The State of Our Democracy.

Not even remembering how or why you voted seems moronic to me.

Do you know why you started this thread?

“Fine Gael has a clear credible jobs plan which will create 20,000 jobs every year over the next four years by focusing on spending cuts rather than job-destroying tax increases. We will invest in our future through our NewERA plan to pump €7 billion in green infrastructure. We will invest in small and medium sized businesses through a new partial loan guarantee scheme which will give them the credit they so desperately need. In addition, we intend to abolish the lower rate of employer PRSI to encourage the creation and retention of jobs.



“No economy has ever taxed its way back to recovery. Our budgetary plan will not increase income taxes, the 12.5% corporation tax or taxes on employment. We remain committed to reducing the Budget deficit by 2014 and our goal is to achieve a current budget surplus. By cutting down on waste and inefficiency Fine Gael will keep the Old Age Contributory and Non-Contributory Pensions at itheir current level. Working-age payments to carers, the blind and the disabled will also be maintained. We will minimise further reductions in job-seekers’ payments and other working age social welfare payments by getting more people back to work, and by reducing the massive levels of fraud and administrative cost in the current welfare system.

“Fine Gael is convinced that the public sector has a crucial role to play in Ireland’s future. Public service is about enriching the lives of people and helping the most vulnerable in our society. But Fine Gael also believes that reform is essential. Put simply, Government must become smallerand Government must perform better. Government has to deliver better value in order to reduce the deficit, avoid job-destroying tax increases and protect frontline services. As part of this reform Fine Gael will: Abolish 145 state bodies and companies; reduce the total public service headcount by 30,000 by 2014 compared to 2010 while protecting frontline services; introduce a salary cap of €200,000 for everyone; gradually dismantle the HSE and FÁS, and create a single, more powerful Competition and Utilities Commission to champion the consumer.

“In order to have the moral authority to take the tough decisions that will need to be taken, the political system must first look to itself.Fine Gael will implement the most ambitious programme for political reform since the 1930s. We will reduce the total number of Oireachtas members by a third by abolishing the Seanad and cutting the number of TDs by 20. We will significantly strengthen Freedom of Information; establish a “whistleblowers charter”; register all lobbyists; create a new Electoral Commission; amend the constitution to give Dáil committees full powers of investigation and strengthen the power of local government. Fine Gael is serious about political reform, it is overdue and the people are rightfully demanding it.

“Our health system has been broken for many years and Fine Gael has a plan to fix it. FairCare will gradually dismantle the HSE and replace it with a system of Universal Health Insurance (UHI) starting in 2016, based on the very efficient Dutch model of healthcare. Once UHI is fully introduced the unfair and inefficient two-tier health system will be eliminated. Under the Fine Gael system hospitals will be paid for the number of patients they treat rather than giving block grants (Money Follows the Patient). We will introduce more affordable GP care by opening up contracts to all qualified doctors. Fine Gael will reduce waiting lists by establishing a Special Delivery unit, which reports directly to the Minister, to better manage waiting lists.

“Fine Gael’s 5 Point Plan to Get Ireland Working can work, and will work. I believe that there exists within the Fine Gael team the talent and energy to implement the change of direction needed in Ireland to allow this country get back on it its feet.”

This is what we were promised.

Democracy? And there's me thinking that I live in a Republic.

But doesn't democracy mean people have the right to chose whether to vote or not?

Wacker The Attacker wrote: »

I drew a big cock and huge hairy balls with drops off cum dripping out of it.

So basically what you're saying is that you thought it was a load of b0ll0cks then?

donegal_man wrote: »

Under the Juries Act 1976 an employer is obliged to allow you to attend for jury service and to treat you as if you were at work while on jury service so removing yourself from the electoral roll was unnecessary

Or you could just tell them you can't do jury duty because you're out of the country on the date they give you.


I want to know what the OP's opinion of the topic is now that they've sobered up.

Wacker The Attacker wrote: »

I drew a big cock and huge hairy balls with drops off cum dripping out of it.

Was it easily recognisable as 'cum' or will they just think that you're taking the piss!

Mr Whirly wrote: »

Not in the real world.

Seems pretty real to Mr Justice Carney (link). Anyway there there are plenty of exemptions available including being so vital to your employer that you cannot be released for jury duty that removing yourself from the democratic process seems a rather extreme reaction. My last comment on this as I don't want to drag the thread off topic