Fine Gael Demographic

SF would have been shut out until FG FF tried coalition IMO. They might cling to power again if the numbers stack up and they can find a few extra independents etc.

Problem for FF and FG now is how do they answer the question, 'will you go into a coalition again with each other?' They won't get away with pretending they won't anymore. They will suffer if they campaign on the status quo arrangement and one or the other will take the fall for this government if they go on 'we won't do that again' ticket.

Tricky one to negotiate.

Are they not kinda there already?

I missed this epic comment.

So you propose we get in greater and greater debt? Who do you think will continue to lend to us? Do we pay interest on these borrowings at all? This is hilarious stuff.

What happens if the new coalition do get a handle on the crisises that are decimating the power swap? The gambit to stay in opposition looks a bit more like hari kari if that happens.

I don't know if they can usher in a new way, but I'm so fed up with the incumbents I am willing to give it a go. There are more like me every day, judging from the polls.

FF and FG need to realise a proper coalition is about compromise. The people are saying in GE's that they want a bit of both, i.e. what FF or FG are offering and what SF are offering. Coalition is not about one dominant and the other subordinate. That is just how we have been conditioned to see them. For instance, here is the motion in front of the SF Ard Fheis tomorrow, which will probably be spun as a nefarious undermning of the state, but is there really anything to fear in this? Why would any democrat not want this?

You’re raising what should be a serious matter of concern to FG and FF. Two apples from the same tree, FFG have been in power for generations and have created modern Ireland. As an older person who consistently voted FG when I lived over there, I have been bitterly disappointed by the failure of both parties to manage housing in Dublin, a crisis that has been allowed to fester for three decades. It’s like they’re spectators to what’s happening and the only time they seem to get seriously involved is to humour the nimbys in their constituencies to stop housing going up. Sinn Fein’s appeal to young Dubliners with no particular interest in the North is not mysterious; they talk about the real problems people under 40 face. I was never a fan of theirs but I’ve run out of arguments against them.

What changes in income tax are you proposing, and what party will deliver it?

Income tax in Ireland isn't the worst and a lot of people can avoid paying some with generous pension tax breaks.

Sinn Fein want to remove the tools the state had to put in place to combat terrorism and organised crime. Whether that is nefarious or not depends on whether you think those things are an issue, I guess.

I think everyone would do well to remember that, political parties, media and voters themselves.

Too often issues that affect a minority are spun as the issue of the day

yes, in the modern world, debt is our money supply, without it, no mon, no fun! in order to increase and maintain economic activities, someone must be taking on debt in some form, this is done by either the private sector, via credit markets, and when governments run a deficit, i.e. exactly what we done when covid hit, as the private sector was unwilling/unable to take on the debt at the time. the previous economic crash has yet again shown us, running our economies primarily on private debt, i.e. credit, has become too dangerous and too unstable, so we now must embrace further public debt, to try reduce these dangers and instabilities, once again, this is done when our governments run a deficit.

currently the ecb is buying up government bonds, creating government bonds is how governments effectively increasing the public money supply, i.e. public debt, this is how we can 'afford' it! rates are currently at record low levels, some are in fact negative, i.e. we re effectively being given money to spend, and we wont have to pay the full amount back over time. central banks are currently in a difficult position, our economies are so vulnerable at the moment, an increase in rates could in fact trigger economic slow downs, possible even recessions, i.e. they may not be actually able to raise rates for the foreseeable, and i suspect if they do, they ll be forced to reduce them again, due to the above, so rock on with the bonds!