Why I won't be voting Sinn Fein

xoxyx

I grew up in an era where Sinn Fein was synonymous with the IRA. Now, I'm changing my views.

Ok - I don't like some of its policies. I have particular disregard for its united Ireland policy. I think that its leaders need to move away for the good of its party. At the same time, I have respect for a lot of the views of the newer members.

But, the reason I am not going to cast a single vote for Sinn Fein is because I do not believe any other viable party would be willing to form a government with Sinn Fein.

My view is that a vote for Sinn Fein is a moot vote in the Labour / FG battle. So, beliefs excepted and personal preferences taken into account, a smart vote would be for Labour.

Realistic views - the election battle is Labour and FG. Do you think a vote otherwise is a lost vote?

Nozebleed

I dont give a sh*t if FG dont want to go into government with SF. if they refuse to go into partnership they can fu*k off out off the country..

wolfpawnat

But if SF got the most votes and get the largest backing the other parties would change their tunes. SF and ULA for me all the way!

Nozebleed

Bashing SF is nonsense..they are the only all ireland party..and to me that means a lot..its time for a change a radical change..FF and FG are finished. voting for FG is a wasted vote. you just continuing the same old charade the only difference will be different faces.

Dr. Baltar

I like the way Sinn Féin has moved on from their past. People applaud Bertie Ahearne for the Peace Process and seem to forget Adams and McGuinness' role in the good Friday agreement.

I like the way, that they speak common truths that normal people can understand and agree with. Listening to Pearse Doherty's speech the day of the budget certainly won them a transfer vote for me at least.

What I do not like about Sinn Féin is the way they are anti-EU, anti-Free Market and in general a hell of a lot too economically left for my taste.
I'll put them on the ballot after Labour and Fine Gael.
I hope that they do well and especially hope that they do better than Fianna Fáil.

Dr. Baltar

Nozebleed wrote: »

Bashing SF is nonsense..they are the only all ireland party..and to me that means a lot..its time for a change a radical change..FF and FG are finished. voting for FG is a wasted vote. you just continuing the same old charade the only difference will be different faces.

Also, I agree with this entirely. Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are two socially conservative, centre-right parties. Every generation we flip the same coin over and over again getting a different side to the same kind of politics.

Sinn Féin represent a different type of politics.

Nozebleed

Dr. Baltar wrote: »

I like the way Sinn Féin has moved on from their past. People applaud Bertie Ahearne for the Peace Process and seem to forget Adams and McGuinness' role in the good Friday agreement.

I like the way, that they speak common truths that normal people can understand and agree with. Listening to Pearse Doherty's speech the day of the budget certainly won them a transfer vote for me at least.

What I do not like about Sinn Féin is the way they are anti-EU, anti-Free Market and in general a hell of a lot too economically left for my taste.
I'll put them on the ballot after Labour and Fine Gael.
I hope that they do well and especially hope that they do better than Fianna Fáil.

i agree,as a party they have a lot to learn. but they should be given the chance..id like to see them doing well. but for other parties to refuse to go into government is a disgrace..it's the people's choice.

Lawrence1895

Dr. Baltar wrote: »

Also, I agree with this entirely. Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are two socially conservative, centre-right parties. Every generation we flip the same coin over and over again getting a different side to the same kind of politics.

Sinn Féin represent a different type of politics.

...and who were the first ones to offer their support in getting the Finance Bill through? Of course FG...this shows me how much they would change the country, how much they are interested in the well being of the working class :mad:

hamlet1

this swing towards sinn fein really scares me.they are a northern ireland party and all they want is a united ireland.they dont give a damn about us otherwise,we are foreigners as far as they are concerned.

LeixlipRed

There is only one reason people should not vote for SF. They have put forward a left-wing economic agenda for the southern elections. However, in NI they are currently involved in delivering the Tory cuts through the NI Assembly and the power-sharing government. Hence, they're hypocrites attempting to pass themselves off as representing low and middle income workers. I implore anyone who agrees with SF's policies to consider voting for the ULA, the policies are the same but we actually represent a real alternative. We won't join a coalition with FF or FG which SF will do if given a chance (and hence they'll have to deliver cuts because both these parties have pledged to do so).

On the other hand, if people have to vote for an established party then I'd encourage them to vote for SF as opposed to FF/FG/Lab.

Dr. Baltar

Nozebleed wrote: »

i agree,as a party they have a lot to learn. but they should be given the chance..id like to see them doing well. but for other parties to refuse to go into government is a disgrace..it's the people's choice.

The best chance Sinn Féin have of getting into government would be with Labour, some Independents and the ULA.
That would make Labour a lot more happy as they could get their agenda passed a lot easier being the lead party and would make the others happy too as they really don't have a hope of being in government any other way.

Dr. Baltar

LeixlipRed wrote: »

There is only one reason people should not vote for SF. They have put forward a left-wing economic agenda for the southern elections. However, in NI they are currently involved in delivering the Tory cuts through the NI Assembly and the power-sharing government. Hence, they're hypocrites attempting to pass themselves off as representing low and middle income workers. I implore anyone who agrees with SF's policies to consider voting for the ULA, the policies are the same but we actually represent a real alternative. We won't join a coalition with FF or FG which SF will do if given a chance (and hence they'll have to deliver cuts because both these parties have pledged to do so).

On the other hand, if people have to vote for an established party then I'd encourage them to vote for SF as opposed to FF/FG/Lab.

To be fair, are economic policies really going to matter that much at the moment with the IMF looking after our Finances?

hamlet1 wrote: »

this swing towards sinn fein really scares me.they are a northern ireland party and all they want is a united ireland.they dont give a damn about us otherwise,we are foreigners as far as they are concerned.

Complete Tripe! To be fair to Sinn Féin they're always looking out for the underdog. They do great work in the poorer, urban areas of the country. In my own constituency they were the only party to go to travellers and help sort out a feud.

They also have an established LGBT section in their party and are constantly helping the people that the government turns a blind eye to (unless it's coming up to elections). To say they are a one track pony is just pure lies.

jam_mac_jam

Their leader is a liar, their economic policies are a joke but mostly their corruption and "contacts" would be enough for me. They havent gone away you know. Indeed.

Dr. Baltar

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

Their leader is a liar, their economic policies are a joke but mostly their corruption and "contacts" would be enough for me. They havent gone away you know. Indeed.

How is Gerry Adams a liar?

I agree that their economic policies are laughable.

Corruption? Contacts? Who haven't gone away?

Where's my cup of tea? Oh there it is.

sdanseo

Wait a sec.

Adams, McGuinness, Ferris.

All have danced with the devil that is subversive activity (allegedly) in their past.

That, and that alone, would be enough to put me off voting for them in their current guise. Let alone the oodles of other policies I do or do not disagree with.

There will I fear be a huge amount of ill-thought out badly motivated protest votes that will go SF's way...only hope not too many - they should never be allowed into a government of this country until they get rid of the bad eggs at the top. Regardless of how much I personally would love a united Ireland - they just have too much stigma attached and I think a fresh start for them would do them no end of favours.

Dr. Baltar

sdonn wrote: »

Wait a sec.

Adams, McGuinness, Ferris.

All have danced with the devil that is subversive activity (allegedly) in their past.

That, and that alone, would be enough to put me off EVER voting for them in their current guise. Let alone the oodles of other policies I do or do not disagree with.

There will I fear be a huge amount of ill-thought out badly motivated protest votes that will go SF's way...only hope not too many - they should never be allowed into a government of this country. Ever.

They're also the party that agreed to the Good Friday Agreement.

Nozebleed

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

Their leader is a liar, their economic policies are a joke but mostly their corruption and "contacts" would be enough for me. They havent gone away you know. Indeed.

i assume you mean FF.

jam_mac_jam

Nozebleed wrote: »

i assume you mean FF.

FF are worse, wouldnt vote for them either.

LeixlipRed

I love the way you didn't even comeback on my hypocrisy criticism Dr. Baltar. You lot are about as socialist as Eamonn Gilmore's wife

eddison

Their leader is a liar, their economic policies are a joke but mostly their corruption and "contacts" would be enough for me. They havent gone away you know. Indeed.

Are you talking about Fianna fail, of fianna gael
You talk about lies haha! you talk about economic policies ha! FF, with agreement from FG squandered the most abundance ever created in this country, and not only squandered it, but got us into a 90 billion loan from the IMF LOL!
The Irish in the north that the south wanted to forget, were held over open fire, by the RUC. RUC used to go around at 2am, 3am, 4am, 5am in the morning around estates with sirens. I was there, I seen it. The 'dirty' Irish were being treated like something one steps on by the Government. Watch the film 'hunger'. You might not like them, maybe you are afraid of them, but some of these guys actually starved themselves to death. Have you any idea what kind of will that takes? Why did they do it ? come back here and tell us, if you dare disgrace the memory of those who died for Irish people they love. You have no clue what happened there because you were fed a diet of- the right message, by RTE.
I personally do not agree with their economic policies, but were you one of the people that voted FF in last time? SF can't be worse than FF. Thats impossible. FF did it in style, they nearly brought down the collapse of the whole E.U. and you speak of 'bad SF' lol!

The Volt

I'm not Sinn Féin's harshest critic - but let's remember that they voted with FF/FG for the disastrous Bank Guarantee. Only Labour said no.

jam_mac_jam

eddison wrote: »

I personally do not agree with their economic policies, but were you one of the people that voted FF in last time? SF can't be worse than FF. Thats impossible. FF did it in style, they nearly brought down the collapse of the whole E.U. and you speak of 'bad SF' lol!

I never voted FF or FG in my life, so your arguement oh FF are worse doesnt really apply.

Dr. Baltar

LeixlipRed wrote: »

I love the way you didn't even comeback on my hypocrisy criticism Dr. Baltar. You lot are about as socialist as Eamonn Gilmore's wife

I didn't comment on it because I went running to wiki and the news. I'm ignorant of SF policy up north because it doesn't affect me and I don't see why their policies in one government (which works very very differently from our own anyway) would be the same as in the south. Two different regions/currencies/health systems/ect. policy is of course going to differ.

Also, I'm not socialist at all. I cry out for a lack of the Progressive Democrats.

LeixlipRed

Voltwad wrote: »

I'm not Sinn Féin's harshest critic - but let's remember that they voted with FF/FG for the disastrous Bank Guarantee. Only Labour said no.

And SF have not ruled out coalition with either FF or FG. A position the ULA have pledged to adopt if candidates are elected. So, would SF sell out and join them in coalition and basically deliver the cuts they currently oppose? Well, we all know the answer to that

The Volt

LeixlipRed wrote: »

And SF have not ruled out coalition with either FF or FG. A position the ULA have pledged to adopt if candidates are elected. So, would SF sell out and join them in coalition and basically deliver the cuts they currently oppose? Well, we all know the answer to that

SF would go in with anyone I suspect.

LeixlipRed

Dr. Baltar wrote: »

I didn't comment on it because I went running to wiki and the news. I'm ignorant of SF policy up north because it doesn't affect me and I don't see why their policies in one government (which works very very differently from our own anyway) would be the same as in the south. Two different regions/currencies/health systems/ect. policy is of course going to differ.

Also, I'm not socialist at all. I cry out for a lack of the Progressive Democrats.

Sorry, your previous posts seemed to imply you were a SF supporter.

LeixlipRed

Voltwad wrote: »

SF would go in with anyone I suspect.

Absolutely, they crave the legitimacy that being in power in the 32 counties would bring. They are complete hypocrites. According to some sources they've been purging leftists from the party down here for years now. They've no interest in pushing a true left agenda. Hence, if you're on the left you should vote ULA.

maccored

LeixlipRed wrote: »

And SF have not ruled out coalition with either FF or FG. A position the ULA have pledged to adopt if candidates are elected. So, would SF sell out and join them in coalition and basically deliver the cuts they currently oppose? Well, we all know the answer to that

I'd hope sf dont get into government this time round, considering that whoever does will ge the blame for the pain thats going to come regardless who is in government.

Think of it though. FF ruined labour, then the PDs and now the greens have written themselves off. I suspect that *if* (and i doubt it would happen) sf ever went into power with FF, that they wouldnt be manipulated and as ball-less as any of the smaller parties who have already been chewed up and spat out by FF. In fact, I'd wager FF would be too afraid to go into power with SF - as would most other parties. They just wouldnt be able to use SF as scapegoats.

Dr. Baltar

LeixlipRed wrote: »

Sorry, your previous posts seemed to imply you were a SF supporter.

I can see why.
I have no problem with people taking a stab at SF, but what does annoy me is the hypocrisy that a lot of people seem to have when taking such stabs. For example, when people state that they wouldn't vote for them because of past links with the IRA when both FF and FG can trace thier routes to the same organisation. What's the difference?

Guy:Incognito

For a party that likes to throw mud around about other politicians and their actions and corruption, it's interestign to see a prominant SF member that apparently owns property in Walkinstown that has managed to get big houses built as mews in a back lane where no one else can............

The Volt

Dr. Baltar wrote: »

I can see why.
I have no problem with people taking a stab at SF, but what does annoy me is the hypocrisy that a lot of people seem to have when taking such stabs. For example, when people state that they wouldn't vote for them because of past links with the IRA when both FF and FG can trace thier routes to the same organisation. What's the difference?

I'm not hung up on their past too much anymore. I'm more so hung up on how they supported the bailout and their implementations up North.