Is there room for a Liberal Party ?

Het-Field

In Ireland we have a democracy based on the similar Fianna Fail, and Fine Gael parties, with the center left element of Labour occupying the position of the British Liberal Democrats. Aside from that we have the extreme Nationalists in Sinn Fein, the Green Party, and the developing People Before Profit Alliance. By the end of this week the conservative Libertas will officially be registered as a political party.

However, it becmes clear, that Ireland has no Liberal Party. This has become all the more stark since the demise of the Progressive Democrats last November. Im not talking about "Liberal" in the sense that Irish people use it when discussing Labour (who veer far closer to Socialism than Liberalism at any rate). Im talking about a party who advocates centerism, freedom and meritocracy across the board. Im talking about a party who respects civil liberties and rights, both economically and socially. Im talking about a society which encourages self actualisation. im talking about a part who rejects the folly of nationalism, and insted tries to promote pride from achievement.

Do other posters feel there is an appitie for such a party ?

Soldie

Yes, I would certainly vote for such a party.

turgon

The problem fundamentally with the Irish political system is that the two main parties - Fianna Fail and Fine Gael - have no long term policies or idealogical basis. Thia has fostered a situation where people don't vote based on ideology - like in the US to a certain extent - but rather base their choice on their parents preference, how nice and cuddly they find the leader of the party, or how many short cuts in life the local rep has helped them take. So if a liberal party emerges a lot people wont seriously consider it, they will just ignore it. They wont even consider the policy measures you put forward.

Additionally, in Ireland people take it for granted the government provides lots of services, service in which number of cases they shouldn't be providing such as transport. "Weaning" people off of this would not appeal to them, even though in the long run you would drastically reduce their tax.

You see its fine to talk here about the merits and demerits of legalizing marijuana and abortion on boards.ie, because a lot of people will be receptive and in someway rational. But in the real world people wont be bothered there ass to consider that the rule of the majority is not always the most desirable situation etc etc.

Okay I'm just rambling here to be quite frank. I wouldn't mind if there wasn't much "Room for a Liberal Party", I would be willing to devote time and skills to a political party that advocated smaller government and greater individual freedoms. The big question is is whether you and I are willing to get away from our computer desks and try and start the ball rolling, instead of waiting for someone else to do it. Are we?

Permabear

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silverharp

even looking at the US , I enjoyed the whole Ron Paul campaign but even there he didnt make any real headway , it may take a real breakdown in the faith in the current institutions like the Fed before people would even consider change.
Transfer that to here where more people recieve various benefits (although are blind to the taxes they pay or have paid in the past) and I cant see an economically liberal party making much headway although there might be some room on some social issues

Permabear

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silverharp

donegalfella wrote: »

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100% agree. In the bigger picture it will be interesting to see if this credit crunch turns into a real 1930's style depression and worse. If it does and it breaks institutions like the Fed then the groundwork done by people like Ron Paul and commentators like Peter Schiff, but I think a serious dislocation would be required.


a recent interview with Peter calling for an end of the Fed
http://www.europac.net/Schiff-FBN-4-24-09_lg.asp

ChocolateSauce

Turgon, you've pretty much nailed the situation there.

I think there is room for such a party, but there is a major problem in the economic/social liberal arena. Not all social liberals would vote for an economically liberal party, and vice-versa. The PDs were liberal economically but no socially, and labour is the opposite. I think the liberal democrats of Britain have struck the best balance of any party in the world (that I know of).

turgon

But wouldnt the Lib Dems be more left on economic issues? Or am I just judging them to Donegalfella's liberalism, which makes everyone else seem like a socialist

I suppose I would be more "libertarian" in social issues than economic issues.

Permabear

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ChocolateSauce

turgon wrote: »

But wouldnt the Lib Dems be more left on economic issues? Or am I just judging them to Donegalfella's liberalism, which makes everyone else seem like a socialist

I suppose I would be more "libertarian" in social issues than economic issues.

donegalfella wrote:

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They're economically left of centre, I would say...but as has been said, they're all Thatcherites now!

Belfast

NO. There is no Market here for a new political party of any kind.

Permabear

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Leonid

The social democratic party was formed in the U.K after a small group of labour party members broke away from labour in the 80's. They did this because they believed the party was being infiltrated by the far-left and Trotskyists. They existed solely for a few years in the 80s till they merged with the liberals to become the liberal democrats.

Belfast

donegalfella wrote: »

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To many people voting for the main parties.

We do need new political parties with new ideas.

Liberal party is a bad name as too many peope have too many different ideas as to what liberal means.

Also the elector register being years out of date and the low real turn out do not help this.

for a new party to be successful we need to sack all politicians for getting us in this mess in the first place.

Start with with new people who have not been part of the establishment.

This might seem drastic getting rid of the experienced politicians.

Experienced politicians have done so badly maybe we need amateurs with strict limit as to how many terms they can serve to stop them become experienced like the last lot.

Not much chance of that.

Turkeys voting for an early Christmas.