Why wiping out the Greens would be a completely irrational act

Koyasan

From a man who disagrees quite strongly with the Greens.

http://jasonomahony.ie/?p=8512

If only we had a new party! The cry goes out. If only we had a party that was made up of people who had an honest reputation, and weren’t funded by the sort of people who turn up at tribunals and tents. If only we had a party that could honestly say it opposed the planning madness of the last ten years. If only we had a party that was serious about fighting corruption and long term strategy and rational planning and reforming politics and devolving local power to local communities. A party like that would clean up!

Turns out we do. And turns out we are squaring up to do to them what Henry Ford did to the village blacksmith. Just think about the logic for a minute: Fianna Fail, the most corrupt party in the country, the party that took us to where we are today, will win at least 10 seats, and probably far more. Even at its low ebb, it will win more seats than the Green party have won in their entire history. And the Green Party? They face total annihilation. Why? Because they went into government? Because they made decisions that every other party would have been forced to make? Or is it because they tried to clean up the political and planning system that got us where we were today. The bastards! Of the five main parties, the Greens were warning about bad planning way ahead of everyone else. So we take them outside and put a political bullet in them? What?

Don’t get me wrong. I was livid when they supported that ludicrous blasphemy thing. My jaw hit the ground as they buckled on Tara and Shannon, two issues where I didn’t really care too much about anyway but which mattered to a lot of their voters. And don’t get me started on neutrality or nuclear power. But they got real on Europe, and delivered on civil partnership and nearly got corporate donations and the elected mayors through after years of other parties yakking about it. And most of all, as I watched John Gormley debate, I couldn’t help thinking that this guy is serious in a time when (to paraphrase President Shepherd) we need serious people. They’re not bought, and they have pursued policies which were unpopular but were right, and that is what we always say we want in our leaders. I campaigned against John Gormley in three general elections, and whilst I disagreed with him on some things, I can tell you one thing: John Gormley is a patriot.

I want a Fine Gael government, but I want it free from Labour’s economic policies (now with an extra dash of Jack O’Connor). I want their economic policies and their pro-Europeanism. But I also want someone serious about the need to change politics and to keep a socially liberal flag at the cabinet to keep an eye on Leo and Lucinda. If the Greens hold a couple of seats, and Enda is close to a majority, there’s a serious chance, if only for the fact that it will cost him less cabinet seats than Labour.

That would, I believe, on balance, be a good thing.

The Greens need to get 2% of No. 1s nationally or else they will not be able to keep their office open. They will not be able to offer the expertise that they have on energy, planning, environmental, local government and revenue neutral taxation (see carbon levy and warmer homes scheme for one example). They will not be able to call out corrupt local FG and FF councillors in South Dublin for what they are trying to do at Ticknock.

My local Green doesn't have a chance so this is how I'm voting: No.1 to the Greens so they get 2% of No.1s nationally and are able to keep an office open. No. 2 (which will definitely transfer) to someone with a chance.

Two birds, one STV .

If you also have a Green no-hoper in your constituency, consider giving them your No.1 and your No.2 to your real first preference so the Greens can continue to campaign.

What do you think?

ei.sdraob

Ah will you lot just go away please

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from a parallel thread where you made an identical post

ei.sdraob wrote: »

You know whats rational?

not rewarding failure

something the Greens have helped to reward by the billion in the last few years :rolleyes:

Liam Byrne

I've posted my opinion of this stunningly biased and inconsistent article in the other thread where you first posted it.

I've also added a comment to the website itself.....we'll see how long that's left there or how the writer replies.

Koyasan

I've had very many disagreements with the Blogger in the past and never had any of my posts deleted. If he does censor you, do please let me know.

Koyasan

Nope. No change. That last comment is still there.

I posted the topic here because, unlike that thread, I was interested in some of the issues raised it.

Isn't there a gap in the electoral market? Look at the contrasting statements of Murphy and Creighthon in a single constituency. Sometimes I think they would be better off in different parties. But, again, the gap.

Also, look at the talk of a FG /Greens coalition being better for FG than a FG/Labour one. I'm not interested in going off on the likelihood of that coalition; but whether it would work.