Politicans fannying about at the edges

Rabidlamb

I was reading today about Dublin CC looking to extend their 30kph zone.
It struck me that many politicians spend their time looking for the next media grabbing headline instead of getting on with their real job.

Whether it's looking at reducing the drink drive limit from 80 to 50mg or going after headshops it's media grabbing populist nonsense at it's worst.

A real politician would take it upon themselves to fix the leaking mains issue & disappear for 2 years until it's done.
A real politician would go working on the ground with guards & nurses to recognise the real issues without relying on some DeLoitte report.

Each time a footpath is built in our area or a classroom repaired we get circulars from the local councilors & TD's claiming credit for the works completion.
Those show ponies never get my vote again.

ART6

Dead on there feller;) Also, the thing that really riles me is when a new road is opened or a new water treatment plant built we get a flaming great sign telling us who the local authority engineer was, who funded it, etc etc. For God's sake, it's their bloody job isn't it? Why do they demand credit for it at public expense?

bryanw

While I agree with the point about politicians being populist to gain attention, surely one would find it desirable for local councilors to go around getting things done for the local area such as speed limits, fixing potholes, water supply. The problem is when you have your legislator doing that for you.

gandalf

bryanw wrote: »

While I agree with the point about politicians being populist to gain attention, surely one would find it desirable for local councilors to go around getting things done for the local area such as speed limits, fixing potholes, water supply. The problem is when you have your legislator doing that for you.

And that sentence tells you exactly what is wrong with Irish Parliamentary Politics. Our representatives being forced to act like jumped up County Councillors.

dan_d

As I've posted in other threads....once you're into Government you should cease to be involved directly in the local community. Our voting system is mainly based on who did the best job getting footpaths repaired, and streetlights installed.
Which means we're governing by local town rather than by country. Every politician has their own interests at heart and therefore only the interest of their local town, instead of the country as a whole.

Flimbos

The Healy-Raes of this country being the worst culprits. The RTE programme a few weeks ago reiterated what we all know already about the way our TDs spend their time. Local issues which are the remit of our councillors. A shocking amount of time being devoted to things like funerals, especially in the year prior to an election.

Pride Fighter

Whats wrong with reducing speed limits in residential areas to 30 kph? It'll save lives. It seems to me you are moaning at councillors for doing their jobs. I wish I had your councillors, I never hear a peep from mine.

amacachi

Sure I e-mailed a local TD and he replied personally within 20 minutes, and gave a number to phone him if I wanted to discuss it further. The fact they've enough time to worry about a single voter annoys me somewhat.

rayjdav

amacachi wrote: »

Sure I e-mailed a local TD and he replied personally within 20 minutes, and gave a number to phone him if I wanted to discuss it further. The fact they've enough time to worry about a single voter annoys me somewhat.

But then again, if you emailed him and he didnt rely, or just sent out of office standard email reply, youd be first on here giving him socks for not caring about the man/woman who put him in his seat in the first place. No win situation for them really.

"A shocking amount of time being devoted to things like funerals, especially in the year prior to an election. "

Ditto to that also. If they didnt show face all youd get is "ah we put him there but now he says feck ye all, hahhahahaha!

If you dont like the way that they are doing it, run for office yourself....

PS Not affiliated to any party but sick to the bone of moaners who, probably dont even vote, getting on their high horse about the way it is run. Don just sit there, do something about it. I hold my hands up and admit that I was part of the posse who voted this lot of wasters in..