Votematic: Compares your beliefs to the parties' policies

Brussels Sprout

I felt mine was fairly accurate.

Check it out for yourself.

gcgirl

Blue shirt by 1 followed closely by Labour !

5live

Oh dearie me. A TRUE blueshirt:p with a transfer to labour on social policies;)

Liam Byrne

You are hard to please, but you are closest to the Labour Party and Sinn Féin.

Well at least they got it half right, because I'm nowhere near SF's core values.

UpTheSlashers

Labour +14, FF -11. Sounds about right for me.

Breezer

FG +27, Lab +4, GP +1, SF +1, FF -4.

Pretty much what I thought myself, although I didn't think I was that big a blueshirt! :eek: For some bizarre reason it thinks I support SF's health policy though. Very strange.

johnmcdnl

Tied between Lab/SF which is what i was going to vote for anyways..

-10 for FF though :pac: don't blame me for any FFers that get in

Dr. Baltar

Labour +19
Sinn Féin +11
Fine Gael +1
Green Party 0
Fianna Fáil -13


Sounds about right.

davetherave

You are a hardcore Fine Gael supporter.

FF....FG...LAB....GRN....SF
3.....24.....12.....11.....-5

Seems about right.

Daegerty

You are a hardcore Fine Gael supporter.Tacaíonn tú go tréan le Fine Gael.

More of a case of picking the best from a bad lot.

namloc1980

FG 15, LAB 5, GREENS 12, SF -7, FF -7.

thetonynator

Hard core labour i was told! :eek:

FF -10
FG 0
Lab +16
Green +10
SF +7

johngalway

THE VERDICT
You are hard to please, but you are closest to Fine Gael.

Tell me something I didn't already know :pac:

Figures as follows:

FG 13
Lab 4
FF -4
Green -4
SF -9

[Jackass]

Hardcore Labour, followed by FG.

I'd say swap those two around and you'd have it right.

nesf

FF: 1
FG: 22
Lab: -2
Green: 0
SF: -14

K-9

My results probably explain why I'm having difficulty in picking a party!

Labour 11
Greens 9
FG 7

FF 2
SF -8


Probably more Green as their overall policies would be more to my liking rather than Labour transport policy!

thebaldsoprano

Oh dear, I'm a "hardcore Labour Party supporter"

FF -2
FG +6
LAB +15
Green +2
SF -4

I'd like well run and accessible education and health care, which is a bit socialist I suppose, but I don't see any left leaning party I'd trust to implement them. FG will have to suffice, even if they did vote for legislation to bail out Cowen's golfing buddies...

rxan90

THE VERDICT
You are a hardcore Sinn Féin supporter. (31)

With Labour coming in 2nd at 21 (even though I'm voting ULA)

Nehaxak

THE VERDICT
You are a hardcore Sinn Féin supporter.

Labour + 9
Green Party + 7
SF + 18
FF -16
FG -6

/flex

5live

johngalway wrote: »

THE VERDICT
You are hard to please, but you are closest to Fine Gael.

Tell me something I didn't already know :pac:

Figures as follows:

FG 13
Lab 4
FF -4
Green -4
SF -9

I could have told you that john;)

ei.sdraob

"You are a hardcore Fine Gael supporter."

FF: -4
FG: +16
Lab: +6 !!!
Greens: +3 ???
SF: -10 :P


I still dont agree with several FG policies, but seems it be choosing the least worst option come election day

kippy

ei.sdraob wrote: »

"You are a hardcore Fine Gael supporter."

FF: -4
FG: +16
Lab: +6 !!!
Greens: +3 ???
SF: -10 :P


I still dont agree with several FG policies, but seems it be choosing the least worst option come election day

Showing me to be closer to labour (+16) then FG (+11) with FF at -12

gingernut79

You are compatible with Fianna Fáil. You are also close to the Green Party.

upmeath

Told me I was more SF than I am Labour (by 1 point), I could never vote SF! I'm least partial to FF (-12). FG (+5) and the Greens (+7)

Lockstep

I'm a Labour voter but it told me I was a hardcore Sinn Féin supporter.

chinchin

Looks like I'm planning to vote for the wrong people

upmeath

Lockstep wrote: »

I'm a Labour voter but it told me I was a hardcore Sinn Féin supporter.

I have my doubts about where these polls place the various parties. The graph at the start of the political compass thread places Labour right of centre. I'm a Labour voter and the compass placed me around 7 to the left and 7 to the libertarian end of things. As for Votomatic's poll, they might be reading Labour as somewhat more centrist than their core vote and policies actually are.

Wolfe Tone

Hmmmm, I liked that site, pretty clever

nesf

upmeath wrote: »

I have my doubts about where these polls place the various parties. The graph at the start of the political compass thread places Labour right of centre. I'm a Labour voter and the compass placed me around 7 to the left and 7 to the libertarian end of things. As for Votomatic's poll, they might be reading Labour as somewhat more centrist than their core vote and policies actually are.

Labour's core vote and Labour's rhetoric may be left of centre but Labour's policies most certainly aren't. Labour are competing for right of centre centrists with FG and FF, especially FF. And tactically, that's exactly what they should be doing.

Spudmonkey

FF: 0
FG: 21
Lab: 2
GP: 7
SF: -14

Didn't tell me much I didn't know to be honest.

upmeath

nesf wrote: »

Labour's core vote and Labour's rhetoric may be left of centre but Labour's policies most certainly aren't. Labour are competing for right of centre centrists with FG and FF, especially FF. And tactically, that's exactly what they should be doing.

I'd be inclined to think that people simply won't entertain a party's policies if the rhetoric isn't persuasive. Frontbenchers catch the ears of potential voters on Vin.B, Frontline, Prime Time. If they're not doing the job there, Jack and Mary aren't going to read party policies, whether they're on the party's website, the local papers or coming through the letter box every 6 weeks. FF ground is there for the taking at the minute, you're right, and it's Labour's and FG's to pull in either direction. There might be a small number of disenfranchised FF voters to whom nationalism is their main concern (still) who will pass up on FG and Lab candidates and instead transfer to SF, but they're a minority. I can't think of a single Labour policy at the moment that's capturing right of centre voters. They're endorsing egalitarian healthcare, education and jobs policies, promoting investment in infrastructure that may tap into the NPRF for funding, targeting high earners with new taxation and looking out for the interests of SMEs, retailers and low earners. Where's the centre-right policy?

Killer Pigeon

Well I'm a definite Red-Shirt, there's no doubt about that.

nesf

upmeath wrote: »

I'd be inclined to think that people simply won't entertain a party's policies if the rhetoric isn't persuasive. Frontbenchers catch the ears of potential voters on Vin.B, Frontline, Prime Time. If they're not doing the job there, Jack and Mary aren't going to read party policies, whether they're on the party's website, the local papers or coming through the letter box every 6 weeks. FF ground is there for the taking at the minute, you're right, and it's Labour's and FG's to pull in either direction. There might be a small number of disenfranchised FF voters to whom nationalism is their main concern (still) who will pass up on FG and Lab candidates and instead transfer to SF, but they're a minority. I can't think of a single Labour policy at the moment that's capturing right of centre voters. They're endorsing egalitarian healthcare, education and jobs policies, promoting investment in infrastructure that may tap into the NPRF for funding, targeting high earners with new taxation and looking out for the interests of SMEs, retailers and low earners. Where's the centre-right policy?

Egalitarian healthcare and education are very much centrist policies in this country endorsed by every party left and right. Labour's market based broadband policy is centre right. Their emphasis on SMEs is centre right. Their taxation policy is very carefully aimed to not capture too many middle class voters (which is centre/centre right depending on how you want to look at it). Using the NPRF for infrastructure spending is centrist, again every party is talking about something similar. Labour talk a lot about more centre right, let the market get the people back to work, than leftist let the Government get people back to work (which is a sign of a party that has learned from the 70s and 80s). Labour are talking about protecting the incomes of highish middle class earners i.e. someone earning 90K a year is very much a high earner here by reasonable standards since they are on over twice the national average wage. This is hardly a leftist stance on the issue.

What Labour are very good at is sounding much more social democrat than their policy positions actually are. E.g. the 100K point picked for tax increases is when you get down to it very high. One could easily make the case that people over 50K are reasonably well off and are in a position to contribute more in the needs of fairness etc if one was of a leftist leaning but Labour are being extremely careful to court the middle class, pro-business vote as much as possibly without leaning too far to the right.

Honestly, there's a lot there for a centre right voter who's uncomfortable with FF/FG's traditional/conservative views on social issues.

Edit: Most importantly, I should add, what's key here is for Labour's policies not to scare off transfers from parties further to the right and this partially explains Labour's policies being further to the right than where their base is. They need to be in a position where FG supporters are at least able (the majority anyway) to look at Labour and feel they can transfer to them. If Labour went the traditional left high tax, high spend route, they'd generate far fewer transfers from the right and this could prove problematic for them in the tighter constituencies for them.

upmeath

nesf wrote: »

Egalitarian healthcare and education are very much centrist policies in this country endorsed by every party left and right.

Labour's market based broadband policy is centre right. Their emphasis on SMEs is centre right. Their taxation policy is very carefully aimed to not capture too many middle class voters (which is centre/centre right depending on how you want to look at it).
Using the NPRF for infrastructure spending is centrist, again every party is talking about something similar.

...Labour are being extremely careful to court the middle class, pro-business vote as much as possibly without leaning too far to the right.

FG and FF have a very different stance to that of Lab and Greens on education, particularly on third level fees. FF were checked on fees a couple of times by the Greens, thankfully John Gormley is no Nick Clegg. Besides third level fees, I don't think they're all ready to jump into bed together on SNAs, building programmes or class sizes either, but they're less contentious educational issues.
Extending high quality broadband to rural areas is progressive and egalitarian, rural dwellers are entitled to the same services us townie taxpayers get for our buck. If it benefits rural-based businesses in the process that's fantastic. Joan Burton spoke about benefits to local tourism and hotels during the week. Where the left of centre lies in relation to business might need recalibration, times are changing and they're all on about green and tech jobs and FDI nowadays, not to mention defending the corporate tax rate.
As regards dipping into the NPRF, Sinn Féin would use it to pay govt staff and dole money (for at least a few months :rolleyes: ) while Fine Gael would be hesitant to use it for anything but vital infrastructural projects. Labour would be using it to fund projects which would deliver a return to the exchequer and create/protect state jobs (for better or for worse) during design and construction.
The SMEs and sudden interest in rates comes from their considerable time in local government, they've realised that towns and cities are suffocating under bureaucracy. I don't think a bit of laissez-faire in local commerce can really count as centre-right any more. Maybe again the scale needs recalibration. The regulations are all in place now to protect consumers and for staff Labour will vigorously defend minimum wage and union agreements. While they're saying to employers you've a right to profit and we're not going to nail you for earning 100k you'll have to contribute accordingly (i.e. progressive taxation, you pay more than your staff, and considerably more) but we'll all be better for it - people will spend more with SMEs if we do things this way.

You're absolutely right in identifying the tactics and strategic positioning at play. Labour have come towards the centre but I'd call it leftist-lite rather than a mixed bag of left-and-right-of-centre policies, that's pandering populism of a sort only FF knows.

I don't know, we might have differing views of where the centre lies. I'd be inclined to say that Sinn Féin have certain far-right tendencies on social issues, in stark contrast to their economic policies (or lack thereof). Anyway that's for another day.

Obliq

Spudmonkey wrote: »

FF: 0

Didn't tell me much I didn't know to be honest.

Same. Although different parties from yourself. Told me I agree with myself, which is always nice......

Oh woops, I seem to be on the wrong thread.....is this the 'pushing your own political leanings' thread, or the 'votematic'? I feel off-topic all of a sudden.....

Penfailed

FF -18
Greens -12
FG -2
SF 25
Lab 35!

nesf

upmeath wrote: »

FG and FF have a very different stance to that of Lab and Greens on education, particularly on third level fees. FF were checked on fees a couple of times by the Greens, thankfully John Gormley is no Nick Clegg. Besides third level fees, I don't think they're all ready to jump into bed together on SNAs, building programmes or class sizes either, but they're less contentious educational issues.
Extending high quality broadband to rural areas is progressive and egalitarian, rural dwellers are entitled to the same services us townie taxpayers get for our buck. If it benefits rural-based businesses in the process that's fantastic. Joan Burton spoke about benefits to local tourism and hotels during the week. Where the left of centre lies in relation to business might need recalibration, times are changing and they're all on about green and tech jobs and FDI nowadays, not to mention defending the corporate tax rate.
As regards dipping into the NPRF, Sinn Féin would use it to pay govt staff and dole money (for at least a few months :rolleyes: ) while Fine Gael would be hesitant to use it for anything but vital infrastructural projects. Labour would be using it to fund projects which would deliver a return to the exchequer and create/protect state jobs (for better or for worse) during design and construction.
The SMEs and sudden interest in rates comes from their considerable time in local government, they've realised that towns and cities are suffocating under bureaucracy. I don't think a bit of laissez-faire in local commerce can really count as centre-right any more. Maybe again the scale needs recalibration. The regulations are all in place now to protect consumers and for staff Labour will vigorously defend minimum wage and union agreements. While they're saying to employers you've a right to profit and we're not going to nail you for earning 100k you'll have to contribute accordingly (i.e. progressive taxation, you pay more than your staff, and considerably more) but we'll all be better for it - people will spend more with SMEs if we do things this way.

You're absolutely right in identifying the tactics and strategic positioning at play. Labour have come towards the centre but I'd call it leftist-lite rather than a mixed bag of left-and-right-of-centre policies, that's pandering populism of a sort only FF knows.

I don't know, we might have differing views of where the centre lies. I'd be inclined to say that Sinn Féin have certain far-right tendencies on social issues, in stark contrast to their economic policies (or lack thereof). Anyway that's for another day.

I think we are arguing over is where the centre is. I'd argue that it's moved to the right over the past two decades and this complicates things greatly when it comes to Irish politics. One way of looking at it I suppose is that somewhere between FF and Labour is the centre point with Labour on the left and FF on the right policy wise. Personally I don't really look at it this way and keep the centre where it was two decades ago and view it as majority of the people moving to somewhat right of centre and the parties following them. But I recognise that one can just define the centre as where the majority of the people are and with the burgeoning of the middle class over the past two decades that's effectively where the lower middle class is these days.

I think in much of Europe the traditional left has grown to appreciate how much of a role that needs to be given to business and the market for the State to function well and that the very high tax regimes of the 70s and 80s served their countries poorly (for the most part, exceptions can be seen in Scandinavia).

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

K-9

nesf wrote: »

I think we are arguing over is where the centre is. I'd argue that it's moved to the right over the past two decades and this complicates things greatly when it comes to Irish politics. One way of looking at it I suppose is that somewhere between FF and Labour is the centre point with Labour on the left and FF on the right policy wise. Personally I don't really look at it this way and keep the centre where it was two decades ago and view it as majority of the people moving to somewhat right of centre and the parties following them. But I recognise that one can just define the centre as where the majority of the people are and with the burgeoning of the middle class over the past two decades that's effectively where the lower middle class is these days.

I think in much of Europe the traditional left has grown to appreciate how much of a role that needs to be given to business and the market for the State to function well and that the very high tax regimes of the 70s and 80s served their countries poorly (for the most part, exceptions can be seen in Scandinavia).

I think there is a contradiction in Ireland that confuses people. Parties promised lower taxes and higher spending in previous elections and that was okay when the money was there. Labour and FG actually promised lower income taxes and PRSI than FF in the last election.

This election probably is more defined because of the necessity for cuts and tax rises, so parties have to prioritise spending or tax rises. FF and FG are more from the, let's concentrate on cuts and leave tax alone as much as possible , side.

Labour and SF and to me the Greens, would focus on increasing taxes as more preferable.

In that respect, this election is more definitive of what wing a party are from. They didn't really have to choose in the last 13 years or so.

It definitely has changed from the mid 80's. Labour have moved to the centre and SF have probably moved to where they would have been, though even SF are moving more to the centre on taxes, Corporation tax an example.