ARE you going to vote

sdanseo

Ficheall wrote: »

I hope you spend more than half an hour researching to whom you are going to give your vote.

Of course, not doing the homework first would be equally irresponsible.

Ficheall wrote: »

Like what? And how would it be achieved?

Depends on the scenario. But let's say next election 10% or 100,000 votes (optimistic turnout, probably) are spoiled. The vast majority of pictures of said votes are scrawled with "FG are ruining the country" or something similar, a sentiment which would probably be combined with large scale protests.

The national scandal alone would bring the government down.

If it didn't international embarrassment would topple it or at least force the government of the day to address whatever issue(s) had caused the result.

Yes, I will be voting. I love a good ol' vote, so very rarely get the chance to do it. If Switzerland wasn't so damn expensive I'd quite like to move there so I could vote on things more often!

For Euro elections I'll be voting Soc Dems #1. The rest of my top 5 will be a mix of Green, Labour and Independents, haven't finalised the order yet. Nobody who supports a so-called "Irexit" (terrible, terrible name!) will be getting any preference for me. Nor will any anti-abortion and/or anti-vaccine quacks.

For local elections there are only 7 candidates running for 5 seats in my area, and one of those 7 is Renua so there are only 6 real candidates! I'll be voting Green #1, Labour #2, FF #3 and FG #4,#5 and #6.

OldMrBrennan83

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Yes, I will be voting. I love a good ol' vote, so very rarely get the chance to do it. If Switzerland wasn't so damn expensive I'd quite like to move there so I could vote on things more often!

For Euro elections I'll be voting Soc Dems #1. The rest of my top 5 will be a mix of Green, Labour and Independents, haven't finalised the order yet. Nobody who supports a so-called "Irexit" (terrible, terrible name!) will be getting any preference for me. Nor will any anti-abortion and/or anti-vaccine quacks.

For local elections there are only 7 candidates running for 5 seats in my area, and one of those 7 is Renua so there are only 6 real candidates! I'll be voting Green #1, Labour #2, FF #3 and FG #4,#5 and #6.

Don't make it a policies thread, it wasn't asking who.

I will vote, mostly out of habit/ the novelty of it.

I am confident it won't make the slightest difference, and I wouldn't blame anyone who doesn't.

The often-repeated notion that not voting negates one's right to complain about the system of government is ludicrous.

Wheeliebin30

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Yes, I will be voting. I love a good ol' vote, so very rarely get the chance to do it. If Switzerland wasn't so damn expensive I'd quite like to move there so I could vote on things more often!

For Euro elections I'll be voting Soc Dems #1. The rest of my top 5 will be a mix of Green, Labour and Independents, haven't finalised the order yet. Nobody who supports a so-called "Irexit" (terrible, terrible name!) will be getting any preference for me. Nor will any anti-abortion and/or anti-vaccine quacks.

For local elections there are only 7 candidates running for 5 seats in my area, and one of those 7 is Renua so there are only 6 real candidates! I'll be voting Green #1, Labour #2, FF #3 and FG #4,#5 and #6.

After the social Democrat’s coming out and supporting a proven liar yesterday as a candidate??

Really??

LirW

I could vote in locals but I didn't register. My problem is that I have a very poor understanding of the local politics and I don't see myself being able to make an informed decision.
Somehow it feels wrong voting in an election as a non-citizen who still is in the process of figuring the politics in this country out. I think it's "too early" for me.

ToddyDoody

Many councils are fairly cash strapped and will be irregardless of who's voted in.

dhaughton99

ToddyDoody wrote: »

Many councils are fairly cash strapped and will be irregardless of who's voted in.

Maybe down the country but all the Dublin councils built mausoleums to themselves over the past few years and now throw money at every twee social experiment and folly that’s presented to them.

ToddyDoody

dhaughton99 wrote: »

Maybe down the country but all the Dublin councils built mausoleums to themselves over the past few years and now throw money at every twee social experiment and folly that’s presented to them.

Wow, sounds like quite the orgy.

wonder will the #hometovote brigade show up or is it not a trendy vote

Jimbob1977

I'm voting Whig

Wheeliebin30

Wheeliebin30 wrote: »

After the social Democrat’s coming out and supporting a proven liar yesterday as a candidate??

Really??

It's called progress.

The Soc Dems only made her a local election candidate.
Fine Gael would have put her in the Seanad.
Sinn Féin would have put her on the Army Council, er, I mean Ard Comhairle.
Fianna Fáil would have made her party leader.

Labour, the only party with the capacity to alienate absolutely everybody, would probably have spurned her also, in fairness.

OldMrBrennan83

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

Don't make it a policies thread, it wasn't asking who.

Not trying to make it into anything, I just felt like sharing who I was choosing. Whether others wish to do the same or not doesn't bother me.

Wheeliebin30 wrote: »

After the social Democrat’s coming out and supporting a proven liar yesterday as a candidate??

Really??

I'll leave it up to the electors in that candidate's area to judge their suitability. I'm looking at a national/European perspective and the Social.Democrats are who I'd ideologically align with most. It's unlikely that their candidate will win a seat but thankfully the PR system allows some flexibility in being able to vote how you really feel rather than feeling constrained to vote tactically.

Yer Da sells Avon

Ten of Swords wrote: »

Divorce referendum is on the same say as local elections

C'mon, Divorce Referendum!

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo

#Vote early and vote often.

Fairly sure I'll vote independent. There's one in my constituency and I feel like he's a genuinely good guy and always wants the best for Cork.

Mongfinder General

I'd like negative voting introduced. It would definitely improve turnout. There's more candidates that I dislike than I like. Stick a -1 beside the one you dislike most. Not sure how it could work under pr.

ToddyDoody

Mongfinder General wrote: »

I'd like negative voting introduced. It would definitely improve turnout. There's more candidates that I dislike than I like. Stick a -1 beside the one you dislike most. Not sure how it could work under pr.

You can do that anyway if it make you feel better

Tom Mann Centuria

I'll vote and have done for each election I'm allowed to participate in. I'll vote for whatever left wing candidates are available, who will then not get anywhere near getting elected, but it keeps me out of mischief for 5 minutes.

cannotlogin

Just me or is there a real lack of information available on the candidates running in both the European & Local elections this time around?

Living in Dublin 14, no one at all has called to the at all, max 5 leaflets in the door, very limited info on social media or elsewhere online.

riffmongous

LirW wrote: »

I could vote in locals but I didn't register. My problem is that I have a very poor understanding of the local politics and I don't see myself being able to make an informed decision.
Somehow it feels wrong voting in an election as a non-citizen who still is in the process of figuring the politics in this country out. I think it's "too early" for me.

What side was your great grandfather on in the civil war?


Doesn't matter if he didnt live here, which side would he have been on :P

Sawduck

Tangatagamadda Chaddabinga Bonga Bungo wrote: »

#Vote early and vote often.

Fairly sure I'll vote independent. There's one in my constituency and I feel like he's a genuinely good guy and always wants the best for Cork.

Yeah if i vote I'll only vote independents myself,they usually seem the least slimy unlike most of the others

jprender

My two young sons think one of the candidates looks like a hamster.

I’m going to vote for that guy based on that.

Ulysses Gaze

FrancieBrady wrote: »

If you don't vote you can't complain.

Never missed an election/ref yet. Not intending to start.

I would tend to agree with George Carlin on this view....

Now, some people like to twist that around. They say, “If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain”, but where’s the logic in that? If you vote, and you elect dishonest, incompetent politicians, and they get into office and screw everything up, you are responsible for what they have done. You voted them in. You caused the problem. You have no right to complain.

I, on the other hand, who did not vote — who did not even leave the house on Election Day — am in no way responsible for that these politicians have done and have every right to complain about the mess that you created. That I didn’t have anything to do with.

FrancieBrady

Ulysses Gaze wrote: »

I would tend to agree with George Carlin on this view....

George was a comedian.

And he wasn't talking about complaining about politics and politicians per se, he was talking about the right to complain about what other voters did.
Which you can do until the cows come home, for all the good it will do.

Mrcaramelchoc

I told a politician that stop signs were needed at the top of our road.badly needed.that was about 4 weeks ago.got a letter this morning saying they'd be in before the election date.ill be giving him my vote that's for sure.
So yes ill be voting.

demanufactured

cena wrote: »

As the title says, well you be voting on May 24?

I'd say yes, but I'll likely forget.
No idea who any if them are or what they represent.

I avoid the posters, and sing answer the door to anyone who's coming to look for a vote.

At the end of the day, its nit that important, nit much will change, it hasn't in the 37 years I have been on this planet.

Beta Ray Bill

This is going to be the first time in 18 years that I'm not going to bother to vote.

I'm completely disenfranchised with all the parties in relation to their performance and the people they are putting forward for election.

It's the same old story, My father voted for his father, political dynasty's, etc.

They all promise change, but has any party genuinely delivered any real change in the last 18 years?

Terrance Flanagan his back running for Fine Gael in my area despite having left FG to join Renua a couple of years back.
FG welcomed him back with open arms as they know he'll get elected.... It doesn't matter what he did...

Lowry, a tax evader and convicted criminal gets elected every time.

It's getting to the stage now that you can't get elected in Kerry now unless your surname is Healy-Rae.


Irish Politics is a Joke, we have the worst politicians in the world. (this has been noticed abroad)
It's getting to the point where the people running the country should be selected the same way a Jury is.
Take a random pool of X people from each constituency, fill out the "About me" section and then those people run for election, if they wish.
They'd mostly be normal people, they'd do a far better job than the politicians we have.

rossie1977

grahambo wrote: »

Irish Politics is a Joke, we have the worst politicians in the world. (this has been noticed abroad)
It's getting to the point where the people running the country should be selected the same way a Jury is.
Take a random pool of X people from each constituency, fill out the "About me" section and then those people run for election, if they wish.
They'd mostly be normal people, they'd do a far better job than the politicians we have.

Worse than communists in North Korea or in china where they have given themselves jobs for life. Worse than Hungary and poland where far right politics has seen all the institutions of power crumble, worse than the dictators in sub Saharan Africa who do anything to stay in power, worse than the crazed Islamic leaders in Syria or Saudi Arabia who murder their own countrymen?

I don't like many of our politicians but at least there is co-operation between parties and not the insane partisan polices which we see in the states tearing that country apart. Bribery and corruption is illegal if found out in Ireland..in the states it's basically encouraged as huge corporations, special interest groups and the NRA buy political votes.

Necro

grahambo wrote:

Irish Politics is a Joke, we have the worst politicians in the world. (this has been noticed abroad) It's getting to the point where the people running the country should be selected the same way a Jury is. Take a random pool of X people from each constituency, fill out the "About me" section and then those people run for election, if they wish. They'd mostly be normal people, they'd do a far better job than the politicians we have.

A quick look across the Irish sea... yeah not the worst.
Looks again across the Atlantic... Yep, certainly not the worst!

Irish politics has many flaws but to say they're the worst when you have basket case governments in the UK and US is bizarre.


As for the question, yes I'll be voting. Have my number 1 decided on just need to determine if I want to give any preferences at all. Usually I do but theres a couple (particularly in my local area) who are beyond useless that I dont want to support. And SF of course :P

Wheeliebin30

grahambo wrote: »

This is going to be the first time in 18 years that I'm not going to bother to vote.

I'm completely disenfranchised with all the parties in relation to their performance and the people they are putting forward for election.

It's the same old story, My father voted for his father, political dynasty's, etc.

They all promise change, but has any party genuinely delivered any real change in the last 18 years?

Terrance Flanagan his back running for Fine Gael in my area despite having left FG to join Renua a couple of years back.
FG welcomed him back with open arms as they know he'll get elected.... It doesn't matter what he did...

Lowry, a tax evader and convicted criminal gets elected every time.

It's getting to the stage now that you can't get elected in Kerry now unless your surname is Healy-Rae.


Irish Politics is a Joke, we have the worst politicians in the world. (this has been noticed abroad)
It's getting to the point where the people running the country should be selected the same way a Jury is.
Take a random pool of X people from each constituency, fill out the "About me" section and then those people run for election, if they wish.
They'd mostly be normal people, they'd do a far better job than the politicians we have.

What did Terence Flanagan do????

Beta Ray Bill

rossie1977 wrote: »

Worse than communists in North Korea or in china where they have given themselves jobs for life. Worse than Hungary and poland where far right politics has seen all the institutions of power crumble, worse than the dictators in sub Saharan Africa who do anything to stay in power, worse than the crazed Islamic leaders in Syria or Saudi Arabia who murder their own countrymen?

I don't like many of our politicians but at least there is co-operation between parties and not the insane partisan polices which we see in the states tearing that country apart. Bribery and corruption is illegal if found out in Ireland..in the states it's basically encouraged as huge corporations, special interest groups and the NRA buy political votes.

Those, for the most part are Dictators, not Politicians...
In relation to the far right, yes, It's fairly sh**ty. But they are doing what they are elected to do (IE: be far right), because that is what the people that elected them want. (I'm not saying that's good)

Necro wrote: »

A quick look across the Irish sea... yeah not the worst.
Looks again across the Atlantic... Yep, certainly not the worst!

Irish politics has many flaws but to say they're the worst when you have basket case governments in the UK and US is bizarre.

Brexit has been as Disaster no doubt, but that ultimately is down to complete disconnect between the electorate, the elected, with a heap of lies thrown in for good measure.

In relation to America, yes, the 2 party system is crazy.
And there is a massive connection between, jobs, defense contracts, large companies and politicians.

Again though, whether you like it or not, Trump was elected by "the Right". And he for the most part is doing what he was elected to do (despite how despicable that is)

Wheeliebin30 wrote: »

What did Terence Flanagan do????

It doesn't matter what he did.... He'll get the vote, so he's in!

riffmongous

grahambo wrote: »

This is going to be the first time in 18 years that I'm not going to bother to vote.

I'm completely disenfranchised with all the parties in relation to their performance and the people they are putting forward for election.

It's the same old story, My father voted for his father, political dynasty's, etc.

They all promise change, but has any party genuinely delivered any real change in the last 18 years?

Terrance Flanagan his back running for Fine Gael in my area despite having left FG to join Renua a couple of years back.
FG welcomed him back with open arms as they know he'll get elected.... It doesn't matter what he did...

Lowry, a tax evader and convicted criminal gets elected every time.

It's getting to the stage now that you can't get elected in Kerry now unless your surname is Healy-Rae.


Irish Politics is a Joke, we have the worst politicians in the world. (this has been noticed abroad)
It's getting to the point where the people running the country should be selected the same way a Jury is.
Take a random pool of X people from each constituency, fill out the "About me" section and then those people run for election, if they wish.
They'd mostly be normal people, they'd do a far better job than the politicians we have.

Where I live one of the government parties has members who are literally nazis, making nazi postings online and being part of nazi groups, and they are also just as corrupt as any of the Irish politicians

Squatter

riffmongous wrote: »

Where I live one of the government parties has members who are literally nazis, making nazi postings online and being part of nazi groups, and they are also just as corrupt as any of the Irish politicians

Ah would you go 'way outta that, Zappone isn't quite that bad! Although Ross probably is!

Squatter

Wheeliebin30 wrote: »

What did Terence Flanagan do????

Expressed his concerns about Enda's zeal to legalise the killing of unborn babies.

jimgoose

Wheeliebin30 wrote: »

What did Terence Flanagan do????

Went against the FG Whip in 2013 over the abortion thing.

Feisar

Thrashssacre wrote: »

And the system will be overhauled by those who choose to do nothing??

Imagine if no one voted. The clowns would have to take notice then. As it is us lemmings just help with the veneer of legitimacy to the farce.

May I ask, is there someone in your area worth voting for, or is it a case of Hobson's choice?

jimgoose

...and yes, I am going to vote. In all seventeen different bloody things we'll be asked to vote on here in Cork on the 24th. Early and often, I shall vote the living and almighty shit out of it. Because if you don't vote for the right arsehole, then the wrong arsehole might get elected, and then where would we be??

riffmongous

Feisar wrote: »

Imagine if no one voted. The clowns would have to take notice then. As it is us lemmings just help with the veneer of legitimacy to the farce.

May I ask, is there someone in your area worth voting for, or is it a case of Hobson's choice?

In some places you can return an empty ballot paper as a symbol of voting nonvoting, would be a good idea too in Ireland. I guess you can always spoil your vote but then the motive is not as clear, but still better than staying at home which just cheapens democracy

Squatter

jimgoose wrote: »

...and yes, I am going to vote. In all seventeen different bloody things we'll be asked to vote on here in Cork on the 24th. Early and often, I shall vote the living and almighty shit out of it. Because if you don't vote for the right arsehole, then the wrong arsehole might get elected, and then where would we be??

If the wrong arseh0le is elected, then at least Clare Daly will have someone to keep her warm in Brussels!

jimgoose

Squatter wrote: »

If the wrong arseh0le is elected, then at least Clare Daly will have someone to keep her warm in Brussels!

This would imply that two wrong arseholes are elected, but I digress... :pac:

Squatter

jimgoose wrote: »

This would imply that two wrong arseholes are elected, but I digress... :pac:

Interestingly (or not) this week's edition of The Phoenix speculates that if Daly gets elected to Europe and Shaggy doesn't then she might employ him as her parliamentary assistant or general dogsbody or somesuch.

KerryGoat

I will be voting - I think it's important that everyone votes so that we can have a vibrant and healty democracy

Plumbthedepths

Voting in the divorce referendum and EU election. As for the local elections every candidate in my county is an unelectable clown in my opinion and I will have no hand or part in imposing any of these numpties on my fellow citizen.

theguzman

I will vote and have decided to vote for Fine Gael due to the economic growth and because of the National Broadband Plan. I'm not really entirely happy to do it but the alternative is a disgrace so why would I vote for FF or some raving lunatics from Labour or Sinn Fein, PBP etc. Most Independents are Fianna Fail cronys disgruntled that they weren't picked or trying to avoid the Toxicity of the party. After what Fianna Fail done to Ireland they should have been banned as a political party.

Edgware

Squatter wrote: »

Interestingly (or not) this week's edition of The Phoenix speculates that if Daly gets elected to Europe and Shaggy doesn't then she might employ him as her parliamentary assistant or general dogsbody or somesuch.

If its in The Phoenix it must be true

Squatter

Edgware wrote: »

If its in The Phoenix it must be true

I suggest that you ask a helpful grown up to carefully explain to you the meaning of the verb "speculate".

Edgware

Squatter wrote: »

I suggest that you ask a helpful grown up to carefully explain to you the meaning of the verb "speculate".

You would be more familiar with hand and ejaculate

sdanseo

Jocelyn Rotten Tray wrote: »

wonder will the #hometovote brigade show up or is it not a trendy vote

Coning home to vote is patently illegal. You are not allowed to vote if not resident in Ireland. source

In reality this is just never enforced and essentially becomes state sponsored election fraud.

People who emigrate should have no more right to vote than people who don't vote should have any right to moan about the actions (or inaction) of the government.

klaaaz

sdanseo wrote: »

Coning home to vote is patently illegal. You are not allowed to vote if not resident in Ireland. source

In reality this is just never enforced and essentially becomes state sponsored election fraud.

People who emigrate should have no more right to vote than people who don't vote should have any right to moan about the actions (or inaction) of the government.

Emigrants(and internal migrants) have 18 months leeway to stay on the register at the address they registered at hence those who come home to vote are legally entitled to vote. They lose that right after 18 months being out of the country.

pauliebdub

I can't because I'm on holidays. To be honest I don't place as much importance in the local and European elections as I would the Dail elections and referendums.