General Election 2016 initial musings

P_1

Time seems right to get the ball rolling on this one. Lets start off generally shall we? To me this election is coming down to a divergence between economic recovery or increased liberalism. I'm going to weigh up the likely choices I'll have on my own menu (Dublin North) next year.

Economic Recovery
Fine Gael Hard to argue that they haven't done a good job here. People are back in work (I'm one of them). Issues like Siteserv and the dodgy dealings WRT the establishment of Irish Water leave me feeling wary.

Fianna Fail Never, never again. Never voted for them before, their actions during the Haughey/Ahern reigns make this somewhat improbable to change.

Labour Too beholden to the likes of the public service unions leaves me wary. I don't think we're in a good enough position to be launching more unsustainable public pay increases.

Sinn Féin The great unknown. Some of their policies would make me feel very wary indeed.

Socialist Too extreme in my eyes.

Liberalism
Fine Gael/Fianna Fail Too conservative, yes they have allowed us to vote on SMM but only after being dragged in kicking and screaming. Also far too fond of kicking the abortion can into row z.

Labour/Sinn Féin/Socialist Tick the boxes as far as I'm concerned. Also the Socialists get a major plus in my eyes for helping to bring the Garda corruption issue to light.

Looks like none of the options do it for me economically so my vote will be primarily determined on liberalism with the order of preference decided on which one's economic proposals I find more palatable.

Thought this would be an interesting idea to spark a bit of a debate. Who are your options? What way do you vote (nationally, local etc)? What do you put a higher value on?

Godge

You have left out the Greens, Renua and Independents of various hues which will be viable options in most, if not all constituencies.

P_1

Godge wrote: »

You have left out the Greens, Renua and Independents of various hues which will be viable options in most, if not all constituencies.

I have indeed, mainly because none of them are realistically going to be a viable option in Dublin North if they are more viable in your own constituencies by all means factor them in your considerations.

FreudianSlippers

I wouldn't be so dismissive of FF - today's resignation may be the spark that gets them really stuck in to reforming the party and what it stands for. Ultimately, the ethos of the party is one which would fit most well with me, but like many others I'd find it extraordinarily difficult to give them a preference at the next GE.

However, I don't believe they are beyond reprieve - if I saw them genuinely put their hands up and "clean" the party, I'd be willing to hear them out. The actions of their predecessors cannot tar the party forever; unfortunately there is enough of the old guard still inside that I'd be sceptical that there has been real change.

Godge

P_1 wrote: »

I have indeed, mainly because none of them are realistically going to be a viable option in Dublin North if they are more viable in your own constituencies by all means factor them in your considerations.

Greens nearly took a council seat in Balbriggan last time out.

David Healy took one in Malahide/Howth, not sure how much of that ward is in Dublin North.

Does anyone know if Trevor Sarjent will run again?

Black Menorca

I will be working with the Labour Party (I will only diverge with them seriously on the 8th and I can live with that) and wouldn't mind another 5 years. As a newbie to the civil service I appreciate how important is it to have Labour in government as FG on their own would leave us to rot on the vine. while I do accept Michael Noonan and Enda have done very good jobs in stormy seas.

Disregard FF at your peril. Their performance in C/KK was very impressive considering the larger than usual turnout of younger 'Hipster' types.

An FF/FG/LAb coalition would be likely in my view. an SF/SP/Rag tag alliance would set us back decades economically.

Keepan Eye

Why do 40% of people not vote? almost Half the country. Maybe they all emigrated ? or is it that they know it will be the same old same old Pantomime we call Dáil Éireann. Its ripe for an Irish version of Spitting Images.

omicron

Latest poll has FG on 28, up 3, and Labour on 10, up 2, not a million miles away from a majority in seats.

Black Menorca wrote: »

Disregard FF at your peril. Their performance in C/KK was very impressive considering the larger than usual turnout of younger 'Hipster' types.

I think people forget that C/KK is a very strong FF constituency, and also that they got less % 1st preferences in the by election than in the GE in 2011, which isn't exactly impressive given it was their worst election ever. They're more or less always going to be 8-10% above national polls in C/KK.

C14N

I wouldn't really be passionately for or against anybody in particular except the Socialist Party who I really dislike. Even then, I wouldn't put anybody as being beyond saving as you have done with Fianna Fail. I used to have a harsher view of Labour but after few years of them in government, they don't seem nearly as radical as I would have expected. Social issues seem to come up quite rarely in Ireland and when they do it usually goes to referendum so I wouldn't be inclined to vote on it at all to be honest.

At the moment I'd probably lean toward FG as number 1. Not mad about them but they do seem to have the stats on their side and I think the country is a lot better off than it was when they came in, even if many bullets had to be bitten to make it happen. Still, I'd probably want to do a fair bit of research before the next election because I'm not dead-set on that yet.

C14N

Keepan Eye wrote: »

Why do 40% of people not vote? almost Half the country. Maybe they all emigrated ? or is it that they know it will be the same old same old Pantomime we call Dáil Éireann. Its ripe for an Irish version of Spitting Images.

People just don't care enough to work up the effort. I honestly think that if you aren't going to put in some time researching what you're voting for, you probably are better off staying at home.

Idbatterim

I wouldn't be so dismissive of FF - today's resignation may be the spark that gets them really stuck in to reforming the party and what it stands for. Ultimately, the ethos of the party is one which would fit most well with me, but like many others I'd find it extraordinarily difficult to give them a preference at the next GE.

They may regain some lost voters, but I personally dont care what they propose and dont want to hear any of their BS, they will never get another vote from me, when any of their politicians come on air, I immediately switch off, I have no interest in anything they have to say...

Economic Recovery
Fine Gael Hard to argue that they haven't done a good job here. People are back in work (I'm one of them). Issues like Siteserv and the dodgy dealings WRT the establishment of Irish Water leave me feeling wary.

I voted for FG and think they have done a bare minimum to acceptable job. The problem here is, our standards are so low, based on decades of poor and populist governance. Will vote for Renua most likely, might begrudgingly give FG a vote. Fg propose taking tens of thousands paying virtually nothing into the system in direct taxes, out of the tax net, sound familiar?

There is a real problem with voters only rewarding income in their pocket's and not other critical issues, transport, affordable housing etc, this suits the governments agenda though...

What are they doing about the housing crisis in dublin except talking about it and throwing out the usual soundbytes that we have been hearing for years? Must be great being in government or a decision maker in the local authority or planning, where you only have to imagine what it would be like, being homeless, moving to a place you hate or living in a place you hate, cutting every luxury out to be able to put a roof over your head... They are so disconnected its beyond belief... These same fools in Dublin city council, think that those issues are up there with their stipulation for apartments to be dual facing...

Keepan Eye

C14N wrote: »

People just don't care enough to work up the effort. I honestly think that if you aren't going to put in some time researching what you're voting for, you probably are better off staying at home.

So True-- you vote 'em in and even though you researched their background they still let you down.

Uncle Ben

P_1 wrote: »

Time seems right to get the ball rolling on this one. Lets start off generally shall we? To me this election is coming down to a divergence between economic recovery or increased liberalism. I'm going to weigh up the likely choices I'll have on my own menu (Dublin North) next year.

Economic Recovery
Fine Gael Hard to argue that they haven't done a good job here. People are back in work (I'm one of them). Issues like Siteserv and the dodgy dealings WRT the establishment of Irish Water leave me feeling wary.

Fianna Fail Never, never again. Never voted for them before, their actions during the Haughey/Ahern reigns make this somewhat improbable to change.

Labour Too beholden to the likes of the public service unions leaves me wary. I don't think we're in a good enough position to be launching more unsustainable public pay increases.

Sinn Féin The great unknown. Some of their policies would make me feel very wary indeed.

Socialist Too extreme in my eyes.

Liberalism
Fine Gael/Fianna Fail Too conservative, yes they have allowed us to vote on SMM but only after being dragged in kicking and screaming. Also far too fond of kicking the abortion can into row z.

Labour/Sinn Féin/Socialist Tick the boxes as far as I'm concerned. Also the Socialists get a major plus in my eyes for helping to bring the Garda corruption issue to light.

Looks like none of the options do it for me economically so my vote will be primarily determined on liberalism with the order of preference decided on which one's economic proposals I find more palatable.

Thought this would be an interesting idea to spark a bit of a debate. Who are your options? What way do you vote (nationally, local etc)? What do you put a higher value on?

You say FG are doing a good job however you denigrate the LP. Both parties are in govt at the moment if you haven't noticed and both parties are beholden to the PS unions. Wait until the new legislation is introduced in relation to collective agreements etc. FG will vote this through as will LP. However, it suits your post to try and make it look as if FG are on their own. They are not.

Idbatterim

You say FG are doing a good job however you denigrate the LP. Both parties are in govt at the moment if you haven't noticed and both parties are beholden to the PS unions. Wait until the new legislation is introduced in relation to collective agreements etc. FG will vote this through as will LP. However, it suits your post to try and make it look as if FG are on their own. They are not.

they are to an extent beholden by the unions, because they know they wont get a majority and that their preferred partners are Labour (so they throw Labour and by extension, themselves a bone) (It also happens to suit them on another front politicians pay is benchmarked against some of the higher grade PS pay if I am not mistaken), so buy one sector off, at least PS pay increase sorry "restoration" is a far more worth cause than welfare and OAP increases IMO...

I think its fair for him to say FG did a good job, I would say they did a bare minimum job, depends on your perspective. In my opinion, they would have done a far better job if they werent hamstrung by Labour and had a majority...