Irish Politics Thread

It’s not at all. Hilarious how ye all wagon circle like this. No debate, just as hominem. The lowest form. Most of he just don’t have answers.

But I’ve never questioned the democratic process, the legitimacy of the vote, or the outcome at all. Ireland’s electoral process is exceptionally robust and almost as trustworthy as you can get. But you can hold majority parties to account, and that happens both inside the Dail, and outside too. As a majority party I still feel SF have major questions to answer, and the level of political debate here is good.

Honestly, I’d rather see a party I don’t like, perform well in Government, as opposed to seeing a parry I do like performing poorly. Unfortunately, too many people go the opposite way, and either do the mental gymnastics necessary to convince themselves all is well, or are just not particularly bothered by it, and are satisfied with holding power. That includes a SF Government. However, with the manifesto, I feel there are serious reasons to question that. 

I have no doubt my posts have annoyed some people. That’s partisan politics. But they can engage the argument rather than make nonsense claims about posters “running rings”, or playing with dead mice.

 

 

I think that is probably true that SF are aiming to become that broad church, catch all populist party. But that doesn't mean that their policies are not on the left of the Political spectrum and in the North probably more on the centre left of that spectrum. I agree SF went for the increase in spend but without cost to most taxpayers, they seem to have taken a leaf out of Bernie Sanders book in their claims of how to pay for the increase in expenditure. By that I mean they seem to be targeting the top 1-2% plus multinationals and attempting to raise revenue that way. I am no economist but for the most part their aims look unrealistic. But that doesn't mean that their aims are discredited. Improvements can be made for sure, a lot of what SF are aiming for may not be met but if substantial improvements in housing and other issues like health, childcare costs and even something like maternity care(they want to increase it for one parent to 52 weeks from 26) then they could well be on the way to cementing their place as one of the 'big three'.

I would argue it is discredited, and it’s incredibly dubious. Particularly as they high spend, low tax model has been tried before, both in 1977 and in the period just before the 2002 General Election and the 2008 crash. Multinationals can withdraw, and high earners can move wealth. You need a consistent and dependable flow of taxation and that comes from the wider economy. If you want good public services, you have to pay for them, and if you want to ensure they are sustainable you also have to pay for them. Offering a wide number of tax breaks for the most dependable source of income makes almost no sense, and the vast increase in expenditure doesn’t mitigate for a right wing tax policy.

I suppose I find it remarkable that the messenger may have changed,  it the message hasn’t, and that’s people will buy it. Even if progress is made, if economic conditions deteriorate, we are back to where we began. Or alternatively, it never happens and the promises were for naught.