What should politicians/policy makers do to fix the country?

xpletiv wrote: »

The current generation, as in the 18-30 bracket, are amongst the best educated and intelligent people on the planet. We have been lucky to have an excellent education through primary, secondary, and college levels of schooling, much, much more than the generation before us, and probably better than the generation to follow due to our cuts and debts. So as radical as it seems, I believe that all politicians over the age of 40, with no third level education, be immediately terminated from the government. This is because they have little or no clue about what the country needs. We can see this through the cuts towards education and yet investment in multinational corporation.

What member of the government doesn't have a third level education? Also, isn't 40 (or age limits of the sort you are suggesting in general) a tad arbitary? Why not 39, or 41?

xpletiv wrote: »

Indiginous companies need to be generated. Start giving much, much better tax breaks to irish companies than to the MNCs. Otherwise, continue to see our best and brightest emigrate to other countries that give better offers. This generation is well educated and international; when we see some opportunity internationally, we are more likely to go for it due to the poor chances here.

If we abandon the free trade model in favour of the sort of protectionism you talk about, we would be stoking other countries to tarrif our exports. Double edged sword.

xpletiv wrote: »

Expenses - cut them all. We, as the working people of Ireland, should not be paying these people for cushy lives, which they have. There is no excuse and I believe that the Irish people (yes, you me and all) are as much to blame for letting it get to this stage. Cap at 100k and no other expenses. Nothing. Everything comes out their own pocket; see smaller B&Bs and cheaper hotels suddenly start to get more business due to politicians have to spend their own money. Got to open a school in Galway Enda? Get a bus or drive yourself; no helicopter or private driver. These people are just people; they should not have been allowed to get on this pedistal, especially seen as how poor a job has been done in the last few years.

Hate to burst your bubble, but the only politicians with drivers etc are the President, the Taoiseach, the Tainiste and the Minister for Justice. The reason it was put in place was because the drivers would be part of their Garda close protection team. This was due to the threat of terrorism - twould be quite the coup for a dissident republican group or a loyalist thug band to get their hands on the Minister for Justice, wouldn't you think? All other politicians including other cabinet ministers make their own arrangements.

I'd be of the opinion that they should be harder to get, and all without fail vouched. Dublin deputies don't need them. Kildare/Wicklow deputies might be subsidized the price of their bus/DART ticket unless they have a damn good reason for needing to subsidize the car, and an independent body verifies it. Everyone else, some arrangement (again independently verified) depending on their situation and distance.

I don't particularly feel anyone should have to pay out of their own pocket just to do their job - that goes for whatever the job. That's why I'm not quite as hardline on this as you.

xpletiv wrote: »

Dole - Cut off after 6 months if no work is found for 1 month. Saves a bundle and will get people back working. Be more forceful; dont reduce the amount, because thats at its tether already, but reduce the amount of time in a row that people can claim it. People are lazy; get a job in Tesco or a bar or something for wages. Staying on the dole for 2 and 3 years+ is inexcusable.

Because cutting people off to starve won't create a social explosion that would make the London Riots look like a tea party at all, would it?

Idiotic, right-wing crankologist suggestion. I agree that the system we have isn't fit for purpose - starving people who can't find work in 6 months isn't a solution. There are less jobs than there are people here - that includes "jobs in Tesco or a bar or something for wages".

Crack down on people working while claiming the dole would be one viable solution. Automatic enrolement in a jobsbridge scheme or the like after 6 months claiming jobseekers would be another. Starving people - not so much...

xpletiv wrote: »

Party Whip system - agree with above. Abolish, makes a mockery of democracy.

The whip system is there to ensure that politicians can't fall prey to becomming lobby fodder for special interests. What you get in its absence is auction politics - look at the special (generally moneyed) interest pandering that goes on in the US Senate and House if you want to see that in action.

Loosen the whip considerably? Yes.
Get rid of it altogether? No - it would basically destroy democracy and replace it with legalized bribary.

xpletiv wrote: »

Keep drink cheap, dont increase smokes any more. These are tough ones for people to deal with; we need something in these troubled times. There are particular other substances that could be legalised to generate money as well and I think Ireland is ready for this. We are an intelligent population; we can make our own decisions.

This should be our national priority right now is it? Are you under 17 by any chance?

xpletiv wrote: »

Diplomacy - Stop being so darn cowardly. Play more hardball with Europe.

I can see how that conversation would go...

Kenny: "My people have told me to stop being so cowardly and to start playing hardball with you, so that's what I'm going to do!"

Merkill: "Hmm... OK, do you have any bargining power to speak of? Natural resources to trade? Are you of any major foreign policy importance, like Israel is?"

Kenny: "Eh... no on all fronts"

Merkill: "I see... and I notice you rather stupidly socialized all your enormous private banking debts a few years ago - can you afford to keep your State running without cash injections from us. You know - hospitals, police, schools, etc?"

Kenny: "That would be a no too..."

Merkill: "I see, well fcuk off then!"

xpletiv wrote: »

Banks - No more bank bailouts. Bring those responsible to trial. No more cowardice.

And if the banking system collapses, what do we do then? What do you reckon would be the result of such a move a week, a month, a year after we let our banking system completely collapse?

I want to see those responsible brought to trial more than anything else in the world - every cell in my body wants it. But it's a job for the Gardai and the Courts - the politicians can't put anyone in jail, and it's probably a good thing too.

No more cowardice in terms of what precisely?

Foxhound38 wrote: »

I can see how that conversation would go...

Kenny: "My people have told me to stop being so cowardly and to start playing hardball with you, so that's what I'm going to do!"

Merkill: "Hmm... OK, do you have any bargining power to speak of? Natural resources to trade? Are you of any major foreign policy importance, like Israel is?"

Kenny: "Eh... no on all fronts"

Merkill: "I see... and I notice you rather stupidly socialized all your enormous private banking debts a few years ago - can you afford to keep your State running without cash injections from us. You know - hospitals, police, schools, etc?"

Kenny: "That would be a no too..."

Merkill: "I see, well fcuk off then!"

The Germans are the core creditor state at the heart of the Euro. They would have to sit up and take notice if peripheral states decided to stop subsidising foolish decisions made by their banks to lend money to Anglo etc.

The basic problem with the Euro is that money was loaned across national borders without restriction therefore it became profitable for German banks to borrow cheaply domestically and lend to the periphery such as Ireland. Now that these loans have gone bad the Germans use their political power to force the periphery to socialise bad debts and enhance recovery for their banks.

Take a look at who was lending to Treasury:

"Hypothekenbank Frankfurt now plans to appoint David Hughes and Luke Charleton of Ernst & Young as joint receivers to finalise the sale of the properties."

http://www.independent.ie/business/commercial-property/kennedy-wilson-set-to-win-battle-over-306m-property-portfolio-29394140.html

A good start would be to end the bank guarantee and exit the Euro. A re-entry could be negotiated if the Euro became a proper currency union at some stage in the future.

Foxhound38 wrote: »

And if the banking system collapses, what do we do then? What do you reckon would be the result of such a move a week, a month, a year after we let our banking system completely collapse?

The banking system has already collapsed in case you hadn't noticed. Better to do something drastic now to promote recovery rather than wait around 5 years to make the same decision.

Educating everybody and aiming towards making people skilled in IT is short sighted. Ireland already has a very high rate of education as a result of millions upon millions being spent on grants, investment into Universities, lecturers etc. Currently the colleges seem to be churning out graduates who leave the country and ply their trade elsewhere. So, what is the Return on Investment?

Ireland needs to invest in entrepreneurs and seek out the most talented individuals and backing them. We should get away from providing "highly skilled and educated" people to work in multi-nationals that setup in the country and focus on setting up our own multi-nationals that generate Billions a year.

Privatize some of the colleges, look at cutting grants for degrees in areas which are of little or no benefit to the long term planning for the country. Only hire lecturers with decent Industry experience in their field and a proven expertise, ensure they contribute to their area of work in a meaningful way during their tenure, if they do not, let them go and they hurt more than they help.

Introduce greater transparency in policy making in the country, make application processes for planning approval, off-licences, lotto license etc. more transparent.

Cut the dole slightly and cut income tax.

Improve the hospitals and roads outside of Dublin.

Invest in mental health care and research ways to reduce the number of those with substance abuse problems. Also invest in Tourism, making tours of all our attractions among the best in the world and complete the coastal road.

Garzard wrote: »

For me there's hundreds of ideas. I'll therefore l just list a few of some.

1: Our Education System

I'd probably start by fixing our education system. I think introducing an IT Program at secondary school is a brilliant idea since that's what most Irish jobs in the future will be centred around. Plus, they should scrap Irish and Religion out of the system completely - let people spend their own time and money learning Irish outside of school. Both subjects are outdated and a waste of tax payer's money. Make the system similar to Finland's.

I think the whole process of entry into third-level should be changed too. Instead of it being all about a points race and huge competition that leaves countless students each August devastated, (including myself) entry into a course should depend on interviews or entrance exams. Those who get the highest results will be accepted.

2: Our Welfare System

I agree with many that our social welfare system rewards people for being lazy. I remember listening to the Adrian Kennedy Phoneshow a while back discussing this and one fella rang in and claimed that he's been on the dole since the mid-60's! IMO those who are long term unemployed, let's give it 2.5 years should gradually be penalised with welfare cuts which I think would greatly discourage laziness.

Although I'm not sure how this would be properly implemented, I've always thought making people work for their dole is a great idea as well. Imagine having 400000+ people doing community service or cleaning our streets etc.

3: Abortion Laws

I know the abortion discussion has been done to death. While this probably wouldn't improve the country per se, I think abortion in Ireland should be legalised on demand. It's the only way to end the debate and we might as well since thousands women travel abroad to have terminations anyway. While it would be hugely controversial at first, I think even the extreme pro-lifers would in time get used to it if the government refused to budge on a decision like this.

4: Our Natural Resources and Renewable Energy Potential

I was annoyed to see people protesting over the planned Corrib pipeline. (Are they ongoing?) There may be billions worth of profitable oil and gas off our West coast. The government should ignore these protests and extract the oil /gas that we have. It's not doing any good just sitting there, plus it'll provide local unemployed people with hundreds of jobs. There should also be more investment to look for more fossil fuels.

As well as making Ireland cleaner and setting an example for other countries, many thousands of jobs could also be created if the government decided to invest in more renewable energy projects as well, mainly in hydroelectricity and wind power. Install a more significant number of charging stations too, and it may encourage more people to purchase electric cars.

5: The Defence Forces

While most people will probably argue that the DF are already a huge waste of money as it is, I think the government should enlarge them, especially with regards to the NS and Air Corps. If the many ways of saving money in this country were brought about, a bigger DF could certainly be afforded. We're a developed country, we should be able to defend our own airspace and coastline. This is proof that we are not serious about our neutrality. I like Switzerland's system - they have conscription as well as professional military training for all, and those who finish their service can take home their weapons and use them in the event of an invasion. Switzerland is serious about it's neutrality.

1 - I agree with you, except the points about scrapping Irish and Religion. An eduication should not be just about getting into a university, ergho everything surpluss is useless. Leave it as optional, if a student wishes to study them, they sdhould be there. We`re supposed to be providing and education, not a training course.

2 - The Adrican Kennedy guy was, like a lot callers, a paid actor paid to troll you. Don´t be so niave - the system is fine as it is, it`s just not implemented. If someone is on the dole for two or three years, but can prove he`s been activelz jobseeking, he should have be allowed to sign on more than a guy who`s been there for three months and hasn´t lifted a finger.

3 - Not really relevant, as you pointed out, but fair enough.

4 - Bit of a NIMBY argument - you can´t just steamroll over peoples´ lives and ban protests and expect them to be greatful because you´re bringing resources to someone else.

5 - Bit of a pipedream really - I mean, if someone`s invading us, we`re going to be invaded, like it or not. We´re an isalnd with a small scattered population.

Deleted User wrote: »

Join the Commonwealth. I know the historical argument against this but it will give us a biennial opportunity to develop relations with Canada, Australia and New Zealand. We are closer to Sydney than Stockholm.

Really quite pointless. We already have an established relationship with the UK. There is not much further scope for increased trade with the rest of the Commonwealth given that we operate within the EU trading bloc.

Unless you propose leaving the EU in order to forge closer links with those international heavyweights, Vanuatu, St. Kitts & Nevis and Nauru. Cutting off our noses to spite ourselves. However I suppose it would give our poor overworked politicians further reason for foreign travel.