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Corrupt, incompetent, lazy and self-serving

  • 27-10-2003 08:46PM
    #1
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 1,737 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    Title taken from Sunday Tribune 26/10

    It looks like politics has lost the confidence of the people of Ireland. My question is, how does politics get back a good name?

    Politics needs to become relevant to people. The rumour of a Golden circle being the real centre of power in this country should be convincingly disproven with proof that the people are the centre of ultimate power. The Dáil should sit 200 days a year and the media need to be less accepting of press releases and 30 second sound bites. Bin protestors shouldn't be let make cheap soundbites out of breaking the law and ministers and leaders who don't answer questions with at least some directness should be challenged or with repeat intransigence, ignored.
    Overt leadership should be what the major political parties are offering to the electorate, not some nice guy image, anti tax socialism or union-bashing, anti-benchmarking stubborness. Some one that really has the vision take ireland into the 21st century.
    In the medium term at least the local, european and possibly presidential election will give the people a chance to express their views in the democratic process. The danger is that two thirds will stay away from the polls and there will be no change at all.


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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,006 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    when did politics ever have the confidence of anybody,

    only people who go into politics are self serving cûnts who want power and brown paper bags, every last one of them should be shot in the brain stem,

    not very pc i know but tis the truth guys


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 78,757 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Excellent, almost made me buy the paper (the DART article made me buy it). Will scan and post.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    Originally posted by star gazer
    My question is, how does politics get back a good name?

    One word (possibly misspelled) : transparency.

    jc


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,120 ✭✭✭PH01


    All this crying about how corrupt politics is and how politicians untrustworthty, and so on and so on is getting a bit tiring. And it's also jumping on the band wagon and stating the obvious. It's a lazy opinion and lazy journalism as well.

    We all know that there are a small number of politicians who are corrupt. We also know that there are a small number of politicians who are inept. And we all know that some of them are only in it for the power.

    But it would be a mistake to tar them with the same brush. The vast majority of politician I know are hard working people, who in many cases have sacrificed their own private lives, which we all know, for a public one. And they treat their job like a vocation, not wanting things for themselves but wanting a better life for others.

    Get off the band wagon folks and cut these chaps and chapettes some slack. Or get involved yourself.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    Originally posted by PH01
    The vast majority of politician I know are hard working people, who in many cases have sacrificed their own private lives, which we all know, for a public one. And they treat their job like a vocation, not wanting things for themselves but wanting a better life for others.
    Really? Because all the ones I know are less capable than I am, understand the issues I find relevant less than I do, and generally tend to have records which, if not outright criminal in nature, are at least solidly unethical.
    Get off the band wagon folks and cut these chaps and chapettes some slack. Or get involved yourself.
    Nope, that won't do a damn thing to solve the problem. As pointed out in the "help elect the youngest MEP" thread, another alternative candidate is not the solution.

    Time for a better system, not new politicians, who will just become as bad as the ones we have now.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 19,777 ✭✭✭✭The Corinthian


    Originally posted by PH01
    We all know that there are a small number of politicians who are corrupt. We also know that there are a small number of politicians who are inept. And we all know that some of them are only in it for the power.
    If fairness, the reality is that corruption is actually far more endemic than a ‘small number’. In the early nineties, I was involved on the peripheries of in politics in Ireland and was taken aback by the level of cronyism and petty corruption that existed. I found Fianna Fail, in particular (but not alone), had a culture that almost reviled in it, as if jobs for the boys was a right of the party faithful.
    But it would be a mistake to tar them with the same brush. The vast majority of politician I know are hard working people, who in many cases have sacrificed their own private lives, which we all know, for a public one. And they treat their job like a vocation, not wanting things for themselves but wanting a better life for others.
    This is true, but is frankly almost the exception rather than the rule. The vast majority of past (I can’t say about present) corruption remains unreported and the reality is that it would be difficult to find any politician without the taint of such misdeeds. Seriously - I cannot overemphasise the level of corruption that certainly existed up to a decade ago.
    Get off the band wagon folks and cut these chaps and chapettes some slack. Or get involved yourself.
    Of course, this I’d agree with. Simple begrudgery (the Great National Pastime) and disaffection will solve nothing and it beholds those who complain to go out and do something about it. But neither is supporting some fringe Looney leftie group going to make any difference either - despite protestations to the contrary, they do not and never will have the support of the population.

    Get involved in the other political parties, or make donations to particular candidates in key constituencies. Look at the longer run (Fianna Fail have, have you noticed how the special savings scheme will mature just before a possible 2007 election?) and what factors may influence the future shape of government. And this can be done supporting any of the existing parties and even without actually joining them either.

    However, just blubbering about it is hardly going to do anything about it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    Originally posted by Sparks
    Time for a better system, not new politicians, who will just become as bad as the ones we have now.

    So why do you waste so much time complaining about the failures of the existing politicians, and campaigning for (or just arguing for) things to be done by this current group.

    If - as you say - there is no hope of improving them, then what are you wasting your time for???

    On the other hand, if you're not wasting your time and there's a point to making these demands for change , then the irrecoverability of the situation would seem to be somewhat overstated.

    And as with anyone else who insists that we need a new system because the current system is unfixeable, I'd ask how you intend ever obtaining this?

    Clearly, the current system cannot be modified to give you what you want, or it would be fixeable. So that leaves some alternate solution - a changing of the guard, a revolution if you will.

    Implementing a better democracy by discarding the democratic process when it fails you would seem to be self-contradictory. It also begs the question as to how you can possibly object to anyone else abusing the democratic process (which is ultimtely where the problems lie), when I'm sure they are simply working around the limitations that they don't wish to be subjected to, and which they cannot have democratically removed.

    In otherwords...your solution would seem to be to adopt the same attitude as those you are criticising as being corrupt - that being to disregard the existing system because it is not in line with one's own wishes, and instead to do what, for you, is preferable.

    Ultimately, the conclusion would seem to either be that you support anti-democratic action to be taken by anyone who feels that the system doesn't work the way they think it should, or that you are incorrect in saying that the system is unfixeable.

    Interestingly, the former of these two options is also what you are saying is irrecovably wrong with the system - that people are corrupting it to their own ends.

    At best, you can argue that you believe your end is better then theirs, but you're still someone who feels the system is wrong because it doesn't do what you want it to, as opposed to thinking in terms of democratic majorities.

    jc


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    Originally posted by bonkey
    If - as you say - there is no hope of improving them, then what are you wasting your time for???
    Spite.

    I know, it's supposed to be petty and small, but let's be realistic here - my last name isn't Smurfit, Dunne or O'Reilly. I'm not likely to amass their levels of wealth and influence. So I won't ever have the ability to orchestrate real change the Irish way - by bribing the right people. And we're not going to rise up and revolt, that's sooo 1920s. The future is most assuredly dystopian in nature, and there's not a damn thing that I personally will be able to do to change that, but I can at least get some viscereal satisfaction by posting here, a safe environment - no-one actually pays this board much heed outside it's own membership anyway. So I can safely point out what the current lot are doing wrong, where they're going and how it's going to screw us over that little bit extra, all without risking a visit from the Special Branch at an odd hour of the night, or increased hassles in my life (like trouble renewing my firearms certs or whatever). So spite is the only real motivator here.
    Implementing a better democracy by discarding the democratic process when it fails you would seem to be self-contradictory.
    Yes, but at first glance, there's no difference between a duck egg and a chicken egg either...
    At best, you can argue that you believe your end is better then theirs, but you're still someone who feels the system is wrong because it doesn't do what you want it to, as opposed to thinking in terms of democratic majorities.
    And if I wasn't arguing for direct democracy (which gives power to the democratic majority rather than to a single person or a small cabal of people), I'd probably agree with your thinking JC. Mind you, since I am, and also since you're the only one here with a front-row seat to see how the system works....


  • Posts: 22,785 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Originally posted by Sparks
    my last name isn't Smurfit, Dunne or O'Reilly. I'm not likely to amass their levels of wealth and influence.

    you are a bit dismissive of yourself there Sparks.
    I'm convinced most reasonably intelligent people have it within themselves to become wealthy and powerfull.

    This very weekend I was speaking to someone who is only 21, has over 20 people working for him already and drives a 03 beemer.
    This person has no college education but has a lot of get up and go, I wonder where he'll be in 30 years time :)

    I can think of at least five or six more people here locally who have started their own business and are now in their fifties and are either very wealthy or actually millionaires.

    None of them are involved in politics, but maybe they should be.


    mm


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    Originally posted by Sparks
    Spite.

    Fair enough.

    I assume you won't mind me linking to this should you ever claim such a complaint is based on political ideology or what out politicians should be doing when you're making these complaints in future???
    And if I wasn't arguing for direct democracy (which gives power to the democratic majority rather than to a single person or a small cabal of people), I'd probably agree with your thinking JC.

    Yes - you'd like to see a revolution to discard one form of democracy with another simply because you see it as better, and the majority would never agree enough to allow you to implement it directly...

    Tell me - if the first thing the majority wanted to do with your direct democracy was to ask for a vote for a return to the old system on the grounds that the change itself was undemocratic.....would you object?
    Mind you, since I am, and also since you're the only one here with a front-row seat to see how the system works....

    The system is no more free of corruption than any other. The government have more or less a free hand in determining when something comes to a referendum, the top level of government (the Bundesraat - equivalent to the Cabinet and a Prime Minister, all rolled into one) is highly undemocratic in that the posts are effectively permanent until someone chooses to step down, and that the party-makeup of these seats is fixed in a non-democratic manner.

    The Swiss system is no more immune to abuse than any other. What distinguishes it, in my opinion, is not specifically the fact that it offers the poeple direct democracy, but that there are sufficient people who are interested in making use of the democratic rights that they have.

    The recent elections were a showcase of that. There was a major shift away from the centreist parties because their policies were not being seen to make things better in the current economic climate. This has happened before, and will happen again. When the climate changes, people will be more likely to move back towards the middle - as they have done before in similar circumstances.

    This unbelievable willingness to actually change allegiances to whoever is offering you the best deal is what makes the biggest difference in my mind. Too many Irish people are set on voting for "their party", rather than who offers them what they are looking for.

    Effectively, Swiss politics works on the basic principles of competition. Irish poltiics, that I can see, increasingly does not. That is a far greater distinction in the system than the existence of direct democracy.

    If the Irish were swayed by who offered the most of what they wanted, don't you think there would be a platform to elect a "movement" who wanted to bring about direct democracy? There would, if it was what people really wanted.

    However, even with direct democracy, the lack of competition would effectively put you back to square one. People would vote for what their party told them to vote for....or maybe the church, or any of the other influential organisations we see holding far too much influence in Irish referenda.

    Changing the system will not correct the problem, because the problem lies in the people's mindset, not in the system per se.

    jc


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    Originally posted by bonkey
    Fair enough.
    I assume you won't mind me linking to this should you ever claim such a complaint is based on political ideology or what out politicians should be doing when you're making these complaints in future???

    I probably will. You asked why do I bother posting here when I know it'll do no good - the answer is spite. It pisses me off that a bunch of people who are not as smart as I am (and that's not even all that smart, I'm only above the 95% mark) are merrily drawing their TD salary while ripping everyone else off, breaking laws, and generally getting away with murder while the rest of us pay the penalties.
    And so I post here, because this is the safest option to vent on.

    But that does not mean that the reason why I feel aggrieved in the first place doesn't have a solid ideological basis.
    Yes - you'd like to see a revolution
    Actually, no I wouldn't. I said it wasn't likely - not that I wanted one.
    (Which, BTW, I don't - they never tend to go well and almost always lead to a civil war afterwards).
    to discard one form of democracy with another simply because you see it as better, and the majority would never agree enough to allow you to implement it directly...
    Unlikely. Ask someone if a politician is corrupt - you'll normally get a "yes". Ask them if they want the job? "No". But ask them if they want to let someone else do the job, but retain the right to overrule them in case they get out of line? I can't see any Irish person I know saying "No" to that...
    Tell me - if the first thing the majority wanted to do with your direct democracy was to ask for a vote for a return to the old system on the grounds that the change itself was undemocratic.....would you object?
    Yes, but because there's only one of me and 3.5 million of them (give or take), it wouldn't matter much. Mind you, I'd be out there strongly arguing against it....
    The Swiss system is no more immune to abuse than any other. What distinguishes it, in my opinion, is not specifically the fact that it offers the poeple direct democracy, but that there are sufficient people who are interested in making use of the democratic rights that they have.
    And now we're back to the "Do we have political apathy because we have no political influence or because we really don't care" question.
    Changing the system will not correct the problem, because the problem lies in the people's mindset, not in the system per se.
    True. I just wonder how much of the mindset is caused by the system...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    Originally posted by Sparks
    But that does not mean that the reason why I feel aggrieved in the first place doesn't have a solid ideological basis.

    So, despite saying that the politicians are irredeemably corrupt, that the the system is irredeemably broken, and that your complaints about it are based on spite, you'd object to this being pointed out when you're trying to sell your indignation as something other than spite.....

    Sounds, how shall I put this, self-serving to me.....

    Actually, no I wouldn't. I said it wasn't likely - not that I wanted one.
    You've said that the only way the system can be fixed is by being replaced. That rules out fixing the system by democratically invoked change, which only leaves conquest, externally-forced change, or revolution. The first two would be against your belief in independance I'm guessing, which really only leaves option 3 - revolution

    Now, either you want that to happen, or you don't. If you don't want it to happen, then you can hardly have any grounds for complaint about the current situation because you don't want to see it changed in the only way you say it can be fixed, but campaign vociferously for changes to be implemented in a manner you decry as not capable of fixing things.

    That makes no sense - its self-contradictory.


    I can't see any Irish person I know saying "No" to that...
    Nor can you ever see people voting for a party with that as a platform in sufficient numbers to ever bring about change......which would once again seem contradictory unless you're saying that the people will never know they want it unless its given to them, but once they had it, the blinding apparentness of its brilliance would suddenly make them all sit up and want ot hold on to something they never asked for and never would have voted for?

    And now we're back to the "Do we have political apathy because we have no political influence or because we really don't care" question.
    I don't think so. Its more like "have we no power because we refuse to use the power we have" vs. "do we refuse to use the power we have because we have no power".

    Personally, I think the Irish system gives the voters massive amounts of power that - as a populace - is being grossly squandered.

    To say that the solution is to give the populace more power would seem counter-intuitive...there is nothing to suggest that it wouldn't be used in exactly the same manner to perpetuate even greater outrages.

    As a simple analagy, take pollution. The parallel to your argument would be that the public can do nothing about pollution, because ultimately it is out of their control and in the hands of major corporations who the public effectively can do nothing about. Ergo, the only way to beat pollution is to change the fundamntals of capitalism.

    I would argue that grass-roots movements can, have, and will influence pollutive entities once the public want it to. They will bring about change - first in small increments and then in larger ones as sideline-standers slowly realise that there is something they can and should do, that they can make a difference, and that their voice will make a difference when its joined with enough others.

    This process - which many insist is impossible when dealing with political structures - has been seen to be increasingly successful in a myriad of avenues. No, it hasn't achieved all its goals, but it has led to improvements in the system, which in turn generate more support, whcih in turn generates more improvements.

    Saying that the system is irreconceivably broken, that people will not change it because they have not changed it, and that the only solution is to change everything - in a manner that we all know wont happen - is defeatist from my perspective.
    True. I just wonder how much of the mindset is caused by the system...
    The only way the system can cause the mindset is when people start believing that they cannot change the system.

    Strangely, for a man who wants so desperately to see the system changed, you spend a lot of energy telling people how they cannot change it......

    Have you asked how much of the mindset is caused by people like yourself telling others they cannot change things?

    jc


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    Originally posted by bonkey
    So, despite saying that the politicians are irredeemably corrupt, that the the system is irredeemably broken, and that your complaints about it are based on spite,

    Whoa. Hold up. Where do I say that? I thought I was being pretty clear here. I post out of spite, or the need to vent or whatever you want to call it. I object on different grounds altogether.
    you'd object to this being pointed out when you're trying to sell your indignation as something other than spite.....
    Indignation over policy decisions. Spite because that indignation is wholly ignored, even when shared by the majority.
    Sounds, how shall I put this, self-serving to me.....
    Nope, you're just misreading my posts.
    You've said that the only way the system can be fixed is by being replaced. That rules out fixing the system by democratically invoked change
    Nope. Again, you're misreading me. We couldn't realistically bring in direct democracy in this country through democratic means - but that's because of the nature of Irish politicians, not the system of representative democracy itself.
    which only leaves conquest, externally-forced change, or revolution. The first two would be against your belief in independance I'm guessing, which really only leaves option 3 - revolution
    I'd prefer 4 - evolution, myself..
    Nor can you ever see people voting for a party with that as a platform in sufficient numbers to ever bring about change.
    Actually, I could - if there was some way to legally bind a party to it's election promises :D
    which would once again seem contradictory unless you're saying that the people will never know they want it unless its given to them, but once they had it, the blinding apparentness of its brilliance would suddenly make them all sit up and want ot hold on to something they never asked for and never would have voted for?
    Nope. Again, misreading me. I'm not saying they'd never vote for it - I'm saying the exact opposite, they would vote for it - but they'll never be given the chance to by politicians of Ahern's ilk.
    Personally, I think the Irish system gives the voters massive amounts of power that - as a populace - is being grossly squandered.
    Massive? Compared to switzerland or compared to zimbabwe?
    As a simple analagy, take pollution. The parallel to your argument would be that the public can do nothing about pollution, because ultimately it is out of their control and in the hands of major corporations who the public effectively can do nothing about. Ergo, the only way to beat pollution is to change the fundamntals of capitalism.
    Flawed analogy - it ignores legislation passed by government.
    Strangely, for a man who wants so desperately to see the system changed, you spend a lot of energy telling people how they cannot change it......
    Experience JC. If you'd asked me on the march before the war whether or not the largest civil protests in the state would have any effect on the government's policy-making process, I'd have said "of course it would!". But we learnt differently, didn't we?
    Plus, years of dealing with various civil service departments gives you a solid impression of how they see the world.
    Combine the two and it's not a pretty picture.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    Originally posted by Sparks
    Whoa. Hold up. Where do I say that? I thought I was being pretty clear here.

    If you were being pretty clear, sparks, I wouldn't be asking these questions ;)

    I asked on what grounds you were complaining for if - as you insisted - the system could not be fixed, and you said spite.

    Now, by taking your answer to that question, and stating it as such, you're asking me where you said it? Look at what you were answering and you'll see exactly where you said it.


    Nope, you're just misreading my posts.

    Sparks, when it suits you, the system is broken and can only be fixed by replacement with a better one, because those who can change it are - according to you - exactly teh same group who don't want it changed.

    Other times, when it suits you, you're up in arms demanding changes.

    Now, either the system can be improved through public pressure, or it can't. You are arguing both sides alternately and insisting that I'm misreading you because I'm pointing out that the two stances are incompatible.

    So...lets stop the confusion...which is it? The system can, or cannot be changed from within?

    I'd prefer 4 - evolution, myself..
    Which is change of the existing system, which can only be achieved by changing those running the system, which is exactly what you are saying won't do a damned thing in your first post here.

    Nope. Again, misreading me. I'm not saying they'd never vote for it - I'm saying the exact opposite, they would vote for it - but they'll never be given the chance to by politicians of Ahern's ilk.
    And you're also saying that a change of candidate is not hte solution.

    So, the current lot are not the solution. New candidates are not the solution. Revolution is not the solution.

    You're ruling out every possible solution here, Sparks. Every single way of changing the system is "not the solution", but your solution is to change the system.

    HOW???????

    Massive? Compared to switzerland or compared to zimbabwe?
    Massive in that they have the power to elect who they choose, and therefore have the power to elect people willing to enact the changes they wish to see enacted.

    The fact that people are not doing this is not the fault of the system.

    Flawed analogy - it ignores legislation passed by government.
    Not a flawed analagy. Many of the anti-pollution steps brought about on the continent (Germany and Switzerland, notably) were done so because of public want. The law was made to reflect the wishes of the people...not because it had to, but because of the basic principles of competition...enough people wanted these laws, so whoever was offering them was in, and whoever opposed them was out.

    And it worked.....

    Experience JC.

    No, its not experience. Its fatalism.

    Your so-called "experience" tells us that nothing which has been previously attempted but never succeeded is worth trying because it will fail.

    You have previously stated that previous governments were better then the current one, the logic must hold that the system does not enforce the current quality of government on us. It also must hold that we are at least capable of returning to the level of quality of these governments.

    So how does experience show you that this is false? That things won't get better? That things can't get better?

    And, if things can be improved to the levels they once were at under the same system, why is it impossible that things cannot improve beyond that point? What is there to indicate that the earlier "better" govenments were the epitomy of the best possible implementation of our system?

    Experience? Experience tells me only other people die.
    Its an inherently untrustworthy benchmark for stuff like absolutes - what is and is not possible.

    Also, given that you have previously acknowledged that you are not a Smurfitt, Desmond, etc.....how can you not also acknowledge that you may simply not be one of the people capable of bringing about change, instead of saying that because change has not come about in your experiences of campaigning for it that it cannot come about.

    jc


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    Originally posted by bonkey
    If you were being pretty clear, sparks, I wouldn't be asking these questions ;)
    *lol*
    I asked on what grounds you were complaining for if - as you insisted - the system could not be fixed, and you said spite.
    Yes, but you're mixing up why I complain (ie. why I waste my time posting here about these things) and why I have a complaint in the first place.
    The first is for spite and catharsis, the second is down to ideology.
    Sparks, when it suits you, the system is broken and can only be fixed by replacement with a better one, because those who can change it are - according to you - exactly teh same group who don't want it changed.
    Yes.
    Other times, when it suits you, you're up in arms demanding changes.
    Yes.

    And there isn't any dichotomy. The system needs to be changed, but we won't be able to get politicians to change it themselves because it's not in their best interest to ever even think of it. However, you can occasionally get thrown a bone to shut you up if it's a minor matter, so sometimes you can get what you want by being the squeaky wheel. To stretch the analogy, a squeaky wheel gets greased, but no matter how much it squeaks, it's not going to get it's owner replaced with a racing pit crew.
    Now, either the system can be improved through public pressure, or it can't.
    It can't. But our situation can be.
    which is it? The system can, or cannot be changed from within?
    Technically, it can be. However, realistically it cannot be, because those whom you need to support your cause will be your most staunch enemies on this.
    Which is change of the existing system, which can only be achieved by changing those running the system, which is exactly what you are saying won't do a damned thing in your first post here.
    Yup. I said I'd prefer it JC, not that it would work. I'd prefer all such changes to be gradual and properly planned, but nothing ever seems to go that way in this country - we leave it go till it gets so bad that something, anything has to be done, and then the minimal amount gets rushed through, mistakes are made and pretty soon after, we're back to square one.
    So, the current lot are not the solution. New candidates are not the solution. Revolution is not the solution.
    No, revolution could technically be a solution. It's just not one I'd prefer to pursue because it's destructive.
    You're ruling out every possible solution here, Sparks.
    Well,
    1) I never said there was a solution at all, and,
    2) So far we've only ruled out those ones we know of now...
    HOW???????
    You think I'd be posting here if I knew?
    Massive in that they have the power to elect who they choose, and therefore have the power to elect people willing to enact the changes they wish to see enacted.
    Lovely in theory. In practise, there's a reason why we assign no weight to campaign promises - they're never adhered to. So what we actually have is the right to choose from those we are presented with (and we cannot refuse to choose one of them) and let them run the country with little or no controls for the next five years. At which point the best we can do is do the same thing again with another bunch of fools.
    No, its not experience. Its fatalism.
    And you think we're born fatalists? No, we're not. We become fatalistic through experience.
    Your so-called "experience" tells us that nothing which has been previously attempted but never succeeded is worth trying because it will fail.
    No, it tells us that appealing to due process or citing "the right thing to do" will not influence a politician if his self-interest is involved in going a certain way on a policy matter.
    You have previously stated that previous governments were better then the current one, the logic must hold that the system does not enforce the current quality of government on us. It also must hold that we are at least capable of returning to the level of quality of these governments.
    Yes, but remember that just because having someone punch you on the nose is better than having someone punch you in the throat ,doesn't mean that the former is "good" in any sense other than relative to the latter...
    So how does experience show you that this is false? That things won't get better? That things can't get better?
    Well, I experienced reading economic forecasts that pointed towards a severe downturn in the economy before, and nothing stopped that downturn from hitting us. Now I'm seeing the same kind of reports (tied to the 2007 date when we start paying into the EU instead of receiving from it) and I know that the money we could have used to get our infrastructure improved so that our one natural resource (our workforce) could be most effectively used, has gone and won't return.
    And I know that when the chips are down, our politicians scurry for every rock, crevice and dark corner to save their own wallets and it usually takes years for everyone else's situation to improve and that that happens because of external changes, not internal policies.
    So that's how it tells me it's going to get worse JC.
    Experience? Experience tells me only other people die.
    No, experience tells you that you will as well - you just have to listen to it even when it says things you don't want to hear. It'll tell you that you've been sick in the past, you've been cut and bled, you've been bruised, and that you are, in short, mortal and fragile.

    Also, given that you have previously acknowledged that you are not a Smurfitt, Desmond, etc.....how can you not also acknowledge that you may simply not be one of the people capable of bringing about change, instead of saying that because change has not come about in your experiences of campaigning for it that it cannot come about.
    Because I wasn't on my own. I was in the largest civil protest in the nation's history, with the possible exception of the PAYE strikes of the 70s. And nothing happened.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,924 ✭✭✭Cork


    Corrupt, incompetent, lazy and self-serving

    I have been involved with 2 political openion polls that were both picked up by national media.

    They are a snap shot. The results in yesterdays paper were not even newsworthy. You would get the same responses in Western Soceity as a whole.

    People are not too fond of policiticians?

    It would be newsworthy-if they were.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    Originally posted by Cork
    I have been involved with 2 political openion polls that were both picked up by national media.
    They are a snap shot. The results in yesterdays paper were not even newsworthy. You would get the same responses in Western Soceity as a whole.
    You'd get something similar - I doubt it'd be quite so universal a condemnation, but then our politicians are something in a class of their own...
    People are not too fond of policiticians?
    No, they're not. Especially not Fianna Fail.
    It would be newsworthy-if they were.
    Indeed it would - it'd mean a FF TD wasn't a tax dodging, lying, bribed, drunk driver :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,924 ✭✭✭Cork


    Sparks - You should actually read the poll.

    It applied to all politicians.

    Don't show political bias - first rule of openion polling


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    Originally posted by Cork
    Sparks - You should actually read the poll.
    Cork - I actually did.
    It applied to all politicians.
    Actually, it specifically applied to the government - ie. FF and the PDs.
    Don't show political bias - first rule of openion polling
    No, first rule is "Read The Full Question"....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    Originally posted by Sparks
    And there isn't any dichotomy. The system needs to be changed, but we won't be able to get politicians to change it themselves because it's not in their best interest to ever even think of it.

    But thats a flawed argument. We can elect whoever we want. You are extending your analysis of "the politicians you don't like" to "all elected representatives - past, present, and theoretical future".

    Are you telling me that if you were elected in the morning, you would suddenly decide that your ideals of reforming the system should go out the window in favour of ripping off the public?

    My point is that arguing we are powerless makes us powerless.

    You argue, for example that an alternative representative is not the solution. Why not? Which is a better message to send to a group like Fianna Fail :

    1) I don't like you, or the others, so I will not vote. In effect, I choose not to oppose or support you.

    2) I dislike you and your policies so much taht I will back - and encourage others to back - any alternative, even if I think he or she is a complete muppet, because you are worse.

    I'd go with option 2. Someone is going to get elected, and I'd rather a new muppet then an experienced crooked one.

    Now, if enough people did that, what would we get? And before anyone answers "a group of different muppets running the country", I would suggest that you stop thinking in terms of the immediate quick fix. You may get a group of different muppets, but then you vote for someone else in the following election. And you do it again, and again, and again, until someone realises that the only way to actually keep votes is to start behaving in the way that voters want them to.

    Sure, that will give us several terms of crap governments, who do nothing to make the nation better....but thats the same damn thing the complainers are saying we already have. So why not do it. At least you get to stick it to the people you've hated for years, and then exchange them for a whole new bunch of targets to hate...just for variety!

    Look at how the public took on Nike about eastern sweat-shop usage. Yes, things may have only gotten from the jab-to-the-larynx to the punch-on-the-nose stage, but its progress, and more pressure can bring more progress.

    Take out the big player. Advocate that whoever is at the top should be voted out, regardless of who they are, if they do not run a clean shop. So even if FG are no better in your eyes then FF, give them the vote this time. Next time, if FG haven't delivered the goods, give it to someone else. Better still, vote for the independants, the underdog parties...teh groups who simply can't get enough position to become a real power. Becayse every single seat that these factions win is a seat away fomr the majority, and away from a cosy established coalition, and into the arms of a party who know they will disappear off the face of the planet if they let you down, cause you'll just dump them like a hot potato.

    You have one vote....which means SFA in the overall tally. But why waste energy telling everyone and their dog "you can do nothing about it", when you could be suggesting that they all do similarly to you.

    And here's the thing....while fatalists/realists like Sparks will tell us immediately that such a thing would never work, its never been tried. No-one has ever mounted a challenge to the serious parties where the offered solution was something other than suggesting an alternate party/coalition to put in power.

    It can't.
    The only reason that it can't is because the public believe it can't, and therefore choose not to.

    Technically, it can be. However, realistically it cannot be, because those whom you need to support your cause will be your most staunch enemies on this.
    Thats simply not true. You're still thinking in terms of "which existing politician / party can I lend my support to in order to make things better" and extending that to say that because you can't do that, then you can do nothing with the entire system.

    The reality of politics is in how we choose to use it. We decide that reality, not the politicians.
    I'd prefer all such changes to be gradual and properly planned,
    No you wouldn't. You're complaining that your mass demonstration didn't have an immediate effect on government policy and actions. If it did, then there is no way that effect could have been planned and considered. It would have been as kneejerk in nature as the original decision you were protesting against, but you wanted it so bad you were on the streets campaigning for it.

    but nothing ever seems to go that way in this country - we leave it go till it gets so bad that something, anything has to be done, and then the minimal amount gets rushed through, mistakes are made and pretty soon after, we're back to square one.

    Yes - we do indeed let it go far too long....and then we stand back, and blame the politicians that we let away, and the system that we control, when all along it was we who let it go.

    And once we decide that its time to do something, all that nice fine speech about considered action, well-thought-out change, planning, etc. goes out teh window, and its a "what do we want? <insert demand here>. When do we want it? NOW!!!!!" parade all over again.

    And then, come the next election, how do we punish our elected representatives for letting us down so badly? Why, we go out and vote for them all voer again. Or we decide not to, and remove ourselves from the equation, neither supporting nor opposing them.

    But its their fault.

    2) So far we've only ruled out those ones we know of now...
    And any ones we can think of as well.....tried or not.

    Has anyone tried starting at the bottom? Reclaiming local government for the locals, and effectively removing the major parties' sphere of influence at local level? Nope, didn't think so.

    There is so much which hasn't been tried and it all gets discarded on the "would never work", which really means "won't work by the next election".

    And thats the biggest problem in my opinion. People seem to think that a workable solution would be something that would sort us out in the next election...or definitely by the one after that. The Peace Process in the North...now that can take generations and we know it....but dealing with the best part of a century of ingrained blind party allegience and the ensuing corruption that is indeed endemic....that should have a quick fix.

    You think I'd be posting here if I knew?
    If you didn't know, I'd assume that you'd be posting here that you don't know...not that the solution can only come about through specific things.

    Lovely in theory. In practise, there's a reason why we assign no weight to campaign promises - they're never adhered to.
    So why all the indignation when they're broken? Why is so much effort put in to them? Why is the entire election run on them. You and I may be aware that they are a farce, Sparks, but that does not mean they have no weight attached to them by the voting public.
    At which point the best we can do is do the same thing again with another bunch of fools.
    Yes, and lets have another bunch of fools. At least it means that the current bunch get whats coming to them. Hell, that should appease your spite. If you can't fix the system, you can at least try shafting in turn each and every one of the bastids who cause the problems. Who knows...maybe one of them will realise why you're doing it.

    Yes, but remember that just because having someone punch you on the nose is better than having someone punch you in the throat ,doesn't mean that the former is "good" in any sense other than relative to the latter...
    But if you know both are possible, and you're currently being punched in the throat, you have to ask why you're suffering so much. And once you get back to being punched in the throat, you have to ask that having been able to make things a little better, why can't such improvement continue.

    So that's how it tells me it's going to get worse JC.
    Still thinking inside two full election terms.....within that timeframe, there is no solution, nor can there be. I didn't think you were so short-sighted though.

    No, experience tells you that you will as well - you just have to listen to it even when it says things you don't want to hear. It'll tell you that you've been sick in the past, you've been cut and bled, you've been bruised, and that you are, in short, mortal and fragile.
    No, it tells me that I've been sick, bruised, I've bled, and I've always gotten better. Its other people who sometimes die from it, not me.

    Nothing in my experience says that I am mortal.

    At the very least, you do accept that experience is only as good as what you see in it. Now, are you arrogant enough to believe that your perceptions based on your experiences are accurate enough to reflect the reality for the entire nation? If so, you should probably be in politics - thats their type of thinking ;)
    Because I wasn't on my own. I was in the largest civil protest in the nation's history, with the possible exception of the PAYE strikes of the 70s. And nothing happened.

    And you're not even talking months there, let alone two terms of office...let alone generations.

    I dunno...maybe the reason there's no cure is because people want the McCure To Go. Preferably with a special gift, and an introductory low price.

    jc


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,617 ✭✭✭✭PHB


    I cant quite get my head around your reasoning sparks, in relation to your idea of direct democracy.

    First off we live in the year 2003, we have probably over 4 million people by now in this country, I dont know.
    Direct democracy on that large a scale does not work for one very simple, people don't have the time.

    People do not have the time to decide if its a good idea to put 3 million more into education, or if its a good idea to cut back on military funding.
    It pisses me off that a bunch of people who are not as smart as I am (and that's not even all that smart, I'm only above the 95% mark) are merrily drawing their TD salary while ripping everyone else off, breaking laws, and generally getting away with murder while the rest of us pay the penalties.

    If you think you're angry now, jesus christ god help you when you get this direct democracy in place. Once you have this you will have 95% of people who are not as smart of you deciding how the country is run. Also I think you perhaps underestimate Berties intelligence, after all he still got re-elected after everything he did, and probably will again. I think hes got some game up there.

    Some people don't have the time to understand the complexities of all the government run business and would inturn be making un-informed decisions every time they are asked to vote, which is a much worse situation than know when they just make an uninformed decision once a year or so.

    We need people, who can devote all of their time to trying to understand the issues.

    I know you're going to come back on me with the statement that these people in power right now are not understanding the issues and making good decisions, and that they are making selfish decisions. While I take your point on some politicians not all of them are like this.
    And even if this is the case, its a problem with the people, not the system!

    You seem to have your political ideology influecned by ancient athenian democracy or by Monte Carlo(i think) where this direct democracy is run. Theres one simple difference between this democracy, that we have 3 million people! It doesnt work and we need to elect people to make our decisions for us.
    And if the people elect crooks then perhaps that what the people want in power, its not like they don't know that they are crooks.

    I also find it amazing that you are so sure that everyone would agree to your system even though I havn't seen a single person who agrees with you.
    I love the idea of Direct Democracy, just as I love the idea of Communism, but we live in the real world and these ideas just dont cut it im afraid.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    Originally posted by PHB
    I love the idea of Direct Democracy, just as I love the idea of Communism, but we live in the real world and these ideas just dont cut it im afraid.

    But Sparks will no doubt point at the system in Switzerland and say that it shows that people can take the time to decide such issues, and that a system of limited direct democracy can work and would be an improvement.

    What Sparks has failed to mention is that in this bastion of direct democracy that I live in, when the public calls for a referendum, the government have a 5-year window to implement it.

    On the other hand, I also feel obliged to point out that this 5-year window was not always so. It has only been around for the last decade or so. Before that, the government could sit on a publically-mandated initiative effectively as long as they wished.

    Now, this is the thing that really confuses me. The Swiss Government agreed to hold a publically mandated referendum to put this upper limit in place. They didn't have to. They could have shelved it on the "yeah, we'll get to that someday" pile and never bothered about it, but they didn't.

    In effect, the Swiss government did exactly what Sparks is arguing would never be done by any politician - which is allow the public to decide on a matter which would strip power from the government. And why did they do it? Because it was clear that the public were willing to vote out anyone who opposed the measure, and vote in anyone who supported it in the next general election if it wasn't voted on by then.

    In otherwords, the Swiss system was made "practical" through a mechanism that Sparks is saying will never - and can never - happen. Unsurprisingly, I disagree with him. It is not the system which is at fault - it is how we choose to use it. At the very least, the Swiss have shown that "regular" democracy can be used to place governments under pressure to implement new laws which take power out of the politicians hands and put it in the publics. Therefore, the difference has to lie somewhere else...and if it aint the people and their mindsets, then I don't know what it could be.

    jc


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,335 ✭✭✭Éomer of Rohan


    Quoted from Bonkey
    In otherwords, the Swiss system was made "practical" through a mechanism that Sparks is saying will never - and can never - happen. Unsurprisingly, I disagree with him. It is not the system which is at fault - it is how we choose to use it. At the very least, the Swiss have shown that "regular" democracy can be used to place governments under pressure to implement new laws which take power out of the politicians hands and put it in the publics. Therefore, the difference has to lie somewhere else...and if it aint the people and their mindsets, then I don't know what it could be.

    Knowing that I have gone tete-a-tete with you JC over the issue of swiss democracy and it's implications for a useful entwining of capitalism and democracy, I think you may have pointed this out but is it not an issue that direct democracy can only exist in limited form and that even at that, could be swayed by a completely political media such as we have?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    Originally posted by Éomer of Rohan
    Knowing that I have gone tete-a-tete with you JC over the issue of swiss democracy and it's implications for a useful entwining of capitalism and democracy, I think you may have pointed this out but is it not an issue that direct democracy can only exist in limited form and that even at that, could be swayed by a completely political media such as we have?

    Its swayable by any media, and it is limited in nature - unquestionably. However, I was simply pointing out that while Sparks sees (I believe) Switzerland as the best existing example of what he would like to see (as opposed to it being his theoretical ideal, or even close), it only really exists in its current form where the public have real[/] powers to force any issue in a fixed timeframe (as opposed to getting all unfavourable ones shelved indefinately) through the exercising of public pressure and the threat of the combined voting power of a determined public - something which Sparks is saying is impossible, in Ireland at least.

    If it was possible in Switzerland, then why not Ireland, unless it is in the differing mindsets of the voters.

    jc


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 1,737 Mod ✭✭✭✭star gazer


    how does politics get back a good name?

    The seperation of powers is critical to the system we have coming closer to a system that allows people to feel represented and justly governed. The situation of the media in this country changed dramatically in 1997 when a well known newspaper sided with one alternative government over another. Up to that point media were at least in presentation not as blatant as that in partisanship, it crossed the seperation of powers. The media are crucial to our present form of democracy. Once upon a time it was depedent on the oratory skills of the leaders of parties (not necessarily better, look at hitler). The media are to some extent trusted by the people and give the people a flavour of what politicians are doing and what options are there.

    Obviously the statutory media regulator would further end the seperation of the power of media from the power of the executive (government).

    In the present climate and style of leadership we have there is a large shortfall in accountability. The transparency that bonkey pointed out is blocked by the ending of freedom of information on anything remotely to do with cabinet decisions. Fair enough, cabinets need to make decisions without the glare of other interests to move the country forward, BUT there needs to be leadership and responsibilirty for decisions made. We get fudge. There is a report to blame or it's not the direct responsibility of the minister or some other excuse to deny responsibility.

    Everything was ok when money was coming out of everywhere with the boom. The normal clamber for scarce resourses which always meant that money was spent at least in some part on a value for money basis, but when there was enough for everyone, no one was complaining and no one sought accountability. We were bribed with opur own money and promised it would continue. It didn't...

    Where to now... strong opposition, realise that the spin put out by powerful vested interests isn't necessarily in the people's best interests. If you want to keep the current economis and social model with it's good level of comfort and opportunity than you really do need to support Fine Gael Labour. The alternative is more of the same with Fianna Fáil in coallition with the PDs or more intrigueingly with Sinn Féin. Some choice.

    Most important for democracy is that voters do what they want at the polls. Mke your own choice, not because the media or the spinners told you to but because you have spoken to representatives/supporters of a party and know that they are going to do a decent job of it.

    The media needs to realise how important it is and how integral it's independence is in that importance.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 1,737 Mod ✭✭✭✭star gazer


    I don't think so. Its more like "have we no power because we refuse to use the power we have" vs. "do we refuse to use the power we have because we have no power".
    bonkey
    there are a lot of smoke and mirrors out there that confuse issues and undermine people's confidencs in their own 'power' to change things. If politicians aren't going to do what they say they will and get away with blaming other factors, then it is very hard to pin them down and force them to do the right thing in the people's interest, hence there are barriers beyond the individuals control to make their electoral decision.
    Time for a better system, not new politicians, who will just become as bad as the ones we have now.
    sparks
    there is no credible alternative out there that could eliminate the need for leaders(politicians). society depends on leaders taking decisions based on a representative mandate.
    The only way the system can cause the mindset is when people start believing that they cannot change the system.
    bonkey
    That doesn't take into account the influence that other interests have over the electorate who sometimes actively advocate the status quo to the detriment of the the people and like it or not the people will never be able to change all the things that are wrong in the system so at least some parts of the system cannot be changed
    quote: 'you're ruling out every possible solution here sparks' well(1) i never said there was a solution at all
    sparks
    Lol :) There is a truth that you can't predict the future and we don't know what will end up happening. Sometimes these things happen bit by bit with possibilities presenting themselves as we go along.
    No, first rule is "Read The Full Question"....
    sparks
    No first rule, who is doing the opinion poll and why are they doing it! ;)
    We can elect whoever we want.
    it doesn't always feel like that though
    Has anyone tried starting at the bottom? Reclaiming local government for the locals, and effectively removing the major parties' sphere of influence at local level? Nope, didn't think so.
    bonkey
    Local government has been crippled by a lack of authority and lack of relevance, even controllong local government you would still be under a lot of discretion of the Minister for Environment and city/county managers.

    GREAT DEBATE! :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    Sheesh. One little lightning strike, and you wind up several posts behind the argument :(
    Oh well...
    Originally posted by bonkey
    But thats a flawed argument. We can elect whoever we want.
    Actually we don't. We choose the best from a fixed group of options, without any ability to say "no, none of these are acceptable".
    You are extending your analysis of "the politicians you don't like" to "all elected representatives - past, present, and theoretical future".
    Which is valid, because our system requires a particular set of attributes to be common amongst all politicians - the important one being that they want their jobs. And they won't risk those jobs for something they don't have to support.
    Are you telling me that if you were elected in the morning, you would suddenly decide that your ideals of reforming the system should go out the window in favour of ripping off the public?
    If it happened instantly, without any effort to get the job, there would be a chance I could keep my ideals. But the thing is, as the adage goes, power corrupts. The size of the paycheck would be really rather tempting, and face it, I'm human - if I've got mine and my future's secure, why should I give a tuppeny **** about the rest of you plebs?
    And that is one of the reasons why I don't believe in representative democracy, right there.
    My point is that arguing we are powerless makes us powerless.
    And I think that's a lovely sentiment jc, it's just that history proves you wrong. At best protest has calmed the actions of governments - and even then at a price. Nixon didn't use nuclear weapons in Vietnam - but at the price of students being shot at Kent State. But the war went on anyway until economic forces ended it.
    You argue, for example that an alternative representative is not the solution. Why not? Which is a better message to send to a group like Fianna Fail :
    1) I don't like you, or the others, so I will not vote. In effect, I choose not to oppose or support you.
    2) I dislike you and your policies so much taht I will back - and encourage others to back - any alternative, even if I think he or she is a complete muppet, because you are worse.
    I'd go with option 2. Someone is going to get elected, and I'd rather a new muppet then an experienced crooked one.
    I'd go with option 3 - none of the above. Look bonkey, you're young. So am I by comparison the the electorate. You try convincing a 50-year-old with three kids and a morgage to elect a total muppet just to spite FF - they won't do it, through sheer fear of the outcome. They reason that FF will screw them over, but not by as much as an incompetent muppet would. But they'd vote for none-of-the-above in a heartbeat because that's a risk-free choice
    I would suggest that you stop thinking in terms of the immediate quick fix.
    And that is why you're wrong bonkey. You're right in that there isn't a quick fix - but if you expect someone with a wife, three kids, a job and a morgage to repay to vote for a series of incompetent governments deliberately, without any guarantee that the tactic will work, you're in for a disappointment.
    You have one vote....which means SFA in the overall tally. But why waste energy telling everyone and their dog "you can do nothing about it", when you could be suggesting that they all do similarly to you.
    Because that's the best route in my eyes - emphasise how your vote is cheapened, and hope that people get pissed off at not having any real say in policy decision-making and that eventually they decide to change it. Even if it's only to get "small" things - a none-of-the-above option on the ballot, no electronic voting systems that are insecure and unauditable, and so on.
    No you wouldn't. You're complaining that your mass demonstration didn't have an immediate effect on government policy and actions. If it did, then there is no way that effect could have been planned and considered.
    Actually bonkey, since the government's actions flew in the face of over fifty years of precedence, stopping what they were doing would have been a considered course of action. And given the amount of public debate on the topic at the time, it couldn't have been called unplanned or knee-jerk.
    Yes - we do indeed let it go far too long....and then we stand back, and blame the politicians that we let away, and the system that we control, when all along it was we who let it go.
    Bonkey, my point is that we don't have control of the system at present, not in any meaningful form.
    Has anyone tried starting at the bottom? Reclaiming local government for the locals, and effectively removing the major parties' sphere of influence at local level? Nope, didn't think so.
    JC, you want to remove the major parties' sphere of influence at local level? Good luck - central government has been steadily working at castrating local government for the last decade or so.
    And thats the biggest problem in my opinion. People seem to think that a workable solution would be something that would sort us out in the next election...or definitely by the one after that.
    So let me get this straight - we're at fault for not wanting a solution within ten years?
    Well gee. I feel rebuked. Bonkey, I could fix this within a year or two, if I had enough money. So it's a bit much to expect us to wait two or three generations for this to finish. I want to benefit from this, after all.
    So why all the indignation when they're broken? Why is so much effort put in to them? Why is the entire election run on them.
    That's something I've never figured out. But then again, I've never figured out why people put such faith in parapsychology and other such rubbish either.
    Still thinking inside two full election terms.....within that timeframe, there is no solution, nor can there be. I didn't think you were so short-sighted though.
    So inside ten years, we cannot put into place a system that works where you're sitting, even through you've got twice our population? And even though, with enough money, I could arrange it within two years?
    Hmph.
    Nothing in my experience says that I am mortal.
    Really?
    There's a scar on my hand where it was pinned to a table by the unburred corner of a 19" rack during a summer job as an undergrad. There's another on the roof of my mouth where I put a tin whistle through it. And another on the side of my face from chicken pox, and another on my thigh from where I tore it in a fall as a kid, and there's permanent nerve damage in my right thigh from target shooting in a bad posture, and I'm not even very accident-prone. But these permanent after-effects have done a very good job of proving to me that I'm not immortal - parts of me can be injured and hell, looking in the mirror shows that parts of me can die.
    I dunno...maybe the reason there's no cure is because people want the McCure To Go. Preferably with a special gift, and an introductory low price.
    I think it's more to do with not being willing to sacrifice quality of life for several decades so their grandkids might enjoy a better life, if it all goes well. We're not talking some academic exercise here bonkey - we're talking about people with huge morgages and families risking taking severe economic hits or worse. If I had a morgage and a family (and in less than two elections I probably will), I wouldn't give support to any plan that carried that much risk for my family without any guarantee of success.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12 Shamez Zeb


    Corrupt, incompetent, lazy and self-serving
    yes


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    Originally posted by PHB ]I cant quite get my head around your reasoning sparks, in relation to your idea of direct democracy.
    First off we live in the year 2003, we have probably over 4 million people by now in this country, I dont know.
    Direct democracy on that large a scale does not work for one very simple, people don't have the time.
    Switzerland has six million last I checked, we had 3-and-a-half.
    People do not have the time to decide if its a good idea to put 3 million more into education, or if its a good idea to cut back on military funding.
    Let me guess PHB, you've got no kids and no relatives in the military?
    The theory goes: if it matters to you, you'll know enough about it to have an opinion. If it matters enough to you to vote on it, you'll have an educated opinion. Those who vote just to try to mess up the system will be negligible compared to those voting through interest.
    If you think you're angry now, jesus christ god help you when you get this direct democracy in place. Once you have this you will have 95% of people who are not as smart of you deciding how the country is run.
    Ah, but the difference is that it's uneconomic to bribe 51% of the electorate compared to bribing 0.0045% of the electorate...
    Also I think you perhaps underestimate Berties intelligence, after all he still got re-elected after everything he did, and probably will again. I think hes got some game up there.
    I rarely confuse cunning with intelligence.
    Some people don't have the time to understand the complexities of all the government run business and would inturn be making un-informed decisions every time they are asked to vote, which is a much worse situation than know when they just make an uninformed decision once a year or so.
    Which is why direct democratic government retains a parliment - it just places control in the hands of those that pay the price, rather than a privileged elite.
    We need people, who can devote all of their time to trying to understand the issues.
    A popular myth.
    Ask a mother about childcare issues and you're likely to get an educated response - ask her about libel law and you might not, unless it matters to her. See?
    While I take your point on some politicians not all of them are like this.
    Well, no - but I know of maybe one politician that I'd call honest, out of all of them.
    You seem to have your political ideology influecned by ancient athenian democracy or by Monte Carlo(i think) where this direct democracy is run.
    Switzerland. Athenian democracy was not direct democracy, not as I'm describint it. Right general idea, wrong specific limitations and conditions.
    Theres one simple difference between this democracy, that we have 3 million people! It doesnt work and we need to elect people to make our decisions for us.
    Switzerland has 6 million people.
    We don't need "grown-ups" to make our decisions for us.
    I love the idea of Direct Democracy, just as I love the idea of Communism, but we live in the real world and these ideas just dont cut it im afraid.
    Tell that to Bonkey, he's living in a country that's had direct democracy in it's current form for over a century and a half, with twice our population in recent times.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    Originally posted by bonkey
    Its swayable by any media, and it is limited in nature - unquestionably. However, I was simply pointing out that while Sparks sees (I believe) Switzerland as the best existing example of what he would like to see (as opposed to it being his theoretical ideal, or even close), it only really exists in its current form where the public have real[/] powers to force any issue in a fixed timeframe (as opposed to getting all unfavourable ones shelved indefinately) through the exercising of public pressure and the threat of the combined voting power of a determined public - something which Sparks is saying is impossible, in Ireland at least.

    If it was possible in Switzerland, then why not Ireland, unless it is in the differing mindsets of the voters.

    JC, while there was no timeframe until recently in switzerland, the decision still lay with the electorate - a significant difference.


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