How likely are FG to keep their promises?

jonesy93

Hey, just wondering how likley are FG to keep there promisies ie graduate repayment scheme , if ( more than likley when ) they get into government?
Are they notorious for promising things and then complining about how the previous government left the country in too much of a mess to implement them ?
thanks...

The Waltzing Consumer

jonesy93 wrote: »

Hey, just wondering how likley are FG to keep there promisies ie graduate repayment scheme , if ( more than likley when ) they get into government?
Are they notorious for promising things and then complining about how the previous government left the country in too much of a mess to implement them ?
thanks...

Well, look at the facts, since Independence, FF have been in Government for the vast vast majority of that time with FG only getting into power a couple of years. So they are not notorious for promising things and then not implementing things. But yes, the times that FG have gotten in Government, there is a huge amount of cleaning up to do because of the mess FF leave it in.

Every party apart from FF, if they got into power, would have a huge amount of cleaning up to do, because of FF and their policies. FF are then very smug about this and usually get back into Government after a one-term non-FF Government. They cause the mess, they let others clean it up, they complain about the mess, they then cause more of a mess and the circle continues.

whoopdedoo

jonesy93 wrote: »

Hey, just wondering how likley are FG to keep there promisies ie graduate repayment scheme , if ( more than likley when ) they get into government?
Are they notorious for promising things and then complining about how the previous government left the country in too much of a mess to implement them ?
thanks...

Enda kenny approached a group of us enjoying a coffee on shop St in the run up to lisbon 2.0 and told us to "enjoy the sunshine while it lasts". we were disgusted that even though we told him as he approached that we didn't want to know about it and that we were going to vote no again! he's a sneaky little w4nker and will be out on his arse as quick as he gets in if he doesn't bring in real change. the danger signs are written all over Angela Merkel welcoming him with open arms and other dodgy characters giving him their backing before he's even elected. he's a me feiner and will be proven so very shortly. let's hope enough of us are angry enough to do anything about it when the time comes for real protests!!!!!!

johngalway

Depends on three things:

• Do they get an Overall Majority?
• Do they have to go into Government with others?
• Have we been given the true and proper financial state of the country by the current shower?

Any of those will influence what can or can't be done after the election. FG are campaigning on the basis of being an independent party, so their manifesto will be on that basis, and not one of a coalition. The third point on finances is self explanatory.

nesf

johngalway wrote: »

Depends on three things:

• Do they get an Overall Majority?
• Do they have to go into Government with others?
• Have we been given the true and proper financial state of the country by the current shower?

Any of those will influence what can or can't be done after the election. FG are campaigning on the basis of being an independent party, so their manifesto will be on that basis, and not one of a coalition. The third point on finances is self explanatory.

They're also campaigning on the basis of growth projections from the Department of Finance that may prove to be optimistic. Not a whole lot that FG can do about this, they need to campaign on some set of figures if their policies are to be anyway realistic and before the start of the campaign the DoF probably had the most detailed numbers out.

UsernameInUse

Let's be realistic here.

We all know deep down, in our hearts and souls, that electing a new government will not be the end to all our woes (hey, that rhymes).
Anyway, I'm starring at Kenny, Martin and Gilmore on TV right now and I just can't quite distinguish what it is that they're proposing sets them apart.

All of them are determined to make the populace pay for private debt - which is, in fact, illegal. Touching us up with "re-negotiating the deal", is no more to the point than suggesting we should sit back and wait for some divine intervention. I'm sorry, I'm an eternal optimist but I'm no fool. I know a fraud, a fake and liar when I see one, and these three fit the bill tenfold.

Nor do I believe a word out of Adams mouth either or Gormley. Perhaps they have the country and it's health in good heart - but their stance and ideology alone will not bring us out of this mess.

What we need to do is to take on a pure capitalistic mode. Cut the red-tape and allow businesses to come here, invest, employ workers and thrive. Relax immigration laws so that skilled workers find incentive to come and ply their trade in Ireland for these businesses. Lower Corporations Tax, calm the madness of the planning authority - and for crying out loud, who gives one damn if Larry's bakery goes under? Mike's and Ben's will rise in it's place....the Government should not be involved in subsidies. The system is perfect.

None of these fake politicians are any better than each other. One wonders if we would not be in a better position under British Rule. This very system is corrupt to it's very core. We don't need new politicians - we need a new system and none of these, regardless of all the waffle, can give it to us. Fine Gael and Labour have two years at best. Long live the GE 2013.

dan_d

Based on the track record in general of our politicians in the last decade.....I don't believe for one second they will come throug on anything they promise.As the last poster says, there's nothing to differentiate between any of them. We are operating on their 'word' alone....and what's that worth, at this point in time??To me, absolutely nothing.
It's actually quite depressing to be trying to chose who to vote for while knowing that it won't make a blind bit of difference, because nothing will change.(as for this whole idea of renegotiating the IMF deal-I would be extremely sceptical of that ever happening)

wildefalcon

It is terrifying to think that the shinners are a real option, but, they are.

I know they have crap economic plans, but perhaps they have the inexperience to try things the "experienced" parties dismiss out of hand.

If I didn't have to leave the country this week to go flat hunting in the UK I'd be giving them the No1.

I can't believe that I'm thinking that, I remember the shame their terrorist wing brought on the Irish people over the last few decades, but I can't help feeling that FF has brought us nearly the same shame.


FF has shown the world that we are incapable of managing our own affairs.

nesf

wildefalcon wrote: »

It is terrifying to think that the shinners are a real option, but, they are.

I know they have crap economic plans, but perhaps they have the inexperience to try things the "experienced" parties dismiss out of hand.

If I didn't have to leave the country this week to go flat hunting in the UK I'd be giving them the No1.

I can't believe that I'm thinking that, I remember the shame their terrorist wing brought on the Irish people over the last few decades, but I can't help feeling that FF has brought us nearly the same shame.


FF has shown the world that we are incapable of managing our own affairs.

What has that got to do with this thread?

wildefalcon

Several previous posters discussed the value of promises made by mainstream politicians.

Previous poster was discussing the dearth of options amongst main stream politicians.

It followed logically, to me, to discuss the option of not-quite mainstream parties, and how I came to the conclusion that voting for any of the three big parties was for "more of the same".

Which, in my constituency, only left one candidate with a credible chance of making a disruptive change, and that was the shinner.

Sorry if this is off topic, but I am just SO ANGRY at having to emigrate twice in two decades, that I'm not paying as much attention to the title, and more to the discussion in the thread.

nesf

Ah, yeah I see what you mean. Sorry just looked really out of place to me.

Kinda similar where I grew up, there's only very meh candidates running which won't change much (FF and FG ones) and it's really going to produce a really boring result (2 FG, 1 FF in an order I could name for you). Might see quite a few people voting for the PBP candidate out of boredom with the main candidates I think.

wildefalcon

We live in "interesting" times:

The only people the Banks aren't robbing is/are Sinn Fein, which is irony bordering on the bizarre.

Sinn Fein defending Democracy in Donegal, using the Southern Civil courts. Who would have thought it possible?

Sinn Fein being supported by right wing US economists regarding the national debt.

Fianna Fails legacy. My God!

ei.sdraob

nesf wrote: »

They're also campaigning on the basis of growth projections from the Department of Finance that may prove to be optimistic. Not a whole lot that FG can do about this, they need to campaign on some set of figures if their policies are to be anyway realistic and before the start of the campaign the DoF probably had the most detailed numbers out.

The problem with DoF is that their figures have been way off up to date.
For growth projections its easier to stick your hand out in the wind :P

To answer the OP no i dont think they will deliver on all their promises, when has any politician/party ever done that after elections?

Powerhouse

jonesy93 wrote: »

Hey, just wondering how likley are FG to keep there promisies ie graduate repayment scheme , if ( more than likley when ) they get into government?
Are they notorious for promising things and then complining about how the previous government left the country in too much of a mess to implement them ?
thanks...

Very unlikely. Yes, they are notorious for claiming that things were much worse than they thought. They also trebled the national debt during the last period they were elected to government, though they tend to be somewhat reticient about mentioning that.

What is of greater concern than broken promises (and many of FG's won't last beyond the Coalition talks even if they were ever serious in fairness) was Enda Kenny's response in the debate last night to 'check the FG website' on detail that a prospective Taoiseach should have at his finger-tips. He was that out of touch with the issues...and that's before he confused the words bilateral and unilateral.

It was cringeworthy last night as he pressed all the buttons his PR people told him to.

'Séamus from Crumlin' FFS!

'I spoke to the man outside the Dáil and he showed me his paycheque...and there's no more Irish dancing for his children'.

'Our 5-point plan' (much superior presumably to a mere 4-point plan). 'You were 14 years in cabinet' (yes, Enda, but you are 36 years in the Dáil and cannot point to one achievement & what about the Minsiterial record of your propective Minsiter for Finance...remember Brigid McCole?)

'We'll tell the truth'. (Well then tell the truth about how research shows that the 'money follows the patient' health policy has not worked in countries like the Netherlands)

At any rate the really interesting election will be the next one after even more savage cuts, increased interest rates and significantly greater unemployment. At least Kenny won't be around for that one and there might be some level of coherent debate.

Powerhouse

wildefalcon wrote: »

We live in "interesting" times:

The only people the Banks aren't robbing is/are Sinn Fein, which is irony bordering on the bizarre.

Sinn Fein defending Democracy in Donegal, using the Southern Civil courts. Who would have thought it possible?

Sinn Fein being supported by right wing US economists regarding the national debt.

This is merely history repeating itself. Sinn Féiners in the 1920 executed their comrades in arms in the name of democracy. Things change. Time moves on. Political parties change with the popular tide and often hold previously contrary positions with greater alacrity than the previous ones. And more economists disagree with SF's view than support them.

You may be over-egging the FF legacy. It's just politics.

Riddle101

This is the reality of politics. Politicians making promises they proberly can't keep. Look at any party in Ireland and you will see waffle written all over their faces because that's all they do. They waffle on about creating jobs, IMF/EU bailout and saving the economy but they're bullsh*ting for the sake of getting votes. Maybe they might stick to their word by I have little faith in Irish politics and politics as a whole when it comes to keeping your word.

the only thing you can really do is just choose the party you feel is the lesser of all evils

20Cent

I think people are a lot more politicised now after all this and will be paying much more attention. We need watchdog groups like the reform scorecard thing and lots more transparency. Lots of FOI requests as well, publish results online.
Citizens need to engage with their politicians a lot more letting them know what they think. Not happy at all that FG look like being the main party in Gov. If they have to go in with Labour then a plan for government will have to be hammered out. It is up to everyone to keep them honest.

wildefalcon

Powerhouse wrote: »

This is merely history repeating itself. Sinn Féiners in the 1920 executed their comrades in arms in the name of democracy. Things change. Time moves on. Political parties change with the popular tide and often hold previously contrary positions with greater alacrity than the previous ones. And more economists disagree with SF's view than support them.

You may be over-egging the FF legacy. It's just politics.

It's just politics, until someone commits suicide because they can't feed the kids, until someone has to leave their family in order to support them, until people are evicted from their family home, until someone dies on a hospital trolley, until someone gets killed crashing their car avoiding a pothole, until the shops close because the rent and rates are unbearable.

JUST politics.

It's real lives, it's real pain, it's NOT JUST POLITICS.

iPlop

jonesy93 wrote: »

Hey, just wondering how likley are FG to keep there promisies ie graduate repayment scheme , if ( more than likley when ) they get into government?
Are they notorious for promising things and then complining about how the previous government left the country in too much of a mess to implement them ?
thanks...

To be honest I think it's going to be a case of silence until April and then "the problems bigger than we thought" will be broadcast to the nation after the bank stress test results are out.Then after that anything that FG fail to do in regards to their promises will be blamed on FF and all you're going to hear for the next few years is "the problem was bigger than we anticipated ,that's whay we haven't been able to X and Y"

There will be no re-negotiation of our debt to the EU and IMF and Kenny will be put back in his box by the big shots in Brussels.

I guarantee it.

jimmycrackcorm

Sink The Banana wrote: »

There will be no re-negotiation of our debt to the EU and IMF and Kenny will be put back in his box by the big shots in Brussels.

I guarantee it.

You're forgetting about the big issue though - fundamentally we cannot afford the debt we've been saddled with so sending Kenny back into the box will not be an option. As time goes on this is going to be a bigger European issue and we may possibly border on defaulting unless the EU come up with a more tangible solution. I don't believe they have a choice.

Jaysoose

wildefalcon wrote: »

It is terrifying to think that the shinners are a real option, but, they are.

I know they have crap economic plans, but perhaps they have the inexperience to try things the "experienced" parties dismiss out of hand.

If I didn't have to leave the country this week to go flat hunting in the UK I'd be giving them the No1.

I can't believe that I'm thinking that, I remember the shame their terrorist wing brought on the Irish people over the last few decades, but I can't help feeling that FF has brought us nearly the same shame.


FF has shown the world that we are incapable of managing our own affairs.

No they are not a real option and anybody buying the rubbish being spouted by adams and mary lou need to have the vote taken off them.

origirover

Jaysoose wrote: »

No they are not a real option and anybody buying the rubbish being spouted by adams and mary lou need to have the vote taken off them.

I think you will find they are a better choice to many more people you can imagine, we are a naive population forever swinging between FF and FG like it's all we know, uneducated, narrow minded falling back on the only parties that seem to be brainwashed into our minds from our forefathers.
You can go on about the "shinners" all you want but like the previous poster said, the reality is: we need a radical party which will put the Irish people first not the IMF, bondholders and other cronies alike...
Will you forever more banish FF from your mind after their yet again another fiasco since the Haughey gun running days....