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I've had enough of this stasis.
If there was a local clinic being closed in Borrisokane there would be protests on the street yet FF and the Greens have for the past 2 years presided over the systematic destruction of this state.
They clearly have no mandate to implement an iota of the next budget so what does it take to get us on the streets?
I'm talking about the people of Ireland not different interests groups, ie. Students, oaps, pbpa...
The problem with the Irish people seems to be that they waiting for somebody else to do something and when the do, they say, it will make no difference. Sure recently where I am 10,000 people protested about the Hospital been downgraded, and that was half the town !!!.
Another "country is fkd" thread.
People don't march, as it achieves nothing, and is counterproductive.
Try telling that to the people in other countries who have achieved and produced plenty.
mypost, people in here put up with a lot of commentary from you, an awful lot of it utter garbage. Extend the same courtesy to others or find somewhere else to post your twaddle.
Greece exploded in the spring. Their government ignored them. Same as in France lately.
30 protestors were arrested in London last week for standing up to the government they voted in 6 months ago. There was a demo outside the Dept. of Finance here the other week. What did it achieve? A few headlines in newspapers, Joe Duffy, and a news report yes, but no change in budget policy.
We're not fit to govern ourselves: discuss.
Interesting idea. What annoys me is how everyone is perfectly happy to lay the blame squarely at Fianna Fail for the destruction of the country. Obviously they have spectacularly mismanaged the public finances but they were in a position to form three successive governments by virtue of their electoral mandate. They didn't get into office by coup d'état.Quote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
As for the Greens, I know they have been involved in a poor government over the last two years, characterised by the bank guarantee, but the fact remains that the property bubble caused a lot of the problems we currently face as a country and the Greens were the only party (with the possible exception of Labour) who were worried about the overemphasis on construction in the middle part of the last decade.
I think senior civil servants should hold their hands up and take a lot of the blame. The radical way in which McCreevy changed the tax base to one based largely on transaction based taxes as opposed to a more stable revenue base should have been challenged.
Regarding taking people onto the streets, I believe it to be counterproductive unless you have a clear set of aims and are willing to do a bit of research and try to propose a few alternatives rather than making pronouncements that sound good but have no substance. France is the perfect example of this. People all too happy to take to the streets at the drop of a hat but no rational debate, no concrete goals and no alternatives.
I think it's more accurate to say that we're not fit to elect ourselves.Quote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
I was going to argue with you, but then I realised I voted for the f***ing Greens!Quote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
Isn't that pretty much what the Victorian English reckoned?Quote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
Ever hear of the Rose Revolution? The Orange Revolution?Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
The Orange revolution? The one where one crowd of corrupt shysters got replaced by another, then when everyone realised that the second lot were also incompetent, they voted the first ones back in. Result!
That's generally what happens here... FF get us into a hole, FG help us out of it. FG are boring and stable during the election campaign and FF offer the electorate magic beans and it starts over and over and over.
You need to fit the Civil War in there somewhere.....Quote:
Originally Posted by BonnieShels
I was only willing to start from Lynch.Quote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
I'm not talking about the politicians, I'm talking about people's revolutions. Please read the thread for context before replying.Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveyCakes
Am not sure we need revolution. Just very wide ranging reform. In relation to voting in fianna fail all the time I think the country would benefit from some reform that would make it easier for the sizable amount of people who work/attend college in Dublin(or to a lesser extent the other population centres) but are registered at home, to vote in elections.
Yes, but the reasons for them were completely different.Quote:
Originally Posted by dahamsta
Was at a conference last month where Noel Whelan was one of the speakers. I dn't always agree with him, but he told an anecdote that has a sad ring of truth to it: a foreign journalist, asking why the Irish accepted spending cuts, bank bail outs etc etc when the Greeks were up in arms over similar policies, was told: in Ireland all our riots are on the radio.
Joe Duffy is the Irish Everyman's answer. Joe Duffy and The Star. Jesus help us, we're a country of morons.
the fact people still feel the need to travel back down the country to vote tells you all you need to know about parochial politics.Quote:
Originally Posted by Billsthoughts
Updating the voters register is hardly rocket science and you get contacted frequently about it. No excuse IMO.
you live in a very black and white world. there might be a bit more at play for people than just a simple matter of being too lazy to update the register.
It's extremely frustrating that there is no proper alternative to the current government.FG's policies are too similar to FF.
Is there truth to the suggestion that the Gardai purposely used over the top force last week during the student protest to show the ordinary public what might happen to them if they were to march??
Precisely what Fionan Sheehan and Pat Kenny said this morning.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eminence Grise
....like wanting to keep the old parish pump flowing? Casting your vote elsewhere to your primary residence (as defined within the law) is an affront to democracy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Billsthoughts
Period.
Also, anyone watch Aung Sun Suu Kyi's interview with John Simpson? Burma gets her and we get Jackie Healy Rae....
A lot of people might be in the capital city with no intention of settling there for life. Voting at home is just another tie to where they are from. nothing to do with parish pump. speak to people rather than lecture them and you might gain a better insight.Quote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
In relation to ORA question... we are not fit to Govern ourselves,
How can a cabinate make decesions to run a 1st world country when the prime minister, his assistant and the bean counter are so easily accessed by the electorate?
How many on here are actually two phone calls away from the Biffo, Coughlan or Lenihan? In the good times this sort of intimacy was seen as Ireland greatest atribute, (Ahern walking up to Croker with yobbs from the Hill) it's what's fcuked us
So yes, Agreed here.
Why do I need to speak to anyone? You should vote where you are living (as defined by law) at any given election.Quote:
Originally Posted by Billsthoughts
That's democracy.
Going back down the country to vote for Jonny So and So isn't.
I respect your opinion differs, but mine doesn't and probably more relevant, nor does the law (if it was ever enforced).
ORA, its never as simplistic as that. i lived away from home (fair enough in belfast) for 4 years, and whenever there was an election, i travelled home to derry to vote. the main reason was that whatever happened there affected me more than the goings on in a neighbourhood where i was little more than a transient resident. fair enough, if you move away permanently, then change the register, but there's nothing wrong or ignorant or lazy with taking more of an interest in where you are from than where you are temporarily resident.
I always felt where you live all week has more impact than where you are weekends and holidays. I think it does feed into the whole parish pump thing, and voting based on what a candidate has done for "the family" rather than based on own thoughts and national interests.
Each to their own though, but I thought technically it was supposed to be the main place of residence, rather than where you call home?
Very few cos we are League of Ireland fans. Dermo's our man.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fr Damo
You have to live in your local constituency for a number of years before you can vote there. Until then, if you want to vote, you have to travel back to whatever one you're a native of, if you want to vote in elections and referendums in this country.Quote:
Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
OK then, how many have had audiences with Mr Delaney and quized him about a 50k for the local football pitch? Pre Aviva he would have probably given in, in order to maintain the image of his strong grass roots supporter etc etc. It's how we do business in this country, or generally did do business here.Quote:
Originally Posted by hedderman
BBC are quoting a Euro souce now confirming the talks have taken place or are underway re the bailout.
Really?Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
The RFA3 form and the whole annual voters register update state the opposite.
Christ, they'll be citing that in a few weeks. That is absolutely not the case. The only issue with updating the register is that it's only updated once a year, which means that if an election is called before the update, your polling card will go to your old address. Your polling card is not required to vote though, your passport or driving licence will suffice.
mypost, where do you get this crap? Do you just make it up?
I moved back to Ireland and was registered to vote after a 5-minute process, and voted in local elections soon afterwards.Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
From what I was told, whenever the issue was brought up.Quote:
Originally Posted by dahamsta
In any case, I don't think it's quite the same scale as ex-pats voting in their country of origin's elections. (e.g. USA) That's taking the mick, imo.
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en...t_to_vote.htmlQuote:
You must be registered at one address only and you must live at that address on 1 September before the register comes into force. If you live away from the address at which you are registered, you will need to contact the registration authority and give them your new address.
If you leave your address but you plan to return there within 18 months, you can continue to be registered there, as long you do not register at any other address.
In any case, you're full of crap and you can't even hide your incompetence very well. Do us all a favour and go post about current affairs here will ya? It's about your level.Quote:
Originally Posted by mypost
I'm not kidding. Go away.
For the original post - to me, the main reason I think there hasn't been any form of mass protest or social revolution is because Irish people are, to a large extent, socially conservative, a national trait that has been evident for years in spite of the number of insurrections and rebellions. Whether this is a by product of the catholic church's stranglehold on society for so long, or just the traditional rural background and backwardness of boggers (bear in mind, even city folk in Ireland aren't too removed from the land), or just general apathy and opposition to change, or maybe a combination with other factors. Either way, I don't see any storming of the Dail any time soon, more's the pity.