Would you support a new Rural Political Party

Yeah, I was going to reply to point out the abusive terms used or report the post but seeing as the mods here seem to condone farmer and rural bashing there's no point. His or her day will come when they forget they're not online and get a fist in the mouth off someone they deliberately insult.

Absolutely. But only for the groups they support and like.

It's typical of today's zeitgeist.

Most of the rural independents would be promoting the church and general right wing values, whether just as a vote catcher or not I don't know. ie A lot of them voted against the recent anti-hate speech bill in the dáil lately.

The youth, if they vote, will largely go SF anyway.

Yes, that would be a traditional vote catcher which they could easily dial back for one or two elections without taking harm, especially if there isnt any pertinent pieces of legislation proposed at that particular time.

We the voters, nor they the Independents aren't all the devout Bible thumpers you seem to think.

I'd imagine that voting against that piece of legislation (hate speech law) wouldn't be a problem for many rural voters as its perceived to be too broad.

Young people tend to vote for the latest populist option making a stir - MHR and indeed Jackie before him have/had hordes of young voters. They're not entirely stupid either though, - and a few well thought out cohesive pieces on the issues of planning, student grants and something on car ownership/licensing would go a long way towards holding off the SF tide - at least in rural Ireland where nobody really trusts them and it's a protest vote against the current shower anyway.

I see your worry about designations hitting land values, but I'm not so sure its as big an issue as people make out. SPA hill land near me made 7000/acre (when forestry was making 4-5) a few years back and is being farmed intensively. I've never heard of anyone refused planning either.

As for collatoral for loans, repayment capacity is the main thing there, unless your into megabucks.

But looking at another thread here and the French model where there is much more control and restriction of land use, such a system here would benefit farmers and rural communities, take investors and speculators out of the market, and majorly eliminate the asset depreciation that most fear.

Basically the policy on one off rural housing is to refuse refuse refuse regardless of how good or bad the application is. Around here only people who have years to stick it out and multiple applications might eventually get it. Have the tee-shirt on this one

Every thing is called extreme right wing nowadays.

As far as FG are concerned most of their membership and voters would be viewed as far right by the leadership, nearly as bad in FF and all farmers would be considered suspect.

Yeah that's a boo boo alright. More voters depending on the agri economy and multiple more in the rural economy

Folliwing That means nothing.

Lots of farmers included in that suspect list, all farmers are now fascist but none more so for FG and FF than dairy farmers.

It's worth mentioning that the farmers all listed in the bad to follow list above have one thing in common, all are active in the IFA. One I know is also active locally in Fg.

We are now at a stage where being active in the IFA is enough to have you listed as far right.

I agree that most farmers will continue to vote FFG but those 2 parties now view rural Ireland as appealing as an std.

I suspect your right there - existing right wing parties like Renua etc. have been around for quiet a while and have had FA impact. Also rural Ireland these days is not just made up of conventional farmers with group think on what way farming or rural Ireland should be advanced. The latter I feel is one of the greatest weaknesses within current farming orgs and their current political reps who seem increasingly out of touch with the realities impacting the industry and society at large.

I have no interest in the NP/Farmers Alliance etc good bad or indifferent but read the above article and it makes no connection between Gript (never heard of them till now) and far right facists. Just mentions that they are co owned/founded by someone who was/is involved in anti abortion stuff.

Looking at Gript its a lot of culture wars sh1te,very similar to the site you linked to (has a nice article on "Profit Driven Agriculture,Cruel,Destructive and not Feeding the World

Reading on farmers alliance Facebook page before they blocked me I honestly could not think of anything worse for the country than them. Now I would not be a big fan of some of the other organisations but at least if they’re asked a question they make an attempt to answer. If farmers alliance are asked an awkward question or if a comment made they don’t like your blocked from their page (I know I’m blocked)

I'm a generation removed from farming but from a rural village background.

Family were always FG and politically active as I once was.

Left FG years ago but did continue to support them as the least worst option. That support has gone during Varadaker's time due to his woke globalist policies.

Would never vote for the SF/IRA though

If a viable Rural and or Farmer's party were to emerge I'd wholeheartedly support it and would be pretty certain that the rest of my extended family would also.

Dozens of votes in each of three different constituencies.

Most of my friends think the same!

Loads of people identify as farmers even though their families haven't farmed in generations or never did. My father in law never farmed and never will but he'd vote for a farming party because he likes to act like a farmer and have things farmers have like farm gates in his garden.

In fact I actually think calling it the Farmers Alliance will attract lots of people.

Strong support for the farmers alliance will depend on the quality of the canidates,if many of the ifa leadership went as canidates you could see them bringing up the rear of the election count as they are poor at getting any point across.You need articulate canidates at the very least