Do political families feel an entitlement to office?

MrMatisse

It just seems that Cowen is brazening it out when he should have gone, Lenihan too. Is this a characteristic of our system? Families that feel they are born to govern? This is definitly the case in Ireland

As per the charter, Whats your opinion?

RichardAnd

Inherited political positions are simply a symptom to Irish peoples' collective dislike of change. People who vote for one TD are loath to see him retire so rather than thinking too much about it, they vote for his offspring. Simple as really.

later12

Why do you draw a parallell between the candidates' background and their ongoing attempt at political careers?

There are something like 57 Fianna Fáil TDs seeking re-election. I have no doubt that more of them have a direct background in farming or teaching than they do in politics.

So why the correlation between seeking ongoing political office and political ancestry? Why not suggest that their contempt, if that's what you want to call it, is down to being of stubborn farming stock or bullheaded primary school teachers?

population

They absolutely have a sense of entitlement. In fact every time I hear some idiot minister saying "In the National Interest" and it confuses me as to how said thing could possibly be considered "In the National Interest", I simply replace the word "National" with "Fianna Fail's" and then it all makes sense.

mikemac

It can help with selection committees which are cut-throat and all sorts of pacts happen. This happens in all parties

You may be a hard working councillor and looking to run as a TD and get passed over by the family of the retired TD :rolleyes:

I'm looking at Michael Smith Jr in Tipp North, what's he ever done? Though everything is not sorted yet
Many councillors in that area have gotten passed over and then they quit the party in disgust.

later12

feelingstressed wrote: »

I'm looking at Michael Smith Jr in Tipp North, what's he ever done? Though everything is not sorted yet. Many councillors in that area have gotten passed over and then they quit the party in disgust.

Actually if anyone has a chance of getting elected in North Tipperary for Fianna Fáil, it's probably Michael Smith. I don't personally like the guy, but I can see him going down better with the traditional Fianna Fáiler than Maire Hoctor. Politically, he's untainted, and although he has the family link, he's not an old-school member of the party establishment himself. I really think it's about time Hoctor, for her part, went back teaching Religion and the Tuiseal Ginideach with the Christian Brothers. What she was doing in national politics in the first place is a mystery.

flutered

the question is why should smith get the job, are there ant alternaves.

later12

flutered wrote: »

the question is why should smith get the job, are there ant alternaves.

Who's the alternative? John Hanafin? Some alternatives.