NationStates Jolt Archive

Okay, not exactly the end of the world, I know, but look at this:
http://www.basildon.gov.uk/80256B6E0050BA8F/vWeb/flEFEN6NMJCZ/$file/wardmap274x280.gif

I live in the middle of Billericay, but somehow our Ward is Burstead, a piddily little village 15 minutes down the road! Crouch Ward looks like a 5-year old's drawing. Okay, I know that our political system was bad, and that they cheated, but I never thought it was a bad (which I think it is) as this.

It seems a little odd that politicians are worried about people turning to the BNP and other extremeist parties, and people becoming apathetic in droves, when our democratic process is so flawed - and made to be so by the 'holier-than-thou' Labour/Tories (who run our council).

I'm probablly ranting and overreacting, but this really sucks.

I live in the middle of Billericay,
You poor sod. :p I'm from near Chelmsford myself.

And the alleged gerrymandering comes into this how?

Okay, not exactly the end of the world, I know, but look at this:
http://www.basildon.gov.uk/80256B6E0050BA8F/vWeb/flEFEN6NMJCZ/$file/wardmap274x280.gif

I live in the middle of Billericay, but somehow our Ward is Burstead, a piddily little village 15 minutes down the road! Crouch Ward looks like a 5-year old's drawing. Okay, I know that our political system was bad, and that they cheated, but I never thought it was a bad (which I think it is) as this.

It seems a little odd that politicians are worried about people turning to the BNP and other extremeist parties, and people becoming apathetic in droves, when our democratic process is so flawed - and made to be so by the 'holier-than-thou' Labour/Tories (who run our council).

I'm probablly ranting and overreacting, but this really sucks.


Billericay, wonderful town. Lake Meadows, Sunnymede Junior School... those were the best days of my life.

You poor sod. :p I'm from near Chelmsford myself.

I have heard Chelmsford referred to as a concrete housing estate. Make of that what you will.

Billericay, wonderful town. Lake Meadows, Sunnymede Junior School... those were the best days of my life.
My god, you're from this wonderful county we call Essex as well?

@ Fass: If I'm right, Billericay used to be a bigger ward for local council elections. It seems that the divisions have been redrawn to give more weight to those in Burstead.

I have heard Chelmsford referred to as a concrete housing estate. Make of that what you will.
It's better than both Basildon and Romford. Actually, while certain areas could be described as a concrete housing estate, the majority is actually ok. And the town centre has seen a considerable amount of gentrification in the last decade, so it's almost nice now.

My god, you're from this wonderful county we call Essex as well?

@ Fass: If I'm right, Billericay used to be a bigger ward for local council elections. It seems that the divisions have been redrawn to give more weight to those in Burstead.

Yes, 31 Jacksons Lane :). We've moved to Hampshire, feel free to throw Molotov cocktails at our old house. It was an awful house - built in 1956 without any form of cavity wall or insulation. They've built on its only redeeming feature now; the meadow is no more.
I'm extremely glad we moved.

There's a word for this. (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Gerrymandering%20) I can't even say it and keep a straight face.
Apparently it comes form Massachusetts, early nineteenth century. Is there a Massachusetts in the UK? I can't find anything on Google.

Meh, populations change. Ward boundaries are sometimes redrawn to keep disparity in voters from getting too high.

By the looks of it they drew wards for Billericay and Crouch and then Burstead was just given what was left over. It looks like virtually no one lives in Burstead anyway.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?oi=eu_map&q=Basildon&hl=en
Need to zoom out by two steps

It's better than both Basildon and Romford. Actually, while certain areas could be described as a concrete housing estate, the majority is actually ok. And the town centre has seen a considerable amount of gentrification in the last decade, so it's almost nice now.

Hmm, I have a few memories of Chelmsford. My nanny lived (and still does live) there; we once bought a VCR from Tesco there; there was (and I presume still is) an Argos Extra there; when my great aunt from Devon sent us money, we bought "Elizabeth Shaw" mint crisps from a shop there.

That's not horrible. You should see parts of Texas!

There's a word for this. (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Gerrymandering%20) I can't even say it and keep a straight face.
Apparently it comes form Massachusetts, early nineteenth century. Is there a Massachusetts in the UK? I can't find anything on Google.
Nope, it is indeed an American term. Who'd've thunk it? A term for illegally gaining a political advantage coming from America?! Whatever next?

Hmm, I have a few memories of Chelmsford. My nanny lived (and still does live) there; we once bought a VCR from Tesco there; there was (and I presume still is) an Argos Extra there; when my great aunt from Devon sent us money, we bought "Elizabeth Shaw" mint crisps from a shop there.
It's just an Argos now, IIRC. Not been to the town centre since Christmas (I've been at uni). The Tesco is probably still there.

The town centre has one redeeming feature - Slipped Discs II, the only independent record shop within 25 miles of my house.

It's just an Argos now, IIRC. Not been to the town centre since Christmas (I've been at uni). The Tesco is probably still there.

The town centre has one redeeming feature - Slipped Discs II, the only independent record shop within 25 miles of my house.

What are you studying, may I ask?

There's a word for this. (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=Gerrymandering%20) I can't even say it and keep a straight face.
Apparently it comes form Massachusetts, early nineteenth century. Is there a Massachusetts in the UK? I can't find anything on Google.

Massachusetts in a state in the USA. We have crazy gerrymandering here...
*runs off the puke*

A term for illegally gaining a political advantage coming from America?!
Considering the American Electoral College, one could agrue that the entire country has been "gerrymandered" for small states.
I was merely intrigued by how the English have adopted our words so nicely.
After all, we imported all of our knowledge on how to illegally gain political advantage from the source! XD
Whatever next?
A parliamentary fart (http://www.earlystuartlibels.net/htdocs/parliament_fart_section/C1i.html?), that's what!

What are you studying, may I ask?
History. Current modules are mid-19th century British politics and 18th century political satire. My dissertation's on the reign on Edward VI.

History. Current modules are mid-19th century British politics and 18th century political satire. My dissertation's on the reign on Edward VI.

Brilliant :). I thought you were well educated in history from the discussions of WWII etc.

A parliamentary fart (http://www.earlystuartlibels.net/htdocs/parliament_fart_section/C1i.html?), that's what!
What the fuck?

Parliamentary fart...Menzies Campbell?

What the fuck?
The English parliament's contribution to English literature.
Parliamentary fart...Menzies Campbell?
"Authorship is occasionally attributed to John Hoskyns..." (http://www.earlystuartlibels.net/htdocs/parliament_fart_section/C0.html?)

You poor sod. :p I'm from near Chelmsford myself.

w00t! Vive le south Essex!

w00t! Vive le south Essex!
Hmm, I wonder what my house looks like. They did sort of ruin Norsey Meadow, didn't they?

Hmm, I wonder what my house looks like. They did sort of ruin Norsey Meadow, didn't they?
Take a look:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?oi=eu_satellite&q=Billericay&hl=en

Take a look:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?oi=eu_satellite&q=Billericay&hl=en

I've tried that; my house is just a sort of red mess.

Southend is bloody brilliant though. You can tell the make and model of cars, and see the road markings!

You call that gerrymandering? This is gerrymandering:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/California_District_38_2004.png

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Illinois_District_4_2004.png

If its GErrymandering you want, thats all Labour have done in their terms. All the CIties keep being divided depite some of them showing minimal growth, the large consituencies are growing such as CUBA (Counties that Used to BE Avon), that went from 1 to 3 counties and constituancies, dividing the LAbour voters from Conservatives, although Labour controls only one now.

The other thing is that im praying the BNP win seats. Not because i support them, but because it will Rock the Political Boat. And i cant wait.

I love the word gerrymandering. It sounds so funny.

You call that gerrymandering?
The thread does refering to gerrymandering up some place, but obviously the English are not nearly as good at it as Americans are. A psyciatrist could throw away ink blots and use pictures of those gerrymanderings instead.
"What does this (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/California_District_38_2004.png) look like to you?"
"Desk lamp (http://pow.macroware.cz/ja/lampa.jpg)!"
"...and this (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Illinois_District_4_2004.png)?"
"The Russian eagle!" (http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bild:Russia_coa.png)
I love the word gerrymandering. It sounds so funny.
Gerrymandering is an odd word. Its the only reason why I come to this thread, because I really don't care all that much about English local elections.