why do you vote FF/FG

bigstar

wondering what makes people vote for one of the two big parties. they seem to me to be similar in ideology. do most people vote for them because their family do or is there a another reason.

Het-Field

Realistically, there is little alternative.

In the 1990s if one was unhappy with the norm, they could turn to the Progressive Democrats or the Green Party. That alternative has been jettisoned, as the Green's have become more FF than FF themselves, while the PDs have been sent to the political wilderness.

It is simply down to who I trust. In 2007 (Dublin South West) I voted Fianna Fail to ensure that the PDs were back in Government. I was also conscious that I trusted FF considerably more. However, this has changed over the past 18 months. The revelations about Bertie, Lenihan's woeful budget (and subsequent series of recoiling), their Lisbon Treaty Campaign, Cowan's resorting to citing Fine Gael's lack of achievement, and Fianna Fail general willingness to publicly stick their head in the sand, have contributed to this change of mindset.


Other than that there is no considerable difference between Fianna Fail, and Fine Gael, only the faux left wing image which FF like to proffer

sink

I generally vote on the person running for local office and don't pay much attention to party affiliation as there is really not much of a difference between any of them (Except SF/SWP). I look to intelligence and honesty as primary attributes amongst other lesser ones. If everyone was to do the same then the party with the best candidates would be in the majority and isn't that the real aim of democracy?

Permabear

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LordSutch

I agree with most of what has already been said, and I too would vote for either of the main Parties FF/FG (Labour & Greens) maybe? but definately Not SF. Traditionally my Family would have been FG, but currently
I find Enda lacking any kind of 'Punch', thus giving Cowan a free hand > even though change is in the air!

Shame FG dont have a stronger leader right now.

Shame Pat Rabbitte is missing from the Dail too

Shame the PDs have gone.

Frankie Lee

I voted Jack Wall of Labour 1st preference in the last GE as he has a reputation for doing great work in the community, I vote the two FF candidates 2nd and 3rd and at the time of voting I was under the illusion that there would be a FF labour coalition.
I would disagree fundamentally with FG policies similar as they are with FF that was why I was hoping that the PD's would not be in government and FF would take a move to the left.

It was hopeful and naive thinking on my part.

Permabear

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Frankie Lee

donegalfella wrote: »

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I was told by a prominent member of Fianna Fail that there would be a FF Labour government which at the time a lot of Labour people would have agreed with it but apparantly Pat Rabbitte would not budge.

I do disagree with Fianna Fails policies but FG would be more successful in implementing there agenda which would be worse for the country in my eyes.

sink

Frankie Lee wrote: »

I was told by a prominent member of Fianna Fail that there would be a FF Labour government which at the time a lot of Labour people would have agreed with it but apparantly Pat Rabbitte would not budge.

I do disagree with Fianna Fails policies but FG would be more successful in implementing there agenda which would be worse for the country in my eyes.

Ah so your are voting for FF because they are inept, interesting.

Frankie Lee

sink wrote: »

Ah so your are voting for FF because they are inept, interesting.

I disagree with privatisation and FG would have been more successful in implementing it.

sink

Frankie Lee wrote: »

I disagree with privatisation and FG would have been more successful in implementing it.

Makes sense I guess.

turgon

sink wrote: »

I generally vote on the person running for local office and don't pay much attention to party affiliation

Dont you think thats a bit naive considering how little power backbenchers have and the hard core party loyalty in the Dail?

Phototoxin

In my lifetime whic his not long i have only ever seen some sorty of 'frit cocktail' government. The current one is lime cordial. 20% green topped up with the water of FF. Its a bit silly.


Parties should just be abolished

T runner

Interesting question.

For the families who vote along family lines, to answer this one would involve going back.

Were the two parties really sprung out of the civil war or would one need to go back before that?

How predictable was it that certain families would go to a certain side before the civil war?

How much did economics play a part?

A hypothetical example might be:

Someones ancestor (great great grandfather) succeded in a business in 1860.

The business was carried on by subsequent generations and his grandson voted for the treaty to provide a better economic situation in the country along with the majority in his middle class neighbourhood. The family naturally voted Fine Gael subsequently and have voted along family lines since.

The descendant votes Fine Gael, because the great great grandfather succeeded in a business in 1860.

I suppose it may require the socio economic, demographics, and previous political allegiances of pro and counter treaty supporters to see if there are trends. Any opinions?

mikemac

I'd vote FG but it's not due to family ties
Around our way most people vote for an independent TD who is hugely popular in the constituency. Tops the poll everytime!

I do watch Primetime and the like a lot of what of FG have to say. Particularly Richard Bruton. And I don't buy into this constant criticim of Enda Kenny, he'd do a good job imo.

It'd be the easy option for me to vote FF, my mothers cousin is a 2nd term TD, junior minister and my ex schoolteacher. Wouldn't vote for her though or her party!

irish_bob

bigstar wrote: »

wondering what makes people vote for one of the two big parties. they seem to me to be similar in ideology. do most people vote for them because their family do or is there a another reason.

most people in this country do indeed vote based on which party thier family tree has voted

irish_bob

T runner wrote: »

Interesting question.

For the families who vote along family lines, to answer this one would involve going back.

Were the two parties really sprung out of the civil war or would one need to go back before that?

How predictable was it that certain families would go to a certain side before the civil war?

How much did economics play a part?

A hypothetical example might be:

Someones ancestor (great great grandfather) succeded in a business in 1860.

The business was carried on by subsequent generations and his grandson voted for the treaty to provide a better economic situation in the country along with the majority in his middle class neighbourhood. The family naturally voted Fine Gael subsequently and have voted along family lines since.

The descendant votes Fine Gael, because the great great grandfather succeeded in a business in 1860.

I suppose it may require the socio economic, demographics, and previous political allegiances of pro and counter treaty supporters to see if there are trends. Any opinions?

what your baschically saying is that old money votes for fine gael , new money has for the most part voted fianna fail , will be interesting in the next few years to see who NO MONEY votes for

bigstar

seems like no one has a good reason to vote FF or FG. its either FG because you dont like FF or FF because you dont like FG. it seems like the civil war still hangs over us

sink

turgon wrote: »

Dont you think thats a bit naive considering how little power backbenchers have and the hard core party loyalty in the Dail?

Everyone starts somewhere. Today's backbenchers will be tomorrows cabinet. If you vote crap in to politics you get crap out.

Permabear

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mikemac

bigstar wrote: »

seems like no one has a good reason to vote FF or FG. its either FG because you dont like FF or FF because you dont like FG. it seems like the civil war still hangs over us

Eh, I gave my reason
I vote FG but I like their policies and the people on their front-bench

People can think for themselves...

oscarBravo

irish_bob wrote: »

most people in this country do indeed vote based on which party thier family tree has voted

Again with the most people. Do you have a source for that?

nesf

In my constituency in the last election I had a choice between a bunch of socialists of different party colours, a Labour candidate who listed the price of concert tickets as one of her three major concerns in a leaflet she sent to my home and two each of run of the mill FF & FG candidates. Since I'm never going to vote Socialist or for any candidate who lists concert tickets as one of their three major concerns, I voted for the FF & FG candidates because they were the best of a bad bunch.

Permabear

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bmaxi

I suppose I'm what could loosely be termed a "floating voter", I don't have allegiance to any party and I would tend to vote for the candidate rather than the party. Over the years though, I have never given a no. 1 vote to either of the main parties because I've never had the confidence in any candidate they sent my way. Fianna Fail always seems to be the "cute hoor" full of plamas whereas Fine Gael is a throwback to the landed gentry. It really does p*ss me off when I see the political dynasties in the Dail, the Lenihans, Haugheys, Flynns etc. I often wonder, like the O.P., what inspires people to vote for them. It's like having our own Royal Family.

Liam Byrne

Frankie Lee wrote: »

I disagree with privatisation and FG would have been more successful in implementing it.

:eek: And yet you support the crowd that sold off eircom, Aer Lingus and loads of other stuff ???

PLUS: having kept SOME shareholding in Aer Lingus in order to protect our interests, refused to use it when required, claiming it would be "government interference" ???

Liam Byrne

irish_bob wrote: »

most people in this country do indeed vote based on which party thier family tree has voted

Hopefully that'll change. My family would have been fairly FF, and then PD once Dessie left the cesspit, but I wouldn't dream of voting for either since about 2002 considering the wastefulness, corruption, lack of responsibility and now the mess they've landed us in.

ChocolateSauce

I'd only vote labour. Otherwise I wouldn't vote. Not voting is acceptable; the fewer people vote, the less credibility a government has.

dresden8

Het-Field wrote: »

The revelations about Bertie,

They're older than the last election.

I have a bridge you might be interested in.

Jack Sheehan

Well, why I will vote for Fine Gael in the next election is I believe that they would do a good job of running the country. Simple as that.

T runner

There was absolutely no choice in Sligo. It aither ended up 3-1 FF-FG if McSharry got his vote delegations right, or 2-2.
In the 80's Working class Sligo had a protest vote in the form of Flukey Gorman and his "All-night Party". That is until FF or FG but him out of business with the 2000 quid hurdle or 2000 votes last time or whatever it is.

It really does p*ss me off when I see the political dynasties in the Dail, the Lenihans, Haugheys, Flynns etc. I often wonder, like the O.P., what inspires people to vote for them. It's like having our own Royal Family.

A problem in Ireland may be that we still follow the old lines of the son following the profession of the father.

As long as there are blacksmiths So in a house where politics is discussed one of the children is interested enough or pushed a bit into taking it up, resulting in these dynasties. So when Daddy retires or dies the youngster steps in. I wonder what representation of the 12% women are daughters of former TDs? Its not good really.

This is changing a bit (children not always following parents) with the emergence of mass 3rd level attendance by the children of the huge middle class, but proportionally this "type" of traditional politician is too common.