t happen though as I can’t see enough politicians agreeing to knock two years off drinking and smoking and a year off driving a car. Just have to spend the next couple of years ******* till I become a man!”  Ben

“!7 will do because no way am I giving up my car!”  Izzy

“Good site. JDA will certainly be getting my vote. Age of being adult is a difficult one. People mature differently so it is probably impossible to get it 100% right what ever they come up with. Pushed I’ll go for 17 too.”  Phil

“Can you honestly see anyone accepting being told they can’t have sex for a couple of more years? Me neither so 18 is out. Older people won’t go for 16 because they won’t want loads more kids on the road. 17 or have to leave it the mess it is. Good site by the way.”  JA 

“I’ve been told in some American States you can drive at 14. Can you imagine that happening here? Don’t even think I would want it myself. My Granddad says that he started work at 14 though so it’s weird how things seem to have changed around. !7 might be a good compromise because young people who want to have sex at 16 will still do it no matter what.”  Young & Confused, 16

“16 for girls – 21 for boys. They are that immature, honest Youthbytes!”  Kez

Anything that does that has to be a step in the right direction.”  Dan

“Whatever you think about parties in the UK and stuff we really should try it here. Like, could anything be any worse or less effective that what we have now?” Anon. E. Mouse   (No it isn’t my real name but Big Brother might be watching this site!)

“We should have a party system, we should have more women, and we should have more younger people in politics. Shona Pitman has real guts.” Laura, 21

Email us your views to  youthbytes@jdajersey.co.uk

Party ‘V’ Independents 

So which is better? As Harry Hill says – there’s really only one way to find out… FIGHT! Well, at least let’s have a look at some of the pros and cons…

As younger people quite new to politics we asked some of the guys from YouthBytes to have a quick look at a few of the main pros and cons and come up with six of what they thought were the most important.

What they did come up with in just over an hour makes interesting reading. You could probably come up with a whole load more yourself. But over to YouthBytes  ............................

In a party system if the government doesn’t keep their promises or let you down by underperforming then you can vote them out of office in one foul swoop at the election!

With ‘independents’ like our chaotic Council of Ministers and their hangers on, not only can’t you vote them all out at the same time, you can’t even pin them down to collective responsibility – because there isn’t any! Convenient, eh?

With a political party in power, just as you can see all over the world, the top jobs generally go to the individuals who are most capable – after all, if someone couldn’t do the job it could have disastrous results for the whole party come the election!

With ‘independents’ like our chaotic Council of Ministers top jobs tend to go to those on the same cocktail circuit – or just as bad, to those most willing to kiss the Head Boy’s posterior and do as they are told, no questions asked. Are we being too harsh? Let’s be honest - does any political neutral really believe there are not better, more capable men and women available than those now disastrously at the helms of Housing, Social Security, Transport and the Treasury to name just four? And if you don’t happen to toe the line, shut up or fit in…Look what happened to Senator Stuart Syvret!

With a political party you tend to have a pretty good idea about what you will be getting if you vote for them, because they put their best ideas in a strange little thing called a ‘manifesto’. It doesn’t always work out, of course, but at least it gives the people something by which to hold them to account as having at least tried to implement. If they haven’t tried then as we said earlier – come the election you can send them packing!

With a government made up of only ‘independents’ unfortunately, you immediately have two distinct problems. Firstly, most ‘independents’ won’t have anything like a full manifesto – what they will most likely have could best be described as a ‘wish list’ full of nice, fluffy slogans about ‘caring for the community’ ‘being tough on crime’ but very little about hard and fast policy. Second problem is that even with those ‘independent’s who genuinely want to do a good job, because of the very fact that they are effectively on their own if they can’t get a majority of other States Members to support them they can’t make the positive changes they want anyway! For those ‘independent’s who you eventually become to suspect never even tried to keep their election promises there is always that nice little excuse open to them: “It wasn’t my fault – people wouldn’t support me!”

When a States Member is a member of a political party then on key issues that you know the party had a policy on at the election (such as GST for example) you can expect and rely on them to vote accordingly. But that doesn’t mean voting in ‘parrot fashion’ on other issues – just look at the voting records of the JDA’s politicians and you will see that on issues where there has been no official ‘party line’ promised to the electorate each person votes in line with his or her judgement according to the information available. Exactly as it should be in our opinion.

Compare the above with those who would tell you a government full of 53 individuals is best. And…for a telling example why not once again consider GST! How many people now in the States told us back in 2005 that they were totally opposed to this tax, and at the very least said that they would fight for exemptions? Now think about how many have done exactly the opposite? What the ‘independents’ in the Council of Ministers also keep very quiet about when they are trying to talk down party politics is the fact that, 99 times out of a 100, they all vote together even when they don’t agree with a policy – remember Senator Le Main whimpering about his colleague Deputy Guy De Faye only last year?

With a party political system if you voted for them you would know exactly who would be the Chief Minister if that party won.

What a difference to the system controlled by ‘independents’ that we have in Jersey today! Do you think that there is – or ever was – a majority of people in Jersey who wanted Senator Walker to become Chief Minister, or felt he was the best politician for the job? Until we change the system in Jersey this type of thing could happen again – and it will! Remember we told it to you here: unless we get enough ordinary people out to vote in the autumn Senator Terry Le Sueur, the very man who brought us GST and who thinks you can clothe a child for £150 a year will be the next Chief Minister!

With a political party you know, because of the registration process, just how the organisation will be funded and who is behind it. You will also know that it has to be run in an above board fashion.

What a contrast to the system controlling ‘independents’ here in Jersey! Even after spending the best part of three years looking into this all the serious regulations from PPC at the time of the 2008 elections will be targeted at the JDA. The rules around groups like Elect Jersey who will once again be ‘assisting’ selected ‘independents’ with their campaigns are about as scary as a tiger with no teeth! Forget all the talk from Ministers and PPC about a ‘level playing field’ – if you put your trust in a candidate not aligned with a party you may well really be voting for a property developer or some group of faceless wealthy businessmen (unless you know them well and trust them, of course.  After all, there are good and honest independents)!  Anyone remember Elect Jersey in 2005…

Don’t know what you think but in our opinion it’s the party system by an undisputed knock-out!

So, there we go -six of the best as to why party politics is better.    

See how many more you can come up with and drop us a line.

Letitita's Speech

Letitia Pryor, who proposed Trevor Pitman as a Senatorial candidate, has let us have the draft of her speech.  Unlike some of the other proposers, who had their speeches ghost-written for them by their candidates themselves, these words are Letitia's own: