Guernsey St Sampson voters urged to be sensible at hustings

Voters in the Guernsey parish of St Sampson are being encouraged to avoid asking "stupid questions" at its forthcoming hustings meeting.

John Foster, the returning officer, said: "We're hoping that people will come and ask sensible questions that are going to tax the candidates.

"Sometimes people come with some stupid questions which spoil it for everyone there who's interested in the island."

The parish hustings will be held at St Sampson's High School on 4 April.

There are 11 candidates contesting the six seats available in the distric
(from BBC)

How does he define 'stupid'?

What one person considers to be important and relevant could be classed as stupid by another.

Politician's definitions of of a stupid question:-

One he dare not answer truefully.

One he does not want to answer.

One on which he has not been briefed.

One which might give the game away.

One about his expenses or outside interest.

John Foster's remarks just highlight the calibre of candidate on offer and what they truly feel about the people they are supposed to be representing!!!!!

He isn't a candidate, he is the Returning Officer, who is meant to be impartial at all times.

Even worse then!!!!! No respect from a returning officer - says it all!!! ......and as I am a bit confused - where is he returning from????

karma wrote:Even worse then!!!!! No respect from a returning officer - says it all!!! ......and as I am a bit confused - where is he returning from????

He will be returning with the results on the big day

Thanks Kat - Is he an Important man then??????

He obviously thinks that he is.

Yes he is he will oversee what goes on .he will have the last say on any spoilt papers .
It is a big responsibility to take on ,if anything goes wrong it is on his head!

Important or not he should really hone his 'people' skills!!!

he does have people skills - he is a professional man. I have known him for many years.

Someone who suggests that voters ask silly questions still needs to hone his skills - voters are getting increasingly thin on the ground and to be made to feel that their questions might be considered silly would not be encouraging them to attend for fear of ridicule!!!

I am the one that would ask a silly but simple question. if they cant answer these they got no chance of answering a hard question

Doesn't matter what is silly and what is not silly. A politician will always give the answer to the question he wanted you to ask irrespective of what question was actually asked.

Don't forget, the main question "How do you know a politician is lying"

Answer: His lips are moving!

plimmerton811 wrote:Doesn't matter what is silly and what is not silly. A politician will always give the answer to the question he wanted you to ask irrespective of what question was actually asked.

Don't forget, the main question "How do you know a politician is lying"

Answer: His lips are moving!

I hope the questions we get asked are ones you want answering! Looking forward to the hustings....questions are only difficult if you don't know the answer or daren't say what you truly believe.

carolinebowker@nasuwt.net wrote:I hope the questions we get asked are ones you want answering! Looking forward to the hustings....questions are only difficult if you don't know the answer or daren't say what you truly believe.

Well I suppose if I didn't want it answered I wouldn't ask it in the first place.

I do not expect you to have all the answers but I do expect you to find the answer and let me know if I were to ask. Why as a politician should you not say what you truly believe. If you say something different to what you belive then you are being false. I would want to hear what YOU believe not what YOU ARE TOLD to tell us or think we may like to hear. It's no wonder that policticians get a bad name. How can we vote for you with a comment like you have made above? I'd never know if you were doing what you believed in.

You can put a caveat on your answer to a question by saying "The party line is or common belief is... however my belief is ......" otherwise you are wasting my time and could be looked at as a fraud.

carolinebowker@nasuwt.net wrote:I hope the questions we get asked are ones you want answering! Looking forward to the hustings....questions are only difficult if you don't know the answer or daren't say what you truly believe.

We will have to wait for another term to see if Caroline would say what she truly believes.