Would you vote if you had absolutely no idea about politics?

HugsiePie · 11-02-2016 09:03PM

I have no idea about politics but unfortunately Im made vote by my dad for his candidate of choice-yep, 21 years of age and I still do exactly as Im told :rolleyes:

Speedwell · 11-02-2016 09:05PM

Patww79 wrote: »

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I used to feel like that. But not voting is like saying, "I'm just going to lie back and think of England." You should at least say, "hey, you f***ers are lousy in bed".

onmebike · 11-02-2016 09:05PM

I don't see how being interested in politics is a reason not to vote. To me, politics is the technical/messy middle ground between voting and how the country is run.

I don't know much about politics and economics etc. but when I look at a manifesto and read what it says what they intend on doing with real things - tax, public services, upcoming topical issues etc. etc., then I decide who to vote for. Obviously things can change when it comes to forming a government and two parties have to drop some of what they want, but you have to make an effort. It's probably not perfect and no system probably is, but I can't understand doing nothing because "it won't make a difference". Yes it does.

shanered · 11-02-2016 09:07PM

Patww79 wrote: »

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Better vote the ones who at least say they stand for the same issues in the same way as yourself than the ones who don't.

That's not to say you don't have a point...

thee glitz · 11-02-2016 09:12PM

XplaygirlX wrote: »

No. I'm not ar$ed about votin. Never was and never will be. Ive no instrest in politics. Never did. So don't care

Ok, you're excused.

ArnoldJRimmer · 11-02-2016 09:14PM

Fair enough if you're not going to vote as you can't make an informed choice and don't want to just vote for the sake of it.

However, I feel that as a citizen of any country, a person should ensure that they read up on candidates/ parties so that they are in a position to make an informed decision. The fact that such a huge percentage of the country don't vote or care who they vote for means that any kind of meaningful change is unlikely.

To Elland Back · 11-02-2016 09:15PM

Personally, I think the problem is that families don't discuss everyday issues over dinner, cup of tea, out for a walk etc.

I've always encouraged my boys to question why things are as they are. It might be why they see their beloved grandparents on trollies in A&E or why I have to work overtime to pay bills or why gob****es abuse certain sections of our society. It forms educated opinion and with that comes an affinity to others who represent the same values within the political process

OldMrBrennan83 · 11-02-2016 09:19PM

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InReality · 11-02-2016 09:21PM

a few years ago the green party leader john gormley got elected by a ( more or less)few hundred votes. Then they got in with FF , got some of their policies implemented and signed off on the bank guarantee. if gormley didn't get those votes at least some things - maybe even the bank guarantee- would have changed.

so voting can matter quite a bit , but the cause and effect do get fuzzy.

XplaygirlX · 11-02-2016 09:24PM

thee glitz wrote: »

Ok, you're excused.

Thanks

11-02-2016 09:24PM

I don't know why some people are giving the op such a hard time.

It's the people who don't know anything about politics and DO vote that are the problem, and there's no shortage of them; just look at tipp and Michael Lowry.

Jack Killian · 11-02-2016 09:34PM

Patww79 wrote: »

But none of them will stick to anything that they say now. It's all a game and once it's over the winners can do what they like.

So we should vote for the ones saying the opposite of what we want!

StewartGriffin · 11-02-2016 09:41PM

The OP is right. Voting for the sake of it when you have no real clue why you are voting is not just dumb it's also dangerous.

At the moment, and it has been the case for many years, the electoral field in Ireland is so level that a vote is really nothing more than an exercise in peoples constitutional rights. This blandness of political ideology is not a bad thing. When it gets more extreme you get to the level of Trump v Sanders, or more radically, Extreme right wing V extreme left wing. So we shouldn't really complain about our boring candidates because it means we are in a good place.

For referenda it is important to vote if the topic is important. For our general elections, your vote doesn't really matter. If candidate A doesn't get in, Candidate B will, and it will make no difference to this country because the wheels of government will keep turning thanks to the Civil Servants who have always turned them.

The people who give out to those who don't vote, are generally just dickheads, especially those who drool at the mouth and proclaim that you have forfeited your right to have an opinion about anything.

If the choice was between Hitler and Stalin these fools would still turn out to vote for one of them.

freshpopcorn · 11-02-2016 09:45PM

I'd have a bit of interest in politics. I wouldn't bore people with it. Most of my political views I'd keep to myself or we might might have the odd chat about it at home. I'd prefer reading a paper/online thought than watching it on TV.
I do get tough why people don't have any interest in politics.
1. Some people feel no matter which party they vote for things will stay about the same.
2. People can have a negative experience of politics gowing up. If you turn on any local/national radio station. There's always somebody moaning and whinging about politics and they'd do your head in.

Kiwi in IE · 11-02-2016 09:57PM

I think people have a responsibility to know what they are voting for. We arrived in Ireland a few months before the last general election, and although I was eligible to vote, I didn't because I had no real idea at that stage how the political system worked, or anything about what any of the parties stood for. That was the only time I have ever not voted in any election I was eligible to vote in. Will definitely be voting this time.

To Elland Back · 11-02-2016 10:29PM

Patww79 wrote: »

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Don't be so patronising. They have achieved, they both have degrees now, they question everything in life and are confident in the direction they are going. They avoid the 'rotten' options and, like many young people, they will change this country for the better.

OldMrBrennan83 · 11-02-2016 10:33PM

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Adorable · 12-02-2016 12:01AM

You're not alone, Hammer89. I don't know anything about Irish politics either. Like, zero. Zip, zilch, nada. Honestly, I've never really had an interest in Irish politics and I don't think I ever will. It's not something that was talked about in school or among family and friends, so I've never really thought about it. The fact that I know more about Barack Obama and Donald Trump says a lot.

Having said that I'll probably start reading up on our politics and our system of government soon. I want to vote, but I also want to know who I'm voting for. I don't think not having an interest in politics is an excuse to not know anything about it. The candidates/parties and laws that we vote on affect everything that happens around us. I think the least we can do is to be informed about them and to vote based on that.

I disagree with the people that say voting should be compulsory. Would things be better if more people voted? Yes. Does that mean we should all be obliged to vote. No. There's still going to be people who won't bother to inform themselves and just vote for the sake of it, which is incredibly foolish, not to mention dangerous.

KingBrian2 · 12-02-2016 12:36AM

In my view people should vote when they are better informed and armed with the facts. Very important not to be arm twisted or ignorant of party positions.

Donald Trump · 12-02-2016 05:43AM

Hammer89 wrote: »

Everybody over the age of 18 is eligible to vote, but should they?

Personally, I've never voted. I was shamed by a family member for this in recent days, but I'm not ashamed of it. I'm not ashamed because the reason I don't vote is quite simple: I have absolutely no idea who the f*ck any of these people are, or what their parties do.

You might think I'm playing dumb - I'm not. I know as much about Fine Gael as I do about spending time in a Russian gulag. I lack knowledge and understanding of Irish politics at a very, very basic level. Because of this ignorance, I prefer not to vote rather than walk into the voting place blindfolded and effectively take complete guesses. This doesn't benefit Ireland. It's a wasted vote in my view and that's why no party will be getting my vote.

Is this wrong, or should I vote simply for the sake of voting? Voting because you think it makes you some sort of upstanding citizen is what I don't understand. To me, it kind of defeats the purpose, but I would like to know the opinion of others.

Hmmm. You're giving me good ideas here....Methinks your Enda has missed the opportunity by not taking advantage of the financial crisis to set up his own Irish Gulag.

Oh, wait, sorry. It's there already? Yeah yeah, sorry. Leitrim. I forgot about it....... Well everyone does

Graces7 · 12-02-2016 09:33AM

The Backwards Man wrote: »

In my experience, people that don't vote have no qualms about moaning and whinging about 'the gubberment' at every opportunity.
Voting should be compulsory imo.

Why? people have said to me that SUFFRAGETTES SUFFERED TO GET YOU THE VOTE.. They actually suffered to give me the choice of voting. To enforce it would be as wrong as not having the choice. In Isreal it IS compulsory and certainly no one who has not voted has any right to grouse. NB I did not register here in Ireland until I came to Kerry ie for some ten years. Why here? Simples. Am in Healy Rae territory. The ways they get votes makes it very clear which way I will vote...

Laois_Man · 12-02-2016 02:27PM

My missus has no idea about politics.
But she's still going to show up on the 26th and spoil her vote

Remember if for some reason over the next 5 years, you find yourself in a position where you need to attend your local TDs clinic seeking help, that TD can and often does check to see if you bothered your arse to show up on election day before he decides if he'll bother his arse with you!

Jack Killian · 12-02-2016 02:35PM

Laois_Man wrote: »

My missus has no idea about politics.
But she's still going to show up on the 26th and spoil her vote

Remember if for some reason over the next 5 years, you find yourself in a position where you need to attend your local TDs clinic seeking help, that TD can and often does check to see if you bothered your arse to show up on election day before he decides if he'll bother his arse with you!

Not your local TD's job. His / her job is to help run the country; it's local councillors that should be dealing with local issues.

This is what pisses me off most about Ireland, and they won't fix it as it gives them an edge, particularly if their party is in government and bends the ear of his "leader".

justback83 · 12-02-2016 02:41PM

Patww79 wrote: »

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This is exactly what I'm gonna tell everyone who judges me for not voting! The only time I've voted for was the same sex marriage referendum...haven't a notion about politics in general and am not a bit embarrassed about it!

Hammer89 · 12-02-2016 03:21PM

Looking back, I probably would've voted in the same-sex marraige thing. I actually had my own opinion on that, but on the day I wasn't overly bothered about it.

But these elections, in my view, are ridiculous. Millions upon millions of people will cast votes based on family allegiances and/or habit, rather than independent thoughts and informed opinions. It's a complete joke and one I'd rather not be part of.

I simply don't care enough to inform myself about every party and what their mandate is. Wouldn't their mandate simply reflect what people want to read? I'm sure there's a reason why a lot of people think politicians are lying bastards.

jimgoose · 12-02-2016 03:25PM

Hammer89 wrote: »

Looking back, I probably would've voted in the same-sex marraige thing. I actually had my own opinion on that, but on the day I wasn't overly bothered about it.

But these elections, in my view, are ridiculous. Millions upon millions of people will cast votes based on family allegiances and/or habit, rather than independent thoughts and informed opinions. It's a complete joke and one I'd rather not be part of.

I simply don't care enough to inform myself about every party and what their mandate is. Wouldn't their mandate simply reflect what people want to read? I'm sure there's a reason why a lot of people think politicians are lying bastards.

No, it is not a joke. A joke is about the last thing it is. There are a billion people in the world who would happily die in the morning if their children could have a quarter of what you have. So find the fuck out who these people are, what they're saying, what they're not saying, and get up off your arse on the 26th and make your opinion count. I don't care if your opinion is that of an illiterate braying ass - you would be far from alone - and I'll bate any man who says you can't have it.

TerrorFirmer · 12-02-2016 03:30PM

My housemate is 29 and has never voted before. He hadn't even heard of NAMA when I brought it up in a conversation a while back. :eek:

Hammer89 · 12-02-2016 03:34PM

jimgoose wrote: »

No, it is not a joke. A joke is about the last thing it is. There are a billion people in the world who would happily die in the morning if their children could have a quarter of what you have. So find the fuck out who these people are, what they're saying, what they're not saying, and get up off your arse on the 26th and make your opinion count. I don't care if your opinion is that of an illiterate braying ass - you would be far from alone - and I'll bate any man who says you can't have it.

From what I've written in this thread, do you think I'm illiterate?

I consciously choose not to vote which, in my view, is far better than walking into a school like a zombie on the 26th and voting for the same party you probably vote for in every single election, regardless of what they actually do.

I don't understand the other bit about there being a billion people who die for what I have. Nothing what I have is owed to Irish politics. Absolutely nothing.

Ficheall · 12-02-2016 03:36PM

jimgoose wrote: »

I don't care if your opinion is that of an illiterate braying ass - you would be far from alone - and I'll bate any man who says you can't have it.

Are you not disagreeing with his opinion that it's a complete waste of time?

dundalkfc10 · 12-02-2016 03:37PM

I'm with the OP, I don't understand anyone who would vote when they have no clue of what their voting for!

Would you vote if you had absolutely no idea about politics?

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