General Election - Feb 26th Megathread

The Rape of Lucretia

Custardpi wrote: »

So are we looking at a Belgian situation, a new election or the unthinkable i.e. Dev & Collins's ghosts finally being laid to rest?

The Dev Collins thing is a red herring. History has nothing to do with the reluctance.

Through happenstance, Ireland has had the luxury of never having had to engage with either the right of the left of politics.

It is a centrist country. And has had two centrist parties. One always in government, one always in opposition. And the electorate could vent fury, look for a change when bored, or just hope for the best with a change, by switching from one to the other. Without having to be concerned about any change in politics their wandering vote might have.

But, while an FF/FG coalition is a perfectly obvious, sensible, and safe solution in the short term, it robs the electorate of their same but different opposition. Leaving them with a choice of leftist opposition : terrorists looking for a purpose, a party they are angry with, an unknown fledgling, and assorted barmy extremists. None a pleasent prospect, especially for a country that has little leftist interest in the first place.

This is the dilemma the country is wrestling with at the moment.

Custardpi

In the long run however it could lead to a realignment of Irish politics among the more common left-right axis seen in more advanced European countries instead of the tribalist Tweedledum vs Tweedledee plus assorted others model we've had for decades. There are worse calamities that could befall our fair isle.

The Rape of Lucretia

Custardpi wrote: »

In the long run however it could lead to a realignment of Irish politics among the more common left-right axis seen in more advanced European countries instead of the tribalist Tweedledum vs Tweedledee plus assorted others model we've had for decades. There are worse calamities that could befall our fair isle.

Could it though? Other European countries really just have left or right themed governments rather than left or right anymore. Poeple are done with the left. Europe has reached an affluence level that has made the true left redundant. A bit like atheists still enjoying Christmas or getting married in a church - a patina of leftism is enjoyed by some even if they arent true believers.

K-9

FF filled the left gap historically until about 30 years ago. Labour benefited from FF abandoning its "core principles". It's no coincidence Labour's 2 most successful election by far, came in those 30 years.

Look, I'd be a left leaning voter but there has been 4 new dawns for the left in my 30 years following politics. The Spring Tide, the Rainbow Coalition, DL joining Labour and the Gilmore Gale.

The left didn't capitalise on the recession or the 2011 election, they've come back with less seats and a smaller % of the vote. It's wishful thinking. The hard left don't trust SF, Labour or the SD's. Rural areas are going Independent more and more. The Greens are back.

Plus FF are back to gathering votes from everywhere.

The 2 and a 1/2 party system is gone, the best the left can hope is SF matching FF and FG. So FF/SF and enough left party/Independent numbers to make up a Government in 5 years time.

Jack Killian

The Rape of Lucretia wrote: »

But, while an FF/FG coalition is a perfectly obvious, sensible, and safe solution in the short term,

.

Really ? The gang that - as FG spewed at every opportunity - "wrecked the country", combined with the gang that sold it off - and not even to the highest bidder ?

No idea why that would even be one of the trio of "safe", "obvious" or "sensible".

Synode

Jack Killian wrote: »

Really ? The gang that - as FG spewed at every opportunity - "wrecked the country", combined with the gang that sold it off - and not even to the highest bidder ?

No idea why that would even be one of the trio of "safe", "obvious" or "sensible".

Sold it off? Care to elaborate?