I stood in the local election because not one of my candidates was willing to commit to the things I care about, and things that most people you speak to agree with whole heartedly when it comes to transparency in contracts.
I spent most of my time preparing a SMART-voter.org promise list and the platform so that other honest / democratic candidates can stand in the future off of the same pedestal.
I also printed and put up 8 posters which I was well aware were being taken down. I'll note that I only found three after the election. Posters can only work if the competition believe in your right to an informed decision.
If someone took the time to write my name and Evendons into Google the first link would be to my campaign page. If they followed the link on the poster they would have come to an identical blog page. This way I was able to see how many people took the time to type loku.co.uk/kaz into their browser having read the poster or put Kaz Evendons into Google.
The stats were always buffed up when I put something into Facebook or Twitter with as many as 40 views in 1 day. I was well aware though that those views were more likely from fellow activists from all sides.
What I was most interested in seeing was if members of the public would spontaneously research their candidates online in the run up t the election. For this reason I did not promote the links in the final days.
By the time the election came I had 100 views of the poster link, which I has also been promoting prior to the posters. There were perhaps 10 views from when the posters went up. I typically divide by four to get real human figures so I'll call that 2 researching stimulated by the posters.
At the same time I had 150 views of the google search page over the week. Again, dividing by 4 you get 50. If you take into account how many of those were people researching their candidate in the last few days running up to the election, that was a mear 50. Divide that by 4 that's 12.5 people out of 8000 who googled their candidates name in the run up to the election.
Were I to have to put money on how many genuine voters looked into my online presence I'd say 50 people out of 8000. Less than 0.65%
It would appear that the only way presently to get elected is to go door to door for the month prior.
Candidates can lie on the doorstep. They are also advertising the fact that they are not representative of the public who simple can not afford to invest the time. It may well be that they have a vested interest outside the £8k-22k they are paid but strangely not advertised when the chance to stand for election is poorly advertised.
Had I received 2000 views and I concluded that 500 genuine voters has seen my information then I would have been disappointed that the commitments I was offering were not important to voters.
As it happened, only 50 people looked and 71 people voted. I therefore received 21 votes from people who were too lazy to treat their democracy with the respect it deserves.
My motivation in all of this is not Wokingham. I would like to see people all over the world voting out corrupt bankers, war mongers and land owning trusts.
As long as people vote for the most attentive person, real honest people will not be able to compete with vested interests.
Tuesday 27 May 2014
Saturday 10 May 2014
Wokingham Borough Council Elections. Weasil out the Crooks. Chance to win £50.
Update. It would appear that only I bothered. I have a handful of responses from non mainstream parties, which I will do a little vlog on. I have spent the £50 on some new trainers, two tank tops and some grey shorts.
--------------------------------------------------------
Most current politicians are odd slippery characters with two imperatives.
1. Commit to nothing.
2. Don't say no to you (that will lose your vote)
Send an e-mail to a / some local borough councillor candidates(s) asking them to commit transparency and accountability as per the SMART-voter.org terms. You are allowed follow up communications.
Try to get them to;
1. Do it.
2. Refuse to do it.
3. Give a good reason why they can't.
You will likely get none of the above. What we are interested in is the way they get out of answering your question.
Send a copy of the communications to ask@SMART-voter.org.
Entries close Midnight Friday 16th of May.
On Saturday we will have a video panel going through the answers and picking our favourites for whatever reasons come to mind at the time for example comic effect and dialogue between a voter and their candidate.
The addresses below are for generic local political party leaders or administrative contacts.
If you wish to try to get a response from your actual local candidates then this link might help to find our who your candidate are so you can google their names.
http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/council/elections/boroughelection/?categoryesctl6284731=3321
Happy hunting.
P.S Please do e-mail this to your friends. The candidate research is hopefully more important than the reward.
I hope you can respect how important it is that people can not be misled by those with vested interests.
E-mail 2: Tory. You will have to send via their online form.
http://www.wokinghamconservatives.org.uk/contact
Subject. Borough elections. Commitment to democracy.
Dear Sir / Madam
I am due to vote in the Borough Elections and have been made aware that you are standing a candidate in every ward.
I have become increasingly disenfranchised with politicians over recent years and have decided to join a public movement that ensures we have the facts we need to make an informed decision.
I hope you can respect how important it is that people can not be misled by those with vested interests.
Please can arrange for each of your candidates to sign the SMART-voter.org contract and make public their obligations in a simple and concise manner so that I may consider their candidacy. If they have no policies that you are willing to commit to they need only provide a blank promise list.
If there are reasons why you feel that you can not provide this level of transparency, please do let me know what they are. The movement is young and will no doubt have some teething problems
Kind Regards
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email 3: Labour
http://www.readinglabour.org.uk/contact.html
Subject. Borough elections. Commitment to democracy.
Dear Sir / Madam
I am due to vote in the Borough Elections and have been made aware that you are standing some candidates.
I have become increasingly disenfranchised with politicians over recent years and have decided to join a public movement that ensures we have the facts we need to make an informed decision.
I hope you can respect how important it is that people can not be misled by those with vested interests.
Please can arrange for each of your candidates to sign the SMART-voter.org contract and make public their obligations in a simple and concise manner so that I may consider their candidacy. If they have no policies that you are willing to commit to they need only provide a blank promise list.
If there are reasons why you feel that you can not provide this level of transparency, please do let me know what they are. The movement is young and will no doubt have some teething problems
Kind Regards
---------------------------------------------------------------
Email 4: UKIP
http://ukipbracknell.webs.com/contactus.htm
Subject. Borough elections. Commitment to democracy.
Dear Sir / Madam
I am due to vote in the Borough Elections and have been made aware that you are standing some candidates.
I have become increasingly disenfranchised with politicians over recent years and have decided to join a public movement that ensures we have the facts we need to make an informed decision.
I hope you can respect how important it is that people can not be misled by those with vested interests.
Please can arrange for each of your candidates to sign the SMART-voter.org contract and make public their obligations in a simple and concise manner so that I may consider their candidacy. If they have no policies that you are willing to commit to they need only provide a blank promise list.
If there are reasons why you feel that you can not provide this level of transparency, please do let me know what they are. The movement is young and will no doubt have some teething problems
Kind Regards
---------------------------------------------------------------
Email 5: Green
info@readingGreenParty.org.uk
Subject. Borough elections. Commitment to democracy.
Dear Mr White
I am due to vote in the Borough Elections and have been made aware that you are standing some candidates.
I have become increasingly disenfranchised with politicians over recent years and have decided to join a public movement that ensures we have the facts we need to make an informed decision.
I hope you can respect how important it is that people can not be misled by those with vested interests.
Please can arrange for each of your candidates to sign the SMART-voter.org contract and make public their obligations in a simple and concise manner so that I may consider their candidacy. If they have no policies that you are willing to commit to they need only provide a blank promise list.
If there are reasons why you feel that you can not provide this level of transparency, please do let me know what they are. The movement is young and will no doubt have some teething problems
Kind Regards
----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------
Most current politicians are odd slippery characters with two imperatives.
1. Commit to nothing.
2. Don't say no to you (that will lose your vote)
This game is simple.
Send an e-mail to a / some local borough councillor candidates(s) asking them to commit transparency and accountability as per the SMART-voter.org terms. You are allowed follow up communications.
Try to get them to;
1. Do it.
2. Refuse to do it.
3. Give a good reason why they can't.
You will likely get none of the above. What we are interested in is the way they get out of answering your question.
Send a copy of the communications to ask@SMART-voter.org.
Entries close Midnight Friday 16th of May.
On Saturday we will have a video panel going through the answers and picking our favourites for whatever reasons come to mind at the time for example comic effect and dialogue between a voter and their candidate.
The addresses below are for generic local political party leaders or administrative contacts.
If you wish to try to get a response from your actual local candidates then this link might help to find our who your candidate are so you can google their names.
http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/council/elections/boroughelection/?categoryesctl6284731=3321
Happy hunting.
P.S Please do e-mail this to your friends. The candidate research is hopefully more important than the reward.
Subject. Borough Elections. Commitment to democracy.
Dear Mr Scarrot
I am involved in the Wokingham Borough Elections and have been made aware that you are standing candidates for the Liberal democrats.
I have become increasingly disenfranchised with politicians over recent years and have decided to join a public movement that ensures we have the facts we need to make an informed decision.
I am involved in the Wokingham Borough Elections and have been made aware that you are standing candidates for the Liberal democrats.
I have become increasingly disenfranchised with politicians over recent years and have decided to join a public movement that ensures we have the facts we need to make an informed decision.
I hope you can respect how important it is that people can not be misled by those with vested interests.
Please
can arrange for each of your candidates to sign the SMART-voter.org
contract and make public their obligations in a simple and concise
manner so that I may consider their candidacy. If they have no policies
that you are willing to commit to they need only provide a blank
promise list.
If there are reasons why you feel that you
can not provide this level of transparency, please do let me know what
they are. The movement is young and will no doubt have some teething
problems
Kind Regards
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.wokinghamconservatives.org.uk/contact
Subject. Borough elections. Commitment to democracy.
Dear Sir / Madam
I am due to vote in the Borough Elections and have been made aware that you are standing a candidate in every ward.
I have become increasingly disenfranchised with politicians over recent years and have decided to join a public movement that ensures we have the facts we need to make an informed decision.
I hope you can respect how important it is that people can not be misled by those with vested interests.
Please can arrange for each of your candidates to sign the SMART-voter.org contract and make public their obligations in a simple and concise manner so that I may consider their candidacy. If they have no policies that you are willing to commit to they need only provide a blank promise list.
If there are reasons why you feel that you can not provide this level of transparency, please do let me know what they are. The movement is young and will no doubt have some teething problems
Kind Regards
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Email 3: Labour
http://www.readinglabour.org.uk/contact.html
Subject. Borough elections. Commitment to democracy.
Dear Sir / Madam
I am due to vote in the Borough Elections and have been made aware that you are standing some candidates.
I have become increasingly disenfranchised with politicians over recent years and have decided to join a public movement that ensures we have the facts we need to make an informed decision.
I hope you can respect how important it is that people can not be misled by those with vested interests.
Please can arrange for each of your candidates to sign the SMART-voter.org contract and make public their obligations in a simple and concise manner so that I may consider their candidacy. If they have no policies that you are willing to commit to they need only provide a blank promise list.
If there are reasons why you feel that you can not provide this level of transparency, please do let me know what they are. The movement is young and will no doubt have some teething problems
Kind Regards
---------------------------------------------------------------
Email 4: UKIP
http://ukipbracknell.webs.com/contactus.htm
Subject. Borough elections. Commitment to democracy.
Dear Sir / Madam
I am due to vote in the Borough Elections and have been made aware that you are standing some candidates.
I have become increasingly disenfranchised with politicians over recent years and have decided to join a public movement that ensures we have the facts we need to make an informed decision.
I hope you can respect how important it is that people can not be misled by those with vested interests.
Please can arrange for each of your candidates to sign the SMART-voter.org contract and make public their obligations in a simple and concise manner so that I may consider their candidacy. If they have no policies that you are willing to commit to they need only provide a blank promise list.
If there are reasons why you feel that you can not provide this level of transparency, please do let me know what they are. The movement is young and will no doubt have some teething problems
Kind Regards
---------------------------------------------------------------
Email 5: Green
info@readingGreenParty.org.uk
Subject. Borough elections. Commitment to democracy.
Dear Mr White
I am due to vote in the Borough Elections and have been made aware that you are standing some candidates.
I have become increasingly disenfranchised with politicians over recent years and have decided to join a public movement that ensures we have the facts we need to make an informed decision.
I hope you can respect how important it is that people can not be misled by those with vested interests.
Please can arrange for each of your candidates to sign the SMART-voter.org contract and make public their obligations in a simple and concise manner so that I may consider their candidacy. If they have no policies that you are willing to commit to they need only provide a blank promise list.
If there are reasons why you feel that you can not provide this level of transparency, please do let me know what they are. The movement is young and will no doubt have some teething problems
Kind Regards
----------------------------------------------------------
Wokingham, Evendons May 22 2014. Some text to check if your candidate respects your right to an informed decision?
Lib Dem
Communication Channel. Nothing direct. Try his wife Prue.
Dear Mr Bray
I am due to vote in the Evendons Election on the 22nd of May and have been made aware that you are my local candidate for the Liberal democrats.
I have become increasingly disenfranchised with politicians over recent years and have decided to join a public movement that ensures we have the facts we need to make an informed decision.
I am due to vote in the Evendons Election on the 22nd of May and have been made aware that you are my local candidate for the Liberal democrats.
I have become increasingly disenfranchised with politicians over recent years and have decided to join a public movement that ensures we have the facts we need to make an informed decision.
I hope you can respect how important it is that people can not be misled by those with vested interests.
Please can you sign the SMART-voter.org contract and make public your obligations in a simple and concise manner so that I may consider your candidacy. If you have no policies that you are willing to commit to you need only provide a blank promise list.
If there are reasons why you feel that you can not provide this level of transparency, please do let me know what they are. The movement is young and will no doubt have some teething problems
Please can you sign the SMART-voter.org contract and make public your obligations in a simple and concise manner so that I may consider your candidacy. If you have no policies that you are willing to commit to you need only provide a blank promise list.
If there are reasons why you feel that you can not provide this level of transparency, please do let me know what they are. The movement is young and will no doubt have some teething problems
Kind Regards
----------------------------------------------------
Conservative
Communication channel.
Dear Mr Ashwell
I am due to vote in the Evendons Election on the 22nd of May and have been made aware that you are my local candidate for the Liberal democrats.
I have become increasingly disenfranchised with politicians over recent years and have decided to join a public movement that ensures we have the facts we need to make an informed decision.
I am due to vote in the Evendons Election on the 22nd of May and have been made aware that you are my local candidate for the Liberal democrats.
I have become increasingly disenfranchised with politicians over recent years and have decided to join a public movement that ensures we have the facts we need to make an informed decision.
I hope you can respect how important it is that people can not be misled by those with vested interests.
Please can you sign the SMART-voter.org contract and make public your obligations in a simple and concise manner so that I may consider your candidacy. If you have no policies that you are willing to commit to you need only provide a blank promise list.
If there are reasons why you feel that you can not provide this level of transparency, please do let me know what they are. The movement is young and will no doubt have some teething problems
Please can you sign the SMART-voter.org contract and make public your obligations in a simple and concise manner so that I may consider your candidacy. If you have no policies that you are willing to commit to you need only provide a blank promise list.
If there are reasons why you feel that you can not provide this level of transparency, please do let me know what they are. The movement is young and will no doubt have some teething problems
Kind Regards
--------------------------------------------------------
The first step to finding out who your candidates are.
http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/council/elections/boroughelection/?categoryesctl6284731=3321
The first step to finding out who your candidates are.
http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/council/elections/boroughelection/?categoryesctl6284731=3321
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