Should Labour and the Soc Dems merge?

Idbatterim

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

They also dramatically cut public service salaries and public service numbers, the worst of which cuts are still in place today, with no plan for them to be restored.

fg plan on hiking ps pay again shortly, in another vote grabber. Better off abolishing USC and we all win!

Better Than Christ

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Fourth in the search result list.

You could have just posted the link in the first place, rather than trying to be a smart arse.

Anyway, he states quite clearly in that interview that he wants a left-wing government. He might lack the ability and the personality to ever deliver one himself, but do you believe his "I have no personal ambition" nonsense?

Bobtheman

Matt Barrett wrote: »

So you meant unlikely to get in, not don't want to. You inferred they were in politics for the money, happy to sit on the opposition gravy train.
So anyone serious about politics should join FF or FG so they get in?

I never said unlikely to get in but they have shown no sign in terms of compromising their policies to get into power. If they were growing you could argue that they were waiting until they were big enough but they ain't. Splitting is their main game. The same goes for left wing independents who won't form a political party but prefer to push local agendas. That being said - Katherine zappone has finally started to do something about child care provision. FG not realising that people have kids

Bobtheman

Idbatterim wrote: »

fg plan on hiking ps pay again shortly, in another vote grabber. Better off abolishing USC and we all win!

The bottom line is this state owes 200 billion but you want to cut taxes ?

Bobtheman

Better Than Christ wrote: »

You could have just posted the link in the first place, rather than trying to be a smart arse.

Anyway, he states quite clearly in that interview that he wants a left-wing government. He might lack the ability and the personality to ever deliver one himself, but do you believe his "I have no personal ambition" nonsense?

Voting for Paul Murphy who represents a party with one seat is political masterbation. Pleasurable but ultimately creates nothing. The same for voting for Independents or PBP

James Brown

Joeytheparrot wrote: »

Ye wha? The far left doesnt ever want to govern. It just wants to protest.

You keep rotating FF and FG like a good lad

Bobtheman wrote: »

I never said unlikely to get in but they have shown no sign in terms of compromising their policies to get into power. If they were growing you could argue that they were waiting until they were big enough but they ain't. Splitting is their main game. The same goes for left wing independents who won't form a political party but prefer to push local agendas. That being said - Katherine zappone has finally started to do something about child care provision. FG not realising that people have kids

I was responding to a comment that they only wanted to be in opposition for the real gravy train. I was responding to that.

The real gravy train is getting embedded in perpetual opposition

You chimed in on that.

So if you genuinely want to get into politics to get in to power and make a difference you must be in FF or FG otherwise you are only in it to protest and/or the gravy train.
Also, FF and FG are terrible but everyone else, although untested, would be worse so stick with FF or FG.
And any issues you have with FF/FG can be answered thusly;
The others would be worse.
What other options?

Grand :rolleyes:

Idbatterim

Bobtheman wrote: »

The bottom line is this state owes 200 billion but you want to cut taxes ?

yes, if they prefer to spend billions "improving services" mostly or purely to benefit those not working, I do support cutting taxes! there is a serious spending problem in this country!

Idbatterim

Bobtheman wrote: »

The bottom line is this state owes 200 billion but you want to cut taxes ?

let me ask you a question! the state owes 200 billion, you support increasing welfare?

L1011

Idbatterim wrote: »

fg plan on hiking ps pay again shortly, in another vote grabber. Better off abolishing USC and we all win!

You want to get rid of the only potentially progressive element of the taxation system?

Its an buzzword obsession at this stage. A cut to normal rates would have the same impact for mid/high earners.

Bobtheman

Matt Barrett wrote: »

You keep rotating FF and FG like a good lad



I was responding to a comment that they only wanted to be in opposition for the real gravy train. I was responding to that.



You chimed in on that.

So if you genuinely want to get into politics to get in to power and make a difference you must be in FF or FG otherwise you are only in it to protest and/or the gravy train.
Also, FF and FG are terrible but everyone else, although untested, would be worse so stick with FF or FG.
And any issues you have with FF/FG can be answered thusly;
The others would be worse.
What other options?

Grand :rolleyes:

There are other options to FG/FF that could govern and want to govern. SF? The greens. Even Labour. Unfortunately I even if you vote for these parties they are likely to need FG or FF. I'd love to see a left wing alliance but I think SF have realised the left will never do that so it's made clear it will do a deal with FG or FF.
Bottom line is vote for the party you want to govern but a party that also wants to. PBP or the socialist party ( Murphy ) ain't that .
I don't think Murphy is on the gravy train . He just wants to be a glorified social worker who won't get himself dirty by actually governing.
A quick glance at his party's policies will show that.

Idbatterim

Bobtheman wrote: »

There are other options to FG/FF that could govern and want to govern. SF? The greens. Even Labour. Unfortunately I even if you vote for these parties they are likely to need FG or FF. I'd love to see a left wing alliance but I think SF have realised the left will never do that so it's made clear it will do a deal with FG or FF.
Bottom line is vote for the party you want to govern but a party that also wants to. PBP or the socialist party ( Murphy ) ain't that .
I don't think Murphy is on the gravy train . He just wants to be a glorified social worker who won't get himself dirty by actually governing.
A quick glance at his party's policies will show that.

we have a left wing alliance in power! Insane welfare state and workers being hammered for a fifty percent marginal rate!

Bobtheman

Idbatterim wrote: »

we have a left wing alliance in power! Insane welfare state and workers being hammered for a fifty percent marginal rate!

You have a point. The welfare system could use reform but not until we seriously do something about white collar crime. And by that I don't mean just out and out fraud. Why wasn't the companies act used to prosecute bank directors for crashing their companies as the act allows?
It would be unfair to attack a dole lounger while leaving the people who bankrupted the state alone.

Idbatterim

Bobtheman wrote: »

You have a point. The welfare system could use reform but not until we seriously do something about white collar crime. And by that I don't mean just out and out fraud. Why wasn't the companies act used to prosecute bank directors for crashing their companies as the act allows?
It would be unfair to attack a dole lounger while leaving the people who bankrupted the state alone.

honestly, at least these banking executives, have done a days work in their lives, educated themselves and paid taxes. They didnt deliberately do what they did, of course it was reckless in hindsight. You are meant to have a competent regulator in place, to stop the weakness and greed of human nature. Typical of this country though, he was just a token gesture. The regulator, bertie, banks, builders, sure they were all best of mates!

Topgear on Dave

Anne Marie McNally not running in the GE, I had her as one of the Soc-Dems big hopes.

L1011

Topgear on Dave wrote: »

Anne Marie McNally not running in the GE, I had her as one of the Soc-Dems big hopes.

In 2016, yes

Did badly in the locals and did appallingly in the by-election.

feargale

boggerman1 wrote: »

Soc dems is just a glorified women’s party.totally pointless party.

I'd rather a women's party, and good luck to them for better or worse, than the unconstitutional bribery of the female quota system which is designed to manipulate the result and damage democracy.