Dublin West General Election - SEE MOD NOTE POST 19.

listermint

holly_johnson wrote: »

Yeah but you're talking about €4bn. 4 BILLION. The USC brings in a massive amount of money. Nobody has any answers about where that money will come from if removed. Put it this way. I have insider knowledge through my job that this money is vital to the Exchequer. To remove this would mean that the economy would collapse. This isn't discretionary tax, this is vital in order to fund current services!

In other news, Chuck, you might enjoy this one. I was driving through the village today when I couldn't miss an 09 registered VW Golf plastered with Chambers logos driven by the man (child) himself. What was he doing? Texting while driving. I'm sorely tempted to report him to the guards and would do so if I thought anything would come of it!

Its pie in the sky figures they cant get rid of it and pull 4 Billion out of the sky growth or not.

Its electioneering long and short of it and they know that well.

holly_johnson

chucknorris wrote: »

The man child :-)

I hear you on the USC but there isn't a single party or candidate talking about abolishing it out right. I think anyone who would like to see it go, does so on a year by year basis, where direct taxation slowly replaces it as direct taxation is broadened.

I agree, it cannot simply be removed outright.

Eh, FG are talking about removing it, to the point where we have had to try & come up with ideas where the money could be recouped elsewhere! Every party is flogging the USC removal idea, and it's a pile of nonsense. This money is vital, and there are no viable means of replacing it. As much as it may be a hated tax, it's simply too vital to remove. Something that people should be aware of. Anyway, I've probably said too much, I'm meant to be impartial and all that.

chucknorris

holly_johnson wrote: »

Eh, FG are talking about removing it, to the point where we have had to try & come up with ideas where the money could be recouped elsewhere! Every party is flogging the USC removal idea, and it's a pile of nonsense. This money is vital, and there are no viable means of replacing it. As much as it may be a hated tax, it's simply too vital to remove. Something that people should be aware of. Anyway, I've probably said too much, I'm meant to be impartial and all that.

haha - well, i did listen to Varadkar and he said that it would be reduced slowly and only based on a growth rate of 3% or more, so he certainly didn't say he would get rid of it out right.

I'm not a FG voter - don't think i ever did vote for FG as they don't figure in my part of the constituency ay any stage.

Again i think it can be slowly reduced and replaced by direct taxation. If the country improves and more people are working it could be slowly reduced. If its replaced by direct taxation then direct taxation in its self could be adjusted depending on the state of the country in one easy way.

Maybe we need more than two bands of taxation. At the moment it is two extremes.

chucknorris

Back tomorrow - I'm going on the canvass now that my day job is over

holly_johnson

chucknorris wrote: »

haha - well, i did listen to Varadkar and he said that it would be reduced slowly and only based on a growth rate of 3% or more, so he certainly didn't say he would get rid of it out right.

I'm not a FG voter - don't think i ever did vote for FG as they don't figure in my part of the constituency ay any stage.

Again i think it can be slowly reduced and replaced by direct taxation. If the country improves and more people are working it could be slowly reduced. If its replaced by direct taxation then direct taxation in its self could be adjusted depending on the state of the country in one easy way.

Maybe we need more than two bands of taxation. At the moment it is two extremes.

Agree. To simply say it will be removed is a mis-sell. if it is removed, then both the lower and marginal rates of tax will have to increase. That in itself brings its own set of problems, as the lower paid will moan they're paying too much tax, and the marginal rate will adversely affect FDI. It's a difficult fight to win. IMO *everyone* should pay some tax, even if its a small amount. This trend towards removing so many people from the tax net is a negative one that was advocated by FF in the "Bad Old Days". If everyone doesn't contribute something, then the burden is unfairly placed on others, and the tax base is on a wobbly inverse triangle, if you know what I mean. P.S. I've never been a FG voter either

January

Just had the AAA crowd around, according to them Leo, Paul and Jack are definitely getting seats and it's between Ruth and Joan for the 4th one. Told them AAA weren't getting my first preference and she asked me to consider them for my second preference 'because we don't want Joan getting back in'.

ThisRegard

They couldn't even give you a reason as to vote for them?

January

ThisRegard wrote: »

They couldn't even give you a reason as vote for them?

No, just that she needs the votes to retain her seat and that if she doesn't Joan will get it. She also said, upon hearing that I wasn't giving the AAA my first pref 'it's not Sinn Fein, is it?'

Zaph

Sounds like they're afraid of getting squeezed out of the left wing vote completely.

Rosser

holly_johnson wrote: »

Agree. To simply say it will be removed is a mis-sell.

The removal of the USC is just sound bite stuff what FG actually commit to in the manifesto is "abolition of the USC by 2021, as part of a wider income tax reform plan that broadens the tax base and limits the benefits for the highest earners. We will reduce the main 5.5% rate of USC by 1% in Budget 2017, among other measures" - a very different matter.

I actually think it can and should be done but only after the base is broadened which might also be a bitter pill e.g. Unfreezing property tax and moving to properly metered water.

Rosser

January wrote: »

Oh that's not what Jacks master told me when they were here the other week.

Couldn't have said it better, young Jack is an appalling candidate. For a fella so well educated he has nothing to say for himself, as soon as I tried to ask him about his garuntee not to support a FF / SF coalition his handlers (Dad & co.) cut it dead and moved him on.

He could only be a puppet if elected.

athtrasna

I see Dermot Casey finally has some (very small) posters up on the Navan road. Haven't spotted them anywhere else yet

Zaph

Saw a couple near the roundabout at Power City today. First ones I've seen.

Kiwi_knock

January wrote: »

Just had the AAA crowd around, according to them Leo, Paul and Jack are definitely getting seats and it's between Ruth and Joan for the 4th one. Told them AAA weren't getting my first preference and she asked me to consider them for my second preference 'because we don't want Joan getting back in'.

I think the Socialists are pushing the narrative that it is Ruth vs Joan for the last seat. They are going on about how Coppinger is going to take Joan's seat. It's a tactic to get the Anti-Labour and Anti-Joan voters to support Ruth as she is the only one that is standing between Joan and a seat.

athtrasna wrote: »

I see Dermot Casey finally has some (very small) posters up on the Navan road. Haven't spotted them anywhere else yet

I saw a couple in Porterstown, couldn't read the writing on them. Can't find any information about him on-line.

Toto Wolfcastle

I'm trying to read up on some of the candidates but I can't find anything about Catherine Noone's policies. I had a look on smartvote.ie but she hasn't answered the questions there so that was no good. Anyone know where I can find information on her?

Kiwi_knock

Toto Wolfcastle wrote: »

I'm trying to read up on some of the candidates but I can't find anything about Catherine Noone's policies. I had a look on smartvote.ie but she hasn't answered the questions there so that was no good. Anyone know where I can find information on her?

She has filled in the questions on whichcandidate.ie and added some detail to the answers as well. http://www.whichcandidate.ie/events/5/constituencies/28/candidates/213

thomasj

I was reading it earlier. Someone ripped it up since but here is the bones of the leaflet from her.

Toto Wolfcastle

Thanks to both of you for that. Very much appreciate it.

Zaph

thomasj wrote: »

I was reading it earlier. Someone ripped it up since but here is the bones of the leaflet from her.

I see her policies are as vague as Jack Chambers'. Hardly surprising for a parachuted candidate with no hope whatsoever of being elected.

Toto Wolfcastle

Zaph wrote: »

I see her policies are as vague as Jack Chambers'. Hardly surprising for a parachuted candidate with no hope whatsoever of being elected.

Ah now, her policies are nowhere near as vague as Jack's policies.

chucknorris

Yesterday morning we did Clonsilla train station from 7am and we had it to ourselves.

This morning we did Coolmine form 7am and essentially had it to ourselves, but apparently four parties were going hell for leather back at Clonsilla this morning trying to get a leaflet in to the hands of voters.

First up - best dressed;)

oblivious

Toto Wolfcastle wrote: »

Ah now, her policies are nowhere near as vague as Jack's policies.

She called to the door sunday, First question I asked "what have you do for the area in the last 6 months you should have see the face of her handler!!!!

Next question and it a good one to ask in general "What's the one issue you would change" her response was childhood obesity. I would have thought there would be a few more prominent concerns national

chucknorris

oblivious wrote: »

She called to the door sunday, First question I asked "what have you do for the area in the last 6 months you should have see the face of her handler!!!!

Next question and it a good one to ask in general "What's the one issue you would change" her response was childhood obesity. I would have thought there would be a few more prominent concerns national

The number 1 issue in Dublin west is children living in hotel rooms. It's not populist, it's simply the truth.

MrMorooka

chuck, any chance you can get DMcG to post answers on whichcandidate.ie? On smartvote.ie I get matched with him very highly, so would be nice to see if whichcandidate does the same.

chucknorris

MrMorooka wrote: »

chuck, any chance you can get DMcG to post answers on whichcandidate.ie? On smartvote.ie I get matched with him very highly, so would be nice to see if whichcandidate does the same.

I'll get on to him now.

Grudaire

Make sure to use your preferences - after seeing Joan on the leaders debate I don't think she'll be coasting to victory - even past a significantly inexperienced candidate.

This will go to several counts, and if it does then transfer friendliness is the name of the battle. McGuinness should be more transfer friendly than Chambers, and even more so O'Gorman would be transfer friendly if he gets enough votes to get over the early culls.

chucknorris

Grudaire wrote: »

Make sure to use your preferences - after seeing Joan on the leaders debate I don't think she'll be coasting to victory - even past a significantly inexperienced candidate.

This will go to several counts, and if it does then transfer friendliness is the name of the battle. McGuinness should be more transfer friendly than Chambers, and even more so O'Gorman would be transfer friendly if he gets enough votes to get over the early culls.

He needs a healthy first preference count and I believe he'll get that.

MrMorooka

Grudaire wrote: »

Make sure to use your preferences - after seeing Joan on the leaders debate I don't think she'll be coasting to victory - even past a significantly inexperienced candidate.

This will go to several counts, and if it does then transfer friendliness is the name of the battle. McGuinness should be more transfer friendly than Chambers, and even more so O'Gorman would be transfer friendly if he gets enough votes to get over the early culls.

While I would not give the Greens a first preference because of their idiotic stance on nuclear power and some other issues, I think I will definitely give Roderic a 3rd preference, they are a good party.

chucknorris

MrMorooka wrote: »

While I would not give the Greens a first preference because of their idiotic stance on nuclear power and some other issues, I think I will definitely give Roderic a 3rd preference, they are a good party.

If you watch #dubw closely on Twitter, you'll see the green support give very little time for FF.

Grudaire

MrMorooka wrote:

While I would not give the Greens a first preference because of their idiotic stance on nuclear power and some other issues, I think I will definitely give Roderic a 3rd preference, they are a good party.

Without going too off topic (there's a long but interesting thread in the sustainability forum, and my own understanding is that it is safe, but the cost, scale relative to grid and lead- in times make it a non runner here in Ireland)

Eamon Ryan has openly called for a proper debate on this issue.