Why hasn't dole and the number of TDs been cut?

marko_polo1234 · 02-09-2012 09:14PM #1

Hi there,
I am trying to figure out why social welfare hasn't been cut and why the number of (the useless) TDs haven't been cut. I mean, i do understand that there are alot of families that have to survive on a weekly shoestring budget but for those unemployed that don't take jobs because the social welfare system pay is so good - I think it's a f***in' disgrace . Alot of dole lifters also qualify for rent allowance, free Brilliant QUALITY council housing/apartments and get the medical card. SOME (not all) unemployed have it very handy and they don't have to pay any household charge nor water charges. I have an alright job but I have to work long hours and then my take home is almost half of my gross pay and that's before I've my bills paid, I sometimes wonder why I bother but I do love my job.

Also why on earth do we have so many TDs?? They get huge amounts of pay from their 'expenses' and they do sweet fa. For example if I were to ask them to try and fix a broken street light or pothole in the road they'd laugh at me. I think the amount of TDs employed in this country should be halved but they should then take on more responbilitys to help their counties.

If the government took action on these two issues they could use the money and put it into education , health and slowly but surely reduce their taxes.

Rant over. Thoughts anyone?

Slydice · 02-09-2012 09:24PM

They don't cut the Dole cos they're scared of their ****s about the amount of votes they'd lose.

They are looking at cutting the number of TDs. It was in the news a while back with something to do with the boundary commission:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0621/breaking14.html

They are also supposed to be getting rid of all the senators when they abolish the Seanad. I think we're waiting on a referendum for that one:
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0724/1224320710856.html

Sponge Bob · 02-09-2012 09:59PM

The number of TDs has been cut ....next time out. The thread title is in fact WRONG!

Sadly if the next time out is later this year then Fidelma Healy-Eames could still be a Senator ......shudders!

n97 mini · 02-09-2012 10:08PM

Misread this, thought it was about TDs' salaries being cut.

€92,000 + expenses and plenty of time for golf. Nice.

ninty9er · 02-09-2012 10:10PM

marko_polo1234 wrote: »

For example if I were to ask them to try and fix a broken street light or pothole in the road they'd laugh at me. I think the amount of TDs employed in this country should be halved but they should then take on more responbilitys to help their counties.

Are you fucking shitting me??

A TD's only responsibility (if not one of the 15 members of Government) is to make, amend, abolish and reform the laws of the land.

The have literally no responsibility (or authority) whatsoever for anything else (if not one of the 15 members of Government).

You wouldn't even cover the payroll of the 7 universities for 3 weeks if you cut 100 TDs. This is the usual populist bull**** from the self same people who vote for crap general election candidates, or don't bother at all.

Lantus · 02-09-2012 10:49PM

The number of TD's is prescribed in the constitution, and to amend that is a headache so they dont worry about it.

In a monetary society we generally vote for who will make us richer, most TDs know an understand this well. Social welfare represents a good percentage of the voting electorate so to cut that would be voting suicide for any party. This is why income tax has not risen.

Party politics is a corrupt and borken system. Today we have 158 TD's debating and voting on law. In principle its a wonderful system but as all parties enforce party whip (TDs are told how to vote; they DONT choose) you could have 7 TD's (4 in government and 3 in opposition and the result would be much the same. With a majority the ruling government gets its way. The off chance of one 'rebel' TD in government would allow the opposition to win though. In that sense its still 'democratic'

Its that rubbish a system.

monkeypants · 02-09-2012 10:54PM

marko_polo1234 wrote: »

I am trying to figure out why social welfare hasn't been cut

It's been cut twice unless my memory is failing me.

Solair · 02-09-2012 11:06PM

marko_polo1234 wrote:

For example if I were to ask them to try and fix a broken street light or pothole in the road they'd laugh at me. I think the amount of TDs employed in this country should be halved but they should then take on more responbilitys to help their counties

and rightly so! You appear to be confusing national legislators with local councillors!

If we stop treating TDs like councillors they might stop acting like them!
They are national legislators not pot-hole fillers!

Scortho · 03-09-2012 08:41PM

To quote James Freeman Clarke, A politician thinks of the next election; a statement of the next generation. A politician looks for the success of his party; a statesman for that of his country. The statesman wishes to steer, while the politician is satisfied to drift.

This may explain why a lot of necessary stuff hasn't been carried out.

skafish · 03-09-2012 09:27PM

ninty9er wrote: »

Are you fucking shitting me??

A TD's only responsibility (if not one of the 15 members of Government) is to make, amend, abolish and reform the laws of the land.

The have literally no responsibility (or authority) whatsoever for anything else (if not one of the 15 members of Government).

You wouldn't even cover the payroll of the 7 universities for 3 weeks if you cut 100 TDs. This is the usual populist bull**** from the self same people who vote for crap general election candidates, or don't bother at all.

Are you sure? From everything I've seen, a TDs only resposibility is to publicly agree with the latest government plan (if in power) or to argue loudly (if in opposition). And most importantly, tell asmany lies and kiss as many babies as it takes to get re elected

Telchak · 03-09-2012 09:39PM

Surely this is satire?

salokin · 03-09-2012 09:47PM

One reason you don't "cut the dole" or lower social welfare benefit is because the rise in unsocial behaviour and crime would possibly lead to a more expensive outcome. For example compare Sweden (a country with a high social welfare budget) to America (low). Imagine how much tax money is spent on paying for police and prisons in America. We live in a democracy not a dictatorship.

In fairness social welfare could possibly be reduced but with food, bills and transport not actually decreasing people obviously need money. Cuts don't actually help societies. A better option would possibly to have a more enforced option to study or train. In a few years when this recession is gone it would greatly help Ireland if it had an educated and skilled workforce. Most people who were working during the boom and are now unemployed would gladly work again I'm sure but can't. (worst recession of the state) So cutting these people would seem selfish and unrealistic.

Also not cutting the dole to save votes is wrong as the lowest turnout of voters is statistically usually from low income / unemployed. The previous government elections was a slight exception where people were so angered that more people voted aganist FF resulting in a large amount of independent / socialist politicians were voted for.

Qualitymark · 03-09-2012 09:56PM

If you want to start cutting, what about a one-off emergency action saying the State will pay no employee, including politicians, over €50,000 until the crisis is solved?

And wouldn't it be more to the point to get some jobs into the country?

Godge · 03-09-2012 10:25PM

Qualitymark wrote: »

If you want to start cutting, what about a one-off emergency action saying the State will pay no employee, including politicians, over €50,000 until the crisis is solved?

And wouldn't it be more to the point to get some jobs into the country?

What planet are you living on?

For a start, who in the IDA would continue to work for €50,000? Then who would get those jobs for you?

And what happened the notion of people in the private sector creating jobs without interference or assistance from the State?

Qualitymark · 03-09-2012 10:29PM

Godge wrote: »

What planet are you living on?

For a start, who in the IDA would continue to work for €50,000?

Only the patriots.

Godge · 03-09-2012 10:39PM

Qualitymark wrote: »

Only the patriots.

Go back to Utopia, in the real world people who cannot be fired will not work with a 50% pay cut, they will sit there, that is what would happen with the IDA.

And anyway, how come it would be fair to reduce everyone to €50,000? Would a principal teacher receive the same as a teacher with 10 years service? Would the garda commissioner receive the same as an ordinary garda with a good bit of overtime? Would a consultant receive the same as a senior nurse?

Such a suggestion is completely unworkable, built on fantasy, and treating public servants and their families more harshly than anyone else in Ireland. Where is the fairness in that?

southsiderosie · 03-09-2012 11:11PM

marko_polo1234 wrote: »

Hi there,
I am trying to figure out why social welfare hasn't been cut and why the number of (the useless) TDs haven't been cut. I mean, i do understand that there are alot of families that have to survive on a weekly shoestring budget but for those unemployed that don't take jobs because the social welfare system pay is so good - I think it's a f***in' disgrace . Alot of dole lifters also qualify for rent allowance, free Brilliant QUALITY council housing/apartments and get the medical card. SOME (not all) unemployed have it very handy and they don't have to pay any household charge nor water charges. I have an alright job but I have to work long hours and then my take home is almost half of my gross pay and that's before I've my bills paid, I sometimes wonder why I bother but I do love my job.

Also why on earth do we have so many TDs?? They get huge amounts of pay from their 'expenses' and they do sweet fa. For example if I were to ask them to try and fix a broken street light or pothole in the road they'd laugh at me. I think the amount of TDs employed in this country should be halved but they should then take on more responbilitys to help their counties.

If the government took action on these two issues they could use the money and put it into education , health and slowly but surely reduce their taxes.

Rant over. Thoughts anyone?

MOD NOTE:

Yes - this is not the place for ranting and raving.

Thread closed.

Why hasn't dole and the number of TDs been cut?

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