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What ARE you willing to have cut?

123468

Comments

  • #152
    TwoShedsJackson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,438 ✭✭✭TwoShedsJackson


    Galtee wrote: »
    Bizarre assertions.

    OK, what do you think is the reason that pensioners are not targeted in Budgets?


  • #153
    Galtee
    Closed Accounts Posts: 577 ✭✭✭Galtee


    TwoShedsJackson wrote: »
    OK, what do you think is the reason that pensioners are not targeted in Budgets?

    To be fair I haven't really thought about it but if I was pushed on the issue I would say it's because they get little enough as it is and whilst it's more than enough for some pensioners it's not enough for others but the scheme has to be designed to catch the poorest pensioners and so there's really no margin to play with.


  • #154
    Thanks Whore
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11 ✭Thanks Whore


    ejmaztec wrote: »
    New low for AH, children=pets.

    Perhaps there should an annual kid-licence.

    Lol, this reminded me of Dana saying it's a new low for the media in destroying her presidential campaign. As if THAT's the worst media has done.

    You clearly haven't been around long. Athough with 17000 posts I'd imagine you have


  • #155
    aido179
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 431 ✭✭aido179


    Why is it such a bad thing to have some money in this country. FFS you'd swear it was got from mugging people in wheelchairs.


  • #156
    TwoShedsJackson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,438 ✭✭✭TwoShedsJackson


    Galtee wrote: »
    To be fair I haven't really thought about it but if I was pushed on the issue I would say it's because they get little enough as it is and whilst it's more than enough for some pensioners it's not enough for others but the scheme has to be designed to catch the poorest pensioners and so there's really no margin to play with.

    It would be a bit nicer if that were the case but think about the political system, and, in particular, our politicians.

    Politicians have two aims in their career: 1) Get into power. 2) Stay in power.

    They get in by promising they will fix anything and everything that is wrong with the country.

    They stay in by buying votes, basically, it's how FF won three elections before 2011. If you are middle or upper class, or above a certain age, you are far more likely to vote. As a result, politicians will pander to you and do things that will make you likely to vote for them in the future.

    Conversely, people with a lower standard of education, or who are working class are less likely to vote, with the result that they are the ones being targeted for cutbacks. Politicians are counting on voter apathy. They don't have to please everyone, and they can't, they only have to please somewhere over 40% of the voters.

    With voter turnout being 60% odd, that means they only have to make about 30% of the total electorate in this country happy in order to stay in power, and they can do that easily enough by pandering to the middle classes and pensioners.


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  • #157
    Noffles
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,549 ✭✭✭Noffles


    Social Welfare Cut it.

    Why is it so much higher here than in the UK?

    Why will it not be cut this budget

    There are so many out of work cutting these payments it makes sense... doesn't it?


  • #158
    Galtee
    Closed Accounts Posts: 577 ✭✭✭Galtee


    TwoShedsJackson wrote: »
    It would be a bit nicer if that were the case but think about the political system, and, in particular, our politicians.

    Politicians have two aims in their career: 1) Get into power. 2) Stay in power.

    They get in by promising they will fix anything and everything that is wrong with the country.
    Agreed. It sickens me. But what sickens me even more is that people fall for it every single time but then we do live in a country where people are shocked each year when it rains in May, June, July and August.
    TwoShedsJackson wrote: »
    They stay in by buying votes, basically, it's how FF won three elections before 2011. If you are middle or upper class, or above a certain age, you are far more likely to vote. As a result, politicians will pander to you and do things that will make you likely to vote for them in the future.

    Fianna fail got into and stayed in power primarily because of die hard fianna fail voters who would vote blindly regardless of what was going on at the time. Now it's all different with very few die hard votes guaranteed anymore so that really means that everyone is on the table for cutbacks except seemingly the super rich.
    TwoShedsJackson wrote: »
    Conversely, people with a lower standard of education, or who are working class are less likely to vote, with the result that they are the ones being targeted for cutbacks. Politicians are counting on voter apathy. They don't have to please everyone, and they can't, they only have to please somewhere over 40% of the voters.

    I find people who fall into this bracket usually vote Sinn Fein or Labour which wasn't an issue up until last/this year as they never really bothered the big two all that much. but again that's all changed now.
    TwoShedsJackson wrote: »
    With voter turnout being 60% odd, that means they only have to make about 30% of the total electorate in this country happy in order to stay in power, and they can do that easily enough by pandering to the middle classes and pensioners.

    Middle classes as you put it have been hit the worst over the last 3 years so they definitely haven't been pandering and given there's another 3 years austerity planned it looks as if they won't get a chance to pander running up to the next election either.


  • #159
    Cee-Jay-Cee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,234 ✭✭✭✭Cee-Jay-Cee


    All allowances/benefits should be means tested using PPS numbers and not declared income, if persons on benefit/welfare are earning over XXX amount then they should be taxed accordingly.

    Ban legal aid for anyone charged with public order offences were alcohol are involved. Legal aid applications should also be based on income as recorded against their PPS number and not some random number made up by the defendants solicitor.

    If non irish people find themselves in court and require a translator, they should have to pay for it themselves. They came here knowing this is an english speaking country, why the fúck do they then think theyre entitled to have a translator provided for them at extorionate cost (and in many cases its purely to frustrate the court in the hope their supposed ignorance of the language will excuse them from understanding the laws)

    Ministers/TDs should have a flat rate of pay, they chose to do the job so why do they now think that they have to be re-imbursed everytime they step outside their own front doors. Cut all allowances, if they dont like it then resign and let someone willing to do the job for a reasonable salary put themselves forward and be voted in.


  • #160
    Galtee
    Closed Accounts Posts: 577 ✭✭✭Galtee


    Noffles wrote: »
    Social Welfare Cut it.

    Why is it so much higher here than in the UK?

    Why will it not be cut this budget

    There are so many out of work cutting these payments it makes sense... doesn't it?

    You can't just do a direct one to one comparison of the welfare rate in UK and Ireland.


  • #161
    noodler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,824 ✭✭✭✭noodler


    Galtee wrote: »
    You can't just do a direct one to one comparison of the welfare rate in UK and Ireland.

    Generally, picking our biggest trading partner and closest neighbour is quite a good reason for comparison.

    Taking minimum wage, price differentials etc into account and the UK rate is still alot lower.


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  • #162
    srsly78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,157 ✭✭✭srsly78


    The UK welfare gives a load of other benefits too (not just rent allowance either). Comparing dole vs dole isn't showing the whole picture.


  • #163
    Galtee
    Closed Accounts Posts: 577 ✭✭✭Galtee


    noodler wrote: »
    Generally, picking our biggest trading partner and closest neighbour is quite a good reason for comparison.

    Taking minimum wage, price differentials etc into account and the UK rate is still alot lower.

    What has his got to do with anything? You need to factor in cost of living indexes, it doesn't matter whether you trade glances with them, unless you factor in the cost of living indexes then you don't have a comparison metric.


  • #164
    ahal
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 536 ✭✭✭ahal


    I think talk of cuts is premature ... while we have the Croke park agreement.

    The CPA is something we can't afford and it should have been binned.


  • #165
    AeoNGriM
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 712 ✭✭✭AeoNGriM


    Mike 1972 wrote: »
    Look at why it costs so much to keep a prisoner locked up and why it is necessary to have such a high ratio of prison staff to prisoners ?

    Round up all junkies, skangers and headers and chain them together. Then, bayonet the first one and push him into the liffey, pulling the rest in with him.

    Zero tolerance for crime. Instant roadside executions for anyone caught comitting a crime, regardless of it's severity.

    Don't like it? Then fcukoff somewhere else.


  • #166
    mattjack
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,389 ✭✭✭mattjack


    whats a header ?


  • #167
    hatrickpatrick
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,798 ✭✭✭✭hatrickpatrick


    We need just over 3bn in cuts this year.
    Last week, the government paid almost 1bn to tantrum throwing gamblers who chose of their own free will to buy Anglo bonds and don't deserve a scrap of support from the government or the taxpayer.
    Next year, they are due to pay almost 2bn more to them.

    So obviously, the answer to the OP is that I'd slash child benefit, reintroduce college fees and close down A&E units all over the country.
    Anything's worth it as long as the 1% don't have to taste reality, ever.
    Isn't it?


  • #168
    Fran1985
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 470 ✭✭Fran1985


    TwoShedsJackson wrote: »
    OK, what do you think is the reason that pensioners are not targeted in Budgets?

    because they're the only one's to get off their ass and do something about it. Remember their protests a few years ago. them and the students, but some students see it as a day off, while others are there for the trouble. You have some merit in what you say about pensioners, however your "lets pay social welfare to keep crime down" is nonsense


  • #169
    AeoNGriM
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 712 ✭✭✭AeoNGriM


    mattjack wrote: »
    whats a header ?

    A bit like a skanger, only they dress a little less.....skangerish. Just as equally disgusting and repugnant though.


  • #170
    Overature
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 908 ✭✭✭Overature


    here lads, the government needs to take back control of all the oil and gas we have out west. mine the **** out of it and sell it. that would get rid of out dept in no time


  • #171
    AeoNGriM
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 712 ✭✭✭AeoNGriM


    I just had an odd thought : What if Kenny and Gilmore are trolling this thread looking for ideas? Look for any 1 or 2 post newbies, and watch them close...........


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  • #172
    Squall19
    Closed Accounts Posts: 565 ✭✭✭Squall19


    Toad-Girl wrote: »
    20euro a night for four nights is eighty euro. There goes all my travel and food money for the week.
    '

    You drink 20 cans a night?:D


  • #173
    TwoShedsJackson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,438 ✭✭✭TwoShedsJackson


    Fran1985 wrote: »
    You have some merit in what you say about pensioners, however your "lets pay social welfare to keep crime down" is nonsense

    Nowhere did I say that's what social welfare should be getting used for, I was describing the system as it actually works in Ireland today.


  • #174
    super_furry
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,383 ✭✭✭✭super_furry


    I'd really like to see rent allowance slashed as it's artificially inflating the rental market.


  • #175
    dillo2k10
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,397 ✭✭✭dillo2k10


    Dean09 wrote: »
    The next 2 are somewhat controversial but should be considered in some detail but carefully regulated and monitored....
    Legalize cannabis ( I don't smoke weed so this isn't for personal/selfish reasons.
    Legalize prostitution. (This would have to be extensively regulated. I'm not 100% sure on this one myself but it could be considered.)

    Prostitution isn't illegal in Ireland.


  • #176
    professore
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,849 ✭✭✭professore


    Stinicker wrote: »
    as should people connected to Fianna Fail.

    You mean 70% of the country then? Amazing how now no-one ever voted for them. Hypocrites the lot of you.


  • #177
    professore
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,849 ✭✭✭professore


    This oil and gas thing is ridiculous. If it's out there for the taking at giveaway tax rates, then why are there not hundreds of oil and gas wells pumping it out of the ground as we speak ???

    Sure we could also tax our billions of tonnes of silver, diamond, coal, and platinum reserves too, we could bail out Italy and Spain!


  • #178
    Fromthetrees
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,846 ✭✭✭Fromthetrees


    Burn the bondholders.:o


  • #179
    mikeym
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,989 ✭✭✭mikeym


    I would means test the children's allowance, the fact that were paying for kids that don't live in this country is a joke.

    I would introduce a chewing gum tax aswell, most of the people who buy chewing gum are irresponsible litter louts :mad:

    Theres also too many useless daddies that dont pay a cent in maintenance to thier kids which Is picked up by the tax payer.

    The seanad should be scrapped. (Thought that was one of Endas election promises)

    There too much top brass in the army slash the numbers.

    Long-term dole recipients should be given half dole after 5 years.

    Dont know why non eu nationals are entitled to social welfare. Does that mean these people came to Ireland to sponge off the system?


  • #180
    Ponster
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,912 Mod ✭✭✭✭Ponster


    > What WOULD you cut?

    I'd shut down a few army barracks.


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  • #181
    Mike 1972
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,018 ✭✭✭Mike 1972


    AeoNGriM wrote: »
    Zero tolerance for crime. Instant roadside executions for anyone caught comitting a crime, regardless of it's severity.

    Are you claiming to have never committed any crime in your life because if so youre either a self deluded hypocrite or an outright liar.


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