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The ONLY politics thread in AH

  • 03-05-2007 05:45PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,644 ✭✭✭✭


    This is the only politics thread allowed in After Hours. Please keep the discussion here or if you want more detailed and serious discussion go to http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=903

    Feel free to comment or whatever on the General Election here. Other political topics are off-topic in this forum and will just get deleted. Using this thread to canvass for a particular candidate will just get you a long ban. Don’t do it.

    This thread is meant to give the “general audience” a place to air their views. Please try to respect that your view isn’t the only valid view and not insult other posters in your posts (This includes but is not limited to sentences like “All Shinner voters are idiots” and so on).

    Apologies for the confusion but there was a mix up with the last thread and the poll got closed etc.

    Who would you most like to see in Government? 184 votes

    Fianna Fail
    0% 0 votes
    Fine Gael
    17% 33 votes
    Labour
    19% 35 votes
    Greens
    19% 36 votes
    PDs
    16% 31 votes
    Sinn Fein
    6% 12 votes
    Socialist Party/Workers Party
    7% 14 votes
    Independent candidate
    3% 7 votes
    I don't know
    2% 5 votes
    I don't care about politics and don't care who will be in Government
    5% 11 votes


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,239 ✭✭✭✭WindSock


    Can people list their reasons for who they are voting for and why so I can read them and base my decision from here because I can't be arsed yet to read every parties policies :)


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 6,525 Mod ✭✭✭✭dregin


    I think I'm willing to put their past to one side and vote O Caoilain/Sinn Fein as I think he's the one candidate who has the most influence to get anything constructive done in the Cavan/Monaghan area. Brendan Smith won't be getting my vote as he has spent the last term getting himself credited for as much as possible when very little of the praise is justified. He also came to our door canvasing for the last election looking for my parents and when I told him they werent in but I was voting I got - "Ah sure you'll give me your vote, wontcha???". Twat.

    I'm not aware of any green candidates running in the Cavan/Monaghan area so atm I've only decided on my number one and may not bother with the rest.... maybe a number 2 for Des Cullen of labour after I've taken a look at his policys...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,644 ✭✭✭✭nesf


    dregin wrote:
    I'm not aware of any green candidates running in the Cavan/Monaghan area so atm I've only decided on my number one and may not bother with the rest.... maybe a number 2 for Des Cullen of labour after I've taken a look at his policys...

    There's a green party candidate in Cavan/Monaghan: http://www.mycandidate.ie/list.php?cid=2


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 28,128 ✭✭✭✭Mossy Monk


    I think FG and Labour will be getting my first and second votes anyway. Decisions decisions.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,051 ✭✭✭✭dulpit


    I think that if any politician has ever done anything to help you or someone you know, that should be the guy (or girl) to vote for... Like there's a guy in my constituency (Cork South-Central) helped out at home, he'll get a vote (not no.1 mind)..

    TBH I'll be voting for a change (read: Not Fianna Fáil or PD) so Labour or Fine Gael or Greens


    Edit: The poll isn't great, i'd like to see the Greens in power, but only with Labour & Fine Gael... Could it be changed to reflect the possible coalitions as well? (i.e. FF & PD; FG, Lab, Greens; FF &SF [[could happen]) etc.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 394 ✭✭sportswear


    yes i will be giving greens number 1.

    but only cos i think they would be a healthy component of a rainbow goverment .

    it would be a disaster if they were in on their own.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,976 ✭✭✭✭humanji


    Won't be voting myself, due to complete disillusionment in politicians. Give it 4 years and we'll all be reading about Kenny-gate or Rabbite-Gate in the papers as all their dirty little secrets come out. And the country will still have all it's current problems and most likely more as well.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 28,128 ✭✭✭✭Mossy Monk


    humanji wrote:
    Won't be voting myself, due to complete disillusionment in politicians

    That's the way.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,976 ✭✭✭✭humanji


    Mossy Monk wrote:
    That's the way.
    Well there's also the fact that I'm lazy and don't care, but the original reason sounds better :D


  • Registered Users, Subscribers, Registered Users 2 Posts: 47,369 ✭✭✭✭Zaph


    humanji wrote:
    Won't be voting myself, due to complete disillusionment in politicians.

    So we can take it you won't be giving out about any politicians or the way the country's run until the next election then? Not voting doesn't even give you the right to complain abot being disillusioned about politicians IMO. Vote for the independent who's only going to pick up 100 votes if you have to, at least then you can legitimately complain about not liking the next lot in power.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,773 ✭✭✭Binomate


    zaph wrote:
    So we can take it you won't be giving out about any politicians or the way the country's run until the next election then? Not voting doesn't even give you the right to complain abot being disillusioned about politicians IMO. Vote for the independent who's only going to pick up 100 votes if you have to, at least then you can legitimately complain about not liking the next lot in power.
    I'm sorry, but that's absolute bollox. By the same logic, you've no right to complain about the party you vote for. In fact, if you're not voting because ALL of the candidates are shite, it gives you a broader range to complain about.



    As for me, I'll probably vote FF. Bertie has experience, all his financial troubles aside. If there weren't so many twats trying to bring him down, maybe we'd have a brand new voting system.


  • Registered Users, Subscribers, Registered Users 2 Posts: 47,369 ✭✭✭✭Zaph


    Binomate wrote:
    I'm sorry, but that's absolute bollox. By the same logic, you've no right to complain about the party you vote for.

    I fail to see how you can come to that conclusion. If you don't vote you're not taking part in the democratic process, which is your one chance every 5 years to have your opinion mean something. If you don't vote, well then the obvious conclusion is that you don't really care what happens to you or the country, whereas if you at least register a protest vote, and enough others do the same in every constituency, those who do get into power will know just how many people are unimpressed by them and it may encourage them to try a bit harder.

    I don't see any reason why you can't complain about who you voted for. If they don't live up to the promises that they made that convinced you to vote for them in the first place, well then they're fair game for a bollocking, and even more so from the people that voted for them.

    The whole "disillusioned with politicians" is just another way of saying "I'm too lazy to get up off my arse and find out which politicians/parties represent what's closest to my ideals so I can vote for them, so I'll just stay on the couch on election day".


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,976 ✭✭✭✭humanji


    And what if you vote for someone that doesn't win?


  • Registered Users, Subscribers, Registered Users 2 Posts: 47,369 ✭✭✭✭Zaph


    What difference does that make? If your choice doesn't win, well then obviously you're likely to have issues with the party that does. The fact that you went out and voted against them and tried to stop them getting elected gives you the right to complain about them. If you didn't, well then really you end up with what you* deserve.


    *When I say you, please understand that this is not a personal attack, it's a general "you" that includes anyone not planning to vote. It just bugs me when people complain about politicians but aren't prepared to get involved themselves and try to make a difference. You won't always succeed, but you'll never succeed from the couch.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,367 ✭✭✭Agamemnon


    zaph wrote:
    ...if you at least register a protest vote, and enough others do the same in every constituency, those who do get into power will know just how many people are unimpressed by them and it may encourage them to try a bit harder.

    You don't seriously believe that, do you?

    Everyone who pays tax has the right to complain if their money is squandered. Once politicians are in government, they couldn't care less what their detractors say about them. It's only around election time that they sit up and take notice of public opinion. I will be voting, BTW.


  • Registered Users, Subscribers, Registered Users 2 Posts: 47,369 ✭✭✭✭Zaph


    Reading it again, I will admit that maybe I didn't word it the way I meant it. Here's a better way of putting it - it was suggested on the radio the other day (not sure what programme or station, I only caught a minute of it) that politicians ignore areas where nobody votes. The example given was that in a previous election only two people voted from all those living in one particular tower block in Ballymun, an area that was undoubtedly neglected for a long time. Now if all the people in that block had voted that sends out a message to the politicians that there are votes to be won there, and the likelihood is that that area would be looked after better. Other areas with higher voter turnout were given as examples where the constituants were "better looked after" by their representatives. I'm not saying that this is absolute fact, and as I said I only heard a brief part of this so there could have been very valid arguments against that I didn't hear, it just kind of demonstrates what I was getting at, that I believe that writing off all politicians and not bothering to vote makes it easy for politicians to ignore you, and if they do they're certainly not going to care what you want.

    I do accept your point about paying tax, but there's a lot more to government than just how they spend your money.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,384 ✭✭✭pred racer


    Id like to see a fianna fail/Greens coalition (wont happen I know!)
    to all of the people who are going to vote just for change, try to remember the complete arse Fianna Gael and Labour made of the place the last time they were in. I know times were different etc, but vote for a policy or a personality not just for a change!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,239 ✭✭✭✭WindSock


    humanji wrote:
    And what if you vote for someone that doesn't win?

    And what if the one you voted for won by one vote?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 363 ✭✭Ruen


    pred racer wrote:
    try to remember the complete arse Fianna Gael and Labour made of the place the last time they were in
    I do remember last time they were in, do you? And they didnt make an arse of the place at all, do you remember how that government was responsible for the beginning of Irelands economic growth, they introduced divorce and do you remember how there were jobs all of a sudden when that government was in power. Oh yeah and that free fees initiative they brought in really did fcuk us up didnt it, with all those people being afforded the opportunity to attend college and university?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,976 ✭✭✭✭humanji


    zaph wrote:
    What difference does that make? If your choice doesn't win, well then obviously you're likely to have issues with the party that does. The fact that you went out and voted against them and tried to stop them getting elected gives you the right to complain about them. If you didn't, well then really you end up with what you* deserve.

    Well if you have Party A and Party B running in an election. You don't want Party A to win, so you vote for Party B. I don't want Party A to win, but I also don't want Party B to win, so I can wither choose to vote against my conscience or not vote. I choose to not vote. In the end, Party A wins. Neither of us voted for them, so does that mean neither of us have a right to complain? You exercised your right to vote and so did I, I simply decided that neither were good enough.
    boreds wrote:
    And what if the one you voted for won by one vote?

    That doesn't have anything to do with what I said :confused:


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 363 ✭✭Ruen


    Yeah but there's more than two parties and independents too. Worst case scenario you dont particularly like any candidates in your constituency, thats unfortunate but it can happen. I'd say check out the candidates and make your choices anyway on who comes nearest to your beliefs, at least try to get the best out of a bad bunch, if thats what you think you've got.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 363 ✭✭Ruen


    humanji wrote:
    And what if you vote for someone that doesn't win?
    Well thats how democracy works, not everyone gets elected, but you wont know that untill you've voted. It doesnt mean you're wasting your time, because you dont know who'll win anyway, and like it was said before a person could win by one vote, espescially in our system of voting and it has happened. Last general election Dan Neville won by one vote and Michael Finucane lost by one vote in Limerick. So every vote does count.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,384 ✭✭✭pred racer


    Ruen wrote:
    I do remember last time they were in, do you? And they didnt make an arse of the place at all, do you remember how that government was responsible for the beginning of Irelands economic growth, they introduced divorce and do you remember how there were jobs all of a sudden when that government was in power. Oh yeah and that free fees initiative they brought in really did fcuk us up didnt it, with all those people being afforded the opportunity to attend college and university?

    Yes I do, and im afraid we have different memories, but that aside my original point remains the same. Vote for something, anything. dont just vote in some other knucklehead coz you want a change.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 86,729 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    I'm not involved in Irish Politics because I can't vote :p but I will say you guys are probably doing better off than the 2 party system in My Foreign Land: America :)

    And Im done here...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,551 ✭✭✭panda100


    For those who are like me,and there seems to be many on boards, that are completly dissulsioned with Irish politics then show your objection by spoiling your vote! Dont just put a 1 beside someone you only half believe in. Let it be known that we want a radical shakeup of Irish politics and politicans. Il only vote for an alternative to Bertie and the PD's If I actually believed in a good alternative,but there is none.
    http://www.indymedia.ie/article/82277

    I will be writing on my ballot paper '50 million spent on e-voting and Im still writing with a pencil.....'


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18,239 ✭✭✭✭WindSock


    panda100 wrote:

    I will be writing on my ballot paper '50 million spent on e-voting and Im still writing with a pencil.....'

    I don't think the vote counters are going to notice that. Or care.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,698 ✭✭✭InFront


    What happens if you make a mistake? Are there erasers?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭humbert


    I think when you look at all the crap politicians and government services get away with in this country nobody's going to give a flying **** about spoiled votes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,611 ✭✭✭✭Sam Vimes


    a canvasser for leo varadkar (fine gael) just came to my door and my parents started saying they wouldn't vote for him. the first reason my dad gave was that they forced tom morrissey out of the party.

    one of the canvassers said "he left the party of his own free will" then closed the porch door in our faces and he and the woman he was with ran off down the road.


    vote no 1


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,506 ✭✭✭muletide


    panda100 wrote:

    I will be writing on my ballot paper '50 million spent on e-voting and Im still writing with a pencil.....'


    Good Girl thats the way to make a change


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 8,632 ✭✭✭darkman2


    Based on the latest Opinion polls it's possibly favourite to be a hung dail atm!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,575 ✭✭✭junkyard


    Are we as tax payers paying the governments wages when they're out canvassing for votes? I think the nurses were threatened with getting their wages docked when they were out on strike, if so the government should be docked their wages when they're out canvassing.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,115 ✭✭✭Pal


    I'm voting FF.
    Happy enough with the job they did the past 10 years.
    Not adverse to a change.
    If it happens then so be it.

    I hope FG make sure they keep Rabbitte in check.
    Capitalism has made this country strong.
    Socialism doesn't appeal to me.

    As for SF, I am very concerned that somebody might cut a deal with them.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,724 ✭✭✭BoozyBabe


    TBH, I don't give a rats arse about politics or politicians.
    I believe one is as crooked as the next.

    I'm from the Cavan / Monaghan constituency & the current government have done absolutely nothing for us & have actually done plenty against us, so they WILL NOT get my vote. It is because of them that I'm actually voting in this election, to help make sure they DON'T get back into power.

    Caoimhghin O Caolain, Sinn Fein will get my No 1 vote.
    & then either the Greens or Independent for No 2. (haven't decided on that one yet)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,395 ✭✭✭Marksie


    I voted Fg, really dont want this shower returned.

    Interestingly we were discussing the FF "core vote" over lunch and its general age.

    Others may disagree (and probably will big time) as i am making a general assumption about the age of people on boards i.e that the majority are young.

    But looking at the poll, and it being representative, I can see why FF would want to make it difficult for students etc. to vote


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,644 ✭✭✭✭nesf


    Marksie wrote:
    Interestingly we were discussing the FF "core vote" over lunch and its general age.

    Others may disagree (and probably will big time) as i am making a general assumption about the age of people on boards i.e that the majority are young.

    I disagree actually. If you look at it from the perspective of most of the users being Dublin users then it makes more sense. FF aren't in a good position support-wise in Dublin this time around. That and you could argue that the youth in this forum will cop on once they've the mortgage and 2.3 kids and start voting FF.... ;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,584 ✭✭✭shane86


    So as we all apparently know you have to register to vote at the Garda Station. Quite a few of my foreign colleagues from the EU have received polling cards without registering. Why is that when we have to pre- register? Or is everyone with a PRSI no. from the EU put on anyway, myself included?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,230 ✭✭✭scojones


    I voted for my local FG candidate Tony Mulcahy as my No. 1 vote. He has done some great work in my locality over the last several years and he is a close family friend as well. I hope to see him do well and I really hope he can get into Dublin. He has a child with disabilities and as a result he has first hand experience of how difficult this can be, and how bad our health service is for catering for children with disabilities and this is one of his major driving factors for wanting to make a change in the health service alone.

    Come on Fine Gael!


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,113 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tar.Aldarion


    Greens/labour.

    Most young people won't go for ff imo, as mark says.
    Every student I have asked says greens/labour.
    A few say sf and fg.
    A lot aren't voting because of the day etc, and people have exams today.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,395 ✭✭✭Marksie


    nesf wrote:
    I disagree actually. If you look at it from the perspective of most of the users being Dublin users then it makes more sense. FF aren't in a good position support-wise in Dublin this time around. That and you could argue that the youth in this forum will cop on once they've the mortgage and 2.3 kids and start voting FF.... ;)

    maybe.. as you are assuming that outside of dublin it is the traditional... my whole family voted for em so you are damn well going to brigade.

    Possibly, but by that time they will have to sell the 0.3 child for spare parts after what FF will have done to us all. ;)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,644 ✭✭✭✭nesf


    Marksie wrote:
    maybe.. as you are assuming that outside of dublin it is the traditional... my whole family voted for em so you are damn well going to brigade.

    Possibly, but by that time they will have to sell the 0.3 child for spare parts after what FF will have done to us all. ;)

    Nah, more that the biggest slump in FF support has been in Dublin afaik. Or at least that's where they were viewed to be in trouble.


    But, on the other hand, I think us culchies have the right idea. A vote for FF is a vote not to put Enda in charge of the country. :D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,395 ✭✭✭Marksie


    nesf wrote:
    Nah, more that the biggest slump in FF support has been in Dublin afaik. Or at least that's where they were viewed to be in trouble.


    But, on the other hand, I think us culchies have the right idea. A vote for FF is a vote not to put Enda in charge of the country. :D

    Actually that part is nearly over.

    Don't know about you but i hope they dont go to electronic voting, the recounts and infighting over a majority of a few votes is exciting.

    You can see the veins and sweat popping out!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,644 ✭✭✭✭nesf


    Marksie wrote:
    Actually that part is nearly over.

    Don't know about you but i hope they dont go to electronic voting, the recounts and infighting over a majority of a few votes is exciting.

    You can see the veins and sweat popping out!

    Simu said to me earlier that they planned to not calculate it all in one go and do it sequentially to maintain the flow of information (it is a lot of information after all). But yeah, I'm looking forward to watching it tomorrow. I've found the drama of it quite exciting since I was a kid, a bit like the Eurovision of old. :)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,395 ✭✭✭Marksie


    nesf wrote:
    Simu said to me earlier that they planned to not calculate it all in one go and do it sequentially to maintain the flow of information (it is a lot of information after all). But yeah, I'm looking forward to watching it tomorrow. I've found the drama of it quite exciting since I was a kid, a bit like the Eurovision of old. :)

    In the UK we used to have, admittedly boozey, parties on election night. The guy who got all excited about his swingometer.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,644 ✭✭✭✭nesf


    Elections, over, back to normal business. :)


This discussion has been closed.
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