Does anyone else think that politics is essentially the art of picking the lesser of two evils?

I was in a canteen earlier with a TV on, and on the TV was David Cameron talking about how "No one will trust Labour ever again". He was spiteful, arrogant, rude and gave a fair deal of what I would consider misinformation. I thought to myself "Is this really the best person we could pick to lead our country?"

But then I thought to myself "Who is the alternative?". Ed Miliband. I dislike him far more than I do David Cameron. I don't like his politics and I've never really gotten along with his personality. I wouldn't vote for him to govern the country either.

And then I thought back to the last election when I went to the voting booth, looked at the candidates, and thought that I didn't want any of these parties to govern the country. In the end I picked Liberal Democrats as I thought they would be the least worst of the parties. I didn't want to vote for them, I voted for them purely because I didn't want my vote to go to the others.

Right now in UK politics there is no one that I would be enthusiastic in giving my vote to, and I find that to be a rather depressing thought.

What do you guys think?

/Rant

Yes.

Yes, I completely agree.

I voted Conservative at the last election, but wouldn't have done so if I'd known they'd support £9000 tuition fees.

On that issue, NONE of the three main parties would have been the right choice. Labour initiated the Browne report likely to later claim impartial approval on raising them, and the other two voted for it, even Lib Dems who signed a pledge not to and were technically free to vote against it.

And since it hits the affected financially more than most tax rises or cuts ever could, it was an issue worthy of protracted debate and years of lead time so people could prepare (like the initial introduction of fees). But instead the coalition rushed the legislation through and made it come into force the very next application cycle.

If there is meant to be electoral choice, and this is a big and divisive issue that affects millions, why wasn't there a party that, if not opposed them, at least wanted moderation of the hike and a more open debate?

--

That's one example, but there are many other issues where a significant segment of the public opposes them but all three parties would allow the status quo to continue: Private Finance Initiatives, Trident, harsh terrorism measures, large bank bonuses by supposedly state-controlled banks, the Digital Economy Bill anti-piracy measures, ...

Simple answer is yes but at least we get to pick.

On the subject of UK politics, our government is just messed up at the moment and it's not going to get better by cutting everything to get money back. Our politicians will only restore me faith in them (to an extent anyway) when they announce that all of them will be taking a pay cut.... lets see. 650 MPs, each taking a £5000 pay cut from their basic salary of of £65,000, thats an extra £3.25 million to pay for a load more nurses in our hospitals.

it's the same in germany, but with more choices (which all suck)

Well, sometimes there isn't a positive answer they can choose and have to pick among the bad ones too.

The OP reminds me of that Southpark episode about the 2004 vote.

Yes.

The Politicians in the UK have fucked us over constantly for at least 10 Years.

I honestly don't think any of them are trusted here anymore. Things like the un-needed "War on Terrorism" to stuff like the MP Expenses and even closer stuff like Nick Cleggs blatant lying regarding tuition fees... Politicians just seem to be all a bunch of liers.

At least we got rid of Brown though, eh?

Sadly, it's the same everywhere.

In the U.S. the presidential elections have been a joke for decades.  Often times, I end up asking not which candidate is the best, but (rather) which candidate stands on a platform I despise less.

Take 2008 in the U.S.A., between Obama and McCain.  McCain was/is a supreme waffler with shades of psychosis.  Obama had/has very poorly thought out policies and an philosophies with which I cannot agree.  In essense, my heart wouldn't allow me to vote for one, and my brain wouldn't allow me to vote for the other.

It seems as if all the elections I can remember end up turning into the same type of scenario.

However, there must be SOMEWHERE that is not the case.  Anybody?