Unpopular Opinions.

Ross and Rachel were a terrible couple. There I said it, been holding that one for fecking years.

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

A head of State needs to have a range of life experience and a bit of gravitas, not some some 20 something year old punk muppet. I'm 26 myself and I was glad to to this defeated.

Allowing a 21 year old to run still leaves them with the challenge of getting elected so I doubt we'd end up with a jedward as president. Gravitas often grows with age but age doesn't necessarily guarantee it, there's plenty of middle aged muppets out there too.

Wilberto wrote: »

Ah, the old "If you don't agree with me it's because you're stupid" argument. :rolleyes:


Personally, I believe even someone at 34 years of age has too little life experience to represent their country in what is effectively a ceremonial role. If the referendum proposed to raise to age to 40, I probably would have voted "Yes".

Give me a logical reason then. The current limit is age discriminatory. There vast majority of over 35s have no experience necessary for being a president, the vast majority of 50 year olds have no experience but can still ATTEMPT to run (you also need the backing of 4 local authorities or 20 TDs). The experience argument is full of holes. The marriage vote was about getting rid of unnecessary discrimination, the presidential vote was also about this but it appears logic was not the fore.

Mardy Bum wrote: »

Give me a logical reason then. The current limit is age discriminatory. There vast majority of over 35s have no experience necessary for being a president, the vast majority of 50 year olds have no experience but can still ATTEMPT to run (you also need the backing of 4 local authorities or 20 TDs). The experience argument is full of holes. The marriage vote was about getting rid of unnecessary discrimination, the presidential vote was also about this but it appears logic was not the fore.

I'd agree that there was a disconnect alright between deciding upon the marriage amendment, and the presidential age amendment that wasn't entirely logical. Given that people once they reach the age of 18 are considered mature enough to have a say in the running of this country, they should also be considered mature enough to qualify to run for public office.

People are suggesting that we'd end up with Jedward through popular vote, but if that's who young people vote for, then why should that be invalidated upon account of their age, yet their approval of marriage equality is valid?

What those people are saying is that young people are a-ok to vote, but only if they vote the way those people want. They seem to be ignoring the fact that there are far more important qualifying criteria than simply the person's age or life experiences.

I think David Norris would have made a terrible Irish President, in spite of his decades of political experience. The only reason he was ever even close to becoming President, I felt anyway, was because he was gay. Not in spite of the fact that he was gay, but because of it, and that's the wrong way to assess a Presidential candidate, because that, to me at least, looks like tokenism, ignoring the fact that while the guy can talk for Ireland, he's far too immature to be a Head of State and Supreme Commander of our Defense Forces.

Into The Blue wrote: »

How old are you?

Logical arguments please.

I'm gonna get some backlash for this, but my unpopular opinion is that the yes vote possibly won in the end due to social media and a sort of "following the herd" type thing. I was a strong advocate for the yes side, and after seeing everyone on facebook etc being the same way I was thrilled, but it got me thinking. I'm definitely more of a follower than a leader type personality and as much as I hate to say it if everyone on social media was being just as passionate about the no side as opposed to the yes side, would it have been able to change my mind? I don't know. I'd like to think it wouldn't but then I really can't say, and that worries me about myself that I may have ended up voting yes on the day because it was "in" rather than because it was the right thing to do.

Course that's bollix because years ago I was posting pro-gay marriage videos and such on websites such as reddit etc., but then I know I'm easy to convince so if everyone and their mudder was going mental about the no side and iona wasn't demonising it through their sheer presence... I just don't know if it could have affected my vote on the day.

Unpopular opinions

(Or why I won't ever be allowed to be a TD - no party would be brave enough to appoint me as a candidate)

1) abolish the child benefit - if you want a child, then you do the math on supporting it first
2) no tax credits for childcare or similar
3) if you cannot speak, write and read English, you don't get a benefit as you are not equipped to work; temporary exception made if you are learning English and can provide proof of attendance
4) if you are receiving the dole and cannot obtain work after six months, you are referred for additional support - interview training, cv review, additional training
5) no additional benefits if you have further children while on benefits - if you need state help for those you already have, it's irresponsible to have more
6) convictions result in jail time or community work, preferably picking up trash
7) death duties threshold should be raised to €1,000,000 - you get taxed at every opportunity, to tax you when you die is the final insult
8) benefits should be capped at minimum wage - it should never be better to be jobless
9) part time education should be cheaper - upskilling is important to ensure people remain employable long term
10) if you live in social housing, it should be reviewed annually - none of this 'home for life' stuff
11) social housing for non workers shouldn't be in the centre of the city - convenient living comes at premium, and workers should be prioritised, with lower income workers such as hospital porters, cleaners etc first in line
12) unsustainable mortgages - 90 days from first missed payment proceedings begin, 180 days repossession takes effect - no arguments; all mortgages are non recourse (the banks will be more careful about lending decisions!)
13) failure to pay rent - evictions within 4 weeks
14) child criminals - automatic community service the first two times; national service the third time, boys and girls
15) foreign students (non EU) must contribute 100 hours volunteering
16) rent controls - linked to inflation
17) capital gains tax on residential properties - sliding scale, increasing based on number of properties owned
18) repossessed properties must be returned to market for sale with 90 days of repossession taking effect
19) scrap tenured academic staff - too many are 'phoning it in', while decent staff can't get a permanent position
20) voting extended to emigrants, providing they have a current Irish passport and have returned to Ireland within the previous 3 years (so they hopefully remain engaged with Ireland and hopefully return long term)
21) scrap stamp duty on principle private residences

I'm sure there's more but I think that's enough feathers ruffled

Cold War Kid wrote: »

Abolishing child benefit full stop wouldn't work out too well for those whose partner leaves/dies.

I'll possibly consider additional support if a partner or spouse dies, but if it's a relationship breakdown (or a one night of passion), both parties remain financially responsible - not the taxpayer

Willfarman wrote: »

I think we would of been a happier, more inclusive, more progressive economically and viable country if we had stayed British and continued to banish catholism. The British were right the whole time.

Well you haven't got far to go, if you want to be British.
Be there in an hour on Ryan Air. A progressive, economically viable, secular and as far as I know Irish airline.

People who derail threads are as*holes and should get a thread ban, especially if there are threads elsewhere specifically for the subject they want to discuss. I'm not sure how unpopular that opinion is but I'm just putting it out there.