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loaded question re council and meps :)

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  • 10-06-2004 2:43pm
    #1
    chewy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,254 ✭✭✭


    i don't always have to reasonalbe do i

    who has _less_ power meps or councillors...?


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    #2
    sceptre
    Registered Users Posts: 19,608 ✭✭✭✭sceptre


    Depends on your definition of power.

    Councillors don't get to do very many interesting things, little control over a small area and not a great deal of financial control over a (relatively) tiny amount of money. Probably about 40% of them are using it as a stepping stone to something else, another 40% tried to and made a balls of it, a few who just like the easy money and a few who are genuine representatives trying to make a difference. Just like the Dail then.[1]

    I reckon it's MEPs though - the only useful and significant thing they get to do for five years is twiddle around with the EU budget. A scary amount of money is is to be sure but they don't even get to twiddle with it very much. I don't refer to the EU Commission as the Politburo for no reason. They get a bigger expense account though so it probably helps when trying to get to sleep at night. A councillor can actually make a difference to their local community - an MEP doesn't have a local community to speak of. If I found a group of people worth representing I'd happily represent them in a small town or city council. To be an MEP you either have a big plan (that doesn't involve simply enriching yourself) or you've a good chance of being a waste of space and simply making up the numbers.


    [1]Look, I'm a cynic. I know I'm a cynic, you know I'm a cynic. Still true though. And I'd rather be a cynic than a fool, given that a healthy balance between the two can be difficult to achieve


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