I have no-one to vote for...

Always used to vote Green:o, although was away for the last term so if I return who knows?

FF: Nope, and never have.

FG: Might have been tempted at the last election, but their present performance isn't endearing me to them. Need a much stronger leader

Labour: Probably consider it, depending on the strength of candidate - there's a few ok TDs in there mixed in with some goddamn awful ones (Sherlock, I'm looking at you!)

SF: No, and this is regardless of their violent past. Very very flimsy economically, and much too populist.

Will never vote independents or single-issue candidates.

In the UK, choices are a little simpler, due mostly to the lack of STV-PR.

Lib Dems: Yes, and probably will again despite their current poor showing. Seem to be suffering from being the minor party in government and Tories are able enough to pass the rap for difficult decisions which ends up affecting the swing Lab/Lib Dem vote but not their own core supporters. Absolutely got shafted on the watered-down proportional representation vote:mad:

Lab: Spent too long in government last time (always a bad thing!) and still unsure about them - would consider voting tactically if it meant preventing Conservative getting in.

Tories: No, although they don't actually differ much from Blair's Lab government. I trust the young breed of Tory MP much less than the old guard, just think about who might have influenced a 19yo David Cameron/George Osbourne to get involved in politics.

black francis wrote: »

Having had the pleasure of meeting Mattie a few times through work when he was just a humble Councillor - I'd have to say I'd prefer to be represented by serial crook Michael Lowry.

Anybody who puts forward the idea of devolving more powers (taxation, budgeting, etc.) to local government should take a closer look at their county councillors.

For all the corruption and ineptitude of our TDs, it's my view that this pales in comparison to local government. Because the media don't take the same level of interest in their activites, it's much easier to go under the radar. Look at pretty much every suspect planning decision, would be much easier to bribe/influence a few local councillors than risk it all on one TD, with greater media scrutiny, don't ya think?

Bannasidhe wrote: »

The question is what do we do when the other side isn't sticking to their side of the contract?

Go to the labour court?

Seriously though, I think Ireland is better off without an institution where people get paid six-digit salaries to do a job that is not only unnecessary but harmful to the majority of us.

up for anything wrote: »

That would only work if an abstained vote counted like any other and enough abstained votes would mean that the election would have to be re-run. Expensive and nobody at the helm of the country for a longer time but in the end might help to make them actually work for our votes and remind them to keep election promises.

As for the living expenses for TD's in Dublin - surely there must be some apartment complexes or ghost office buildings within walking distance of the Dail which could be converted into dormitory like accommodation for the TD's. Nothing fancy. Just a bed for the night and self-catering options or a cafeteria ideally run along the same lines as Ikea's. They could also get free or subsidised Bus Eireann/JJ Kavanagh tickets to go and come from their constituency.

But they have no legal obligation to keep election promises. Governments in Ireland can quite easily implement policies with few options for the rest of us other than waiting another five years to vote in someone to do the same. As long as people retain this paternalistic attitude of needing someone to make decisions on their behalves and tell them what they can and can't do, we're always going to have power-hungry politicians selling us lies and favours for votes and comfortable jobs after retirement.

The Oireachtas isn't open 24/7 dealing with issues of urgency; they're hardly ever in work anyway and the country doesn't fall apart so I don't see how the benefit of such an expense. I don't want to try scare politicians into doing a better job. We don't even need them in the first place.

A way someone could decide who to vote for is look at each parties political spectrum. Decide if you are right or left wing ( excluding far right or left wing views ). then make an informed decision from there.