How to Express our Displeasure with Politicians & Media

Kivaro · 24-08-2018 12:02pm

iamwhoiam wrote: »

I have just come across a huge anomaly and discrimination on the social welfare system that angers me

Job seekers benefit is for those who have worked and paid credits and tax ,But they now take the history of pay for that person from 2016 .So lets say a person age 30 earned less in 2016 for any reason ie maternity benefit , looking after a sick child etc .His benefit is reduced in 2018 because of that .He is now reduced to €155 a week

Weekly Jobseeker's Benefit payment from 22 March 2018

Average weekly earnings Personal rate

€150 - €219.99 €127.80
€220 - €299.99 €155.10
€300 or more €198.00

Now take Job seekers Allowance .Given to those with not enough credits , never worked a day , never paid tax .Age 30

Jobseeker's Allowance rates from 21 March 2018
Age Maximum personal rate I
Aged 26 and over €198.00
Aged 25 €152.80
Aged 18-24 €107.70

So the one who worked for 10 years and earned a bit less in 2016 gets less money than the one who never worked a day in their life .
This is an absolute disgrace , its discrimination towards the one who worked and now finds themselves without a job due to circumstances .

I saw this post on the never-before-worked-in-her-life welfare mother of 7 thread.
This is appalling and warrants some type of communication to our esteemed Minister for Employment Affairs & Social Protection.

As a reminder, here is her contact information. It literally should only take a minute or two out of your time to express your dismay and dissatisfaction:

TD Doherty's email address is here: regina.doherty@oir.ie
Other contact information for her is here.
And the Fine Gael party can be contacted here: finegael@finegael.ie
An Taoiseach here: leo.varadkar@oir.ie
Paschal Donohoe can be found here: paschal.donohoe@oireachtas.ie
And the Ministerial office at the Department of Finance & Public Expenditure and Reform is here: minister@per.gov.ie

Blazer · 24-08-2018 5:02pm

The problem here is a lot of people are just sheep.
I've suggestd multiple times on that thread of a media boycott and no one has even replied to it...they're just content to bleat away and do nothing.

All it would take is to hit the media where it hurts..in their pocket.
If no one is listening to the morning slot on Newstalk or RTE what firm will pay for their adverts to be played?
If no one retweets Miriam, RTE, The Independent or the Journal that lessens their profile also.
If we all delete the apps from RTE, journal and the Independent on our smart devices that's another loss.
If we stop buying their newspapers they won't be long copping on either.

We have the power to stop all this..but are we bothered enough to do it?

AndrewJRenko · 24-08-2018 8:52pm

Blazer wrote: »

The problem here is a lot of people are just sheep.
I've suggestd multiple times on that thread of a media boycott and no one has even replied to it...they're just content to bleat away and do nothing.

Or perhaps the problem is that really, deep down, not that many people actually agree with you.

Any kind of boycott is very, very difficult to organise.

Kivaro · 24-08-2018 9:22pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Or perhaps the problem is that really, deep down, not that many people actually agree with you.

Any kind of boycott is very, very difficult to organise.

Are you kidding?
You think that the majority in Ireland agrees with the scam perpetrated by Margaret Cash, or the majority in Ireland believe that those of them who work for many years and need welfare if they lose their job should get less money than those who have never worked in their lives?

Maybe, just maybe, the vast majority in Ireland are busy getting up early in the morning 5 days a week (sometimes more) and suffering tedious time-consuming commutes before doing 8 to 10 hours of work. And many of these people have families that they have to take care of, including bringing children to creches. Then on the one or two days that they off, they have to bundle all that needs to be done for that week (social, household, personal etc.) into a very short time-frame.

The social welfare system in Ireland is broken because it is too generous, panders to those who screams loudest, unfair to working people who need it (versus lifetime dole recipients), and it has become a lifestyle choice for a sizeable chunk of the 5.1% who are unemployed in this country.

Irish Kings · 24-08-2018 9:46pm

tom1ie wrote: »

Yes but I want an economic right but socially left party,

that's Leo's party, for people who get up early in the morning, or do you sleep in ?

dxhound2005 · 24-08-2018 10:27pm

Blazer wrote: »

The problem here is a lot of people are just sheep.
I've suggestd multiple times on that thread of a media boycott and no one has even replied to it...

Here's a reply.

Irish Kings · 24-08-2018 10:34pm

Blazer wrote: »

The problem here is a lot of people are just sheep.
I've suggestd multiple times on that thread of a media boycott and no one has even replied to it...they're just content to bleat away and do nothing.

All it would take is to hit the media where it hurts..in their pocket.
If no one is listening to the morning slot on Newstalk or RTE what firm will pay for their adverts to be played?
If no one retweets Miriam, RTE, The Independent or the Journal that lessens their profile also.
If we all delete the apps from RTE, journal and the Independent on our smart devices that's another loss.
If we stop buying their newspapers they won't be long copping on either.

We have the power to stop all this..but are we bothered enough to do it?

Nope. You see deep down the public and the media know that truth is the actual problem.
The Irish media and the media in the west in general, are only telling the public what they want to hear, so you can hardly blame the media.
So expect maximum resistance from everyone to any boycott of the Irish media.

Hector Bellend · 24-08-2018 10:50pm

Punch them in the face

AndrewJRenko · 25-08-2018 12:22am

Kivaro wrote: »

Are you kidding?
You think that the majority in Ireland agrees with the scam perpetrated by Margaret Cash, or the majority in Ireland believe that those of them who work for many years and need welfare if they lose their job should get less money than those who have never worked in their lives?

Maybe, just maybe, the vast majority in Ireland are busy getting up early in the morning 5 days a week (sometimes more) and suffering tedious time-consuming commutes before doing 8 to 10 hours of work. And many of these people have families that they have to take care of, including bringing children to creches. Then on the one or two days that they off, they have to bundle all that needs to be done for that week (social, household, personal etc.) into a very short time-frame.

The social welfare system in Ireland is broken because it is too generous, panders to those who screams loudest, unfair to working people who need it (versus lifetime dole recipients), and it has become a lifestyle choice for a sizeable chunk of the 5.1% who are unemployed in this country.

Have you looked at any opinion poll of party preferences recently?

irishproduce · 25-08-2018 12:52am

animaal wrote: »

Our form of democracy, with Proportional Representation, facilitates coalitions. If the only parties in power are Centre and Left parties, then government policy will always be left-leaning.

If we had a combination of Left and Right in power, we'd be more likely to have balanced policy. Or even if we had centre/left and centre/right coalitions over the years, we'd see some policy swings, but a more balanced centre situation in the long run.

But the Irish continually reject right-leaning parties. The PDs ran out of support in 2009. Renua never got off the ground because people felt stronger about the stance of some of the party's members on abortion than about the party's economic policies.

The result is the situation we have today. If there's a block of people who don't feel represented today, it's because that block of people didn't vote in their own economic interests.

This.
I think if Renua can put together a good offering ahead of an election, they could find a way into government and bring about some sensible policies.

lawred2 · 25-08-2018 1:03am

Renua are dead. You can forget about them.

Idbatterim · 25-08-2018 2:07pm

Blazer wrote: »

The problem here is a lot of people are just sheep.
I've suggestd multiple times on that thread of a media boycott and no one has even replied to it...they're just content to bleat away and do nothing.

All it would take is to hit the media where it hurts..in their pocket.
If no one is listening to the morning slot on Newstalk or RTE what firm will pay for their adverts to be played?
If no one retweets Miriam, RTE, The Independent or the Journal that lessens their profile also.
If we all delete the apps from RTE, journal and the Independent on our smart devices that's another loss.
If we stop buying their newspapers they won't be long copping on either.

We have the power to stop all this..but are we bothered enough to do it?

I’m boycotting them with you. At least I won’t buy the print copies. At least on boards and the journal, people can express their disgust ...

All they care about is returns, ie the media, the “its all the governments of someone else’s fault” crap that passes for journalism is supplied, because it’s what people want to read and believe ... You know what, they say the electorate gets the government it deserves, it’s true ...

dxhound2005 · 25-08-2018 2:10pm

If everyone joins the boycott except me, I will be able to call them all sheep.

AndrewJRenko · 25-08-2018 2:14pm

Idbatterim wrote: »

I’m boycotting them with you. At least I won’t buy the print copies. At least on boards and the journal, people can express their disgust ...

All they care about is returns, ie the media, the “its all the governments of someone else’s fault” crap that passes for journalism is supplied, because it’s what people want to read and believe ... You know what, they say the electorate gets the government it deserves, it’s true ...

If you click onto their websites, they're earning money from you too. So if you really want to boycott, you're going to have to block the websites too.

All the media care about is the media - looking after themselves and their owners. They're generally smart enough to play the long game too. They have directly interfered with politics in the past and will do so again.

suicide_circus · 25-08-2018 2:30pm

I email Regina there and asked her to ensure ALL workers are included in the tax base before she dips her hand back in the pocket of middle income people yet again. have some vision for **** sake.

ChikiChiki · 25-08-2018 2:32pm

suicide_circus wrote: »

I email Regina there and asked her to ensure ALL workers are included in the tax base before she dips her hand back in the pocket of middle income people yet again. have some vision for **** sake.

I pointed out the same in my email which was acknowledged by her Private Secretary . They have absolutely no imagination and just take the easy option time and time again.

Damien360 · 25-08-2018 2:36pm

irishproduce wrote: »

animaal wrote: »

Our form of democracy, with Proportional Representation, facilitates coalitions. If the only parties in power are Centre and Left parties, then government policy will always be left-leaning.

If we had a combination of Left and Right in power, we'd be more likely to have balanced policy. Or even if we had centre/left and centre/right coalitions over the years, we'd see some policy swings, but a more balanced centre situation in the long run.

But the Irish continually reject right-leaning parties. The PDs ran out of support in 2009. Renua never got off the ground because people felt stronger about the stance of some of the party's members on abortion than about the party's economic policies.

The result is the situation we have today. If there's a block of people who don't feel represented today, it's because that block of people didn't vote in their own economic interests.

This.
I think if Renua can put together a good offering ahead of an election, they could find a way into government and bring about some sensible policies.

Renua are dead. If they wanted to even get a TD in the next Dail, they would have to start 2 years ago campaigning. No support base. Poor choice of candidates anyway. They also got the mood of Ireland's older generation very wrong in the abortion referendum. Tried to sail on the anti ticket and considering the final result, picked the wrong side. The media promptly ignored them and will do the same again for any startup. It is all FF/FG. No wonder we are a mess.

suicide_circus · 25-08-2018 2:37pm

ChikiChiki wrote: »

I pointed out the same in my email which was acknowledged by her Private Secretary . They have absolutely no imagination and just take the easy option time and time again.

and this lack of imagination and bravery is just hacking away at the countrys future, I honestly consider it treasonous.

AlphabetCards · 25-08-2018 2:58pm

Email sent. Great thread OP, I hope you do more of this.

Idbatterim · 25-08-2018 5:56pm

that idiot Regina Doherty! What is her response to someone earning 30,000 last year, budget 2018, received a E1.50 income tax saving, while it was " insulting" to give less than a E5 weekly increase to the welfare wasters?

Irish Kings · 25-08-2018 6:17pm

Idbatterim wrote: »

that idiot Regina Doherty! What is her response to someone earning 30,000 last year, budget 2018, received a E1.50 income tax saving, while it was " insulting" to give less than a E5 weekly increase to the welfare wasters?

No matter what is said, you'll find the golden circles actual policy is always that people on 30,000 a year are paying far too little tax, and those on higher wages far too much

lawred2 · 25-08-2018 7:18pm

Sent.

Wonder what Paschal is thinking about Regina. Paschal wanted to reduce the burden of taxation on middle income earners and while doing a bad job of it - Regina is about to undo pretty much the whole lot in one budget..

tossers

ChikiChiki · 26-08-2018 3:22pm

suicide_circus wrote: »

and this lack of imagination and bravery is just hacking away at the countrys future, I honestly consider it treasonous.

It is treasonous. It is my opinion a huge number of politicians enter it for personal gain and as a career. Once in, all that matters to them is holding onto that job, therefore they must ensure votes are gained across all sectors of society.

Middle Ireland is comfortable and has been for a while but getting more disillusioned by the day. I expect it to turn to action at some stage. There's only so far people can be pushed.

ChikiChiki · 26-08-2018 3:24pm

lawred2 wrote: »

Sent.

Wonder what Paschal is thinking about Regina. Paschal wanted to reduce the burden of taxation on middle income earners and while doing a bad job of it - Regina is about to undo pretty much the whole lot in one budget..

tossers

He probably doesn't realise. His priority right now is getting the Dublin Metro moved away from Na Fiannas pitches. Lot of votes to be won there.

dxhound2005 · 26-08-2018 3:29pm

ChikiChiki wrote: »

It is treasonous. It is my opinion a huge number of politicians enter it for personal gain and as a career. Once in, all that matters to them is holding onto that job, therefore they must ensure votes are gained across all sectors of society.

Middle Ireland is comfortable and has been for a while but getting more disillusioned by the day. I expect it to turn to action at some stage. There's only so far people can be pushed.

There aren't a huge number of politicians good or bad, in the first place. 158 TD's, 60 Senators and 949 County Councillors.

Irish Kings · 26-08-2018 4:32pm

ChikiChiki wrote: »

It is my opinion a huge number of politicians enter it for personal gain and as a career

Honest people don't go anywhere near politics in Ireland, apart from the odd innocent header who didn't seem to know any better and who don't last too long.

Pretzeluck · 26-08-2018 4:52pm

_Brian wrote: »

Vote, get your friends out to vote, this is how we show displeasure to politicians, emails and letters rarely make it to them but rather filtered through by secretaries.

The bigger problem is the growing entitlement brigade, they are growing in force and numbers and politicians are listening to them as a voting block. So free houses - SW increases and more taxes on tue worker will be common no matter who is in power.

You're foolish if you think that votes decide anything. If you want change go out in the streets and protest just like in France and then you'll get change. How many times it has been proven that it doesn't matter who you vote for.

AndrewJRenko · 26-08-2018 5:21pm

ChikiChiki wrote: »

It is treasonous. It is my opinion a huge number of politicians enter it for personal gain and as a career.

Would you prefer a bunch of amateurs? What's the problem with making a career?

Irish Kings · 26-08-2018 5:56pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Would you prefer a bunch of amateurs? What's the problem with making a career?

not everyone aspires to be a professional liar for a living

AndrewJRenko · 26-08-2018 7:08pm

Irish Kings wrote: »

not everyone aspires to be a professional liar for a living

It's easy to knock it, but it's a lot harder to get up off your butt and actually do something about it.

Irish Kings · 26-08-2018 7:29pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

It's easy to knock it, but it's a lot harder to get up off your butt and actually do something about it.

so what do you intend to do about all the liars in Irish politics ?

AndrewJRenko · 26-08-2018 7:45pm

Irish Kings wrote: »

so what do you intend to do about all the liars in Irish politics ?

What I intend to do is to encourage those who keep knocking politicians with the 'curse on all your houses' nonsense to get up off their butts and do something.

If you're convinced about the millions of people just waiting to sign up for the PDs V2.0, then obviously you should just start it and the supporters will come flying in.

The fact that Mickey McDowell had a look at having another go a year or two back, and decided against definitely shouldn't hold you back. Don't take the view of an ex-Tanaiste, ex-Minister, ex-party leader over a few Internet posters any day - sure what would he know?

Irish Kings · 26-08-2018 9:07pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

What I intend to do is to encourage those who keep knocking politicians with the 'curse on all your houses' nonsense to get up off their butts and do something.

If you're convinced about the millions of people just waiting to sign up for the PDs V2.0, then obviously you should just start it and the supporters will come flying in.

The fact that Mickey McDowell had a look at having another go a year or two back, and decided against definitely shouldn't hold you back. Don't take the view of an ex-Tanaiste, ex-Minister, ex-party leader over a few Internet posters any day - sure what would he know?

I think you're confusing me with your false assumptions, I detest all politicians and parties and their cronies, so go do your party lackey propaganda thing somewhere else.

AndrewJRenko · 26-08-2018 9:31pm

Irish Kings wrote: »

I detest all politicians and parties and their cronies,

Good for you, with that kind of constructive attitude, I'm sure you'll find a great solution to this political problem any day now.

Irish Kings · 26-08-2018 9:37pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Good for you, with that kind of constructive attitude, I'm sure you'll find a great solution to this political problem any day now.

run along back to cronie spin school, there's a good lad.

AndrewJRenko · 26-08-2018 9:44pm

Irish Kings wrote: »

run along back to cronie spin school, there's a good lad.

So what's your solution, beyond moaning on the forums, that is?

Idbatterim · 26-08-2018 11:31pm

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

So what's your solution, beyond moaning on the forums, that is?

Don’t you have to be a councilor before running for election ? This thread has been a success, honestly , I have underrated just what a failure the system and those frauds we have to choose from come election time are. They are the bloody problem! No ideas, no vision, no spine! Morons!

Idbatterim · 26-08-2018 11:33pm

Irish Kings wrote: »

No matter what is said, you'll find the golden circles actual policy is always that people on 30,000 a year are paying far too little tax, and those on higher wages far too much

Oh that’s true. But simple as, if you’ve got the money to send up in smoke on welfare increases, it’s totally unjustified now. Except if you’re running for election...

dxhound2005 · 26-08-2018 11:34pm

Idbatterim wrote: »

Don’t you have to be a councilor before running for election ? This thread has been a success, honestly , I have underrated just what a failure the system and those frauds we have to choose from come election time are. They are the bloody problem! No ideas, no vision, no spine! Morons!

Gerry Adams was NEVER a Councillor.

AndrewJRenko · 27-08-2018 7:06am

Idbatterim wrote: »

Don’t you have to be a councilor before running for election ?

Nope.

27-08-2018 8:17am

Idbatterim wrote: »

Don’t you have to be a councilor before running for election ? This thread has been a success, honestly , I have underrated just what a failure the system and those frauds we have to choose from come election time are. They are the bloody problem! No ideas, no vision, no spine! Morons!

ah cmon this is puerile stuff.

if an entire complex sphere of activity that occurs all over the world and for some millenia now as a necessary part of human society seems to you from the outside to be as simple and badly-operated as this, would you have a moment of self-awareness at all and consider for half a second that you are just very likely indeed to be underestimating what's involved.

mikemac2 · 27-08-2018 8:19am

Idbatterim wrote: »

Don’t you have to be a councilor before running for election ?

Not at all. George Lee took leave from RTE and got elected

lawred2 · 27-08-2018 9:45am

Anyone else get a response from Regina this morning?

The Assistinator · 27-08-2018 10:23am

Fann Linn wrote: »

Is that physically or mentally disabled. Just think of the auld kids with the adhd and on the spectrum.

I see you no one pulled you on this comment so allow me to ask the question what do you mean by this “on the spectrum “.

Idbatterim · 27-08-2018 5:17pm

People could run as independents on a reward the tax payer mandate. They could then form an independent alliance perhaps. Might be a lot easier than trying to form a new party now before an election. I’m assuming if you were in any way decent and run on a primarily housing and rewarding work basis, you would probably get in, in many constituencies. If you form a party and receive over 2% of the vote, you receive 200,000 each year from central government...

This is very interesting. How to become a td article from the journal a few years back ... http://www.thejournal.ie/election-td-dail-running-vote-crack-attempt-2263391-Aug2015/

lawred2 · 27-08-2018 5:49pm

Idbatterim wrote: »

People could run as independents on a reward the tax payer mandate. They could then form an independent alliance perhaps. Might be a lot easier than trying to form a new party now before an election. I’m assuming if you were in any way decent and run on a primarily housing and rewarding work basis, you would probably get in, in many constituencies. If you form a party and receive over 2% of the vote, you receive 200,000 each year from central government...

This is very interesting. How to become a td article from the journal a few years back ... http://www.thejournal.ie/election-td-dail-running-vote-crack-attempt-2263391-Aug2015/

Hard to reward work and pay for a housing programme I'd have thought

dxhound2005 · 27-08-2018 6:38pm

Idbatterim wrote: »

People could run as independents on a reward the tax payer mandate. They could then form an independent alliance perhaps. Might be a lot easier than trying to form a new party now before an election. I’m assuming if you were in any way decent and run on a primarily housing and rewarding work basis, you would probably get in, in many constituencies. If you form a party and receive over 2% of the vote, you receive 200,000 each year from central government...

This is very interesting. How to become a td article from the journal a few years back ... http://www.thejournal.ie/election-td-dail-running-vote-crack-attempt-2263391-Aug2015/

Why not join one of the twenty or so parties that we have already. There is a vast difference between some of them on a whole range of issues. A few of them might fall into the sort of politics you want.

Idbatterim · 27-08-2018 6:54pm

lawred2 wrote: »

Hard to reward work and pay for a housing programme I'd have thought

No. Changing existing ridiculous regulations governing apartment/studio construction costs that ensure no worker on anywhere near the average industrial can afford a property, can be changed at zero cost ... and I’m not talking about these workers receiving any assistance from the state. in fact the government would be beneficiaries of such astounding vision with the increase in land value and all the extra construction related revenue it would bring in ...

Idbatterim · 27-08-2018 7:04pm

dxhound2005 wrote: »

Why not join one of the twenty or so parties that we have already. There is a vast difference between some of them on a whole range of issues. A few of them might fall into the sort of politics you want.

Nah. Renua economically are the only ones I’d probably agree with. They look like they have severely curtailed the amounts of seats that they could win ... it’s a shame. I hold out hope a new party might form that would reward workers and actually appeal to more people than renua

lawred2 · 27-08-2018 7:07pm

Idbatterim wrote: »

No. Changing existing ridiculous regulations governing apartment/studio construction costs that ensure no worker on anywhere near the average industrial can afford a property, can be changed at zero cost ... and I’m not talking about these workers receiving any assistance from the state. in fact the government would be beneficiaries of such astounding vision with the increase in land value and all the extra construction related revenue it would bring in ...

Your solution is bedsits?

How to Express our Displeasure with Politicians & Media

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