National Alliance

[culloty82]

Claim to be a right-wing thinktank (http://nationalalliance.ie/) rather than a party, include David Quinn, John McGurk and Marc Coleman.

[OneRedArmy]

I jumped straight to

Point 6 STABILISATION OF THE BANKING AND PROPERTY SECTOR
We never again want property or banking to drive economy. But both of those sectors must stabilise before we can rectify our budgetary crisis and build a high tech growth economy.

Stamp duty must be abolished and replaced with a modest local services tax to be implemented once local authority structures have been reformed and consolidated as described in point 6 below.
Credit flowing to business must be constantly monitored and acted on if deficient.
The Regulator must be prevented from going from the ridiculous extremes of loan loan/value and loan/income ratios applied in the boom, to those applied in the 1980s or 1990s during a different era of low incomes and single income households
The take up of Fixed rate mortgages in place of variable mortgages – as in Germany – must be incentivised so as to end boom/bust property market swings
We must finally adopt international practice by capping the price of land at reasonable levels by implementing the Kenny Report, again to prevent future speculative boom/bust cycles
We must establish a National zoning & spatial planning agency to ensure land zoning activity matches economic growth, spatial plans and infrastructure roll out.

I kept clicking on detailed plan and nothing loaded..........then I realised that was the detailed plan!

[BonnieShels]

Gone!

It will be back on Friday at www.nationalforum.ie

I can't wait.
:rolleyes:

[Lionel Ritchie]

You just know it's time to dig an air raid shelter when partys with 'National' in the title start fomenting.

[BonnieShels]

I won't jump until I see "socialist" suffixed to it.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Eejits Unlimited....

[geysir]

Implementing the Kenny report, would do interesting things to the asset values on the bank's books.
You could say, with a high enough degree of certainty, that the NA plan to stabilise the property sector would indeed induce stabilisation onto the banking sector, in the form of a sustained coma.

[eamo1]

Another Alliance formed-

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1125/united_left_alliance.html

[TheBoss]

Another Alliance formed-

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/1125/united_left_alliance.html

Their website:

http://www.unitedleftalliance.org

[shantykelly]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebel_Alliance

I'll stick with this one.

[BonnieShels]

Their website:

http://www.unitedleftalliance.org

Heard that on the news. I'm heading to the launch on Monday. Can't wait. And I'm serious. apparently they want to be an alternative to FG and Labour and they plan on doing this by running 20 candidates. hmmmmmmmmmmm... if this is their approach to maths then I don't think I can have confidence in their policies to fix the country.

[galwayjames]

ULA - Sounds more like a Loyalist paramilitary than a political alliance. And I don't trust any of the parties mentioned. But then again I don't trust any party in Ireland. So I don't know really.

[BonnieShels]

ULA - Sounds more like a Loyalist paramilitary than a political alliance. And I don't trust any of the parties mentioned. But then again I don't trust any party in Ireland. So I don't know really.
I'll mention it to Richard. :)

[geysir]

Apart from references to the environment and broadband, the ULA programme sounds so orthodox it could have been scripted 100 years ago by James Connolly. But surely even Connolly would have recognised the popular value of emphasising investment in 'fast broadband' for the masses and not just a token reference to broadband :)
All in all, the programme just outlines a long list of likes and dislikes, some good points and plenty of sloganising, without one practical plan on how all these are to be achieved.

[BonnieShels]

Apart from references to the environment and broadband, the ULA programme sounds so orthodox it could have been scripted 100 years ago by James Connolly. But surely even Connolly would have recognised the popular value of emphasising investment in 'fast broadband' for the masses and not just a token reference to broadband :)
All in all, the programme just outlines a long list of likes and dislikes, some good points and plenty of sloganising, without one practical plan on how all these are to be achieved.

You sound surprised? :P
It's hogwash. It's just rebranded SWP and PBPA. Nothing more. I hope there's free wine at the launch.

[John83]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebel_Alliance

I'll stick with this one.
May the Intergalactic Midichlorian-based Force be with you.

[osarusan]

Heard that on the news. I'm heading to the launch on Monday. Can't wait. And I'm serious. apparently they want to be an alternative to FG and Labour and they plan on doing this by running 20 candidates. hmmmmmmmmmmm... if this is their approach to maths then I don't think I can have confidence in their policies to fix the country.

According to RTE, they say they'll be an alternative to Labour/FG following the next election, rather than in the next election.

[BonnieShels]

Right. I still don't know what planet they're on.

[Reality Bites]

According to RTE, they say they'll be an alternative to Labour/FG following the next election, rather than in the next election.

Joe Higgins involvement boosts the ULA's credibility in my opinion, he always comes across as a well intentioned guy.

[BonnieShels]

But that credibility is instantly lost with RBB'S involvement.

[Docboy]

Although Richie has undoubtedly tarnished his image with his association with just about every protest movement going in the country at least his heart is in the right place. Something that I don't feel can be said of the many of the major players. In addition, he also came very close to being elected to the Dail in the last election from one of the most conservative constituencies in Ireland. That said he'll probably struggle this time around though with one less seat available.

[culloty82]

How will it be judged if the protest tomorrow is a success - 60,000 are expected to turn out. The best outcome is if Higgins and Boyd-Barrett manage to keep Eirigi and hanger-on skangers from hijacking the march, if British students and the French can protest peacefully, it surely isn't too much to expect nothing to happen tomorrow. That said, even if 99% of protesters go straight home, RTE and the papers will still focus on the troublemakers.

[BonnieShels]

Although Richie has undoubtedly tarnished his image with his association with just about every protest movement going in the country at least his heart is in the right place. Something that I don't feel can be said of the many of the major players. In addition, he also came very close to being elected to the Dail in the last election from one of the most conservative constituencies in Ireland. That said he'll probably struggle this time around though with one less seat available.

You mad? His entire mantra is to get elected at all costs. He will nail his colours to any mast.
There was a well publicised case in Loughlinstown. I know the ins and outs of the case as I was involved and I tell ya the public version bears no resemblance to what actually happened. Same with his "Keep the 46A in Monkstown Farm". He had the Rent-a-Mob protesting on Marine Road on the day of launch of the new service but not a dickiebird before or after in DL.
DL has exceptionally large pockets of lefties but as these tend to be working class and from the less salubrious areas and they tend not to vote in numbers nationally.

Saying that I think that I'm thinking of running on a ticket of ABRBBFFaGP.

I'd say 2 xFG, LAB and a three way tusske between FF, GP, RBB and SF.

[geysir]

It's fair enough that a few elements in the orthodox left get together for this scrap. I don't mind if Joe Higgins stands on his soapbox and lets it rip for the next few months.

[bennocelt]

How will it be judged if the protest tomorrow is a success - 60,000 are expected to turn out. The best outcome is if Higgins and Boyd-Barrett manage to keep Eirigi and hanger-on skangers from hijacking the march, if British students and the French can protest peacefully, it surely isn't too much to expect nothing to happen tomorrow. That said, even if 99% of protesters go straight home, RTE and the papers will still focus on the troublemakers.

What have you been looking at recently!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyway marching is a complete waste of time, doesn't matter if there is 100,000 there tomorrow nothing will change

[dahamsta]

Still singing from that hymnsheet bennocelt? You realise that the multiple exclamation marks kinda throw your credibility out the window, right? :rolleyes:

Can't see there being a massive turnout today, given the weather. I was going to pop along as I was going up for something else, but I'm not going to risk it.

[bennocelt]

Still singing from that hymnsheet bennocelt? You realise that the multiple exclamation marks kinda throw your credibility out the window, right? :rolleyes:

.

As opposed to your post which doesnt say anything! (just the one)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-11849259
Interesting article on marching in general

[shantykelly]

As opposed to your post which doesnt say anything! (just the one)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-11849259
Interesting article on marching in general

yeah, but it kind of contradicts your statement that marching is a complete waste of time. Protest marching is only a waste of time if there is no follow through, and i dont mean violence. it needs to be used as part of a greater arsenal of civil disobedience tactics - marching, sitdowns/lock ins, work to rule, bloc political pressure, coherent and coordinated union action, and mass involvement.

[culloty82]

Looks like the march passed off perfectly, no loopers, and both BBC and the Guardian say 100,000 (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/27/ireland-bailout-angry-demonstrators-dublin) were on the streets. Of course, it probably won't make any difference, but all it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing.

[bennocelt]

yeah, but it kind of contradicts your statement that marching is a complete waste of time. Protest marching is only a waste of time if there is no follow through, and i dont mean violence. it needs to be used as part of a greater arsenal of civil disobedience tactics - marching, sitdowns/lock ins, work to rule, bloc political pressure, coherent and coordinated union action, and mass involvement.

True but that rarely happens these days, does it? We should learn a thing or two from the French.
As the people were marching, at the same time they were doing the deal today with the EU

[dahamsta]

Looks like I was wrong about numbers, great to see so many people out on the streets in spite of the weather, well done any Foot.iers that were there.

I note with interest that Irish news sources say 50k and british 100k. Can we just get the Beeb over to run RTE and a few decent broadsheets over to run the newspapers?

[ArdeeBhoy]

Naw, you definitely wouldn't want to do that!

[BohsPartisan]

Looks like I was wrong about numbers, great to see so many people out on the streets in spite of the weather, well done any Foot.iers that were there.

I note with interest that Irish news sources say 50k and british 100k. Can we just get the Beeb over to run RTE and a few decent broadsheets over to run the newspapers?

Yep, heard that Gardaí working at the march estimated 100,000 but somehow the Garda press office downgraded it to 50,000 before the day was out. Obviously they had a better view from Garda HQ than the people who were there did. FWIW, I was standing holding a banner in front of the start of the march before joining the back and it took over an hour for the whole thing to go past. Myself and the lad holding the other side of it, both of us having considerable experience of this kind of thing, estimated 100,000 without any prompting and were surprised to see the press quoting 50,000. I know they always chop off a few thousand but halving? I agree marching on it's own is pointless so it was good to see some of the unemployed in Cork occupying anglo and the unite union joining the call for civil disobedience. Now is the time to act.

[dahamsta]

I agree 100% with civil disobedience, as long as it's it's 100% non-violent, and relatively non-disruptive to the general population. Disruption to bankers and politicians would be lovely thanks.

Bankers in particular, they disrupted my day today by having a borked lodgement machine, a massive queue, only 2 staff on the counter, and of course they're traditional lazy-useless opening hours. Will they ever change?