Do we need a Government?

A_Border_Bandit

Sitting in a geography lecture today I was informed of an interesting fact:
Belgium has spent 249 days without a Government and are doing better than a lot of European countries.

However, the absence of a government makes little difference to day-to-day life in Belgium. Many state functions, from education to welfare, have already been ceded over the years to regional and community governments. Belgium deftly helmed the presidency of the E.U. in the second half of 2010, and the caretaker government last month headed off market jitters over its debt levels by quickly agreeing on a tighter budget. The country is recovering well from the downturn, with growth last year at 2.1% (compared with the E.U. average of 1.5%), foreign investment doubling and unemployment at 8.5%, well below the E.U. average of 9.4%.

Okay, I know we kicked up a big fuss when we traded our sovereignty for the IMF thingy and all that jazz, but would something like this work in Ireland? Again, I know they are waiting to get their Government agreement thing going. Could we volunteer to allow Europe to step in for say, one year, to help get us back on track?

Just trying to kick up a debate. I'm a self confessed idiot so don't take this too seriously (I'm not a politician under cover either) I just wanna hear what yous have to say.

Full article:
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2052843,00.html

Daegerty

What we need is a good Dictator who isn't afraid to pull a few punches

jaffa20

A_Border_Bandit wrote: »

Could we volunteer to allow Europe to step in for say, one year, to help get us back on track?

Haven't they already?

landsleaving

You are a geography lecturer, why are you discussing politics? You only know how to identify types of mud, silly geography lecturer.

Daegerty

jaffa20 wrote: »

Haven't they already?

They're 'helping' us but we'll be paying dearly for it over the next couple of decades

Micky Dolenz

Volunteer to be ass raped even more so?

Where do I sign.

The_Kew_Tour

Na lets all go fooking riot instead.

Phill Ewinn

We don't have a government, we have a pretend debating chamber (Dail) and an oligarchy running the country.

landsleaving

Daegerty wrote: »

What we need is a good Dictator who isn't afraid to pull a few punches

Are you entirely sure of what 'pulling punches' actually means? Or do you want a dictator who isn't afraid to be a big ol' softie now and again?

bonerm

Those roads aren't gonna fix themselves.

A_Border_Bandit

landsleaving wrote: »

You are a geography lecturer, why are you discussing politics? You only know how to identify types of mud, silly geography lecturer.

Ah no, I'm a student! My statistics lecturer is doing a bit of research on factors that influence rioting behavior, she mentioned it in passing today when discussing the Irish elections.

Badgermonkey

Daegerty wrote: »

What we need is a good Dictator who isn't afraid to pull a few punches

Baby Doc Varadkar?

GY A1

vincent brown should run the country

mconigol

Everyone should get a turn to make one decision.

The only rule is you can't change a decision somebody else has already made.

Go.................!

piotrish

however good that sounds there's a possibility that Belgium might split into 2 countries

Einhard

A_Border_Bandit wrote: »

Sitting in a geography lecture today I was informed of an interesting fact:
Belgium has spent 249 days without a Government and are doing better than a lot of European countries.



Okay, I know we kicked up a big fuss when we traded our sovereignty for the IMF thingy and all that jazz, but would something like this work in Ireland? Again, I know they are waiting to get their Government agreement thing going. Could we volunteer to allow Europe to step in for say, one year, to help get us back on track?

Just trying to kick up a debate. I'm a self confessed idiot so don't take this too seriously (I'm not a politician under cover either) I just wanna hear what yous have to say.

Full article:
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2052843,00.html

I think the term "caretaker government" in that piece is pretty instructive. What's a caretaker government if not a form of government?

Einhard

mconigol wrote: »

Everyone should get a turn to make one decision.

The only rule is you can't change a decision somebody else has already made.

Go.................!

Einhard is dictator for life!!:D


Suckas

mconigol

Einhard wrote: »

Einhard is dictator for life!!:D


Suckas

I figured somebody might try this. I'm very dissapointed :mad:

mconigol

Is Jamiekelly going to thank every post in this thread I wonder??

Einhard

mconigol wrote: »

Is Jamiekelly going to thank every post in this thread I wonder??

Obviously not.

HooterSnout

I say bring back the auld high kings and queens of yorn and be done with it. Get the peasants out planting spuds. Actually I think Mr Tayto should be the High King of Ireland with his twin queens Jedward and Dustin the King's adviser.

WolfForager

The caretaker government in Belgium is basically the party that was in power before the botched elections. Are you saying you want cowan and co running the country for the next god knows how long? yeahhhh.......