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

Hammer89 wrote: »

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.

I didn't say you were illiterate and I apologise if my post was written in such a way as to read like I was.

In my view, it would be farrer betterer againer to find out about the other parties/candidates, and vote for some people who seem vaguely sensible for a change. That would actually help! :pac:

And the thing that you have is the right to walk into that school and vote for whichever clodhopper be playsin' you, and also deliver a big, fat "Fuck off!!" to whoever is in power. Use it wisely and well, Grasshopper.

Jack Killian wrote: »

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".

Really, being a TD in a non Government party, or even a backbencher in a Government party, is not a full-time job. Bar, on occasion, when the TD might be sitting in an Oireachtas committee for something or other

Clinic offices rightly exist in these constituencies where TDs do local work at the levels of individuals, employers and state bodies. Running a local constituency is part of running the country.

Here, for the benefit of the OP and others like him, is a handy introductory guide to the main political players in this fair Republic.

The thing is, they are all exactly the same party according to the more traditional political spectrum - roughly liberal Centre-Right - but some sub-groups prefer to use separate names and these are differentiated mainly by the view they take of Northern Ireland. Observe:

Fianna Fáil: Theoretically, FF are very interested in NI and find it politically useful to talk about it. So they do.

Fine Gael: FG couldn't give a monkey's about NI as long as Westminster keeps paying for it.

Sinn Féin: SF are very interested in NI and would quite like to see it become part of the Republic sooner rather than later. If some handful of people are injured or killed in the process, what is that but the price of Righteousness.

Labour: Theoretically, Labour would be quite interested in NI - it's certainly their sort of political "thing" - but unfortunately the folk up there can't vote for them so they don't even bother mentioning it in case it upsets the public sector in some way.

Renua: Renua have heard of NI, but remain deeply suspicious of it because apparently it operates under the UK tax code.

Speedwell wrote: »

Hey, I married an Irishman and moved here from Texas a couple years ago. I didn't marry him because I was an Irish politics wonk. At work, we talk about work. I'm especially frustrated because my politics align with parties that have OTHER politics that I wouldn't touch with someone else's ten-meter pole. It's moot this year because I don't qualify to vote at all, but no, no, NO, NONONONO, I would not vote in an election I knew f-all about, any more than I would buy a house without looking at it first.

My apologies, I wrongly assumed you were born and bred Irish. Half of an Irish person's time is spent complaining about either "them Blueshirt b*stards" or "gombeen Fianna Failers in their Galway tent" or "Stickies selling out the working class" or "the state of yer man in his pink shirt" etc.

I always make a point of spoiling my vote if there is no suitable candidate for me. I don't write anything rude or that just a big X through them all and "none of the above" at the bottom of the ballot.

If you genuinely know nothing about the parties or an issue then, yes, I think you probably shouldn't vote. Having said that, I don't think it so hard to read through a few manifestos in time for the election and pick the party you think will point the country in the best direction.

For example, in their last manifesto Labour said they would bring about a referendum on gay marriage. They got into power and lo and behold they did just that. FG deserve some credit too, IMO, as I think FF would have try to outmanoeuvre Labour, were they in coalition, at least to kick it into the next term.

It's not true that all the parties are the same. It is true that you have imperfect information and there is no guarantee they will do what they say but if you're uninformed then I think that's something that you can easily correct if you want to.

justback83 wrote: »

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!

I wouldn't judge anyone for not voting but the same sex marriage referendum wouldn't have happened if it weren't for Labour. This is why voting matters. Your party won't get everything they said they would done but if you vote for someone whose principles you (broadly speaking) agree with there's a chance they'll get something done.

Hammer89 wrote: »

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.

That's good. But I think it would be better if you consciously chose to inform yourself and vote. It wouldn't take long. In my brief time voting I've voted for FF, the PDs, the Green Party, an independent, FG and Labour. You don't have to be a zombie voter if you don't want to be.

Patww79 wrote: »

How do you overhaul the system by voting for any of the options placed before us?

You don't really, but taking some interest in politics is a good start. If nobody educates themselves and people remain apathetic to political choices which directly affect them, then nothing will ever change. There will never be an overhaul, there will never be other options placed before us unless we make it happen.

Right = Money mad, suited conservative person
Left = hippy.

The variants;

Wimpy left (Labour), hippy left (Greens), Communist left (socialists), united Ireland / ex-IRA masquerading as left (Sinn Fein),

Banana republic right (Fine Gael), Banana republic right with a culchie twist (Fianna Fail), ex-banana republic right (Re-Nua)

Parish Pump Independents.

You can vote for them all if you put down the right numbers, such is the PR system.

Irish politics should be animated like South Park.