Presidential Election - Who Cares?

[Jackass]

Anybody else looking at the media coverage of an American Style presidential election, and wondering, who cares?

There's a smear campaign about some candidates, skeletons in other candidates closets, and there's such intense scrutiny over an essentially meaningless position.

The only REAL purpose this role can provide is one of international relations and looking to promote trade, but even at that, does a president provide any value for money to the tax payer?

If one of the options on the ballot was to abolish the presidency altogether, would you vote for it?

I would.

RichardAnd

I wouldn't, we need a head of state in some shape or form. However, you are quite correct that the election is a circus. For a country of 4 million souls, we've managed to throw up one hell of a coterie of potentials. We have a former terrorist, a crappy pop star, a haughty fruitcake that seems to approve of pederasty and a woman ashamed of growing old.

All that's needed in there is a drunk leprechaun and dustin the turkey.

PotatoPete

You think this election was like an American election? What about the last election we had, that was just a throw away to the Fine Gael. "5 Point Plan" crap, nothings ever that simple and they sold it out and reiterated it until people soaked it up.

Presidential debate is just as inane, but hell at least if the person I vote for doesn't get in, at least there won't be any major reprecussions from it.

If people care to tell me how and why I'm wrong, please do.

Zubeneschamali

[Jackass] wrote: »

If one of the options on the ballot was to abolish the presidency altogether, would you vote for it?

No, if we had no ceremonial head of state, all the diplomatic cobblers would land on the Taoiseach's desk, and he has better things to do.

I think the post is very much overpaid, and the party political stranglehold over nominations is counterproductive, but we still need a head of state.

todolist

€10 MILLION Euro of TAX PAYERS MONEY spent on Election literature by the candidates.This country is like a third world African country where the bankrupt despot declares himself emperor.F*cking sick island this.

LaBaguette

The Presidents of Germany and Italy (for example) are rarely seen doing the diplomatic stuff usually associated with Uachtaran. It usuall falls on the prime minister/chancellor, and they still manage to do their jobs (although it's debatable in Berlusconi's case )

Similarly, the French President assumes the ceremonial duties, but is also more or less involved in actual government - Sarkozy being a prime example of it.

So there is a case for the removal of elected and (almost) powerless heads of state. I'm not sure it's a good thing, because having a consensually accepted head figure has some benefits. But I would not deem it necessary.

RichardAnd

todolist wrote: »

€10 MILLION Euro of TAX PAYERS MONEY spent on Election literature by the candidates.This country is like a third world African country where the bankrupt despot declares himself emperor.F*cking sick island this.

If you think that's true then you have no idea what goes on in some of the countries you're comparing Ireland to.

KELTICKNIGHTT

todolist wrote: »

€10 MILLION Euro of TAX PAYERS MONEY spent on Election literature by the candidates.This country is like a third world African country where the bankrupt despot declares himself emperor.F*cking sick island this.

could do a lot with €10 million
president is good for the country , specially now when jobs etc is needed.

mikemac

todolist wrote: »

€10 MILLION Euro of TAX PAYERS MONEY spent on Election literature by the candidates.This country is like a third world African country where the bankrupt despot declares himself emperor.F*cking sick island this.

Where are you getting that figure from?

Pat Kenny show has some person on that the candidates were spending about three hundred thousand each. And that was mentioned in the debates

Even if you doubled or trebled it for all seven you still wouldn't reach your figure

That's a nice round figure in your post, got a link?

RandomName2

[Jackass] wrote: »

If one of the options on the ballot was to abolish the presidency altogether, would you vote for it?

I would.

Like with the Seanad - reform or abolish!

dvpower

RichardAnd wrote: »

All that's needed in there is a drunk leprechaun ...

You want Michael D to take to the drink?

dvpower

todolist wrote: »

€10 MILLION Euro of TAX PAYERS MONEY spent on Election literature by the candidates.This country is like a third world African country where the bankrupt despot declares himself emperor.F*cking sick island this.

Where does that figure come from (do we even know the figure as some candidates are likely not to get their expenses refunded)?

It seems really excessive. The cost of running the Presidency is only something around €2m pa (if you exclude the Centenarian Bounty, which comes under the same vote).

If we're spending €10m on literature alone, then the cost of electing a president would be nearly as much as the cost of the maintaining a president.

swim2

I know I heard Sean Gallagher say it during the Vincent Browne debate.

He was trying to get the other candidates to all agree to have all of their leaflets put onto the one leaflet or at least into the same envelope but only one other agreed(I think it was Mary Davis-but am not sure)
Gay Mitchell started talking about keeping printers in business so it was justifited. I havent seen it anywhere else though so I dont know how they come up with the 10m??