Book recommendations thread

dvpower · 18-11-2010 10:50am

kilns wrote: »

Who is with me!

Do you have a link the new party's website, or a list of its policies, or names of the people who are currently signed up, anything... ?

Riddle101 · 18-11-2010 11:12am

Everybody seems to have this notion that a new party would solve everything, but unless you got a party very different from the ilk in government now, or involved in Irish politics, there is no hope. A new party could be just as bad as the ones we have in office now, and unless it was set up with some really smart, charismatic and straight-forward polticians. Then I don't think it would be a good idea.

kilns · 18-11-2010 11:20am

The whole system need an overhaul

We need experts running for specified positions, we cant have teachers in charge of investment or lawyers in charge of our economy

We need people with proven pedigree in positions of power

We also need to create a federal type government and give more power to local authorities. Need to stop the likes of Jackie healy Rae holding the country to ransom cause he wants the potholes on a local road in Kerry filled in!

There are so many people in business or the academic world who would be involved but poltics is such a closed shop, how hard is it to come through the ranks of the main parties unless you have been there for years and years or a "celebrity" or worse still the son, daughter, brother or sister of a politcian!!

We need real people making real decisions now and who arent scared of the establishment

ednwireland · 18-11-2010 11:56am

kilns wrote: »

The whole system need an overhaul

We need experts running for specified positions, we cant have teachers in charge of investment or lawyers in charge of our economy

We need people with proven pedigree in positions of power

We also need to create a federal type government and give more power to local authorities. Need to stop the likes of Jackie healy Rae holding the country to ransom cause he wants the potholes on a local road in Kerry filled in!

There are so many people in business or the academic world who would be involved but poltics is such a closed shop, how hard is it to come through the ranks of the main parties unless you have been there for years and years or a "celebrity" or worse still the son, daughter, brother or sister of a politcian!!

We need real people making real new ideasdecisions now and who arent scared of the establishment

fingleton for minister for finance then

there are too many councils there should be 4 max

i'm not so convinced about experts running for office because what happens when they are in opposition (lee springs to mind)

the gov is in opposition to draft them in but seem to rely on the public servants who bring no new ideas

kilns · 18-11-2010 1:43pm

I would hardly call Lee an expert. He is just a journo. People with proven track records not people with big egos and after a quick buck

loldog · 18-11-2010 1:44pm

If I know the candidate's father I am more likely to vote for that candidate. So if you're starting up a new party, make sure the candidates are all from political families. OK?

.

Drumpot · 18-11-2010 1:48pm

New Partys means nothing if people continue to vote for the same kind of politicial structure that we have. .

A change in the politicial culture and the way in which people vote would create true change/reform.

Mountjoy Mugger · 18-11-2010 1:48pm

/Deja vu mode ON

We need people who will straight talk tell us exactly how it is and what they will do to fix it not avoid the question. People would have a lot more respect for someone who will stand up and tell the truth.

Let's get a catchy name for this new party - Progressive Democrats?

/Deja vu mode OFF

Lumen · 18-11-2010 1:51pm

Politics is a popularity contest, after which we expect the winners to make unpopular decisions.

Logic fail. Democracy fail.

2nd Republic · 18-11-2010 5:59pm

For the past few months, in press and online, there have been numerous discussions about poor national governance and the failings of our political system as underlying causes of the current crisis facing our state. Some of those have argued the need for wide-ranging political reforms in order to address these issues and to make sure they do not happen again. Some have gone so far as to suggest that a new beginning in the form of a Second Republic is required.

The incredible events of the last few days, I think, have opened everyone's eyes to the absolute depths to which our state has sank. In response, I am extending a invitation for interested parties and persons to form a sustained, serious and credible campaign for wide-ranging political reforms in Ireland. That campaign is nascent, not predefined and starting from scratch. It is not related to any political party or movement. Its ultimate direction will be defined by its members.

If you are interested in participating, would like to find out more, or have comment to make, please visit www.2nd-republic.ie and sign up for the mailing list.

More information can be got by sending an email to info@2nd-republic.ie.

tomasocarthaigh · 19-11-2010 1:39am

Anyone in the midlands may be interested in the Peoples Alliance grouping (formerly the Joe Soap / Peoples Protest group).

Non party political, the group is marching regular in the home town of Brian Cowen, and we have had memebers at demos in Dublin, Maynooth and other events.

www.PeoplesAlliance.webs.com is our website - see the Facebook page as well.

We welcome members from all opinions in life, FG to SF to disgruntled Fianna Fail supporters.

As always, Ive a little poem on the topic of the time, this time a Cheese Skit...

[mod edit: leave the hilarious poems out of it please, this is a Politics forum, not a convenient zone for pimping your youtube output]

Marcus de Brun · 19-11-2010 9:34am

To all the disaffected.

My name is Marcus De Brun,

I am a GP in North Dublin

Founder of Health Reform Now, www.healthreform-now.com member of Fis Nua (a new federated political party) and independent candidate for Dublin North in the coming election.

I would appeal to all those disaffected, angered and frustrated at our present corupt establishment.. to join us an make change a reality.

Marcus

LibraMan · 19-11-2010 5:59pm

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-Ireland-Hate-Fianna-Fail/174882242537531?

Inquitus · 19-11-2010 6:11pm

LibraMan wrote: »

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-Ireland-Hate-Fianna-Fail/174882242537531?

Careful now, down with this sort of thing.

liammur · 19-11-2010 6:16pm

LibraMan wrote: »

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Love-Ireland-Hate-Fianna-Fail/174882242537531?

We need FF to go the way of the PD's

Fianna Downfall · 22-11-2010 10:21pm

Hi,
We are Fianna Downfall.

We a short a simple manifesto with 3 aims:
1. Obliteration of the Fianna Fail Party
2. Encourage everyone to get out and vote
3. Political reform and the end of parish politics.

We have a facebook page here

We also have a twitter:
@fiannadownfall

Please give us a 'like' on facebook.

We will be updating our facebook with information.

Please tell your friends about us whatever way you can or PM me if you want more information.

Many thanks.

passive · 23-11-2010 12:58am

Marcus de Brun wrote: »

To all the disaffected.

My name is Marcus De Brun,

I am a GP in North Dublin

Founder of Health Reform Now, www.healthreform-now.com member of Fis Nua (a new federated political party) and independent candidate for Dublin North in the coming election.

I would appeal to all those disaffected, angered and frustrated at our present corupt establishment.. to join us an make change a reality.

Marcus

http://www.healthreform-now.com/PoliticalStrategy.htm

"4. 90% Tax applicable to salaries above €250k with the respective taxpayer having the opportunity to decide where their tax is spent .. choosing from a list of registered social institutions including Childrens Hospital, Hospice etc. Respective tax payers will also have the opportunity to sit on the board of management for their chosen institution. Pension reform with 90% tax on pension payments above €100k per annum."

Sorry... what? Srsly?

12. Reduction of the working week to four days.?

I'm not even going to continue... You totally had me on your intro page, but I feel like I made a very serious mistake trying to investigate further. You've just got a whole lot of random, occasionally insane and regularly inconsistent suggestions, which casts doubt over all the realistic and seemingly intelligent stuff I was looking at initially.

15 Implementation of a switch from English to Irish language as the language of Dail Eireann within five years.

Go away.

Marcus de Brun · 23-11-2010 1:47am

Instead of crying and "srsly" etc etc

why dont you offer something constructive... you aparently feel that a family actually might need more than 250k per anum to live a good life?? This would seem to be a core Fianna failure policy... ?

Although it is difficult to see where your criticisms actually are ... you seem afraid to say anything substantive other than "go away" which is what a child says when one offers it some medicine.

nesf · 23-11-2010 8:22am

Marcus de Brun wrote: »

Instead of crying and "srsly" etc etc

why dont you offer something constructive... you aparently feel that a family actually might need more than 250k per anum to live a good life?? This would seem to be a core Fianna failure policy... ?

Although it is difficult to see where your criticisms actually are ... you seem afraid to say anything substantive other than "go away" which is what a child says when one offers it some medicine.

Attack the post, not the poster. Calling someone a child, even indirectly, is not allowed in this forum.

Marcus de Brun · 23-11-2010 8:36am

Sincere apologies

I suggest that censorship rules be applied immediately and the apparently highly offensive, indirect referential use of the world 'child' be dealt with in a swift and just fashion... else other readers might be simillarly offended and a contagion begin... one that might have implications for the instigation of a national or even international depression... which itself might further depress the markets.

MRD2 · 24-11-2010 3:35am

Dear Boards.ie Politics thread readers,

I am trying to establish the concept of a Single Source of Economic Truth for Ireland and hoping to get www.acttogetherireland.com off the ground.

Brief summary of what it is about :

The Act Together Ireland / Single Source of Economic Truth for Ireland website is a platform to share information on an idea on how to make a sustainable improvement to the Irish economy and society.

The idea is for a citizen initiated, independent, constitutionally recognised body to develop broadcast and educate on a single simple dashboard of basic irrefutable metrics on the Irish economy for all Irish Citizens to understand and to hold their representatives to account by them.

It works on three simple principles:

1. That to go anywhere you must first understand where you are now.

2. That it’s a good idea to speak the same language to collectively describe & understand something.

3. That to hold someone to account you must measure their performance.
Currently we haven’t defined where we are. We haven’t decided where we want to go and how we are going to get there. Worse still we do not speak the same economic language.

Even if we were all speaking the same language not all citizens have the same understanding of our reality. There is no clear measurements on how well our representatives are performing and how they will perform.

We are a small well educated society if we act together and implement this quickly we will be profoundly better placed to tackle our current problem and leave a legacy of sustainable accountability and a society rooted in clarity and truth.

The Netherlands and the UK are already doing something similar www.rekenkamer.nl & http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/ . We need to put something like this in place ASAP.

Act Together Ireland is deliberately simple in scope but should drive some basic accountability and a better collective understanding of reality very quickly.

I would very much welcome any feedback you may have to offer.
Kind Regards

MRD2

nesf · 24-11-2010 7:19am

Marcus de Brun wrote: »

Sincere apologies

I suggest that censorship rules be applied immediately and the apparently highly offensive, indirect referential use of the world 'child' be dealt with in a swift and just fashion... else other readers might be simillarly offended and a contagion begin... one that might have implications for the instigation of a national or even international depression... which itself might further depress the markets.

Either respect the rules here or don't bother posting please.

Elevator · 24-11-2010 3:35pm

http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_citizens_initiative/?rc=fb

basicly the EU are trying to bury our petitioning rights in red tape and take away our right to making them act with as little as 1,000,000 signatures Europe wide!!

I've clicked the link and shared with 100's on my facebook so will you now take 1 minute to click the link above and make sure they know we value our right to petition!!

thanks in advance people

seamus · 24-11-2010 3:39pm

Elevator wrote: »

basicly the EU are trying to bury our petitioning rights in red tape and take away our right to making them act with as little as 1,000,000 signatures Europe wide!!

Proof please.

Elevator · 24-11-2010 3:45pm

seamus wrote: »

Proof please.

by all means click the link and see for yourselves

http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_citizens_initiative/?rc=fb

re. the astrix's in my op it was to try draw attention to it as it might be overlooked otherwise. I'm sure a certain amount of us are now afraid to look at any subject heading containing words like europe for example

Elevator · 24-11-2010 3:51pm

so my post has been merged here so please don't let this get lost inside a thread and act now

I shared this with 100's through my facebook so let's get to work collectivly and show Europe we want to keep our petitions ta very much!!

seamus · 24-11-2010 3:53pm

Elevator wrote: »

by all means click the link and see for yourselves

I don't see any information in that link. Please provide a link to the EU instrument which the petition claims is in the final stages of decision to erode our democratic rights.

Elevator · 24-11-2010 10:21pm

http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_citizens_initiative/?cl=840899839&v=7623

h2pogo · 24-11-2010 10:22pm

March from Wood Quay Dublin to the GPO at 11am Saturday 27th

I am asking that the Irish people unite, as our forefathers did, and take to the streets at 11am Saturday 27th from Wood Quay Dublin, to voice our anger and concern over the actions of our politicians and what is happening to Ireland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ing8xH3Qj-k&feature=player_embedded

Elevator · 24-11-2010 10:25pm

I reckon this is the one to watch!!

I'm hitching up from Galway in true eco warrior style!

h2pogo · 24-11-2010 10:29pm

Elevator wrote: »

I reckon this is the one to watch!!

I'm hitching up from Galway in true eco warrior style!

If i see any hitching eco warriors i will find a space:)

catbear · 24-11-2010 10:30pm

Yeah, it will be just like that march we all went on to campaign against unaffordable starter homes ten years ago!

Benny-c · 24-11-2010 10:37pm

ICTU organising a march against the cuts-they would prefer no cuts until their (Public Sector) members would suddenly realise in July/August that there is no money to pay them.

Makes perfect sence to me:D

h2pogo · 24-11-2010 10:40pm

catbear wrote: »

Yeah, it will be just like that march we all went on to campaign against unaffordable starter homes ten years ago!

I doubt it Jim Corr will be at this one..

h2pogo · 24-11-2010 10:45pm

Benny-c wrote: »

ICTU organising a march against the cuts-they would prefer no cuts until their (Public Sector) members would suddenly realise in July/August that there is no money to pay them.

Makes perfect sence to me:D

I agree with your logic.
I hope people realize what Jim is saying is the truth and other action is taken..The real issue is the system imposed by the IMF and world bank can not work for the common people..Its legalized fraud and only the banking elite can benefit..

baux · 24-11-2010 11:08pm

Jim Corr really makes sense here.

There is a lot of apathy going around so this video was very refreshing for me and yes, I think this video should go viral.

yahoo_moe · 25-11-2010 12:18am

I'd highly recommend Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Great read, equal parts instructive and entertaining.

simonj wrote: »

Any recomendations on China post 1850, or Soviet Russia are welcome

Been a while since I read it but Wild Swans by Jung Chang was a great account of China around that time. Focus was Cultural Revolution onwards but think there was a good bit of back-history for context.

Soviet Russia I personally tackled in parts, rather than with one general book. A few I remember:

- Stalin: In the Court of the Red Tsar by Simon Sebag-Montefiore (check for reviews of the Robert Service biog too though, haven't read it but I know a lot was expected when it was coming out)

- The Commissar Vanishes by David King (great book on doctored photographs and propaganda in the USSR - more visual than political maybe but very good)

- Shostakovich and Stalin by Solomon Volkov (probably need some interest in the early Soviet arts scene for this one).

There's another good one too but can't find the book itself in the house or the title via search. If I figure it out, I'll post it.

Rebelheart · 25-11-2010 4:33am

RATM wrote: »

Anyone know of an Irish political almanac, like something that is published after every election and gives details of TDs , senators, etc?

invinciblePRSTV wrote: »

Irish Political Studies has what you seek, all for €99 per year.

Or €50 per year to join the Political Studies Association of Ireland (€30 for a student), and they give you the four issues of Irish Political Studies each year as part of that membership.

Online Membership Form

nesf · 25-11-2010 9:31am

Jim Corr, oh dear, things have gotten bad now haven't they..

kadman · 25-11-2010 11:01am

nesf wrote: »

Jim Corr, oh dear, things have gotten bad now haven't they..

Yeah, of course things have got bad. The thieving IMF is in here for the carve up of our resources, and is going to give you one hell of a christmas present of never ending debt. Too right its bad.

At least Jim Corr has the balls to stand up and shout about it.

kadman

nesf · 25-11-2010 11:11am

kadman wrote: »

Yeah, of course things have got bad. The thieving IMF is in here for the carve up of our resources, and is going to give you one hell of a christmas present of never ending debt. Too right its bad.

At least Jim Corr has the balls to stand up and shout about it.

kadman

Balls? Half the ****ing country is standing up and shouting about it, the other half are cheering the first half on...

h2pogo · 25-11-2010 2:50pm

nesf wrote: »

Balls? Half the ****ing country is standing up and shouting about it, the other half are cheering the first half on...

Are you sure about that?

Even here it at boards it seems a minority think the way out of the debt crisis is more debt?

so whats Wrong with Jim what is he saying that's so bad?

baux · 25-11-2010 3:01pm

nesf wrote: »

Balls? Half the ****ing country is standing up and shouting about it, the other half are cheering the first half on...

Lets hope at least half the country will be there on saturday. The only voices the Irish people hear every day are the politicians who got us in this mess, telling us what is best for us.

Peacefull protest and a statement of non-compliance from the Irish people please!

electrogrimey · 25-11-2010 6:30pm

kadman wrote: »

Yeah, of course things have got bad. The thieving IMF is in here for the carve up of our resources, and is going to give you one hell of a christmas present of never ending debt. Too right its bad.

At least Jim Corr has the balls to stand up and shout about it.

kadman

I don't understand why everyone's blaming the IMF. The IMF aren't the ones that caused this, it was FF. The IMF are offering a solution, and fair enough it's probably not the best solution, but again it's FF's fault by yet again making the wrong decision to go with them.

I really hope there's a big turnout at this march, although it won't do much if there's no specific agenda for it. Is it just a general dissatisfaction march?

catbear · 25-11-2010 6:48pm

electrogrimey wrote: »

I don't understand why everyone's blaming the IMF. The IMF aren't the ones that caused this, it was FF. The IMF are offering a solution, and fair enough it's probably not the best solution, but again it's FF's fault by yet again making the wrong decision to go with them.

I really hope there's a big turnout at this march, although it won't do much if there's no specific agenda for it. Is it just a general dissatisfaction march?

+1
I'd encourage anyone to go regardless of who planned it, it's a chance for the nation to meet eachother and say "what the **** did we do with the last ten years, oh yeah, we borrowed money to build 300,000 houses we didn't actually need and made a few people millionaires."
Fianna Fail have being doing a lot of revisionism and so too have their critics. Lets not forget that the IMF were INVITED in, like Strongbow and I am a Norman descendent and I'm not ffing back to Denmark after 800 years!

h2pogo · 25-11-2010 7:18pm

[QUOTE=electrogrimey;69214640
I really hope there's a big turnout at this march, although it won't do much if there's no specific agenda for it. Is it just a general dissatisfaction march?[/QUOTE]

I like Jim Corr agenda best..I can see why he attacked so much he seems to be on of the few people telling the truth of the matter.

dermot_sheehan · 26-11-2010 12:47pm

New organisation campaigning for introduction of Mixed Member Proportional Representation and the abolishment of Seanad Eireann.

Hope to have the website up over the weekend.

Gonzales · 29-11-2010 8:52am

In light of the upcoming budget ahead of the Irish people , I think this facebook petition has merit:

Petition for Irish Politicians to take a PAY CUT!!!

I'll be joining.

Fittle · 29-11-2010 8:56am

With respect, I believe that online petitions are the single, most useless form of 'protest' ever invented - particularly facebook ones.

I completely agree with the sentiment, but there must be another way to do this?

Marcus de Brun · 29-11-2010 8:39pm

Fee Fi Foo Fum!

Book recommendations thread

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