General Election - Who will you vote?

marco murphy

is this ok to do this?

I picked this forum because I'd guess most people post here and I cant make a poll on politics forum.



Who will you vote for?

Time Magazine

Why no Greens or Independents? Surely if the PDs and Sinn Féin are included the Greens should be too.

marco murphy

oops.

Cant edit poll, can someone edit?

in the mean time i suppose use ''other''

Im voting Fine Gael as I think Fianna Fail have really stagnated over the last couple of years and a fresh approach is needed!:)

Ruu_Old

Greens and Independents added to poll.

Dragan

I don't vote, i never have and won't do so until a candidate runs that actual inspires my vote.

I don't get the whole "pick the best of a bad lot" scenario.

marco murphy

Thanks RUU.


If anyone has a particullar problem with any or all the parties maybe you could take time to explain why.

Personally, I would not vote Fianna Fail/PDs because of their systematic downgrading of my local hospital.

And selfish I know, their slowness on broadband.

I can see the PD's losing their seat in Galway.I know members of the YPD in NUIG and they reckon the PD vote has collapsed there.

Wertz

Sinn Féin/Green party

Before I get a torrent of abuse about being a shinner, they're about the only ones at local level who do any good for the local area. I don't particularly like their past exploits and some of their economic policy is questionable, but since they won't be forming a government that's not really an issue.

FF/FG/PD? All the f*ckin' same as far as I'm concerned....I have time for labour to an extent but I rarely hear the local candidate mentioned.
Last general election I voted greens and they got damn all support....probably be a little different this time round.

event

Dragan wrote:

I don't vote, i never have and won't do so until a candidate runs that actual inspires my vote.

I don't get the whole "pick the best of a bad lot" scenario.

i presume you never complain about the government then, or how the country is run?

Dragan

event wrote:

i presume you never complain about the government then, or how the country is run?

Why not? I have had several conversations with local TD's about issues that i have had and feel should be brought to there attention. I always find them to be friendly and willing to listen but very little will normally get done.

I don't vote for people who don't inspire my vote....if they can inspire the vote of others and gain office then fair play to them.

I have certain issues with aspects of the government and the way the country is run.....but last time i checked so did pretty much everyone who actually votes....so if you gonna try and tell me that voting "because i can" is going to solve my issue then your sadly mistaken.

It's not that i'm not voting because i don't want to....i would very much like to think that someday a candiate will run who i will be happy to vote for.

If other people want to vote symbolically for people the don;t even like then so be it.

Not my cup of tea.

Rb

I haven't decided yet as I haven't had the chance to read up, but it most certainly will not be Fianna Fail.

JayRoc

Voting is a privilege a lot of people don't have.
It's also a civic duty- if you don't think someone should be in government then vote against them. People aren't alone in having difficulty finding a candidate who floats their boat, but most in this situation will simply use the opportunity to do their best to avoid the people they dislike most getting into government.
The system isn't perfect, but it's a hell of a lot better than a lot of people have (and we what we used to have, not so very long ago).

Not to get at any one person, but must finish by saying I agree that someone who doesn't vote has no right to any opinion about how the country is run.

marco murphy

I know the poll hasnt ignited here, but not only here, Sinn Fein seems to be in the lead. I doubt that will be the case in the General Election but how and ever.

Dave!

Dragan wrote:

I don't vote, i never have and won't do so until a candidate runs that actual inspires my vote.

I don't get the whole "pick the best of a bad lot" scenario.

What's not to get? If you don't vote, then you don't get a say in the election at all, but democracy will continue without you. You just don't get counted.

If you vote for the best of the bad, then at least that'll mean you're 1 vote less likely to get the worst of the bad, as a government.

I don't know who I'll vote TBH. I won't vote FF or PD, because of how badly they squander money, and I don't trust Bertie at all since the recent scandal involving getting money from businessmen.

FG and Labour... I can't bring myself to vote FG while Inda is the leader, he would embaress us internationally -- worst leader ever. I haven't read Labour's manifesto so I'm not really up on their policies.

Sinn Féin have made alot of changes and have given up on the armed movement, so if I approve of their policies then I could vote for them.

I don't know much about the Greens' policies, so I'll read up on that.

Do the Socialist Party have anybody running in Dublin SW?

Dragan wrote:

If other people want to vote symbolically for people the don;t even like then so be it.

It's not symbolic, it's pragmatic. You're the one who's taking the symbolic approach as if your not voting for anybody makes a difference in the election.

is_that_so

Dragan wrote:

Why not? I have had several conversations with local TD's about issues that i have had and feel should be brought to there attention. I always find them to be friendly and willing to listen but very little will normally get done.

I don't vote for people who don't inspire my vote....if they can inspire the vote of others and gain office then fair play to them.

I have certain issues with aspects of the government and the way the country is run.....but last time i checked so did pretty much everyone who actually votes....so if you gonna try and tell me that voting "because i can" is going to solve my issue then your sadly mistaken.

It's not that i'm not voting because i don't want to....i would very much like to think that someday a candiate will run who i will be happy to vote for.

If other people want to vote symbolically for people the don;t even like then so be it.

Not my cup of tea.

Tbh you don't have a right to criticise something you refuse to be part of. There are social responsiblities incumbent on all of us and waiting till "the right kind of person comes along" is abnegation of those responsibilities. Sneering at people who are wrong-minded in your opinion is not the way to go. The right to vote has been hard-won.

imp

I would argue that those who decide not to vote still have a right to complain. Surely you shouldn't be required to vote if you think all the candidates are ****? By voting for anyone you're advocating their policies, giving them your support to be in government.

People who vote for a party that doesn't manage to get in to the government will often say (about said government) "Well I didn't vote for them". Neither did anyone who consciously decided not to cast a vote.

Bar any of my local candidates making complete u-turns in policy or some other unforeseen circumstance, I'll be spoiling mine.

Mossy Monk

not decided yet but Fianna Fail can go **** themselves. thats a certainty

Wertz

Semi-OT....anyone know if we're using e-voting booths this time around or are they just siting someplace still costing us all money?

Time Magazine

Wertz wrote:

Semi-OT....anyone know if we're using e-voting booths this time around or are they just siting someplace still costing us all money?

No, e-voting has all but been scrapped.

Except they haven't been scrapped, so yes, they're sitting there costing us money.

DonJose

SF are getting my vote, then FG. I haven't seen so much money wasted in my life by the current government, hundreds of millions wasted on a bridge that cost less than 20m to build, hundreds of millions on a health payroll system that doesn't work and on and on and on...

whiskeyman

shame on yee all for not doing it yet...



I'll say the Greens to avoid bannage...

connundrum

JayRoc wrote:

Voting is a privilege a lot of people don't have.
It's also a civic duty- if you don't think someone should be in government then vote against them. People aren't alone in having difficulty finding a candidate who floats their boat, but most in this situation will simply use the opportunity to do their best to avoid the people they dislike most getting into government.
The system isn't perfect, but it's a hell of a lot better than a lot of people have (and we what we used to have, not so very long ago).

Not to get at any one person, but must finish by saying I agree that someone who doesn't vote has no right to any opinion about how the country is run.

If everyone were to be made vote i.e. with the threat of jail/fine then I dread to think of what way the country would end up.

Think of it, would you rather a 50% turn out who are interested in politics and have a somewhat educated view on how the country should be run or a 100% turn out where 50% will randomly pick a candidate because he/she has nice hair, eyes, complexion.

And as a citizen you should be able to have a say in the running of the country, whether you vote or not. What if you were to turn 18 at the end of this year? Will your view be excluded from public meetings, will your TD not listen to you etc untill you vote years later?

DublinWriter

Dragan wrote:

I don't vote, i never have and won't do so until a candidate runs that actual inspires my vote.

Same here. I choose to exercise my right not to vote.

The people who say "you must vote! people died for your right to vote!" drive me nutz.

It's a bit like going to McDonalds and being made to feel bad just because you didn't like the look of anything on the menu and didn't make an order.

Smellyirishman

DublinWriter wrote:

It's a bit like going to McDonalds and being made to feel bad just because you didn't like the look of anything on the menu and didn't make an order.

It's more like starving, being in the middle of nowhere and McD's is the only source of food. After seeing the menu, you deciede to starve to death instead of picking the best of a bad bunch.

It was probably the best choice in the end though.

Mushy

I'm going for Greens

is_that_so

Well we get the government we deserve = food-poisoning. TBH guys if you are not going to vote don't post. There would be much gnashing of teeth if you couldn't vote.

ferdi

i will be voting....for yore ma.

Guy:Incognito

Wertz wrote:

Sinn Féin/Green party

Before I get a torrent of abuse about being a shinner, they're about the only ones at local level who do any good for the local area. I don't particularly like their past exploits and some of their economic policy is questionable, but since they won't be forming a government that's not really an issue..

Why vote for them if you dont agree with their policies? what happens if a ot of like minded people like yourself end up voting them in?


Personnally I'm voteing FF, my family has never been as well off, so as long as that stays that way I'm happy. Selfish? maybe, but looking after others isnt going to get me far.


The opposition parties are great with all the election promises they are coming out with. If it's to be believed, as long as FF isnt voted back in, we'll all be paying no tax, getting everything for half nothing, have the best healthcare system in the world, end poverty & criminality and there will be no deaths on the roads

imp

is_that_so wrote:

Well we get the government we deserve = food-poisoning. TBH guys if you are not going to vote don't post. There would be much gnashing of teeth if you couldn't vote.

Being forced to vote for somebody you don't want in government is as bad as not being allowed vote for somebody you do want in government, imo.

I take it you'd rather somebody vote for a candidate whose policies they didn't agree with than not vote at all? Would eeny-miney-mo suffice?

brianthebard

DublinWriter wrote:

Same here. I choose to exercise my right not to vote.

The people who say "you must vote! people died for your right to vote!" drive me nutz.

It's a bit like going to McDonalds and being made to feel bad just because you didn't like the look of anything on the menu and didn't make an order.

I vote, but I agree with what you are saying. To the people who said you should vote to show you don't agree with the candidates put forward-where's the none of the above option on the ballot? Get off yer high horses.

stekelly wrote:

Wertz wrote:

Sinn Féin/Green party

Before I get a torrent of abuse about being a shinner, they're about the only ones at local level who do any good for the local area. I don't particularly like their past exploits and some of their economic policy is questionable, but since they won't be forming a government that's not really an issue..

Why vote for them if you dont agree with their policies? what happens if a ot of like minded people like yourself end up voting them in?

I agree, it may be a case that a party or particular party member is a good rep at local level but you have to judge them on what they are running for, not what they have or haven't done. ie Just because one party member does a good job doesn't mean you should ignore all the other party policies you don't agree with.

Wertz

Stekelly wrote:

Why vote for them if you dont agree with their policies? what happens if a ot of like minded people like yourself end up voting them in?

I said their "economic policy" (or possible lack thereof)
We already have a SF TD, and he's about the only one I consistenly see actually doing anything for this constituency. Local issues matter a hell of a lot more to me than national issues (yes I do realise both are intrinsically linked), hospitals and health in general, especially.

TBH SF are probably my "best of a bad bunch" choice...anyone but that bunch of FF c*nts at this stage. I don't care how much money they've seemingly put in anyone's pockets (including my own); were it a choice between them and the monster raving looney party, screaming lord sutch would still be getting my vote.

If (and it's a huge if) SF managed to form a government then so be it, will of the people and all that, but there are far too many FF heads on this island for it go any other way...even if it goes FG's way, it's just the same sh*t with different idiots at the helm...

[edit] @ brianthebard
I vote on what I feel like...if someone's doing a good job on issues that matter to me they get my vote, plain and simple. Party policy matters little to me since as I mentioned above, SF will not form a government but may manage to hold a balance of power, enough to make the differences that matter.

is_that_so

imp wrote:

Being forced to vote for somebody you don't want in government is as bad as not being allowed vote for somebody you do want in government, imo.

I take it you'd rather somebody vote for a candidate whose policies they didn't agree with than not vote at all? Would eeny-miney-mo suffice?

There is no forcing involved. If you choose not to vote, fine , but don't then complain about the government. You cannot object to a democratic decision that you chose to have no part of. It is not even a protest, you simply don't count, electorally speaking.

Most elections I have voted in tend to have at least 10 candidates on the ballot sheet.
When I vote I find there are more than enough people to choose from.
My decisions is based on balancing up those individuals, a party or candidate that best convinces me on their overall policies. When I vote I distribute my vote as far as I want it to go. The purpose of my voting in an election is not for my candidate to win. I hope they will and thus vindicate my vote but ultimately it is an expression of a franchise.

Ideally that candidate will be part of a larger group who can convince enough of the public that they have a credible set of policies.

If I want to protest I can spoil my vote or vote for the Legalise Cannabis candidate. That way at least my objection/protest has been counted.

Steyr

Fine Gael for me, FF need to go and well PD's etc are just not "interesting" and as for SF? ha ha it will be a bad bad day before i recognise the Political Wing of the IRA as legitimate. Enda Kenny all the way.

partholon

Wertz wrote:

Sinn Féin/Green party

Before I get a torrent of abuse about being a shinner, they're about the only ones at local level who do any good for the local area. I don't particularly like their past exploits and some of their economic policy is questionable, but since they won't be forming a government that's not really an issue.

FF/FG/PD? All the f*ckin' same as far as I'm concerned....I have time for labour to an extent but I rarely hear the local candidate mentioned.
Last general election I voted greens and they got damn all support....probably be a little different this time round.

almost exactly the same for me so ill be voting sinn fein, greens , socialists and independants. the mainstreams parties interest in me and my area extend soley to our function as a tax paying machine to look after their mates so im ****ed if theyre getting my vote.
like yourself i do feel i should vote labour but i just cant bring myself to trust the feckers having been burned so many times in the past.

we'll get FF out of power (hops in the sack with em in 92)

were against bin charges (our lord mayor brings em in)

we'll oppose this gov at every oppertunity (does sweetheart deal to give bertie 3 day week) :rolleyes:

i do have one question though. what the hell is the PDs advertising strategy? i passed a billboard with a 20ft long add for the PDs with mickey Ds mug smiling down on me........ on the side of neilstown shopping centre! what the **** has the PDs ever done for neilstown!?! christ the only thing FF have done is ensure their "new" shopping center was put so far away from em that the only way it could be further was to cross the liffey! (and in case your wondering yes thats "liffey valley" im talking about, not exactly central is it)

im dying for this election, i reckon theres gonna be some major upsets. particularly if theres a large turnout.

Colonel Sanders

rb_ie wrote:

I haven't decided yet as I haven't had the chance to read up, but it most certainly will not be Fianna Fail.

my sentiments exactly

Thrill

Fine Gael for me. The thought of a socialist sinn fein government gives me the horrors.
I wasn't going to vote, i haven't in years but seeing all the sinn feiners on this thread has woken up to the danger that they may get some say in the way this country is run.
From now on i will be voting in every election in the hope those murdering socialist scum never get into power.

marco murphy

Thrill, would you say Labour and Fianna Fail are scum?

antSionnach

Fine Gael and the Greens for me

McDowell lives close by, but I'm not feeling neighbourly:)

marco murphy

Poll closed?

As political threads belong on the politics board, this thread has been moved here.
Polls are not allowed here.
Discussion is.

I've not decided who I'm voting for yet.I will be voting though if I'm spared and able.

I have decided who I am not voting for and that would be the incumbents.
A monkey could steer the country in the direction it has got to in my opinion just as well as this current set of ah shur it will do brigade...
They've been using cruise control and the ECB has been fueling the car for them.
Theres been no skill involved at all and in some cases a blatant lazy disregard for equity and fairness.
I'm not inspired by the choice I'm given to replace them with though.

Regarding Sinn Féin,I'll cross post what I posted about them in the other thread...

"I saw Gerry Adams dodge questions from Bryan Dobson right left and centre last night on the politics show.
SF spokespersons will really have to brush up on the nitty gritty of policy if they want to break out of their niche voting group.

For example - Refusing to answer questions on the effect that a nearly 20% Corporation tax would have on the tens of thousands of jobs in US based industries here is simply not acceptable.
Refusing in an election year to quantify what SF's policies are specefically on personal tax is not inspiring me to vote for them.

Rabbiting on with sound bytes about rich and poor and how we'll tax the rich without specefics is simply not good enough if they want to break out of their niche voting group and into middle Ireland.

That said I think SF have a golden opportunity to capture votes if they show a committment to sensible policies-they already have good social sentiments-just not a clue in my opinion on how to apply them properly.
They'd have to walk the walk in these matters as well as talking the talk,they should specify the beef and ask for a mandate on specefics and not on sound bytes.
Otherwise they are as bad as any of the other parties in that respect I think."

marco murphy

For example - Refusing to answer questions on the effect that a nearly 20% Corporation tax would have on the tens of thousands of jobs in US based industries here is simply not acceptable.
Refusing in an election year to quantify what SF's policies are specefically on personal tax is not inspiring me to vote for them.

Where do you get this percentage? The ERSI strongly supports Sinn Feins economic policy.

It's the ESRI by the way.

Bryan Dobson asked Adams about their 17.5% corpo rate and he dodged it.
Dobson asked him about 5 times and then said we're clearly not going to get an answer on that one.

Where do the ESRI strongly support SF's economic policy? In fact what is SF's economic policy specefically?
Now I mean specefics not sound bytes.

Zebra3

I won't vote in this poll as I'm waiting to see if I'm put back on the register. :mad:

Villain

That poll was interesting before it got wiped, Sinn Fein could do very well this year with the election up North this week looking likely to see them in Government with a large number of members elected.

Down here however its not so certain what will happen, they are excellent at local politics and are sure to pick up a large number of working class votes however their economic policies scare the life out of the middle class so while I can see them making gains I'm not sure how many more seats they will get a lot will depend on turnout, Sinn Fein are very good at getting their vote out and the lower the overall turnout the better I think Sinn Fein will do.

Labour are starting to move in the polls and I think they can get another few points before the election is called, FG's biggest gain has been the rise in support of Enda Kenny which has surprised me tbh but if they can increase his popularity I'm sure FG can make huge increases.

While I do believe the Greens will make gains I don't know if the recent polls have been overstating the green affect, when it comes down to polling day I'm not sure the Greens will get the increase in support they are expecting.

As for FF and PD's... well its time for a change and apart from Parlon, McDowell, Harney and O'Donnell I can't see the PD's having many other TD's after the election, FF?.... well god only knows how many seats they will lose.

Time Magazine

Poblachtach wrote:

Where do you get this percentage? The ERSI strongly supports Sinn Feins economic policy.

That made me laugh out loud.

I'm busy now, I've a gig to go to tonight and I have exams next week, but I will respond to this in time.

ballooba

In partial defense of the Sinn Fein policy. I did like the part about promoting Enterprise Ireland firms over IDA firms (i.e. Indigenous Enterprise). We should have been looking at developing these businesses over the last ten years rather than squandering all of our money in on a domestic property vacuum.

Other parts of the Sinn Fein economic policy such as nationalisation of firms and trade union recognition I'm not too fond of.

I was surprised that my Fine Gael colleagues didn't support the ideas on Indigenous Enterprise.

partholon

Poblachtach wrote:

Poll closed?

welcome to the politics forum, dont expect too much here. particularly if your not a fan of the mainstream parties. was nice to see how people genuinely felt though in terms of how they were going to vote.i didnt expect to see SF doing so well in your poll let alone trouncing the opposition, im starting to think sinn fein might shock them all

marco murphy

partholon wrote:

welcome to the politics forum, dont expect too much here. particularly if your not a fan of the mainstream parties. was nice to see how people genuinely felt though in terms of how they were going to vote.i didnt expect to see SF doing so well in your poll let alone trouncing the opposition, im starting to think sinn fein might shock them all

Well I for one hope so., oh and Ibid we can have a good bit of fun later on I guess

Oh I don't know.
What part of the above post by partholon is discussion by the way?

I'm also waiting for poblachtach to answer my question regarding the ESRI or does he think that this is a place where you can throw your opinions about unchallenged?
It's not.

As for polls here,they hinder discussion and have been in the past the target of vote once vote often reregistered users.
Hence I'm of the view that they are politically unrepresentative.

Besides that,politics web fora are mecca's for political activists also diluting any value a poll here would have.

Discussion is good though so if anyone would like to carry on discussing who and why they are voting for-please do so and stay on topic.

marco murphy

Tristrame wrote:

Oh I don't know.
What part of the above post is discussion by the way?

I'm also waiting for poblachtach to answer my question regarding the ESRI or does he think that this is a place where you can throw your opinions about unchallenged?
It's not.

As for polls here,they hinder discussion and have been in the past the target of vote once vote often reregistered users.
Hence I'm of the view that they are politically unrepresentative.

Besides that,politics web fora are mecca's for political activists also diluting any value a poll here would have.

Discussion is good though so if anyone would like to carry on discussing who and why they are voting for-please do so and stay on topic.

I will answer, however, mocks comes first.