Tell us the top 10 things you'd....

Fighting Irish

TheInquisitor wrote: »

6) Make reuniting ireland a priority

:rolleyes:

RayM wrote: »

4. Introduce generous incentives for bio-fuel, electric or hybrid powered cars, and ban the sale of all new cars incapable of achieving at least 75mpg.

:rolleyes:

Souljacker wrote: »

5. Put a halt on all repossessions on homes in banks which have only stayed afloat because of the tax payer. Allow people the breathing space to only pay the interest until the upturn comes.

:rolleyes:

gaeilgegrinds wrote: »

Reduce dole to make it in line with UK, about 79 yo yos.However, those who worked long-term and lost jobs should be given 75% of their wages for 3 months and 50 % thereafter, capped at 40k wages.

:rolleyes:

TheInquisitor wrote: »

And yes i think drug dealers are as bad as rapists. Scum on the bottom of a barrel.

:rolleyes:

ShooterSF wrote: »

8: Abolish child benefit for people who earn in the higher tax bands.

:rolleyes:

Piste wrote: »

5)Legalise soft drugs, basically the drugs that don't affect anyone else, like Cannibus and MDMA. Tax the bejaysus out of them. Drugs that prompt people to steal and hurt society in general (like Heroin and Coke) would remain strictly banned.

:rolleyes:

JonathanAnon wrote: »

11. Anybody under the age of 23 only allowed drive a car with a 1 litre engine.
12. All cars to have limiters so that they can not drive faster than the fastest motorway speed limit.

:rolleyes:

kraggy wrote: »

9. Parent's fined €300 euro if their child is outside unsupervised after 10pm. i.e. curfew for under 16's. They should be at home getting ready for bed, not out drinking Buckfast with scobes down the road.

:rolleyes:

kraggy wrote: »

3. Increased sentences that are mandatory. E.g. found guilty of rape = 20 years, no exceptions.

Everyone is saying 20 years/death penalty for rape, you guys obviously haven't seen how many false rape claims are reported. I'm totally against rape btw

turgon

thebman wrote: »

I don't think they have been trying this for decades in this country TBH. With VRT it never paid the government to get people off the roads.

But how will this change?

What I propose is privatisation. The owners of the bus companies will then be in competition with each other and will have to offer good services. The better the service (be it punctuality/cost) will result in more more passengers which will result in more profit for the owner.

People against this always say the bus must be run solely for the good of the public. What they fail to see is that the profit the owner makes is proportional to the good of the public. Therefore the good of the public will be served.

turgon

Fighting Irish: why dont you suggest some things of your own, instead of just resorting to the rolleyes argument that everyone knows is just a cop out?

ShooterSF

Fighting Irish wrote: »

Originally Posted by ShooterSF
8: Abolish child benefit for people who earn in the higher tax bands.

:rolleyes:

Why? I know a few people who get child benefit and it sits in a bank account until their kid turns 18 to buy them a new car etc.
Why give state benefit to those that don't need it? Benefit is best used to help those on the poverty line.

turgon

Come on ShooterSF, do not question the infallibility of the rolleyes.

Fighting Irish

Fighting Irish wrote: »

I'm totally against rape btw

Whoah, that's a bit controversial.

Have you thought this through fully?

thebman

turgon wrote: »

But how will this change?

What I propose is privatisation. The owners of the bus companies will then be in competition with each other and will have to offer good services. The better the service (be it punctuality/cost) will result in more more passengers which will result in more profit for the owner.

People against this always say the bus must be run solely for the good of the public. What they fail to see is that the profit the owner makes is proportional to the good of the public. Therefore the good of the public will be served.

lol you should read my post history. I've been saying we should privatise public transport for ages.

Dublin Bus passenger numbers have been declining for ages despite increased subsidies because nobody wants to use their crap, over unionised, badly managed bus service.

Fighting Irish

turgon wrote: »

Fighting Irish: why dont you suggest some things of your own, instead of just resorting to the rolleyes argument that everyone knows is just a cop out?

later

ShooterSF wrote: »

Why? I know a few people who get child benefit and it sits in a bank account until their kid turns 18 to buy them a new car etc.
Why give state benefit to those that don't need it? Benefit is best used to help those on the poverty line.

I'm just sick of failures getting help, and the taught process of most people "ah sure he/she is rich, they don't need the money" :rolleyes:

Deleted User wrote: »

Whoah, that's a bit controversial.

Have you thought this through fully?

I know what boards is like, if i didn't point that out i know for a fact someone would have cried like a bitch

ShooterSF

Fighting Irish wrote: »

I'm just sick of failures getting help, and the taught process of most people "ah sure he/she is rich, they don't need the money" :rolleyes:

Well atleast that's a bit more to digest than a roll eyes. What I don't get from what you're saying is how you can be outraged at both situations. If the poor don't deserve to be helped surely the better off can survive without it?
Also why is someone a "failure" if say they work a minimum wage job? These jobs need to be done and unfortunately a couple both on minimum wage would really struggle to bring up a kid without benefit. What's the alternative? Raise minimum wage? Ban low paid workers from having children?

Onto the other point what's wrong with the thought process that the better off don't need help from our state? Are we getting to such an equality state that all should get all benefits available?

Fighting Irish

ShooterSF wrote: »

Well atleast that's a bit more to digest than a roll eyes. What I don't get from what you're saying is how you can be outraged at both situations. If the poor don't deserve to be helped surely the better off can survive without it?
Also why is someone a "failure" if say they work a minimum wage job? These jobs need to be done and unfortunately a couple both on minimum wage would really struggle to bring up a kid without benefit. What's the alternative? Raise minimum wage? Ban low paid workers from having children?

Onto the other point what's wrong with the thought process that the better off don't need help from our state? Are we getting to such an equality state that all should get all benefits available?

Can't afford a child, then don't have one. Don't give someone money for having a child and not give it to another person. Thats all i'm saying.

turgon

You see fighting Irish, I assumed when you followed that child benefit suggestion by rolleyes that you were against any cutting of child benefit. So maybe you would be doing yourself a favor by actually explaining what you find wrong in peoples proposals.

I agree with you btw on child benefit. Those who dont have children should not have to pay for those who do.

Fighting Irish

Fighting Irish wrote: »

I know what boards is like, if i didn't point that out i know for a fact someone would have cried like a bitch

Possibly.

On the actual point you made, do you know how many rape cases go unreported, how many get reported but the DPP decides that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute, and even in the few that result in prosecution how high the acquittal rate is and how easy it is for any half decent Counsel to get mileage out of the consent defence?

Fighting Irish

Deleted User wrote: »

Possibly.

On the actual point you made, do you know how many rape cases go unreported, how many get reported but the DPP decides that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute, and even in the few that result in prosecution how high the acquittal rate is and how easy it is for any half decent Counsel to get mileage out of the consent defence?

I understand that as well, i just don't want to see anyone get locked up for rape because some chick felt bad about a drunken nights sex

turgon wrote: »

You see fighting Irish, I assumed when you followed that child benefit suggestion by rolleyes that you were against any cutting of child benefit. So maybe you would be doing yourself a favor by actually explaining what you find wrong in peoples proposals.

I agree with you btw on child benefit. Those who dont have children should not have to pay for those who do.

I know where you're coming from i just hate the way this world thinks it should help the people who don't put in an effort(Not that everyone who isn't rich has not put in an effort)

turgon

Thats true. At this stage people just expect all this welfare.

My proposal in this area would be to introduce abortion, and then one year later stop paying child benefit for new children. And all the single mother crap would be ditched too. They couldnt say we didnt give them the choice.

ShooterSF

Fighting Irish wrote: »

Can't afford a child, then don't have one. Don't give someone money for having a child and not give it to another person. Thats all i'm saying.

That's fair enough and for what it's worth I do agree that people who don't try shouldn't be handed benefits. I guess being brought up in a family that worked hard but really would have struggled to keep me in school to do my leaving cert if it wasn't for child benefit I'm slightly biased on the issue.
Then again I'm against giving married people tax breaks 'cause I don't believe in marriage. Guess I'm being a hypocrite so!

turgon

Well I suppose if they and everyone else werent getting child benefit and other benefits their take home pay would have been higher.

Stabshauptmann

turgon wrote: »

They have been trying to do this for decades, and failing. Dont you think its time for a new approach?

I disagree. I dont think the effort is being made to improve public transport. Had the PDs cotinued to exist and remained in government, I think there would be very little public transport left.

Funding for CIE is decreasing in real terms. The plans (both ill-conceived and based on basic economic knowledge and simplistic models) to increase competition in the public transport sector do more harm than good.

Lets look at the Govs metro plan to connect the airport to the city centre.
CIE offered to expand the DART network. It was less costly, covered a greater area than the propose metro, and would be integrated into the existing network.

An alternative tender was selected in the interest of competition. CIE was not one of the pre qualified candidates to tender for the metro project.

This stinks of the ESB debacle, where the ESB was ordered to increase prices for customers so as to encourage competitors to enter the market.

Taxi deregulation isnt working because the taxis dont actually compete, theres just more of them offering the same service at the same price.

First off I need some enforcement of the existing regulations. More than half the taxis Ive been in have tried to charge an extra for luggage - a euro for having a back pack or laptop bag. This is illegal.
In my experience 99% of taxi drivers refuse to take customers at a rank when not first in line. By law its my choice what taxi I take.

There should be a number of different taxi licences, with different fare structures, identified clearly.
Eg Holders of licesne A must have blue cars and can only operate during the day
License B have yellow cars and are cheap for long distance trips but expensive for short hops
etc

The top earners already pay 80% of total tax take apparently, you want them to pay more?

That sentence is completely uninformative because you dont state who the top earners are. Is it >36k >51k >100k?!

FYI
A)Over a quarter of all income tax paid in the state is paid by the wealthiest 1.5%
B)40% of income earners at the lower end of the income scale pay no income tax.
http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusin..._1011252.shtml

Id make all income taxable, including social welfare. There might be the need for a corresponding increase in social welfare. As with my point 5a I want to increase transparency and understandability of the tax system.

That 40% of people I think should be paying something, even if its only 5 or 10%.

I would introduce a more stratified tax system so you dont jump immediately from 20 to 40%. Smaller increments so as not to impede productivity.

I know a small business owner who refused work for years that would increase his tax liability. I know many people who dont work overtime because it would change their tax band.

Id also probably introduce a tax ceiling, which would really help productivity, investment, and attract quite the few high net worth individuals here

thebman

Kaptain Redeye wrote: »

I disagree. I dont think the effort is being made to improve public transport. Had the PDs cotinued to exist and remained in government, I think there would be very little public transport left.

Funding for CIE is decreasing in real terms. The plans (both ill-conceived and based on basic economic knowledge and simplistic models) to increase competition in the public transport sector do more harm than good.

IMO highlighting the current governments inability to privatise and get competition working in sectors they have privatised is a reason to remove the current government and not an argument against privatisation which can work if implemented properly.

ShooterSF

turgon wrote: »

Well I suppose if they and everyone else werent getting child benefit and other benefits their take home pay would have been higher.

Possible. It's tough, if there was anyway to make sure the benefit went to giving the child the best chance in life when they hit adulthood I'd see that as a huge positive. Should you be held back because of you're parents situation?
But then there's no way. You could do vouchers but the parents could then sell whatever the vouchers got (Clothes ect.). I like to think I have a libertarian approach to most things but then I now have to add children's welfare to poor peoples health in the discussions I've had so far where I'm more naturally socialist leaning. Yikes.

turgon

Kaptain Redeye wrote: »

I disagree. I dont think the effort is being made to improve public transport.

Exactly, which is why ownership of transport should be sold to people who will improve it.

Kaptain Redeye wrote: »

Id make all income taxable, including social welfare....

I agree with all this. People think tax is black and white and that more tax on high earners=more money=more fairness. This completely ignores the productivity things you were on about.

In an ideal world there would be a standard tax fee per person and no income tax at all. Now that would attract the pop stars!

ShooterSF wrote: »

Possible. It's tough, if there was anyway to make sure the benefit went to giving the child the best chance in life when they hit adulthood I'd see that as a huge positive. Should you be held back because of you're parents situation?

All comes down to parental responsibility. Having children should not be a free ride, and one must make sure you are stable financially and otherwise. Expecting other people to pay for your kids is a farce that I believe is part of the lack of responsibility people have.

Under "my system" people would think twice about actually having kids, as they would be forced to take on the full burden. Because, if you cant afford a child, one can get adoption services. I know its not as simple as that, but childbirth rarely is.

ShooterSF wrote: »

I like to think I have a libertarian approach to most things but then I now have to add children's welfare to poor peoples health in the discussions I've had so far where I'm more naturally socialist leaning. Yikes.

I used to be socialist leaning too until a year ago or so. A lot of socialist ideology is based on quick and dirty fix tricks. Have a kid: give them money. Homeless: give you money. Buses should be run "for the good of the people."

A lot of socialist ideas sound good at face value. But government/economics is far from being 1 dimensional. For example, socialist welfare states completely encourage slacking off. High taxes discourage people from working, and thus contributing to the economy. Government run services are mostly inefficient.

And these flaws are not theoretical: its all around you. I mentioned yesterday about the drunk guy abusing the couple: he in my opinion is a product of the welfare state. Because, with what money does he buy his drink? Do you think he sobers up after abusing people and heads in for a dose of 9-5?!

Also, socialist policies transfer responsibility from the individual to the state. I dont have to worry about getting a job: Im on the dole. I have a kid, so what, theres heeps of money to be had. So by transfering the need for responsibility to the state, socialist policies directly reward people who have no sense of decency/respect. People who abuse the welfare state are rewarded. Workers in the public sector who put in less work are rewarded with the same wages.

Fighting Irish

ShooterSF wrote: »

That's fair enough and for what it's worth I do agree that people who don't try shouldn't be handed benefits. I guess being brought up in a family that worked hard but really would have struggled to keep me in school to do my leaving cert if it wasn't for child benefit I'm slightly biased on the issue.
Then again I'm against giving married people tax breaks 'cause I don't believe in marriage. Guess I'm being a hypocrite so!

That's grand, but these days there are so many opportunities when it comes to careers, its not everyone's fault if someone thinks he wants to be a binman then realises there's no money in it

I agree about the married thing, fook marriage(except for the tax breaks :pac:)

1huge1

A lot of things I'd agree with but for the sake of argument I'll say what I disagree with.

Legalise all drugs... come on does this really need explaining. I'm alright with cannabis but within reason...

Reuniting Ireland a priority... while in theory it does sound nice I'd be more in favour of letting Northern Ireland become a country on its own, then again that would probably not please many in Northern Ireland.
It would cost too much and far too many unionists would be furious and no one wants to go back to the bad old days after all the hard work has been done in brining peace to Northern Ireland. I'm as patriotic as the next guy but you have to see both sides to the argument.

PrincessLola

TheInquisitor wrote: »

Tell us the top 10 things you'd bring into Ireland if you were elected and had complete reign to do anything.(Your manifesto so to speak) I'll start off

1) Build a Nuclear power plant
2) Legalise Abortion
3) Legalise all drugs( the war has been well and truely lost)
4) Increase speed limits on motorways to 140.
5) Double jail time for all criminals
6) Make reuniting ireland a priority
7) Cut the minimum wage to E6
8) Cut VAT to 15%
9) Cut civil service pay to bring it in line with their private sector counterparts. Put a monetary value on job certainty
10) Enforce the laws on white collar crime with proper jail time

Controversial?

Wow! I was gonna say my own list but you pretty much took the words out of my mouth!:D
Another note on crime, I can't stand that people who commit violent crimes are given such bloody lenient sentences, If I were in charge life would MEAN life (i.e until they die in their cells)

Lockstep

kraggy wrote: »

3. Increased sentences that are mandatory. E.g. found guilty of rape = 20 years, no exceptions.

Too open to abuse; mandatory sentences are dodgy as hell. Take mandatory sentencing for gun possession, cue planting of evidence etc.
Same goes for murder; I'd take circumstances into account (a battered wife might have meant to kill her husband but I'd still treat her differently to some scumbag who went knifing)

kraggy wrote: »

5. Prisoners to have NO physical contact with visitors. Talk through a phone via a screen like in the movies. Visitors only once a month. No mobile phones. No tv. No internet. Prison should be a deterrent, not a rehabilitation as it is viewed today. You don't have much rape, theft, gbh in Saudi Arabia.

No physical contact, once a month? What does this achieve? No mobile phones etc is fine but removing physical contact etc affects innocent third partys (families)

Prison as a deterrent doesn't work. If you're a drug lord who faces constant death/torturing by rivals, do you really think that prison will be on your rader?

As regards to your Saudi Arabia idea; that's probably as they have different classifications to rape etc as we do; forcing a child into marriage isn't rape over there but would be here. Their trials are done without juries, being raped is a crime (yes), with a punishment of a few hundred lashes.

kraggy wrote: »

6. Decrease minimum wage.

To what?

kraggy wrote: »

8. End to single mother's payments. People in receipt already will continue to get payment but no new claims. You'll soon use a condom or pill then.

If someone is short sighted enough to try to raise a bunch of kids on their own, on welfare, I doubt they'll have the forsight to see contraception as a good way to stop it.

Nehaxak

1. Build multiple nuclear power stations in Donegal for use in Dublin.

2. Wicklow, Meath and Kildare become suburbs of Dublin and are no longer considered counties.

3. West Cork renamed to Butlins with 50% discount for people from Dublin.

4. A new state of the art prison to be built on Dalkey Island to house all Fianna Fail and Fine Gael members past and present who are still alive. Both parties will be proscribed as deviant criminal organisations, sentenced to 20 years hard labour and shackled. The Green Party will be given a more leniant term of 20 years alongside them, working on the island creating a desalination plant for water for the prisoners and catching fish for food -they will not be shackled but must wear big stupid bicycle helmets at all times.

5. All religion will be banned in Ireland. All priests, clergy, religious preachers whatever the hell they call themselves - to also be banned from Ireland after we're finished with whatevers left of them from point 6 below.

6. Reintroduction of public hangings for priests and anyone else who took part in or covered up any of the child abuse so cruely metted out to children here.

7. While still under the guise of neutrality, we will create a very large amount of Nuclear weapons including multiple stable long and short range delivery methods.

8. With political reflection toward point 7 above, we will ask the British government to kindly hand us back our remaining 6 counties.

9. While still making gentle reference to point 7 above, we will kindly request that the Vatican hand over 80% of their world wealth to the Irish people as a punishment for their past deeds carried out in their name on our countries' children.

10. Whilst points 8 and 9 are non negotiable - point 10 is left open for whatever I want to do in the future for whatever I please, so obey my authorithor or else - and pull up your pants ffs !

irish_bob

turgon wrote: »

Exactly, which is why ownership of transport should be sold to people who will improve it.



I agree with all this. People think tax is black and white and that more tax on high earners=more money=more fairness. This completely ignores the productivity things you were on about.

In an ideal world there would be a standard tax fee per person and no income tax at all. Now that would attract the pop stars!



All comes down to parental responsibility. Having children should not be a free ride, and one must make sure you are stable financially and otherwise. Expecting other people to pay for your kids is a farce that I believe is part of the lack of responsibility people have.

Under "my system" people would think twice about actually having kids, as they would be forced to take on the full burden. Because, if you cant afford a child, one can get adoption services. I know its not as simple as that, but childbirth rarely is.



I used to be socialist leaning too until a year ago or so. A lot of socialist ideology is based on quick and dirty fix tricks. Have a kid: give them money. Homeless: give you money. Buses should be run "for the good of the people."

A lot of socialist ideas sound good at face value. But government/economics is far from being 1 dimensional. For example, socialist welfare states completely encourage slacking off. High taxes discourage people from working, and thus contributing to the economy. Government run services are mostly inefficient.

And these flaws are not theoretical: its all around you. I mentioned yesterday about the drunk guy abusing the couple: he in my opinion is a product of the welfare state. Because, with what money does he buy his drink? Do you think he sobers up after abusing people and heads in for a dose of 9-5?!

Also, socialist policies transfer responsibility from the individual to the state. I dont have to worry about getting a job: Im on the dole. I have a kid, so what, theres heeps of money to be had. So by transfering the need for responsibility to the state, socialist policies directly reward people who have no sense of decency/respect. People who abuse the welfare state are rewarded. Workers in the public sector who put in less work are rewarded with the same wages.

superb post

TheInquisitor

I think decreasing minimum wage is a must. I'm over in england right now and people get like £5.73(E6.75) when they are 22 and over, much less when they are below. Right now we have a minimum wage of E8.65. It must drop by at least 2 euro for ireland to remain competitive and create jobs. We have the second highest minimum wage in europe and this is NOT a good thing. Like everything else during the boom years the minimum wage has become way too high and must suffer a fall.

Iskenderun

I'd bring in:
# German style efficiency in all areas of the economy
# Extremely strict regulations on house insulation
# French supermarkets like Carrefour (and ban Tesco)
# More farmers markets
# More help for quality food artisans
# Full gay marriage, not just partnership.
# More renewable energy projects

Lockstep

TheInquisitor wrote: »

I think decreasing minimum wage is a must. I'm over in england right now and people get like £5.73(E6.75) when they are 22 and over, much less when they are below. Right now we have a minimum wage of E8.65. It must drop by at least 2 euro for ireland to remain competitive and create jobs. We have the second highest minimum wage in europe and this is NOT a good thing. Like everything else during the boom years the minimum wage has become way too high and must suffer a fall.

We also have a higher standard of living than England, cue Irish people shopping over the border. That is why our minimum wage is higher.

That was the first thing that shocked me when I moved here; how expensive everything was.

TheInquisitor

kickoutthejams wrote: »

We also have a higher standard of living than England, cue Irish people shopping over the border. That is why our minimum wage is higher.

That was the first thing that shocked me when I moved here; how expensive everything was.

I wouldn't say standard of living id say a higher cost of living! Wages in england are way lower than in ireland.