Walking the Streets for the Cause

[clovehitched]

Sylvia and I went out canvassing tonight. Sometimes this can be a depressing activity; it can be raining and there can be a huge swing to the "not in" party, which means we have to come back another night. I hate it when it's like that.

Tonight was pretty good, even though it started off being a little bit depressing. Quite early on, I found a vocal supporter of the "Slamming the door in your face" party, and I had a whole street of the "It's a secret between me and the ballot box and if I tell you then you will steal my soul" party (I can understand the desire for privacy, I really really can, but we're just trying to get some good poll projections, and I suspect you'd be surprised at just how mundane the stuff we use the data for actually is), but then it picked up a bit.

Suddenly the "Um, I haven't really thought about it" party made a strong showing (fair enough, it's only been five years since the last general election). After a bit of gentle nudging which resulted in most of them being slightly less non-committal, I got to record most of them as possible Labour voters (they might not be, but this is deliberately pessimistic for complicated statistical reasons).

A sea change happened at about half past seven - maybe people who are politically certain come home later from work or something, but I found a few dedicated Labour types, a couple of greens, a lot of people who would "probably" vote for us (that either seems to mean they will, but they think they ought to be cagey about it in case there's a test later, or they won't, but they don't want to make me sad because they think I have a nice smile), one for the "I'll die before voting Liberal" party, one for the "Oh god, anybody but the Tories" party, and rather pleasingly, a few very keen supporters some of whom took posters to put up in their windows, and two of whom said they'd help us deliver leaflets. That's like hitting the jackpot, that is - I've never found two of those in the same night before.

There was one Australian chap who was new to the country and started asking me what the Liberal Democrats were all about. I ended up talking to him quite a bit, and I got the impression that he's quite likely to vote for us, which was nice.

The two I felt most sorry for were the two people who said they were very staunch Conservative supporters. In Cambridge, and particularly in the bit I was in at the time, they're pretty much completely disenfranchised. One of them commented on this, "I support the Conservatives, but there's not much chance of them doing anything here, is there?" I admitted that there probably wasn't, but she did have very nice earrings and I said so, and this seemed to cheer her up. She might vote for us tactically because she thinks we'd be less bad than Labour, I guess.

Just before the end of the round, I was treated to the spectacle of a couple of girls hanging around by the park smoking a joint and asking each other if they smelled of cannabis. They kinda did, from fifty paces, bless. They also seemed to be making a habit of chasing after cyclists to try and engage them in a fight, which surprised me because I always thought weed was supposed to make people more mellow. I didn't ask them who they were going to vote for - they weren't on the list.

Tomorrow I get to do it all again, in another bit of town (I'm a candidate - I have to set a good example). Hope it's not raining.

Also posted at http://auntysarah.dreamwidth.org/233210.html - you can comment here or there.

Comments

[scattermoon.livejournal.com]

Best of luck with this. Politics aside, you seem to be doing a very good job :)

[jessie-c.livejournal.com]

I didn't ask them who they were going to vote for

Quite obviously it would be the Marijuana Party (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marijuana_party).

[the-local-echo.livejournal.com]

Gosh, that party contested a whole 21 constituences out of 646. At a wild guess, they would have liked to have fielded more candidates, but had reeaaal baad trouble getting around to the paperwork?

[auntysarah.livejournal.com]

You mean I have to get, like, ten signatures? That's really heavy, man!

[jessie-c.livejournal.com]

"Hey, you wanna sign my....
...
Sign my...
...
Uh,...
...
Got any Doritos?"

[valeriekeefe.livejournal.com]

It's 100 signatures. And the last time I ran federally, I got beaten by the marijuana party... by like 20 votes. *feels residual shame* Anyway, continue with the jokes.

[danaelaurm.livejournal.com]

If I may ask, who were you running with. I've done some canvassing for the NDP in the past and it was always painful, but at least despite being perpetual third and fourths the atmosphere was somewhat cheerful... Then the first past the post system hit us hard :p

And it's not that dishonorable, sometimes these parties get impressive results (the Rhino were second in a lot of constituencies at some point).

[valeriekeefe.livejournal.com]

I was running as a Progressive Canadian (PC Party) AKA: the red tories what don't like the merger.

[danaelaurm.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow, yeah, that's a group that fell under the radar.

[valeriekeefe.livejournal.com]

Thanks. You make me feel that the constant canvassing of the "all-politicians-are-criminals" party strongholds in my riding were really worth it. *sighs*

[naath.livejournal.com]

Or finding the money. I mean, they aren't going to win are they? they are probably going to lose all their deposits. It's not cheap. And neither's dope...

[auntysarah.livejournal.com]

Hmm, several parts to this answer, I think.

When we're out knocking on doors, we're not campaigning as such - we're just trying to get people to tell us who they're going to vote for. It's kinda like a targetted for of opinion polling.

In my own campaign, I'm mostly concerned with local issues. I'm happy to pin my colours to the Lib Dem mast though because I generally like where the party is at on civil liberties, on public services, electoral reform, on Europe and how of the "big three", it's the only one that seems to opt out of the "how unpleasant can we be to immigrants without being outright accused of racism" game.

That doesn't mean I'm a party drone though - another thing I like about the Lib Dems is that it's a party that seems to encourage debate and individual input at all levels. This contrasted quite a lot in last years Euro/local elections when I was encountering the Labour activists - they seemed to have this really regimented, "these are the rules, report to officers of the party" stuff going on, and that's really not where I'm at.

One thing that really stands out was my vetting panel (everyone has to have one before being approved to stand as a party candidate). I was asked, "Is there anything that were it to come out might embarrass the party?"

My response was, "I'm a transsexual woman in a polyamourous relationship with two other women with whom I live, and have yet another long distance relationship. I'm also kinky, and I'm not especially secretive about this."

The local party organiser, who was chairing the vetting panel looked at me and said, "Well, I don't think the opposition would try and smear you with any of that, but if they did we'd absolutely stand behind the principle that your personal life is your own business".

I found that really refreshing.

Anyway, I'm still in London quite a bit (have to keep the climbing up, at least at a background level, or I forget stuff). If you'd like to meet up for a cuppa sometime, I'd be only too happy to. I haven't seen you for ages...

[woodpijn.livejournal.com]

My response was, "I'm a transsexual woman in a polyamourous relationship with two other women with whom I live, and have yet another long distance relationship. I'm also kinky, and I'm not especially secretive about this."

The local party organiser, who was chairing the vetting panel looked at me and said, "Well, I don't think the opposition would try and smear you with any of that, but if they did we'd absolutely stand behind the principle that your personal life is your own business".


Yay! *applauds*

[notinventedhere.livejournal.com]

My Dad used to be involved with campaigning for the local LibDems in Hertfordshire. I won't go into the details of the private life of his local candidate, but I'll just say that your local party's response to that question doesn't surprise me in the least.

One of the reasons why I *will* be voting LibDem.

:-)

[darkwaterfairy.livejournal.com]

" ... "I'm a transsexual woman in a polyamourous relationship with two other women with whom I live, and have yet another long distance relationship. I'm also kinky, and I'm not especially secretive about this."

... "Well, I don't think the opposition would try and smear you with any of that, but if they did we'd absolutely stand behind the principle that your personal life is your own business"."

But then, if it was either of the Big 2 right now wouldn't their most likely response be: "Oh. .....You're here to kill us now...... Aren't you?"


Although, I'm intrigued by the 'things that might embarrass' = 'things that could be used to smear' equivalence, and the assursion that it's alright, the "opposition" wouldn't stoop to that level. They do realise Cambridge has journalists, right?

*adds grumbles that the LDs haven't exactly been as hot on resisting antisexualism in parliament as I had expected of them* *shuts up*

[the-local-echo.livejournal.com]

They do realise Cambridge has journalists, right?

The local paper is full of very-slightly-rejigged press releases - I don't think they have the time, budget or inclination to do old-fashioned investigative journalism. For them to do an original story, the subject would have to be pretty damn newsworthy - MP or mayor yes perhaps, potential councillor no. (And they've already done the "transsexual mayor" story, that's old news)

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

Have to admit that I NEVER tell canvassers/tellers how I'm going to vote/have voted.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_moggy_/]

Good luck Sarah. You'd be a great councillor.

Once many years ago I was canvassing for the Labour party and on this one street it was sort of fairly evenly balanced between Labour and Consevative voters. Then I knocked at another door and this bloke answered - I gave the usual spiel and asked if he was going to vote for us. He said yes, but he also seemed to shake his head. I looked a bit puzzled and asked "so you are going to vote Labour?" - again he said yes and shook his head but at least I had d
efinitely heard the 'yes'.

"Ok then, sorry - I thought you were shaking your head".

"No, that's ok - goodbye" he said, again shaking his head.

That's when I realised it was a nervous tic

[blazingrowan.livejournal.com]

We had a couple of Greens knock yesterday (I'd just put on some cake, housemates were milling about: all very domestic and lovely) and I listened while a friend asked *really awesome questions.* The candidate had slick, pre-prepared answers for all the usual - immigration, womens' issues, LBGT rights - and completely flailed when we asked specifically about trans rights. Started telling us again about the new policies to let people of any sexual orientation get married to whoever they liked. Had no idea what we meant, even when we explained this to be a gender identity issue rather than a sexual orientation issue. 'LBGT' is, again, a buzzword.

I wonder whether they'd appreciate some information? - 'these are the issues, this is what it would be a good idea to do' kind of stuff. Clearly their intentions (equality, fairness) are good, they simply seem misinformed. I do wonder whether they'd use it, or whether they'd simply use it as more empty buzzwords. What do you think?

This kind of idea, I think, applies to most political parties - I'm vaguely aware there are campaigners all over the place pointing out, 'these are the issues here, this is the advice, these are the benefits' (I saw one such campaign on autism just yesterday, with the added, 'I can save you £x million'.)

I would hope that by the time anyone gets into local government in Cambridge, they'd at least be reasonably down with comprehensive LGBT rights. Lefty hippy lovely place and all that. Again: too idealistic?

*applause* at the 'personal life' bit!

[blazingrowan.livejournal.com]

Oh, sorry _moggy_, I clicked on the wrong bit (again - this journal layout confuses me... apologies)

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

It's a secret between me and the ballot box and if I tell you then you will steal my soul"

that would be me ;0) I think of it a bit like Christmas for everyone, if you rattle all the boxes beforehand, it won't be a nice surprise...

[danaelaurm.livejournal.com]

I just need to let it out there, I'd likely redo it with the NDP if it didn't involve so much phone (that one time I was in charge of the phones was painful, and it was years ago so it would be worse today), and if I could just seamlessly update my party membership.

But really, I HATE CANVASSING.