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Could Fine Gael be pushed to the right?

2456

Comments

  • #32
    Wanderer78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,670 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123739721#Comment_123739721

    irish voters are largely centrists, with a sprinkle of left and right, some of course are more left, and some more right, but largely centrists, resulting in largely the same type of government formations, but its very likely we ll more back to more right leaning policies, so get ready for rising crime, and more social instability, tis all good!



  • #33
    XT1200
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 169 ✭✭XT1200


    If you keep the rich wealthy enough and the poor starving, then you can remain in power by sprinkling breadcrumbs for the poor on the run-up to the election so that they vote you back in Being hungry erases bad memories.



  • #34
    Podge_irl
    Moderators, Sports Moderators, Paid Member Posts: 30,867 Mod ✭✭✭✭Podge_irl


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123739799#Comment_123739799

    Not sure what fantasy land you're talking about, but it certainly isn't Ireland.



  • #35
    dulpit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,601 ✭✭✭✭dulpit


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123739511#Comment_123739511

    I didn't demonise you as far right, I just observed that within the Irish context your views are way off to the right. What you view as "common sense" is politically not popular here.

    As for the main question about moving FG to the right - if that happened then the result would simply be less votes for FG and more for FF to make up for that.



  • #36
    Thelonious Monk
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,927 ✭✭✭✭Thelonious Monk


    Wait Temple Bar is dangerous now? I passed through it today and already it's full of the college football crowd. It's always busy with tourists. Should they leave?



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  • #37
    Geuze
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,655 ✭✭✭✭Geuze


    FG, who are meant to be centre-right in Ireland, would now be to the left of the Democrats in the USA.

    48.1% marginal income tax on below average wages. Bonkers.



  • #38
    JP Liz V1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 92,394 ✭✭✭✭JP Liz V1


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058422237/could-fine-gael-be-pushed-to-the-right

    I think with the current leaders no but I think if an older minister was leader for example if Jim O C took over as FF leader which is doubtful they could perhaps be more centre right (If I am understanding the terms correctly)

    I think what we need is a decent opposition party, Aontu and Independent Ireland are making the right noise but do not have the numbers, SF went from a superb performance in GE 2020 to subpar in GE 2024 and I do think that was because of their on the fence immigration stance

    To think Michael Collins is seen as the foundation father of FG, what would he think of the party and it's current leader Simon Harris today, is Harris the worse leader ever

    In summation, I would say no about FG being pushed to the right



  • #39
    Nody
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,567 CMod ✭✭✭✭Nody


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123740714#Comment_123740714

    And here we hit the crux of the question; the fact there is not a "decent opposition party" with "the right numbers" after all these decades shows exactly how big the actual interest among Irish voters are on the subject. There is simply people standing in their silos screaming that Ireland wants a more right wing party yet the actual voters (i.e. the once who can make it so) never materialize to make it happen. If that's the case why would any sane politician want to go further right to actively lose voters (as proven election after election the "hidden mass" of right wing voters that is brought up so often never actually show up)?



  • #40
    breezy1985
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,551 ✭✭✭✭breezy1985


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123740145#Comment_123740145

    Thats true of all centre right European parties and pretty much always has been.



  • #41
    facehugger99
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 7,998 ✭✭✭facehugger99


    The Irish electorate have consistently demonstrated they don't want a center right party - it's why the likes of FG have moved so far to the left.

    Most people want big Government that will be involved in all aspects of life - I think we love having people telling us what to do.

    Of course, ironically, the vast majority here hate the notion of having to pay for big-Government which unfortunately means we've pissed away the bonanza of cash we've received over the years from the FDI sector while simultaneously becoming one of the most indebted nations on the planet.



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  • #42
    Everlong1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,172 ✭✭✭Everlong1


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123743551#Comment_123743551

    Voters have never been given the option of voting for a centre right party unless you count the PD's who did get substantial amounts of votes in their early years. I'm talking about a respectable centre right party not racist thugs who obviously don't attract substantial votes because most Irish people aren't racist thugs.



  • #43
    dulpit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,601 ✭✭✭✭dulpit


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123745089#Comment_123745089

    Renua tried, they failed. PDs failed. There isn't a lot of independents you'd put in the further right of fine gael bucket either.

    If there's no market for it, why would a party tack right?



  • #44
    Everlong1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,172 ✭✭✭Everlong1


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123746178#Comment_123746178

    Renua failed because they had no real identity outside of being opposed to abortion which was always doomed to limit their appeal in this day and age.

    If, as many people are claiming on this thread, most people in Ireland don't care about crime and immigration, then why did Fine Gael and Fianna Fail start talking tough on both issues at the last election? Could it possibly be because - shock, horror - people on the doorsteps were expressing their concerns about both? Why did Aontu - another party founded by an anti - abortion idealogue - have crime and immigration front and centre in their election publicity?



  • #45
    dulpit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,601 ✭✭✭✭dulpit


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123746394#Comment_123746394

    I never said people don't care about crime or immigration. I think there are people who abound online who think it's a much much bigger deal than the vast majority of people think.

    Fine gael and Fianna Fail both lost vote percentage in the last election and aontu accounted for less than 4% of the vote (and 2 seats total), so I'm not sure if they're good examples to be giving really...



  • #46
    OneEightSeven
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,441 ✭✭✭OneEightSeven
    MEGA - Make Éire Great Again


    I'm opposed to multiculturalism and believe we need remigration but FG and FF can go as far-right as they want and I still wouldn't vote for them due to their policy on one-off housing.



  • #47
    Francie Barrett
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,197 ✭✭✭✭Francie Barrett


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123740145#Comment_123740145

    Crazy levels of taxation for a booming economy where we're constantly told how rich we all are.

    I have no expectation FG will pivot right. If anything, I think they will continue to be dragged to the left. If the corporation tax revenue ever dried up, they would be the type who would prefer to increase taxes rather than cut spending.



  • #48
    dulpit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,601 ✭✭✭✭dulpit


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123789489#Comment_123789489

    We have clear evidence of the "success" of cutting spending from austerity. Why any party would even consider going back there is beyond me.



  • #49
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 96,053 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123739090#Comment_123739090

    Have we forgotten about Renua already ?

    A party to the right of Fiana Gael on some issues. Didn't really work out.

    PR means that in a five seater your vote can transfer to one of the top six candidates, five of whom will be elected.



  • #50
    Idbatterim
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,522 ✭✭✭✭Idbatterim


    Ffg can do one. They literally have morphed into one, they have effective total grip on power. Why bother doing anything, when you can just do nothing and maintain power ? I wont be voting in the presidential election. The " quality " of candidate, tells you everything you need to know about the state of politics in this country. Every few years, they come looking to the peasants, when they need our vote, THEN, they get obscene pay and pensions and do absolutely nothing for the next few years ( actually thats a lie, they produce plenty of shiny " plans ) . Its some gig... politics in this country is a disgrace and i dont want any of those wasters, darkening my door again...



  • #51
    Idbatterim
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,522 ✭✭✭✭Idbatterim


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123789703#Comment_123789703

    Abortion finished them . Would love if a new party with a good leader formed, now that abortion put to bed... the way irelabd us going,hopefully we see a new centre right party soon . My current political choices ranging from the left, to far left, isnt very appealing...



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  • #52
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 74,122 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123794652#Comment_123794652

    Abortion created them. They were a single issue party.

    You've been banging the drum for them for a decade, continually ignoring that the party only existed for one thing.



  • #53
    dulpit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,601 ✭✭✭✭dulpit


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123794652#Comment_123794652

    If you are looking for a "centre right" party and saying that the current options are left or far left, then I think you really mean you want a far right party.

    Fine gael and Fianna Fail are, in an Irish context, Centre right.



  • #54
    Cyclingtourist
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,163 ✭✭✭Cyclingtourist


    In comparison to most European countries FG is a left party, in U.S. terms it's far left. To answer the OP's question, no I doubt it very much, not to say they couldn't move rightward on isolated issues. There's a populist streak in most Irish political parties.



  • #55
    Idbatterim
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,522 ✭✭✭✭Idbatterim


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123795278#Comment_123795278

    What relevance is it in am irish perspective ? An obscene welfare state, free luxury accomodation and marginal tax rates, that even hit ow incomes ? Left wing... more concerned about those on welfare than those paying for it... left wing...



  • #56
    Rocket_GD
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,599 ✭✭✭Rocket_GD


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123795419#Comment_123795419

    Remind us again who you voted for in the last General Election?

    Wasn't it was FF & FG, the parties that you claim to despise? Odd that.



  • #57
    Idbatterim
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,522 ✭✭✭✭Idbatterim


    I despise all of them, like a large chunk of the country...



  • #58
    Rocket_GD
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,599 ✭✭✭Rocket_GD


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123795961#Comment_123795961

    Yet you chose to give your endorsement to the government that you despise?

    Can you explain why you chose to vote for them if you despised them?



  • #59
    dulpit
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,601 ✭✭✭✭dulpit


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123795419#Comment_123795419

    Who's getting free luxury accommodation?



  • #60
    Everlong1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,172 ✭✭✭Everlong1


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123795419#Comment_123795419

    The idea that FFG are centre right is nonsense alright. I think people have lost sight a bit of my original intention in starting this discussion though. My opening position was that FFG are both centre left for all practical purposes, but FG historically have been more aligned with centre right policies. Given this, my proposal was that anyone who was seriously interested in agitating for centre right policies would be better served joining FG and trying to change that party from within, since starting a new party is all but impossible and there is currently no existing Irish moderate centre right party. Does anyone think this is feasible?



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  • #61
    Everlong1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,172 ✭✭✭Everlong1


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123796399#Comment_123796399

    Before we ran out of luxury hotels, anyone who turned up at Dublin airport and claimed to have no passport was getting it. "Guaranteed" by Roderic O'Gorman in his infamous multiple language tweets linking to the asylum policy paper guaranteeing own door accommodation to all the new arrivals.



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