C&H General Election Thread

KnifeWRENCH

So we had a thread about politics not so long ago:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056096058

This thread is specifically about the general election though. Just curious to see who those of you old enough to vote will be giving your first preference to come March 11th (or some day in February, as the case is more likely to be now.)

I'm also going to throw in a link to Check the Register - make sure you guys who are old enough to vote are registered to do so.

To kick things off, I'm still not 100% decided but am most likely going to vote Labour. Our local TD is a good worker in the constituency and always comes across well in interviews; seems to know what he's doing. The only other option is if a good independent runs; then I may consider voting for them.

I'm not fully convinced a Labour-led government is what the country needs, but considering the cock ups FF have made and the fact that Inda is somehow still in charge of FG, I couldn't bring myself to vote for them. (The fact that Fine Gael still has a Christian ideology also bugs me, even if it may not have much effect in practice)

The Greens will be wiped out and, while socialism was a nice idea when I was a teenager, I don't see Sinn Féin or the United Left Alliance's economic policies being a good thing for the country.

So what say the rest of you?

(N.B. - For the purposes of the poll, United Left Alliance is a collective group of left wing parties that includes the Socialist Party, People Before Profit and the Socialist Worker's Party.)

unknown13

I wont be voting Fianna Fail.

kev9100

I'd be quite a strong Labour supporter and would probably describe myself as democ ratic socialist/progressive if I really had to. Although I know a Labour majority government is not possible, I wouldn't rule out a Labour led Lab/FG or maybe even a Labour/Left government.

Either way, my main hope for this election is the utter destruction of FF and a new politics of left vs right emerging.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

Small correction-United Left Alliance includes the Socialist Workers Party not the Workers Party.

whadabouchasir

I don't really know which party I'll vote for,it depends on the candidates in my constituency.I''m not going to vote for someone if I think that they're not up to the job just because I like some of the policies of their party.So really I have no party preference.Although Fianna Fail would have to run Nelson Mandela to get my vote.

amacachi

Fine Gael all the way. Labour are living in cloud cuckoo land as far as I can tell from their spending plans and promises.

KnifeWRENCH

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

Small correction-United Left Alliance includes the Socialist Workers Party not the Workers Party.

Oops! My bad.
OP edited accordingly.

whadabouchasir wrote: »

I don't really know which party I'll vote for,it depends on the candidates in my constituency.I''m not going to vote for someone if I think that they're not up to the job just because I like some of the policies of their party.So really I have no party preference.Although Fianna Fail would have to run Nelson Mandela to get my vote.

He's like 90-something now though. Probably doesn't have a whole lot left in him!

But yeah, I see what you mean. I'd be thinking along the same lines myself.

IHeartChemistry

Only options I can see is Labour and FG. Enda as Taoiseach though =/ He doesn't have Bertie's charisma or Gilmore's nerve. Well thats my opinion anyway. One thing I can say is Willie O'Dea is gonna get re elected in my constituency.

So yes, Labour and FG getting my vote. Which order yet I am undecided. Really does depend on who gives me the best argument and reasons on paper and who I trust not to screw us up even more.

bythewoods

I'm quite undecided at the moment actually.

It's almost a given at this point that it's going to be a Labour-Fine Gael government, although perhaps Fine Gael will scoop up enough seats to go it on their own. Although I doubt it.

I am quite sure my vote won't be going to Labour, as even barely-left is too left for me. A lot of their ideas and policies just really don't appeal to me, and I wouldn't like to see them running the country fully.

In the past, I've voted Fianna Fail. They've cocked up pretty badly recently obviosuly, so I wouldn't like to see them get back into power. And I'm preetttttyyyy sure they won't! If nothing else, we need a bit of public relief, even if the next government are, as they quite likely may be, equally awful.
However, one of my local TDs is FF and I still think he's fantastic, and would still consider giving him my first preference, or at least my 2nd or 3rd. A lot of people here would, I'm sure, beat me with a very large stick for even contemplating that, but I feel it's justified in that he's done great work for our often-neglected town since he's had his seat (Just one term!). FF won't get back into power anyway, so it's almost just a case of still having someone good to represent us, even in just a very small way, that's appealing. I am, though, undecided. It'll depend on other candidates and so forth.

I reckon I'll be supporting Fine Gael thereafter so, depending on local candidates, even though Enda Kenny's a complete twat and they're so similar to FF that they'll make many of the same cock-ups no doubt.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

bythewoods wrote: »

However, one of my local TDs is FF and I still think he's fantastic, and would still consider giving him my first preference, or at least my 2nd or 3rd. A lot of people here would, I'm sure, beat me with a very large stick for even contemplating that, but I feel it's justified in that he's done great work for our often-neglected town since he's had his seat (Just one term!).

Sean Connick is it?

I'll probably be voting Labour myself. They're actually in with a chance of getting a seat in Mayo for the first time since 1927.

KnifeWRENCH

bythewoods wrote: »

In the past, I've voted Fianna Fail. They've cocked up pretty badly recently obviosuly, so I wouldn't like to see them get back into power. And I'm preetttttyyyy sure they won't! If nothing else, we need a bit of public relief, even if the next government are, as they quite likely may be, equally awful.
However, one of my local TDs is FF and I still think he's fantastic, and would still consider giving him my first preference, or at least my 2nd or 3rd. A lot of people here would, I'm sure, beat me with a very large stick for even contemplating that, but I feel it's justified in that he's done great work for our often-neglected town since he's had his seat (Just one term!).

I'd have no problem voting FF in local or European elections. And if they radically overhaul the party, get rid of the cronyism and corruption and a strong new force of younger TDs come along, I may consider voting for them in the future. For this general election though, I can't justify giving them any preference (especially considering my local FF TD is Ned O'Keeffe, who recently came out and said the Chinese were taking over the world and would set up a military base in Ireland if we sold them our banks!) Ideologically, FF and FG are similar but I reckon FG are more socially conservative, more Christian and a bit too pro-European (some FGers want us to join NATO, I believe!) so I always sorta leaned toward FF rather than FG. It's a shame FF are infested with corrupt crooks.

I'd be a bit like you; I'd be more centre-right leaning economically than left wing. BUT Labour are a more centre left party rather than strong left (á la Sinn Féin and ULA) and they are MUCH more socially liberal than Fine "Christian democracy" Gael, so balancing those two options against each other, I'd plump for Labour.

Ideally, I'd like to see Gilmore as Taoiseach, with Labour in charge of social issues and FG responsible for the economy. Not sure that would ever happen though.

I kinda wish the Progressive Democrats (socially liberal, economically conservative) had worked out, instead of turning into Fianna Fáil lite and self imploding. I reckon I would have given them a vote.

FF won't get back into power anyway, so it's almost just a case of still having someone good to represent us, even in just a very small way, that's appealing. I am, though, undecided. It'll depend on other candidates and so forth.

Yeah but all it takes is enough people to have that viewpoint for FF to sneak back into power again!

Fad

I'll be voting for whatever canvasser talks to me like an adult and doesn't ask for my fúcking parents if I answer the door, and makes a good point about whatever issues I care about.

Also, wont be voting for any SFer or Socialists..... GET OUT

I'm voting RON

SarcasticFairy

Dearest people of C&H,

Do I need to actually register to vote with forms and things, or was I just registered automatically when I turned 18? I haven't done anything about it yet (There hasn't been a need to since I turned 18, until now, and I'm not proactive enough to consider doing it until given a reason to...) and when I checked er, checktheregister, it said I'm on the draft register of electors... Whatever that means...

Basically, someone please tell me what they did to enable them to vote, and I will do similar... >_>



EDIT: I assumed I needed forms but it says my Mammy is on the draft one too, along with Fad, apparently. Except I didn't put myself on any draft anything. Hence my slight confusion. Halp.

Pygmalion

Needs moar "This is a secret ballot, STOP TRYING TO STEAL OUR DEMOCRACY" option tbh.

amacachi

SarcasticFairy wrote: »

Dearest people of C&H,

Do I need to actually register to vote with forms and things, or was I just registered automatically when I turned 18? I haven't done anything about it yet (There hasn't been a need to since I turned 18, until now, and I'm not proactive enough to consider doing it until given a reason to...) and when I checked er, checktheregister, it said I'm on the draft register of electors... Whatever that means...

Basically, someone please tell me what they did to enable them to vote, and I will do similar... >_>



EDIT: I assumed I needed forms but it says my Mammy is on the draft one too, along with Fad, apparently. Except I didn't put myself on any draft anything. Hence my slight confusion. Halp.

Ask your mam. I was pretty much automatically added when I was at school, they were just calling around the doors and if they had someone who had just turned 18 from the last census called and asked if they were still living there, I didn't have to do anything my mam just had to say "yes" to each person the compiler mentioned.

Cian92

I said Labour, I could also give one or two of the Independents a vote. I couldn't possibly vote Fine Gael, both my parents are teachers so if we want to be able to pay the mortgage we have to hope they don't get into governement...

Fianna Fail obviously won't get my vote, also the the main FF TD in my constituency wouldn't be the most intelligent man (not trying to insult him but I don't think he is able to get out of this mess, he is great at doing stuff for the area though).

I am voting Labour as I hope they will be the best party to protect workers rights.
Between more strikes recently and now a cut in minimum wage, employers seem to be getting the upperhand, the unions are failing so I hope by voting Labout this will be remidied.

Also Labour are the only 'main' party against 3rd level fees of any sort.

Lawliet

I don't particularly want any of the main parties in power, so I was thinking Independent. But it kind of feels like a wasted vote and that I should go for Labour as the lesser of the evils...

I really don't know, it's the douche and the turd thing all over again.

Pigwidgeon

I'm not entirely sure who I'll be voting for yet. There's a young guy in my area who has done quite a bit over the last while and has been doing stuff since he was about 15 or 16. He's fine gael and I'll definitely be voting for him.

Other than that I haven't decided yet. I suppose like fad said, someone who doesn't treat me like a child will get much more consideration than those who just ask if my parents are in.

Grindylow

Erm will I be able to vote?

I'm 18 on the 11th February and the last date for then to register was the 21st February, so like.. Would that be enough time? >_>

Pigwidgeon

I'm not sure. But at the moment they think it's going to be on the 25th of February, that was according to rte news at 6 anyway

Richard Cranium

Noel2k9 wrote: »

Erm will I be able to vote?

I'm 18 on the 11th February and the last date for then to register was the 21st February, so like.. Would that be enough time? >_>

I registered to vote on the very last day it was possible to (I think I might actually have been a day late, but don't tell anyone :eek:) before the local and European elections a couple of years ago, and everything worked out fine for me. I'd say you'll be fine as long as you don't dawdle over it.

I've heard people say that you can register if you're going to be 18 by the time the next election comes around, so you don't actually have to wait. I'm not 100% sure about that though. It's probably on a government website somewhere.

Don't want to vote for socialist policies, don't want to vote Fianna Fail, won't vote independent in a national election...

Fine Gael it is. If only I liked any of their potential Louth candidates.

ironictoaster

Joan Burton poster's will be popping up all over my area soon, I was never going to vote Labour. Definitely not after seeing this. She's starting to remind me of all the oul wans who ring Joe Duffy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFJV9RZ716A

sock puppet

ironictoaster wrote: »

Joan Burton poster's will be popping up all over my area soon, I was never going to vote Labour. Definitely not after seeing this. She's starting to remind me of all the oul wans who ring Joe Duffy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFJV9RZ716A

Too bad she's a cert to get elected. It's some achievment but I think she's possibly the least proactive person in the Labour party. All you get from her is constant negativity. I hope Varadkar wipes the floor with her.

amacachi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybhroG408SU

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

Enda Kenny showed up on RTE news earlier. Call off the search we've found him! His family will probably be relieved.

A Neurotic

Throwing it out there: I am utterly and completely ignorant of politics. Am I supposed to be voting for someone awesome to represent my local constituency, or am I voting for whichever party has the policies I most agree with on a national level?

To reiterate: I am utterly and completely ignorant of politics.

Grindylow

A Neurotic wrote: »

Throwing it out there: I am utterly and completely ignorant of politics. Am I supposed to be voting for someone awesome to represent my local constituency, or am I voting for whichever party has the policies I most agree with on a national level?

To reiterate: I am utterly and completely ignorant of politics.

I think you can get a mixture of both in if you wanted. Like if someone from your area got elected then it'd be a good push for your area regardless of what party they're in, but if a party you liked got in then it'd be on a national level, afaik. .-.

Pygmalion

National level, definitely.
Might seem good to get someone who'll fix potholes and stuff, but that's for the local government to deal with, and they're much more capable of it, if a TD is concerning himself with that kind of stuff he's probably neglecting his more important duties.

Also they'll pick party line over their constituents every single time for the most part anyway, so as much as voting for the person and not the party sounds nice, it doesn't actually mean **** unless they hold a lot of sway in their party (or have no party), you're giving their party an extra vote, with little to no chance of individual say.

flyswatter

I have the option of voting for Gerry Adams as I'm from Louth. Not a chance though. His past is far too shady.

Inextricably linked to the IRA and all that.

There is this young politician who is a senator now who I had a decent opinion on beforehand. I thought this fella can't be bad 'cos he gave me a free pen at a train station once (Only joking )

Now I've heard that he backed a local disabled child to get a place in a special needs school. Fair enough, but then he wrote to his original school and basically claimed all the credit for it when the child was accepted into said school despite the fact that this would have probably happened anyway. Some local voters will lap that up but it's all very fickle to me.

I still have some research to do though as to which politicians are doing a good job.

amacachi

People getting onto TDs about planning permission or not happy with something in their kid's school is what has this country ruined.

Also, anyone want to see my impersonation of Gerry Adams?

*AHEM* I don't know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoGl78MzWY

amacachi

flyswatter wrote: »

There is this young politician who is a senator now who I had a decent opinion on beforehand. I thought this fella can't be bad 'cos he gave me a free pen at a train station once (Only joking )

Now I've heard that he backed a local disabled child to get a place in a special needs school. Fair enough, but then he wrote to his original school and basically claimed all the credit for it when the child was accepted into said school despite the fact that this would have probably happened anyway. Some local voters will lap that up but it's all very fickle to me.

I still have some research to do though as to which politicians are doing a good job.

Mind mentioning who that is?
Probably my biggest bugbear in politics after the localisation of national elections is the Seanad appointments. The only 3 members I've ever had a reason to read about were all appointed shortly after failing in the previous Dáil elections. Good ol' democracy eh?:rolleyes:

Pygmalion wrote: »

National level, definitely.
Might seem good to get someone who'll fix potholes and stuff, but that's for the local government to deal with, and they're much more capable of it, if a TD is concerning himself with that kind of stuff he's probably neglecting his more important duties.

Also they'll pick party line over their constituents every single time for the most part anyway, so as much as voting for the person and not the party sounds nice, it doesn't actually mean **** unless they hold a lot of sway in their party (or have no party), you're giving their party an extra vote, with little to no chance of individual say.

You're voting for the party on national issues and for planning permission on a local level. :pac:

flyswatter

amacachi wrote: »

Mind mentioning who that is?
Probably my biggest bugbear in politics after the localisation of national elections is the Seanad appointments. The only 3 members I've ever had a reason to read about were all appointed shortly after failing in the previous Dáil elections. Good ol' democracy eh?:rolleyes:

I wasn't going to mention it but since you asked might as well say it was James Carroll.

I think the Seanad is a waste of money personally. I went in there one day on a tour and they were discussing the quality of Channel 4's documentary output and how the channel was being dumbed down with shows like Big Brother!

amacachi

flyswatter wrote: »

I wasn't going to mention it but since you asked might as well say it was James Carroll.

Get out.

I think the Seanad is a waste of money personally. I went in there one day on a tour and they were discussing the quality of Channel 4's documentary output and how the channel was being dumbed down with shows like Big Brother!

It could be useful if it had teeth but it doesn't and it never will. Also it does have some useful hearings etc. but good luck finding anyone reporting on them.

flyswatter

amacachi wrote: »

Get out.

Go on, elaborate

amacachi

flyswatter wrote: »

Go on, elaborate

I believe that some people blame his party for some of the issues currently facing the country.

flyswatter

amacachi wrote: »

I believe that some people blame his party for some of the issues currently facing the country.

Obviously I agree with you. I thought you were saying "Get out" 'cos I was critical of him.

amacachi

flyswatter wrote: »

Obviously I agree with you. I thought you were saying "Get out" 'cos I was critical of him.

Ah right, actually didn't realise the next paragraph was about him so I thought you were doing anything but criticising him. :pac:

norwegianwood

Two months I'm missing the voting by...sickened.
Probably would've been FG or Labour though.

kev9100

Thought this might be interesting. It's a test that shows you where on the political spectrum you are. I have a few issues with it, but it is fairly accurate. Linkies to test


To anyone who's interested, this where I was on it. Tbh, I thought I would come out considerably more to the left but like I said, it is broadly accurate.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

I'm quite left-wing and liked political compass but friends of mine who are more to the right have told me they think its biased to give most people left-wing results. I think they might be right, some of the questions are very loaded.

kev9100

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

I'm quite left-wing and liked political compass but friends of mine who are more to the right have told me they think its biased to give most people left-wing results. I think they might be right, some of the questions are very loaded.

There are definitely problems with it and the questions need an update. I also think he places too many parties on the Right.

bythewoods

I'd be right wing, although not excessively so... Quite close to the centre really.

I've done that test before, and I think it is a bit outdated tbh.
Anyway, I came out on the right, and as a raging social libertarian. I don't think the questions really, eh, were that relevant.

Also, I'd take issue with this:



Labour don't belong there, and FG/FF should be closer to the centre.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

Some of the questions are totally irrelevant such as ones about your reliogous beliefs... I know people normally associate religion with being right-wing but thats not always the case. I myself came out somewhere near kev9100.

KnifeWRENCH

I posted about this in the politics forum recently: http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=70248169&postcount=51 As you can see, I've gone from socially liberal lefty to socially liberal righty in the space of two yedars or so.

I suppose I'm centrist when it comes to economic issues (slightly more right leaning, but not to the extent that I'd be right-wing.) When it comes to social issues and stuff I'd definitely have more in common with left-wing parties; basically, the state should never interfere with what people do in their private personal lives etc.

This is why I'm voting Labour; it's probably the closest thing to my ideology currently in Irish politics. (I probably should have been a Progressive Democrat, but they died out...) I'm not a fan of the way Labour are in bed with the trade unions all the time, but I have more gripes with FF, FG, SF and Greens than I have with Labour so I don't have much choice. (No independents running in my area afaik)

unknown13

Here is the political spectrum IMO

United Left Alliance (ULA) - Far Left
Sinn Fein - Not as far left as ULA but further left than Labour
Labour - Left
Greens - Left (case could be made about centre left)
Fine Gael - Centre
Fianna Fail - Centre Right
PD's (defunct thank fúck, using it for comparison) - Right

KnifeWRENCH

^ I'd swap FF and FG in that. FG are more right leaning than FF.
I'd also put both Greens and Labour at centre-left.
And while the PD's were a right wing party in terms of the economy, it should be pointed out they were still fairly liberal and weren't social conservatives or traditionalists.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

KnifeWRENCH wrote: »

This is why I'm voting Labour; it's probably the closest thing to my ideology currently in Irish politics. (I probably should have been a Progressive Democrat, but they died out...) I'm not a fan of the way Labour are in bed with the trade unions all the time, but I have more gripes with FF, FG, SF and Greens than I have with Labour so I don't have much choice. (No independents running in my area afaik)

PDs died out in my opinion because A: They began to drift into social conservatism as well as being economically right-wing, for example their opposition to gay marriage and their blocking of a civil partnerships bill, and B: They chose a horribly arrogant and unlikeable man as party leader who alienated many voters. I was delighted to see people cheering and shouting abuse at McDowell as he left the count centre.

I'd have no problem with a genuinely liberal party in Irish politics, I wouldnt agree with some of their policies but I'd prefer them to the corruption of Fianna Fail and the social conservatism of Fine Gael. However I wasn't at all sorry to see the PD's go.

KnifeWRENCH

Fair point. I wonder if being in Government with FF was what led them towards social conservatism? I never had any particular opinion on McDowell but he certainly wasn't a good leader for them! I remember Harney being well liked and admired when she was leading them. Seems so long ago now; now all she'll be remembered for is as a much loathed Minister for Health.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

She could redeem herself yet- Michael Martin was once a very much disliked Minister for Health but now hes a surprisingly well-liked party leader.

KnifeWRENCH

The main reason he's well-liked is simply because he's not Brian Cowen.

And I think Harney's retiring, so she's gonna leave politics on a bad note. I'm sure her massive pension will console her though....