As A Young Adult, Do You Feel Your Views Are Represented In Ireland?

V4Voluntary · 06-07-2013 03:53PM #1

As a young person in Ireland, it seems to me that anyone with Liberal views are to be met with suspicion. Anyone that doesn't "fall in line" are alienated and isolated. Up and down the country I see a total disconnect between the old civil war parties and the new generation. I don't think it has dawned on the establishment status quo in this country that young people don't give a fiddler about what happened nearly 100 years ago, who said what, when, where and how. All we want are new ideas and proposals about how we can secure and live a successful and fulfilling life for ourselves and our future families. We want solutions for the future, not the past. We want to look forward, not back.

At a time when the American youth identify more and more with libertarian views and when the British youth start leaning more towards a position where they want government out of their pockets and out of their bedrooms, it seems our politicians are just happy to sit around and wait for the world to do something before even considering it here. Why are our parties so static and not pro-active? How are our politicians so out of touch with young people? There is no vision, no ideas.

Does anyone else believe their views are not represented in this country? Do you think there is a "niche in the market" for new ideas? A new party that will represent young people? A party that won't throw an adult in prison for smoking a leaf in the privacy of their own homes? A party that doesn't care what two homosexual men or women do in privacy of their own bedrooms? A party that doesn't tax the hell out of someone trying to make ends meet? A party that doesn't discourage a woman from engaging in activities that they deem morally wrong? A party that doesn't pander to religious organisations or grant them a monopoly over our education system which should be secular? A party that doesn't seek centralised power in the "old boys club"? A party that will return liberties, economic and social freedom back to the people? A party that rejects government interference in the economic, social and political lives of citizens?

The Backwards Man · 06-07-2013 03:55PM

At 35, am I still considered a young adult?

Sir Humphrey Appleby · 06-07-2013 03:57PM

V4Voluntary wrote: »

As a young person in Ireland, it seems to me that anyone with Liberal views are to be met with suspicion. Anyone that doesn't "fall in line" are alienated and isolated. Up and down the country I see a total disconnect between the old civil war parties and the new generation. I don't think it has dawned on the establishment status quo in this country that young people don't give a fiddler about what happened nearly 100 years ago, who said what, when, where and how. All we want are new ideas and proposals about how we can secure and live a successful and fulfilling life for ourselves and our future families. We want solutions for the future, not the past. We want to look forward, not back.

At a time when the American youth identify more and more with libertarian views and when the British youth start leaning more towards a position where they want government out of their pockets and out of their bedrooms, it seems our politicians are just happy to sit around and wait for the world to do something before even considering it here. Why are our parties so static and not pro-active? How are our politicians so out of touch with young people? There is no vision, no ideas.

Does anyone else believe their views are not represented in this country? Do you think there is a "niche in the market" for new ideas? A new party that will represent young people? A party that won't throw an adult in prison for smoking a leaf in the privacy of their own homes? A party that doesn't care what two homosexual men or women do in privacy of their own bedrooms? A party that doesn't tax the hell out of someone trying to make ends meet? A party that doesn't discourage a woman from engaging in activities that they deem morally wrong? A party that doesn't pander to religious organisations or grant them a monopoly over our education system which should be secular? A party that doesn't seek centralised power in the "old boys club"? A party that will return liberties, economic and social freedom back to the people? A party that rejects government interference in the economic, social and political lives of citizens?

A sad,naive, and polotically immature post.
If this is the youth of Ireland then God help us all!

Kylo Ren · 06-07-2013 03:58PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

At 35, am I still considered a young adult?

No.

V4Voluntary · 06-07-2013 03:58PM

Old and grey wrote: »

A sad,naive, and polotically immature post.
If this is the youth of Ireland then God help us all!

Any chance of expanding on that non-answer?

Washington Irving · 06-07-2013 03:59PM

Thread title and poll asking opposite questions is going to result in people accidentally choosing the wrong option.

The Backwards Man · 06-07-2013 03:59PM

Keno 92 wrote: »

No.

Balls.:(

V4Voluntary · 06-07-2013 04:00PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

At 35, am I still considered a young adult?

That depends entirely on whether or not you're satisfied with the way the country is going.

efb · 06-07-2013 04:00PM

If 35 is a no, I guess 33 is pushing it.

Young people these days, heads in the clouds

Sir Humphrey Appleby · 06-07-2013 04:06PM

V4Voluntary wrote: »

Any chance of expanding on that non-answer?

Your post read,in my opinion, rather childish and politically naive.
Your claims are highly inaccurate since of the the 6 Parties or Political groupings in Dail Eireann (FG,Lab,SF,SWP,ULA,PBP) only two are "Civil War" Parties, and at least four of the 6 would claim to be socially liberal. At least 4 of the parties represented in Dail have strong youth movements with them, Labour Youth,Ogra Fianna Fail,Young Fine Gael, and Ogra Sinn Fein, you did know that I presume.
Happy now?
PS I note that your poll disregarded three of the most active and socially liberal groups in the Dail, and the three with the youngest average age of TD..SF/ULA/PBP!

06-07-2013 04:10PM

Old and grey wrote: »

in fact it makes you appear like a spoilt brat having a tantrum.

Mod

Dial it back on attacking the poster please.

V4Voluntary · 06-07-2013 04:11PM

Old and grey wrote: »

Your post was and is childish and politically naive, in fact it makes you appear like a spoilt brat having a tantrum.
Your claims are highly inaccurate since of the the 6 Parties or Political groupings in Dail Eireann (FG,Lab,SF,SWP,ULA,PBP) only two are "Civil War" Parties, and at least four of the 6 at least would claim to be socially liberal. At least 4 of the parties represented in Dail have strong youth movements with them, Labour Youth,Ogra Fianna Fail,Young Fine Gael, and Ogra Sinn Fein, you did know that I presume.
Happy now?

I think you're naive. You're the only one that thinks I referred to every party in Dail Eireann as a civil war party. Everyone else knows damn well that I was specifying Fine Gael and Fianna Fail as they're the two establishment parties that have dominated Irish politics for decades.

In addition, SF and the other parties with socialist leanings is something I was NOT speaking of. I am specifying a socially liberal (yes, even more socially liberal than the present parties) and a fiscally conservative one.

If you want to see someone with little knowledge of politics and economics, you should look closer to home.

Sir Humphrey Appleby · 06-07-2013 04:13PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Mod

Dial it back on attacking the poster please.

Apologies. Badly phrased.

PizzamanIRL · 06-07-2013 04:48PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

At 35, am I still considered a young adult?

Should be in the nursing home by now.

06-07-2013 04:51PM

I wouldn't trust a political party to tell me the time, much less expect them to represent my views.

The Backwards Man · 06-07-2013 04:51PM

PizzamanIRL wrote: »

Should be in the nursing home by now.

I'm not that desperate for a wife yet.:pac:

Gran Hermano · 06-07-2013 04:51PM

Have i wandered into C&H or is the OP just an ageist generalisation on who uses Boards?

shruikan2553 · 06-07-2013 04:56PM

A new political party that isnt full of incompetent idiots and can lead a country would be great but I dont think that is exclusive to what young adults want.

wonderfulname · 06-07-2013 04:56PM

I think labour would actually suit your political views very well OP, it's more our political system than parties that need addressing.

V4Voluntary · 06-07-2013 05:04PM

wonderfulname wrote: »

I think labour would actually suit your political views very well OP, it's more our political system than parties that need addressing.

I wouldn't touch Labour with a bargepole.

Labour are in bed with the unions. No thanks.

Mike 1972 · 06-07-2013 05:27PM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

At 35, am I still considered a young adult?

It depends on wheher you have a mortgage

The Backwards Man · 06-07-2013 05:28PM

Mike 1972 wrote: »

It depends on wheher you have a mortgage

Not any more.:p

Mully_2011 · 06-07-2013 06:53PM

No, The views of the people are not represented and this is because of a number of reasons.

Reason one : The type of people who enter politics in this country are usually the local do gooder who only run for election to benefit themselves not that of the constituents.

Reason Two : Voter turnout.Typically it is the older generation that tends to have the higher voter turnout

Reason three: The Parish pump He fixed the roads so the same do gooders retain there seats.

Reason Four: The endless cycle of Fianna Fail/Fine Geal as the main party in power.

TheBegotten · 06-07-2013 07:47PM

The vast majority of election candidates are either power hungry family politicians (generally FF/FG/right); naive and/or extreme idealists (SF/PBP/ULA/left) or Wishy-Washy types who abandon their election lines as soon as they get into power (Greens/Labour/some independents). The people I tend to look for are those who would normally be doing something else but enter politics to resolve an issue. The first - albeit far from best - example to occur to me would be Dr James Reilly, a qualified medical doctor who entered politics for...well to cut the health budget, but I'm sure he had the 'best intentions' at the time :rolleyes:

P.S: Interesting vote tally...OP, should a new party be formed to listen to "new ideas and young peoples' views", what line do you propose they pull? Young people's opinions are as varied as those of any other age group...

Jimoslimos · 06-07-2013 08:03PM

V4Voluntary wrote: »

I am specifying a socially liberal (yes, even more socially liberal than the present parties) and a fiscally conservative one.

No, no, no, no, no. Stop beating around the bush and admit your Libertarian leanings. If ever there were a crowd of nutjobs crazier than the fringe parties we currently have in DÉ.

TheBegotten wrote: »

The people I tend to look for are those who would normally be doing something else but enter politics to resolve an issue. The first - albeit far from best - example to occur to me would be Dr James Reilly, a qualified medical doctor who entered politics for...well to cut the health budget, but I'm sure he had the 'best intentions' at the time :rolleyes:

Take it from someone in his constituency, James Reilly is far from someone who entered politics for the "best intentions" (unless those intentions were his own). He's always been career-minded.

Derpington95 · 06-07-2013 08:05PM

V4Voluntary wrote: »

A party that doesn't care what two homosexual men or women do in privacy of their own bedrooms? A party that doesn't tax the hell out of someone trying to make ends meet?
A party that doesn't discourage a woman from engaging in activities that they deem morally wrong? A party that doesn't pander to religious organisations or grant them a monopoly over our education system which should be secular?
A party that doesn't seek centralised power in the "old boys club"? A party that will return liberties, economic and social freedom back to the people? A party that rejects government interference in the economic, social and political lives of citizens?

Keep dreaming buddy.

V4Voluntary · 06-07-2013 08:12PM

Jimoslimos wrote: »

No, no, no, no, no. Stop beating around the bush and admit your Libertarian leanings. If ever there were a crowd of nutjobs crazier than the fringe parties we currently have in DÉ.

Take it from someone in his constituency, James Reilly is far from someone who entered politics for the "best intentions" (unless those intentions were his own). He's always been career-minded.

I've no problem saying I've libertarian leanings....what about it?

miss flutter ups · 06-07-2013 08:14PM

What's wrong with (being young) and "giving a fiddler what happened nearly 100 years ago"?

I don't know why you're equating that with being less liberal.

1ZRed · 06-07-2013 08:24PM

I think this country is far too conservative and slow to move with the times. Young people today are a world away from many of the politicians in the way in which we see and approach issues.

Far too many politicians hang onto their religious and conservative views and are reluctant to accept change.

FloatingVoter · 06-07-2013 08:26PM

I'm 38 and you young people are whats wrong with this country. Lazy good for nothings.

Enjoying letting my inner old fart out.

Staff Infection · 06-07-2013 08:40PM

Hard to do. If people enter in politics specifically addressing the issues of young people they only have one niche (who don't turn out in big numbers) to appeal to for votes to get elected in the first place. Also when these young people get old why would they continue to vote for the "young persons party" as it wouldn't be addressing their older issues and would instead be trying to appeal to the new young people and their issues.

I do think though that there is room for a new party which as you say would be quite socially liberal while being also being fiscally conservative. However, a party like this would have to appeal to all age groups as focusing on just young people would make getting elected in the first place difficult.

As A Young Adult, Do You Feel Your Views Are Represented In Ireland?

Do We Need New Ideas & New Parties In This Country? 175 votes

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