who should we as the farmers be voting for in the election

GERMAN ROCKS · 08-02-2011 10:54PM #1

well who will bring us the best for the farmers. what td actually knows anything a bout agriculture. i always thought mairead mcguinness was very clued in but not sure if she is running in this election.

seanmacc · 08-02-2011 11:12PM

Sinn Féin's economic policy is geared to actually having our economy producing stuff as opposed to becoming "competitive" which will get us a couple of thousand call center jobs. Give it look.

Stay clear of the greens they'd tax you on the methane emissions on your cows if they could. FG, Labour and FF are trying to let each other hoot themselves in the foot and are not giving a crap about the rural voter at the moment.

blue5000 · 08-02-2011 11:15PM

Might be easier if you asked who should we not vote for in this election?

Sinn fein/labour = possible property/land tax
Fine failure = been there done that
greens= even more useless
Fine gael: enda factor, imagine him in Brussels

That leaves indo/ local hospital candidate:pac:

LostCovey · 08-02-2011 11:42PM

blue5000 wrote: »

That leaves indo/ local hospital candidate:pac:

Yeah, I'd love to live in a country run by Jackie Healy-Rae types.

ihatetractors · 08-02-2011 11:48PM

As they say, Wexican first irish second. Ignored in the good times, so who ever does the buisness for me localy gets my vote. mind there's a few off my list starting off. Tis a sad state of affairs realy this parish pump mentality.

Come to WEXICO, we aaah have(aaah one or two) nice beaches and not much else

BeeDI · 08-02-2011 11:50PM

LostCovey wrote: »

Yeah, I'd love to live in a country run by Jackie Healy-Rae types.

You have been! Bertie buying votes from every parish pump prat and every union in the country. He should be held in the same high esteem in this country as Cromwell.

funny man · 09-02-2011 12:07AM

ihatetractors wrote: »

As they say, Wexican first irish second. Ignored in the good times, so who ever does the buisness for me localy gets my vote. mind there's a few off my list starting off. Tis a sad state of affairs realy this parish pump mentality.

Come to WEXICO, we aaah have(aaah one or two) nice beaches and not much else

Is there not a contradiction in there?

djmc · 09-02-2011 12:07AM

LostCovey wrote: »

Yeah, I'd love to live in a country run by Jackie Healy-Rae types.

jackie is not running but his son michael is

:D:D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVRYzqvRtww&feature=player_embedded

funny man · 09-02-2011 12:19AM

I'm not affiliated to any party but there is no easy way of saying this but i think the country is crying out for a real alternative, i've read through all parties policy documents and there all full of details on how many jobs they will create and how much money they will save but to my mind there is very little between them, e.g. all are commited to 40%-50% renewables with little or no knowledge on what excess power is really worth!. I deffinety won't be voting FF or SF but i cant see any difference only changing faces, and voting independant is destroying our democratic system, major decisions being held ransom to demands of the few.

ihatetractors · 09-02-2011 12:33AM

funny man wrote: »

Is there not a contradiction in there?

Ye kind thats kind of what i was hinting too.

johngalway · 09-02-2011 08:34AM

FG for me.

FF don't deserve the time of day after ploughing the country headfirst into where we are, never saw it coming my arse. Anyone who'd put that moron Smith in charge of Ag is a disaster anyway.

SF policy is daft, use the 19bn pension reserve fund to pay for a what, 40-50bn cost economy, then no plan for the next four years, tell the EU to piss off, burn the bond holders and not be able borrow money at reasonable rates, yeah right.

Labour? nope. Too cosy with the Unions.

Greens........................................................................................................................................................................................................ :rolleyes:

whelan1 · 09-02-2011 09:51AM

not alot of choice here , gerry adams:eek: will make sure i go out to vote just to try to make sure he doesnt get in, fergus o dowd(fg) is the best of a bad lot, peter fitzpatrick (fg) and louth gaa manager is there too , but i dont feel he is really a politician. At least dermot ahern is gone , i hated him with a passion

reilig · 09-02-2011 10:00AM

funny man wrote: »

I'm not affiliated to any party but there is no easy way of saying this but i think the country is crying out for a real alternative, i've read through all parties policy documents and there all full of details on how many jobs they will create and how much money they will save but to my mind there is very little between them, e.g. all are commited to 40%-50% renewables with little or no knowledge on what excess power is really worth!. I deffinety won't be voting FF or SF but i cant see any difference only changing faces, and voting independant is destroying our democratic system, major decisions being held ransom to demands of the few.

My thinking is along the same lines. I loathe FF for what they have done to this country and cannot wait to see the back of them. If Fg had a different leader I'd support them - Kenny is such a dope and has proved that this week. How can he expect to be the next leader of the country when he's afraid to defend his policies and ideas against other party leaders???

On top of that FG have failed to run a candidate in our County (Leitrim) for the second election running. I think its bad form for them to run 2 candidates from Roscommon and expect us to vote for them. Will these candidates, if elected, not be more favourable to their own local people, parishes, towns and county??? If they are being lobbied fors omething by a group of people from leitrim and another group from Roscommon, will they not choose the county that they live in.

Not being affiliated to a party, how should I vote?? Should I give my no.1 to a local person that knows me and my family (regardless him/her being independent or in a political party) or should I vote for a Fg candidate that lives 40 miles away from me, knows nothing about me etc. ????

I don't think labour are a rural party. They have little or no agricultural policies and I don't see them putting Agriculture at the top of their priorities.

5live · 09-02-2011 10:04AM

i know that feeling whelan1. We have SF spokesman on agriculture,who does know a bit about agriculture , but is an economic basket case. An ex GAA man whose sole ambition is to be minister of fun(tourism and sport). A FF man who believes in the ground war but spent most of the war underground. A labour candidate whose claim to fame is that he is related to an ex labour leader. Jackie may be(is?) a south kerry gombeen but he has done more for north kerry than the rest put together and multiplied by the budget defecit:D. I should vote FG but will vote labour to keep FF out:(. Now im depressed

BeeDI · 09-02-2011 10:20AM

5live wrote: »

i know that feeling whelan1. We have SF spokesman on agriculture,who does know a bit about agriculture , but is an economic basket case. An ex GAA man whose sole ambition is to be minister of fun(tourism and sport). A FF man who believes in the ground war but spent most of the war underground. A labour candidate whose claim to fame is that he is related to an ex labour leader. Jackie may be(is?) a gombeen but he has done more for north kerry than the rest put together and multiplied by the budget defecit:D. I should vote FG but will vote labour to keep FF out:(

Im thinking like you, in that in this election the two important things are kick in the hole to FF, and keep Labour out or as low as possible.
So the way I have calculated it is as follows.

1. FF, are going to get slaughtered. Good.
2. Considering 1 above, the next most important thing for me to do is minimize Labours influence in the next government when they will likely be partners with FG.
So I'm going to vote FG, even though I have no time for Kenny.
Imagine Labour getting very strong vote, and getting their dirty taxing hands on Finance Minister portfolio. FFS:mad:

I will probably vote FF as second as third / fourth choice, as this would further help dimish the influence of parish pump independents

whelan1 · 09-02-2011 10:25AM

BeeDI wrote: »

Im thinking like you, in that in this election the two important things are kick in the hole to FF, and keep Labour out or as low as possible.
So the way I have calculated it is as follows.

1. FF, are going to get slaughtered. Good.
2. Considering 1 above, the next most important thing for me to do is minimize Labours influence in the next government when they will likely be partners with FG.
So I'm going to vote FG, even though I have no time for Kenny.
Imagine Labour getting very strong vote, and getting their dirty taxing hands on Finance Minister portfolio. FFS:mad:

I will probably vote FF as second as third / fourth choice, as this would further help dimish the influence of parish pump independents

what about sf

5live · 09-02-2011 10:27AM

BeeDI wrote: »

Im thinking like you, in that in this election the two important things are kick in the hole to FF, and keep Labour out or as low as possible.
So the way I have calculated it is as follows.

1. FF, are going to get slaughtered. Good.
2. Considering 1 above, the next most important thing for me to do is minimize Labours influence in the next government when they will likely be partners with FG.
So I'm going to vote FG, even though I have no time for Kenny.
Imagine Labour getting very strong vote, and getting their dirty taxing hands on Finance Minister portfolio. FFS:mad:

I will probably vote FF as second as third / fourth choice, as this would further help dimish the influence of parish pump independents

Im not too worried about labour in power tbh. Gilmore is pandering to the undecided floating vote with his 'Im against that sort of economic stuff' but will change when he gets power. He has no choice. Our hands are tied for at least 4 years if things go according to plan. Probably longer if not. Just remember this folks. THESE ARE THE GOOD DAYS!!!!. E9 billion more in cuts and taxes coming whoever is in power:o

johngalway · 09-02-2011 10:50AM

reilig wrote: »

Not being affiliated to a party, how should I vote?? Should I give my no.1 to a local person that knows me and my family (regardless him/her being independent or in a political party) or should I vote for a Fg candidate that lives 40 miles away from me, knows nothing about me etc. ????

I don't agree that distance has any bearing. A vote in the constituency is a vote in the constituency. The nearest FG candidate to me is 35 miles away, and is doubtful to be elected, the two FG most likely to be elected are 50 miles from me, with the other of the four also in the city.

But, and this is my point, people have to make an effort to get out and meet their politicians as well as the effort the politician has to make to be at meetings, hold clinics and so forth.

reilig · 09-02-2011 10:59AM

johngalway wrote: »

I don't agree that distance has any bearing. A vote in the constituency is a vote in the constituency. The nearest FG candidate to me is 35 miles away, and is doubtful to be elected, the two FG most likely to be elected are 50 miles from me, with the other of the four also in the city.

But, and this is my point, people have to make an effort to get out and meet their politicians as well as the effort the politician has to make to be at meetings, hold clinics and so forth.

But all of these are in the 1 county. What they do and get for Galway will go to Galway. If the FG TDs in my constituency have to make a decision on something to go to Roscommon or Leitrim, naturally they will choose Roscommon - because that is where they come from and they will choose to serve their local area best. Would you blame them??

09-02-2011 11:05AM

I'll be voting Fine Gael all the way.
FF had this country on auto pilot during the tiger and the minute they had to do something,they bolluxed up the country by showing themselves up as being incompetent.
I know Kenny's not a good performer on TV but he's a good background guy and thats what you want and not someone that spends a 100k a year on make up.

Meanwhile...

The U.S. Department of Labor claimed a small Georgia farmer was not paying
proper wages to his help and sent an agent out to investigate him.

Dept. of Labor employee: I need a list of your employees and how much you
pay them.

Farmer: Well, there's my farm hand, who's been with me for 3 years. I pay
him $200 a week plus free room and board.

Then there's the mentally challenged worker. He works about 18 hours every
day and does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes about $10 per
week, pays his own room and board, and I buy him a bottle of scotch every
Saturday night so he can cope with life. He also sleeps with my wife
occasionally.

Dept. of Labor employee: That's the guy I want to talk to.....the mentally
challenged one.

Farmer: That would be me.

BeeDI · 09-02-2011 11:07AM

reilig wrote: »

But all of these are in the 1 county. What they do and get for Galway will go to Galway. If the FG TDs in my constituency have to make a decision on something to go to Roscommon or Leitrim, naturally they will choose Roscommon - because that is where they come from and they will choose to serve their local area best. Would you blame them??

You are right. Take the greens for example. Minister Gormlely planned to approve the extension of Limerick city boundary, several miles into county Clare, to capture some of the more densly populated areas in Clare.
Why? Because Greens will get a hell of a lot more votes in Limerick city than they will get in the whole of Clare.
This dickhead, was thinking only about future green votes, not the actual good of either Limerick city or county Clare.
Imaging having two of our best senior hurling clubs swallowed up by Moyross :mad::mad:

theaceofspies · 09-02-2011 11:11AM

The "parish pump" syndrome is the greatest Irish con job ever. Local TD's getting entitlements for people that they are already due but in most cases do not receive due to an ineffective public sector who are supposed to be run by the very Government that the local TD is a member of!
Have no affiliations whatsoever and we all know about the evil of FF (some of us have known about their philishopy for years). The contradiction of them calling themselves the Republican Party is straight out of the D'Unbelievables.
The mantra is to categorise Irish Citizens into Class A and Class B; those within and outside de party.
Labour are now in the grip of the unions and the private sector (farmers included) will play second fiddle to the very powerful public sector under them if they are in power. Labour have lost their roots and that is a great pity.
That leaves the rest... take your pick of a bad lot.

johngalway · 09-02-2011 11:11AM

reilig wrote: »

But all of these are in the 1 county. What they do and get for Galway will go to Galway. If the FG TDs in my constituency have to make a decision on something to go to Roscommon or Leitrim, naturally they will choose Roscommon - because that is where they come from and they will choose to serve their local area best. Would you blame them??

Not necessarily. Galway West is split between Connemara and Galway city pretty much. Now, how much in common do you think those two areas have? Might as well be separate counties. Both FG candidates most likely to be elected are from the city, Mervue for Walsh, and Oranmore for Healy Eames. It's up to the voters to press their elected representatives on issues that affect them. There ain't much oil about these days but the squeakiest wheel is still in first place to get it. A vote is still a vote and all votes are important to politicians.

F.D · 09-02-2011 11:17AM

Will not be voting for greens or labour, after that i have to make up my mind, there is a young independent, in our area thinking strongly about voting for him depending on what he promises, but mainly because he is young and not influnced by anyone nor in anyones pocket (well that i know of) maybe thats what we should be all doing voting in young driven people in our area what everside they lie with ? maybe its the only way we'll get real change! out with the old in with the new

reilig · 09-02-2011 11:34AM

BeeDI wrote: »

Imaging having two of our best senior hurling clubs swallowed up by Moyross :mad::mad:

Shotguns instead of Hurly's.

:D:D:D

theroad · 09-02-2011 11:59AM

John Dillon is running here as an independent. Would you vote for him? Otherwise it's a Limerick Collins for FF (no way), James Heffernan for Labour and 3 (three!) FG candidates. There must have been fur and feathers flying at that selection meeting. No SF or Green.

I am considering spoiling my vote. There should at least be an option for "none of the above".

pakalasa · 09-02-2011 12:46PM

BeeDI wrote: »

......Imaging having two of our best senior hurling clubs swallowed up by Moyross :mad::mad:

Not too far from me, so.
Funny, but true. The biggest opposition would be from GAA clubs.
I'm just inside the Limerick border myself, in good old Clare. Try telling someone around here, they're in Limerick, and they'd shoot ya!

dasheriff · 09-02-2011 01:30PM

Our electoral area has been changed this year we are now with north kerry..There is only one canditate from limerick as far as i know,the rest are kerry men,Iv no problem with this as my local TDs from before did feck all for us anyway..We have 2 fg, 1 labour,1 sf and 1 ff as far as i know,I think ill give the first 2 to FG 3 to SF (as he will get in anyway) and keep the other 2 as far back as i can, But to be honest i dont really care because i think they are all useless..

5live · 09-02-2011 01:37PM

dasheriff wrote: »

Our electoral area has been changed this year we are now with north kerry..There is only one canditate from limerick as far as i know,the rest are kerry men,Iv no problem with this as my local TDs from before did feck all for us anyway..We have 2 fg, 1 labour,1 sf and 1 ff as far as i know,I think ill give the first 2 to FG 3 to SF (as he will get in anyway) and keep the other 2 as far back as i can, But to be honest i dont really care because i think they are all useless..

Welcome to kerry. Any good footballers/hurlers just drop a line:D. And yes they are ALL crap. Only 5 candidates and all barely able to walk AND talk. Can i join up with limerick county? Please? Please please please....

hurling_lad · 09-02-2011 02:45PM

Haven't decided who I'll vote for yet, but I reckon a vote for an independent standing on local issues would be a wasted vote.
The likely FG/Lab coalition will have over 100 TDs backing it and no money to splash around, so I doubt that any independent will be able to get anything delivered for his/her constituency (à la Healy-Rae/Lowry) in the next Dáil.

If the numbers of seats for FF (low thirties), SF (mid teens) and independents (mid teens) turns out as many commentators currently think they will, we could well end up with a very poor opposition in the next Dáil and very little prospect of a change of government at the election after this one.

In terms of choosing a government, the only question that, seemingly, remains to be answered is what will be the relative numbers of FG and Labour TDs in the next ruling coalition and, thus, what kind of bargaining power and influence they will have over the direction of the government and, crucially the balance between tax increases and spending cuts in the next few budgets. I believe that the policy that is of most importance to farmers in this election is taxation, so FG will probably get my vote on the grounds that they will leave me with the most money in my pocket.

reilig · 09-02-2011 03:24PM

hurling_lad wrote: »

If the numbers of seats for FF (low thirties), SF (mid teens) and independents (mid teens) turns out as many commentators currently think they will, we could well end up with a very poor opposition in the next Dáil and very little prospect of a change of government at the election after this one.

.

I don't honestly think that a FG + Labour Coalition will be strong and the opposition cannot be any weaker than the opposition that has been there for the last 14 years be it FF or a load of Independent candidates.

How will FG and Labour agree on things? FG's biggest election promise is a huge raft of redundancies in the Public Service. Labour are Pro Union and pro Public Sector. How will they agree on any cuts or reforms?? Will it be just a messy argueing government that doesn't get anything done.

I'm hopeful that this will be only a short term intermediary government that will only last a year or 2. Then hopefully 1 of the 2 parties (FG and Lab) will have got their act together with a proper Leader, proper policies and proper and fair plans that will benefit people that want to work and make this country great and make us want to vote for that party. As a farmer I'd like to see this being Fg as I feel that they are more representative of farmers and have a better understanding and vision for the future of Agriculture and the role that Agriculture can play in getting this country out of recession. But they'll need to get rid of that muppet first and replace him with someone credible and someone who is respected because right now Fg are failing to swing the non party voters because of him.

While I am aware of the need to get FF out, I feel that the most changes that this election will bring will be a change in faces rather than the economic fortunes of this country. While the election is important, it won't change an awful lot in the short term (4 - 5 years). We're still going to have high unemployment, a poor health system, high emigration, a banking system that's Fcuked up and tax system that penalises the middle class and takes little or nothing in comparison from the highest earners in this country.

But its what FG and Lab do over the next 2 or 3 years - be it actions or plans that will determine if or how we will get out of this mess. And this will ultimately determine if they will have good election results and hold power in the future . . .

. . . . OR NOT.

who should we as the farmers be voting for in the election

Comments