Have any politicians shown themselves as capable of addressing our situation?

patjunfa

Our current situation has been predictated for some time. People like Dave Mc Williams, Morgan Kelly, Feasta, others I'm sure also, have pointed to it an been ignored. Did any politician take up this issue before now? Are any quoted as addressing it?

I'm asking to see if there is any hope of any other goverment we may elect being capable of dealing with this situation. If none of our "leaders" payed attention before to the unsustainability of our situation, will any of them consider other otions for dealing with the situation now? such as default, the future implications of peak oil, the political open forum Iceland has worked with...?

My sense is that any of the other partys would have played it all quite similarly... Gaurenttee the banks, socialize all losses, try desperatly to be good boys and girls for Europe, never let us hit rock bottom but instead open up a trench in the ground so we can keep falling for a long time.
If that is the case then its give up hope of someone dealing with the situation intelligently and bravely and instead develop personal and community resielence as best as we can...

lucianot

Nobody as far as I can see.
A new political class needs the call of the people. Otherwise the same system remains. I am not saying a revolution in the classic way, just people going otu to ask for a new political class.
It didn't happen in Argentina given all the "perfect" conditions so I am not sure it will happen here :rolleyes:
Get used to the old same faces.

[Jackass]

I believe the opposition have addressed it several times in the Dail over the last few years, and I distinctly remember Bertie Ahern once describing an opposition member as a "Scare Mongor".

I'd love to see the transcript.

Personally, I think Eamonn Gilmore and the Labour party have always proved the most sensible and realistic, and aren't interested in arguing for the sake of it. I feel they neutral in the FF - FG divide, and almost seem like the common sense between the two..

i'm involved in no party etc etc, but never once voted FF in the entire decade they were messing everything up and wasting billions. I always viewed them as inherantly incompitant and always felt, even when they were hammered, that the opposition were raising very valid points...i guess politics is sadly 95% charisma and 5% policy, but i guess i am in the massive massive massive overwhelming minority who listenend during all those years (not to be on a high horse or patronising, just retrospectively correct) and i do remember FF being bashed left right and centre for wasting billions and i do distinctly remember on at least one occassion Bertie losing it in the Dail over opposition "scare-mongoring"...

Bob_Latchford

http://www.businessandleadership.com/leadership/item/24275-irelands-national-debt-sta

16.07.2010

The Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan TD today paid tribute to the NTMA’s success in continuing to raise debt for Ireland, which he said was due in no small part to the professionalism with which NTMA chief executive John Corrigan and his staff are managing the debt.“It is also due to the effort they have put into ensuring that international investors are fully aware of the very strong measures that the Government is taking to stabilise our budgetary position. Those measures are very well regarded by outside commentators," he said.
"Our citizens have shown great foresight and determination in this crisis. Other governments greatly admire our capacity as a nation to face up to our economic difficulties,” Minister Lenihan added.

Hope someone compiles a list of some of their quotes and makes a book

Tenger

I think our problem lies in the political system rather than the individuals themselves. The current system rewards party loyalty and so called 'parish-pump' politics.

Look at Jackie Healy-Rae for example, he recently stated that his support for the Budget would depend on how it affects the people of South-West Kerry. So it seems these people now have a possible veto over the budget of the entire country. This sort of attitude is appropriate to county council level thinking, not a TD. We need TD to focus on the nation rather than just the potholes in their constituency. I greatly dislike Healy-Rae but there are many more like him. A publican or ex GAA player can become a TD and in theory could be the leader of our country. Also getting elected in place of your father,when he dies/retired shouldn't be allowed to happen.

Irish politicians seem to use their position as TD to ensure they get elected next time around. TDs never want to do anything that may endanger their chances of re-election so we have an ineffectual political system. Their excuse of lack of attendance in the Dail was always 'constituency matters. (I would be in favour of a ruling that 1st time TDs must complete some managerial/project managment course to allow them to run a second time)

The George Lee situation showed us an alternative. Here was a man who 'wanted to tell his kids he tried to help' when the nation was in trouble. (I'm still unsure is it was FG jealously or his ego that made him resign) Imagine if we had 5-6 'experts' who directly influenced govt policy. Look at the US example, elect Barrack, he then appoints his 'ministers'.

Imagine if FG/LAbour come into power. What is stopping them asking Prof.Morgan Kelly, David McW, among others to form an advisory group to help the new govt.

I for one would be in favour of reforming the current Senate and replacing it with an elected/appointed 'national interest' house. Not sure how feasible this idea is though.....

Shiny

There are a few individuals that come across as quite competent over the last few weeks but at the end of the day they are "individuals".

I don't regard any of the party's as being capable of addressing the
situation and this entices me to like the idea of a technical administration
which would address the needs of the country without any of the fluff.

lyndonjones

You make some good points here and I agree with most.

The saying that al politics is local is true and is a huge problem at the moment because of the likes of Healy-Rae and his like and the control they could have over the government.

I understand his stance and looking after local issues but some of it was crazy, his policy approach is populist and inward looking. When I saw both, his son and himself, of them on TV the other night I said to myself is this for real, the caps are a scream and the look on the sons face!! He is going to represent the people of Kerry!!

With regards to who should help with the Government I agree 100% you need horse for courses and with respect to financial issues the Government should head hunt and appoint the best people available for the position of finance minister, his support team etc. Some of our ministers have little or any background experience or qualifications need to fulfill the posts that they hold.

IMF/ ECB must be looking across the table at some of these individuals and thinking what a shower of gobSh1t3s as a national newspaper stated on Monday/ Tuesday with it's front page headline!


I again agree there should be a basic qualification that you have to attain before you even run for a seat.

These are the leaders of our country, God help us.

Tenger wrote: »

I think our problem lies in the political system rather than the individuals themselves. The current system rewards party loyalty and so called 'parish-pump' politics.

Look at Jackie Healy-Rae for example, he recently stated that his support for the Budget would depend on how it affects the people of South-West Kerry. So it seems these people now have a possible veto over the budget of the entire country. This sort of attitude is appropriate to county council level thinking, not a TD. We need TD to focus on the nation rather than just the potholes in their constituency. I greatly dislike Healy-Rae but there are many more like him. A publican or ex GAA player can become a TD and in theory could be the leader of our country. Also getting elected in place of your father,when he dies/retired shouldn't be allowed to happen.

Irish politicians seem to use their position as TD to ensure they get elected next time around. TDs never want to do anything that may endanger their chances of re-election so we have an ineffectual political system. Their excuse of lack of attendance in the Dail was always 'constituency matters. (I would be in favour of a ruling that 1st time TDs must complete some managerial/project managment course to allow them to run a second time)

The George Lee situation showed us an alternative. Here was a man who 'wanted to tell his kids he tried to help' when the nation was in trouble. (I'm still unsure is it was FG jealously or his ego that made him resign) Imagine if we had 5-6 'experts' who directly influenced govt policy. Look at the US example, elect Barrack, he then appoints his 'ministers'.

Imagine if FG/LAbour come into power. What is stopping them asking Prof.Morgan Kelly, David McW, among others to form an advisory group to help the new govt.

I for one would be in favour of reforming the current Senate and replacing it with an elected/appointed 'national interest' house. Not sure how feasible this idea is though.....

Bob_Latchford

Its central to democracy that elected representives have a consituency. I would be wary of changing things rapidly in reaction to a crisis.

Corruption, nepotism, cronyism yes get rid of it best we can, but still want representatives accountable to you and me. Its always better to have quality people doing jobs, if Kerry want the Healy-Raes who are the rest of the country to say no?

lyndonjones

True, you get what you vote for!

And for all those who sent FF/ Greens back into power - well done.

I think now the problem is too big for any government to resolve and nepotism and the like, it will be a long time before it is eradicated or will it ever been eliminated???

Don't forget one senior minister/ TD would have the drawer in his desk open and you would "deposit" you brown envelope into it and discuss your concern. If it was less than €5K then you failed to get any action done.

You wonder why people attacked Noel D's office????

Well there answers are all around you - in the papers, in the figures, in the taxes you will pay and the cutbacks in the services, on the hospital trolley in front of you, in the ghost estates that you drive past on your way home or that you drive into after a long days slog!!

We are a sorry state and by God I hope people show their anger by joining the ICTU march on Saturday.

Bob_Latchford

lyndonjones wrote: »

True, you get what you vote for!

In Argentina the debt crisis apparently had the effect of reducing corruption & cronyism, so heres hoping.

lyndonjones

There is always hope!!!