Don't vote for nepotism!

Kermit.de.frog

FFS

Mary O'Rourke's son to contest by-election

This follows hot on the heels of the sister of the TD that died in Athlone


Gabrielle McFadden confirms by-election run


And the by election following the tragic suicide in Co Meath of a TD which featured his daughter - who was elected.

Helen McEntee wins Meath East by-election


Oh the last one has never had a real job in her life other than working for her dad which of course makes her fully qualified to sit on an important parliamentary committee.

I'd urge people to reject this culture of entitlement and gombeen politics. Cynical party choice of candidates. Nothing has changed.

PLEASE do not support nepotism. There is a reason we are where we are:(

podgemonster

Dey fixed de road!!!

mikemac1

Young Adam Wyse in Waterford seems an ambitious young lad and is running for election.

The good people of Irelands oldest city need reminding it is not their seat, no it belongs to the Wyse family

Wyse took his place on the council representing Waterford City East following the sudden death of his father, Councillor Gary Wyse last year. For him, this election is not just about representing his community, it’s about continuing the work his father did in the area for many years.

The 19-year-old is the youngest Fianna Fáil candidate and one of the youngest candidates running in the election but he said there was always a plan for him to take his father’s seat – he just hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.

I remember when I was in sixth year and dad would be driving me to school and we’d listen to what was being said on the radio and talk about it afterwards so I always had an interest in it and what he was doing. There are two other boys in my family but my dad always said that if someone was going to take his place it would be me.

Guy:Incognito

So if the best candidate happens to be related to a former politician that had the seat, deliberately don't vote for them anyway ? Seems stupid.

suicide_circus

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

So if the best candidate happens to be related to a former politician that had the seat, deliberately don't vote for them anyway ? Seems stupid.

Agree in theory but in practice these people will be voted for on genetics not on merit.

bumper234

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

FFS

Mary O'Rourke's son to contest by-election

This follows hot on the heels of the sister of the TD that died in Athlone


Gabrielle McFadden confirms by-election run


And the by election following the tragic suicide in Co Meath of a TD which featured his daughter - who was elected.

Helen McEntee wins Meath East by-election


Oh the last one has never had a real job in her life other than working for her dad which of course makes her fully qualified to sit on an important parliamentary committee.

I'd urge people to reject this culture of entitlement and gombeen politics. Cynical party choice of candidates. Nothing has changed.

PLEASE do not support nepotism. There is a reason we are where we are:(

So who should we vote for oh great and powerful Oz?

alchemist33

In our local elections, there are at least two children of old stagers running. In the case of one, his dad made a huge song and dance about being refused the nomination by FF, and now he's in election posters with his son with the heading "change we can trust." Dad wasn't bleating about change in the previous five elections.

Maphisto

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

FFS

Mary O'Rourke's son to contest by-election

This follows hot on the heels of the sister of the TD that died in Athlone


Gabrielle McFadden confirms by-election run


And the by election following the tragic suicide in Co Meath of a TD which featured his daughter - who was elected.

Helen McEntee wins Meath East by-election


Oh the last one has never had a real job in her life other than working for her dad which of course makes her fully qualified to sit on an important parliamentary committee.

I'd urge people to reject this culture of entitlement and gombeen politics. Cynical party choice of candidates. Nothing has changed.

PLEASE do not support nepotism. There is a reason we are where we are:(

I thought nepotism, croniism, quangoism were what we always did best. FFS is nothing sacred.

Aren't they all political dynasties from Enda down -bit of teaching then take Dad's sit - sorry I meant of course "called to serve the people"

Bubbaclaus

A lot of people enter the same profession as their parents/elder family members.

Shock. Horror.

Phoebas

How is it nepotism to run in a free and open election?
If they were getting a seat on a committee or a ministry because of family ties, that would be nepotism, but simply running for election isn't.

hoodwinked

Bubbaclaus wrote: »

A lot of people enter the same profession as their parents/elder family members.

Shock. Horror.

+1 can you imagine...


Don't go to that Doctor!
but why he's supposed to be the best in this area?
Yeah he is, but his Dad was a doctor, as was his grandfather!

imo as long as they do a great job, are actually hard working and aren't knocking another good candidate out of the way to bring in said family member, or secretary as is the case here in lovely Cork, then i will consider them for a vote even if they are related to someone else in politics.

Phoebas

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

PLEASE do not support nepotism. There is a reason we are where we are:(

Nepotism is what got us into our current state? Really?

sydthebeat

Bubbaclaus wrote: »

A lot of people enter the same profession as their parents/elder family members.

Shock. Horror.

Politics should not be a profession and we shouldn't accept it as such. .

robbiezero

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

FFS

Mary O'Rourke's son to contest by-election

This follows hot on the heels of the sister of the TD that died in Athlone


Gabrielle McFadden confirms by-election run


And the by election following the tragic suicide in Co Meath of a TD which featured his daughter - who was elected.

Helen McEntee wins Meath East by-election


Oh the last one has never had a real job in her life other than working for her dad which of course makes her fully qualified to sit on an important parliamentary committee.

I'd urge people to reject this culture of entitlement and gombeen politics. Cynical party choice of candidates. Nothing has changed.

PLEASE do not support nepotism. There is a reason we are where we are:(

Incorrect use of the word nepotism invalidates your entire post.

bumper234

sydthebeat wrote: »

Politics should not be a profession and we shouldn't accept it as such. .

It should be a hobby?

Triangla

hoodwinked wrote: »

+1 can you imagine...


Don't go to that Doctor!
but why he's supposed to be the best in this area?
Yeah he is, but his Dad was a doctor, as was his grandfather!

What if the Doctor died and the son, who was not a Doctor was 'co-opted' in to do his job.

Would you go to that Doctor for open heart surgery?

I want a person who I voted for to be on the local council or in the Dail.

Not someone I know nothing about who wasn't even on the original ballot.

Nothing wrong with a person running being related to another politician. I do not regard having a politician as sibling/parent as being an election qualification though.

robbiezero

Triangla wrote: »

What if the Doctor died and the son, who was not a Doctor was 'co-opted' in to do his job.

Would you go to that Doctor for open heart surgery?

I want a person who I voted for to be on the local council or in the Dail.

Not someone I know nothing about who wasn't even on the original ballot.

Nothing wrong with a person running being related to another politician. I do not regard having a politician as sibling/parent as being an election qualification though.

Then don't vote for him/her.

Bubbaclaus

sydthebeat wrote: »

Politics should not be a profession and we shouldn't accept it as such. .

Is it a hobby then?

Or a sport?

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

hoodwinked

Triangla wrote: »

What if the Doctor died and the son, who was not a Doctor was 'co-opted' in to do his job.

Would you go to that Doctor for open heart surgery?

I want a person who I voted for to be on the local council or in the Dail.

Not someone I know nothing about who wasn't even on the original ballot.

Nothing wrong with a person running being related to another politician. I do not regard having a politician as sibling/parent being as a being an election qualification though.

i think you missed the rest of my post

imo as long as they do a great job, are actually hard working and aren't knocking another good candidate out of the way to bring in said family member, or secretary as is the case here in lovely Cork, then i will consider them for a vote even if they are related to someone else in politics.

my point is, im am not going to skip the best doctor, just because his dad was one, and the same applies to politician, i'll vote for the one i think is doing the best at his job, regardless of what his relatives have done.

Bubbaclaus

Triangla wrote: »

I want a person who I voted for to be on the local council or in the Dail.

Which is what will happen in these cases?

Phoebas

Triangla wrote: »

What if the Doctor died and the son, who was not a Doctor was 'co-opted' in to do his job.

Nobody is being 'co-opted' in the local elections. Every candidate running for election is playing under the same rules.

sydthebeat

Bubbaclaus wrote: »

Is it a hobby then?

Or a sport?

It should be a short term vocation.

One of our biggest problems in this country is that we have career politicians and if you cannot see the problem with that then you need to do some education.

We should never accept career politicians as it leads then to be much more corruptable... which has been borne out in too many tribunals already.

bumper234

sydthebeat wrote: »

It should be a short term vocation.

One of our biggest problems in this country is that we have career politicians and if you cannot see the problem with that then you need to do some education.

We should never accept career politicians as it leads then to be much more corruptable... which has been borne out in too many tribunals already.

Would you rather a politician with 25 years experience or a politician with 2 years experience?

Phoebas

sydthebeat wrote: »

We should never accept career politicians as it leads then to be much more corruptable... which has been borne out in too many tribunals already.

No tribunal ever found that career politicians are more corruptible than amateurs

Pherekydes

Wait, if you have a close relative in politics (even if they've died) you can't run?

A trip to the dictionary is suggested, OP.

Celly Smunt

We should just ban elections

bumper234

Maybe we should just put everyones name in a hat and whoever gets pulled out is the new TD, Would that work for you op?

anncoates

While I hate the fact that people vote on the basis of family and especially that politicians view a seat as belonging to their family, it's not nepotism.

Davarus Walrus

Does such contempt extend to examples like Toiréasa Ferris and her auld lad Martin 'Valhalla' Ferris, or are we to keep our ire focused on the three main political parties?

Uriel.

Phoebas wrote: »

How is it nepotism to run in a free Gmail and open election?
If they were getting a seat on a committee or a ministry because of family ties, that would be nepotism, but simply running for election isn't.

Oh no Phoebas, not again in another thread.

You had to do it didn't you, that shiny big common sense button, you couldn't resist pushing it could?

mcko

The system is rotten to the core.

Davarus Walrus

mcko wrote: »

The system is rotten to the core.

That sounds like a line Tom Cruise might have uttered in A Few Good Men.

The truth is that the system isn't 'rotten to the core'. Despite the emotive language.

bumper234

mcko wrote: »

The system is slightly flawed.

FYP:D

sydthebeat

bumper234 wrote: »

Would you rather a politician with 25 years experience or a politician with 2 years experience?

i would rather a politician who is in the job for the good of the people, and not one looking for a pay check.

who is to say a politician with 25 years experience is any more competent than one with 2 years???

If you cannot see the problem with career politicians then your part of the problem, not the solution.

Davarus Walrus

sydthebeat wrote: »

i would rather a politician who is in the job for the good of the people, and not one looking for a pay check.

who is to say a politician with 25 years experience is any more competent than one with 2 years???

If you cannot see the problem with career politicians then your part of the problem, not the solution.

Who the hell is going to do the job for nothing?

bumper234

sydthebeat wrote: »

i would rather a politician who is in the job for the good of the people, and not one looking for a pay check.

who is to say a politician with 25 years experience is any more competent than one with 2 years???

If you cannot see the problem with career politicians then your part of the problem, not the solution.

But doesn't EVERYONE who works do it for a paycheck? Or do you work for free? And seriously? Someone with 25 years in politics must be doing something right otherwise they would be voted out at election time.

Maphisto

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

So if the best candidate happens to be related to a former politician that had the seat, deliberately don't vote for them anyway ? Seems stupid.

That's a bit of a straw man argument. With party politics here, until recently anyway, places would likely elect an FF or FG no matter what.

So if Uncle Big Potatoes is big with the establishment its easier to get on the short list, or selected for that consitituency.

A few years down the line maybe you can do the same for little cousin $hite for brains and so the system goes on.

bumper234

Maphisto wrote: »

That's a bit of a straw man argument. With party politics here, until recently anyway, places would likely elect an FF or FG no matter what.

So if Uncle Big Potatoes is big with the establishment its easier to get on the short list, or selected for that consitituency.

A few years down the line maybe you can do the same for little cousin $hite for brains and so the system goes on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackie_Healy-Rae

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Healy-Rae

Guy:Incognito

Maphisto wrote: »

That's a bit of a straw man argument. With party politics here, until recently anyway, places would likely elect an FF or FG no matter what.

So if Uncle Big Potatoes is big with the establishment its easier to get on the short list, or selected for that consitituency.

A few years down the line maybe you can do the same for little cousin $hite for brains and so the system goes on.

No, its exactly what the op is saying. Hes saying not to think about what the person is, just don't vote for them if they are a relative of a current/past politician.

bumper234

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

No, its exactly what the op is saying. Hes saying not to think about what the person is, just don't vote for them if they are a relative of a current/past politician.

Even if you feel that they are the best person for the job?

Phoebas

Maphisto wrote: »

That's a bit of a straw man argument. With party politics here, until recently anyway, places would likely elect an FF or FG no matter what.

So if Uncle Big Potatoes is big with the establishment its easier to get on the short list, or selected for that consitituency.

A few years down the line maybe you can do the same for little cousin $hite for brains and so the system goes on.

Anyone who wants can run in any election they want.
You pay your deposit and take your chance.

Guy:Incognito

bumper234 wrote: »

Even if you feel that they are the best person for the job?

Are you asking if that's my view

Quin_Dub

bumper234 wrote: »

Would you rather a politician with 25 years experience or a politician with 2 years experience?

25 years of experience of what though?

I'd take someone with 20 years experience in business taking a sabbatical to be a TD or Councillor for 5 years over someone with no "real world" experience being a career politician from their early 20's...

Maphisto

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

No, its exactly what the op is saying. Hes saying not to think about what the person is, just don't vote for them if they are a relative of a current/past politician.

I think the OP is more concerned about the system than any individual, but then they can defend their own posts.

If a person was the best for the job fair play to them, no matter who they'/re related to. Though I don't think we have always had the best people in the jobs.

Maphisto

Phoebas wrote: »

Anyone who wants can run in any election they want.
You pay your deposit and take your chance.

Sure and if I wanted to stand for FF or FG because its an FF/FG safe seat, I just pay my money and roll the dice?

Capt'n Midnight

Jobs for the boys wheeeyyyyyy! \o/

Guy:Incognito

Your issue is with the voters then. Do a better job, talk to them and win votes. That kinda what politicians do.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience

OP doesn't understand the word nepotism

Maphisto

Quin_Dub wrote: »

25 years of experience of what though?

I'd take someone with 20 years experience in business taking a sabbatical to be a TD or Councillor for 5 years over someone with no "real world" experience being a career politician from their early 20's...

I agree but I wouldn't limit it to business, how about someone with 15 or 20years nursing experience, AGS, Charities, or caring. Wouldn't we end up with some great politicians?

The system now seems to be that either they have only ever been in politics or they were teachers or lawyers.

Maphisto

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience wrote: »

OP doesn't understand the word nepotism

Well I'd define it as "patronage bestowed or favoritism shown on the basis of family relationship, as in business and politics"

So what is your take on it?