How to make a difference?

MagicMarker

There are thousands of unemployed sitting at home, reading boards, reading the newspaper, fed up and angry.

So how can these people make a difference? We can all sit at a computer blogging our thoughts away, but what would it take to make a real, long lasting contribution? I just asked on another thread how one would become a TD.

How long would/could it take?
How much could it cost?
How hard is it to achieve?

PanchoVilla

MagicMarker wrote: »

How long would/could it take?
How much could it cost?
How hard is it to achieve?

If you truly want to make a positive change for people then none of those things will be an issue. Just get out there, start organizing meetings, hand out fliers, etc. People are naturally drawn to the ideas of equality and justice, which is why the socialism and communism were so attractive before the Nazis and Soviets made a mess of them. The same could be said for democracy and the U.S.

Edit: I'm actually trying to come up with a plan for a citizen's union, or resident's union as non-national residents in Ireland should also have a say. Much like a worker's union, it will unite the people of Ireland (and other countries if it's successful) under one banner and influence government policy. It'll be like a lobby group but the only interest will be that of the people of Ireland.

mikemac

The next election could see a rise in Independent TDs as people look even more on what can be delivered for their area . Our independent TD tops the poll every time.
There are plenty of other examples around the country

Or maybe you want to join a party OP. Party members might want you to get council experience and serve your time. Anyway, now is the time to get organized for the next election

And for a first time candidate, yes it is difficult to get elected to the Dáil. But give it a go, you'll learn more for next time

MagicMarker

To be honest I don't know the first thing about politics. The only reason I've taken an interest recently is because of the mess the country is in.

But is it really as simple as that? Just get out and meet people? Pursuade them that you're the man for the job? Are there any pre-requisites, like not having a criminal record etc?

dan_d

Might sound like a stupid question, but does age act against you??

At 27, I feel I probably wouldn't be taken seriously as I'm too young in the eyes of some people.

What do you think??

senordingdong

dan_d wrote: »

Might sound like a stupid question, but does age act against you??

At 27, I feel I probably wouldn't be taken seriously as I'm too young in the eyes of some people.

What do you think??

I think you would have to be at it a few years before you become a TD.

djpbarry

MagicMarker wrote: »

There are thousands of unemployed sitting at home, reading boards, reading the newspaper, fed up and angry.

So how can these people make a difference? We can all sit at a computer blogging our thoughts away, but what would it take to make a real, long lasting contribution?

Start a business?

Lenny Lovett

feelingstressed wrote: »

The next election could see a rise in Independent TDs as people look even more on what can be delivered for their area . Our independent TD tops the poll every time.
There are plenty of other examples around the country

Or maybe you want to join a party OP. Party members might want you to get council experience and serve your time. Anyway, now is the time to get organized for the next election

And for a first time candidate, yes it is difficult to get elected to the Dáil. But give it a go, you'll learn more for next time

The Independent Candidate is the way forward, particularly if the majority of the ruling party is slim. The Independents - Ml Lowry, and Jackie Healy Rae cleaned up for their constituents.

djpbarry wrote: »

Start a business?

Yeah. A good idea. How would an unemployed person finance it? :rolleyes:

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

djpbarry

Lenny Lovett wrote: »

Yeah. A good idea. How would an unemployed person finance it?

Yeah, you're right. Daft idea. An unemployed person has never started a business before.

Lenny Lovett

djpbarry wrote: »

Yeah, you're right. Daft idea. An unemployed person has never started a business before.

Ah FFS will you flesh out your idea. Don't just make a throw away statement and not explain how it could be done. Assuming it was a serious suggestion and not more BS. I agree that they should try and start a business if they can but how do they finance it in the current climate when well established businesses are struggling to access expansion cash?

bryaner

feelingstressed wrote: »

The next election could see a rise in Independent TDs as people look even more on what can be delivered for their area . Our independent TD tops the poll every time.
There are plenty of other examples around the country

Or maybe you want to join a party OP. Party members might want you to get council experience and serve your time. Anyway, now is the time to get organized for the next election

And for a first time candidate, yes it is difficult to get elected to the Dáil. But give it a go, you'll learn more for next time

Yes I agree

The only problem with Independents is that they normally have some affiliation with the main parties and tend to side with them on major votes etc.

senordingdong

bryaner wrote: »

Yes I agree

The only problem with Independents is that they normally have some affiliation with the main parties and tend to side with them on major votes etc.

Exactly, look at the cowboy Jackie Healy Rae.

RedXIV

Lenny Lovett wrote: »

Ah FFS will you flesh out your idea. Don't just make a throw away statement and not explain how it could be done. Assuming it was a serious suggestion and not more BS. I agree that they should try and start a business if they can but how do they finance it in the current climate when well established businesses are struggling to access expansion cash?

Visit an enterprise board and don't run before you can walk. thats how you start a business from nothing.

Lenny Lovett

RedXIV wrote: »

Visit an enterprise board and don't run before you can walk. thats how you start a business from nothing.

True. But the issue is funding and the Enterprise Boards A. Don't have any left and B. Are very picky in their criteria of businesses that they will support.

dan_d

senordingdong wrote: »

I think you would have to be at it a few years before you become a TD.

Yeah, that's what I thought...

Nijmegen

A lot of people are all talk, no action.

If you have a regular circle of friends who are annoyed with politics, get them onboard to do something about it - from running a candidate to organising Dail protests and letter writing campaigns or whatever.

If you organise something, people can get in behind it with some of their time, or they can shut up.

RedXIV

Lenny Lovett wrote: »

True. But the issue is funding and the Enterprise Boards A. Don't have any left and B. Are very picky in their criteria of businesses that they will support.

Alot of business's don't need funding to start up, just time. Usually its sacrificing your personal time is whats required and why people are reluctant to do so.

As someone said to me a long time ago, you'll never work as hard as when you work for yourself

senordingdong

Nijmegen wrote: »

A lot of people are all talk, no action.

If you have a regular circle of friends who are annoyed with politics, get them onboard to do something about it - from running a candidate to organising Dail protests and letter writing campaigns or whatever.

If you organise something, people can get in behind it with some of their time, or they can shut up.

Except....none of that stuff seems to have any impact in this country.

Protests and marches are shrugged off while the politicans get on with their antics.

Lenny Lovett

RedXIV wrote: »

Alot of business's don't need funding to start up, just time.

Really? "Don't need funding"? Can you give me some examples please?

djpbarry

Lenny Lovett wrote: »

Really? "Don't need funding"? Can you give me some examples please?

Facebook required very little start-up capital. It's an extreme example, I know, but it is a valid example none-the-less.

I can also provide some small-scale (albeit, anecdotal) examples. Both of my parents became unemployed in the last year. As both are having some difficulty securing new jobs (and both are, shall we say, a little set in their ways), I and my siblings have been trying to convince both of them to start their own projects, he as a local handyman and she as a cake-maker/decorator (people will pay an extraordinary amount of money for a wedding cake). Now, they’re not exactly ground-breaking ideas, they may not be particularly successful in their endeavours and they will almost certainly require continued welfare support, initially at least. But, they would both be making a (small) contribution to the economy and every €1 they earn is one less they need to receive in welfare (in theory, at least). Furthermore, neither require much in the way of funding to get started.