If there were am Irish General Election today who would you give your first preference vote to?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119628765#Comment_119628765

Answered in post #20.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119628593#Comment_119628593

Whereas with SF/IRA it's been a century of non-stop, no warning "booms" and no busts - apart from Mary Lou's impressive contribution.

blanch152

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119628820#Comment_119628820

That is voting for a personality rather than a policy.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119642504#Comment_119642504

Rather than personality/policy, it's ability/policy that would influence my choice.

JaimeBravo1

Voting in this country is like deciding which leg you would like broken

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119628709#Comment_119628709

Thanks to the EU.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119628772#Comment_119628772

The 'punishment' should be decided by the voters who put Troy into the Dáil. And, given the Lowry/Wallace precedents, it's quite likely that his vote will increase in the next election.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119643582#Comment_119643582

It's much more nuanced than that mainly due to our STV system.

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119643582#Comment_119643582

That's quite a ridiculous comment. You vote for the person or party that best reflects your views and wishes.

If you feel that none of the candidates are for you, you have the option to go for election yourself.

If you feel that strongly against the system (given your claim), will you be putting your name forwards?.

Finty Lemon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119643617#Comment_119643617

To large extent, yes. As you allude to, the decision taken by FF to propose EEC membership was pivotally important in the economic development of the country. They were supported by FG at the time, and opposed by SF.

Independent

xxxxxxl

Seems poll has gone wonky not unexpected. Unless red c and them predict SF/FG coalition. Greens seem over represented no surprise there. Lab made me chuckle too.

Brussels Sprout

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119644506#Comment_119644506

The Demographics of a message board website are going to vary from that of the wider electorate. The most obvious difference is that there won't be as many over 65s represented which explains how FF's numbers are so low.

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119644599#Comment_119644599

Stockholm syndrome.

I voted FG myself for 20 years until I saw sense. Power corrupts.

ELM327

FG.

Then voting preferences all the way down the ballot giving a vote preference to anyone credible. Basically everyone except for the lunatic fringe (SF, Greens, Aontu, PBP etc) gets a preference.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119645416#Comment_119645416

A lot of people I know hate the current parties, sick of high taxes, huge expenditure, waste etc but think "SF would be worse". They want right of centre but rather than demanding it they are willing to settle for what they perceive as the least left. Grand - but I stop listening when they moan after getting what they voted for

I'll do what I did in 2020. Ignore candidates from any party in government the past 25 years (FF/FG/Greens/Labour), SF and loons like the Irish Freedom party and vote tactically for all the other candidates. Essentially can I help (and I've only one vote so not naive enough to think it makes that much of a difference) minimise the number of TDs from the aforementioned parties. I think after transfers etc my vote ended up with the SDs in 2020

Cluedo Monopoly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119645673#Comment_119645673

I am the same. I avoid the legacy chancers.

I will vote Catherine Connolly (IND) #1 but I would hope that she will romp home and my transfer goes to the SD candidate.

mikethecop

with all the fake shinnerbot accounts i though they would have 98% 🤣🤣

great work by the mods weeding them out recently

seriously though its a choice between n the lesser of many evils , none of those people should be in power

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119645753#Comment_119645753

Evidently you have a great regard for moralising, virtue signalling and fence sitting TDs!

I foolishly went Sop Dem last time around, but being suckered once was enough for me so I won't be fooled again. After all, if I want non-stop fence sitting and virtuous moralising, then I can always do it all by myself rather than have two recipients of the State Contributory Old Age pension doing it for me, while simultaneously splitting the Party Leaders' allowance between them.

They make me puke.

maccored

anyone who 'tactically' votes should have their vote taken off them. Vote for those who you think will help, not vote for others just to try and prevent the parties you dont like from getting into power. It never works - we just end up with shite governments no-one likes

anyone who 'tactically' votes should have their vote taken off them

How very democratic of you and also utter nonsense, when there's nobody to vote for (see below) it's perfectly ok to vote against someone. Similarly (while I'd not consider it an option personally) spoiling is a perfectly valid choice too - you are showing you want to engage in the democratic process but are essentially saying "non of the above"

Vote for those who you think will help

My idea of what will help is

• loser income taxes (start with lowering the max marginal income tax rate to <50%)
• more people brought into the tax net and a general broadening of the tax base
• prioritising workers over welfare recipients
• lower government spending
• a plan to tackle our debt levels, waste, inefficiency etc in the provision of government services
• introduction of a functional mortgage market including repossessions for non payment
• stop throwing money at the wealthiest cohort in society (over 65s)
• a government that will actually make hard decisions but are optimal decisions in the longer term
• etc. etc. etc

If you find a party proposing even a fraction of the above then let me know, I'll consider giving that party's candidate my #1. Until then....... As things stand every single party is advocating more tax (only on the usual suspects of course) and more spending

In any case after saying the following on my doorstep

• sorry I don't vote for parties that tax incomes at marginal rates of 50% and over - FF/FG/Labour/Greens
• sorry I don't vote for parties that steal from my pension - FG/Labour
• sorry I don't vote for parties that prioritise welfare recipitnets over workers (e.g. repeatedly raising dole by more per week than a worker on the median wage gets in a tax cut - many more examples) - FF/FG/Labour/Greens
• sorry I don't vote for parties that bankrupt the country repeatedly - FF
• My marginal rate of tax is 52%, you want to raise it further. Please get off my property - SF

I hardly think it would be constructive to then vote for the aforementioned parties do you?

It never works - we just end up with shite governments no-one likes

Maybe we'll actually get a right/left divide in Irish politics as a result or the emergence of a non populist party? Who knows but I'm not really happy with how the country has been governed since I entered adulthood, I won't vote for more of the same

maccored

long post that says nothing other than 'i will vote them in and then complain about them'.

Inquitus

FG, next!

Tonesjones

Maybe fg but not with that varadkar gowl as its leader.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119628680#Comment_119628680

And an unashamedly pro unrestricted inward immigration party meaning more competition for property.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119648056#Comment_119648056

Huh? It says nothing of the sort. What do you mean by "them"? I think the next government will be SF/FF or the current incumbents - none of these parties will get a preference from me so I'm not sure how I'll "vote them in and then complain about them"

yours is a short post that shows you didn't actually read the content or don't really want to debate / address anything

Tbh it can be exhausting going round in circles so I'll leave it there for the evening......

😶 🤥

Potatoeman

Voted for FG in the last three elections but not this time, they can’t manage anything. The refugee situation shows they are just as bad a FF and the Galway tent. It’s all about sorting out their mates, big contracts for hotels and jacking up rent prices for themselves. Throw old people under the bus with students.

SF, not a chance. They are just like new Labour, not the workers party but the non workers party. Vote for them if you want increased taxes to pay for forever homes for the perpetually unemployed and even more imported to live off the state.

I’m voting but spoiling my vote as a protest. I’d vote independent but the independent politicians in my area are all socialists, even more than SF.

Subzero3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119649450#Comment_119649450

Don't worry a politician will call out this refugee noncence when the time comes. Its popular now and people are afraid to get cancelled by asking tough questions.

Sweet.Science

Just like they did with covid . The same politicians asking for Zero Covid are protesting this week over the cost of living.