Who Can Take The Crown?

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From top: Taoiseach Enda Kenny at Bega’s Barbers, Enniscorthy, County Wexford last night; Dr Rory Hearne.

Things are not going to plan for King Kenny and Fine Gael in General Election 2016.

But where is the alternative?

Dr Rory Hearne writes:

King Kenny, Michael Noonan and the fiscal space invaders appear to be losing the election. The opinion poll last week in the Irish Times showed that 63% wanted a change of government and only 30% wanted to see the current government returned!

But it wasn’t supposed to be like this for Fine Gael.

This was supposed to be King Kenny’s coronation with the election just a formality where the Irish people obediently went into the election booths and ticked ‘yes, your majesty’ in the boxes beside Fine Gael and Labour candidates.

The Irish people were supposed to choose the stability of King Kenny and his court jesters over the chaos of the rabble rousing Sinn Féin, Independents and others who were going to ‘wreck the economy’.

And then the Taoiseach and Minister for Finance got found out, again. This time by the Fiscal Advisory Council and Sinn Fein – the government’s economic figures were plucked from outer space.

But there was something else happening in the public mood even before this latest incident of attempted manipulation.

Ireland has changed, and the people are no longer the passive sheep of the past. People are not as easily fooled or bribed by cute hoorism, spin and false promises. They have been fooled too many times by the establishment parties and they have suffered dearly from broken promises.

Irish People no longer vote the same way as their parents or family did. They no longer vote for who can ‘fix the potholes’. We are no longer an obedient subservient society doing what the church, state, government and establishment political parties tell us to do.

We have our own minds and we will decide ourselves what is best for us – for everyone, as a society of Irish people – not just an economy of individuals.

And that’s why the wheels have fallen off the government’s re-election wagon.

The people were supposed to have been bought off by promises of tax and USC cuts – the ‘few bob’ back in your pocket. To say thank you for paying the price of austerity, bailing out the developers, bondholders and banks.

But people realise that cutting taxes is ‘boom-bust’ false economics. They realise we need taxes such as the USC to fund proper public services.

King Kenny is very wrong in thinking as he arrogantly said at his party’s economic policy launch that “the vast majority of people don’t understand” economic jargon.

Recent opinion polls show the people understand very well that if you cut taxes and the USC it will mean longer hospital waiting lists, a worse trolley crisis, more homelessness, less guards on the streets, more expensive college fees etc.

They know that if the USC goes – it will mean a €3.7bn hole in the public finances every year – and that is some serious austerity budget cut.

The graph below shows that if the USC is abolished next year we will lose as much from public spending as any of the austerity budgets during this government’s term of office. Abolishing the USC will give us permanent austerity.

graph

Of course this suits the wealthy top 20% as they can easily afford private health care, childcare, rent, mortgages etc – unlike the majority of people.

Most people would get more benefit from having a universal health system, publicly provided affordable childcare, actually free education and affordable housing, than they would from a few hundred quid from tax cuts.

And the people know this – that’s why in the latest poll in the Sunday Independent, for example, more people chose improving public services over tax cuts.

They also realise that cutting taxes and the USC benefits the top earners more.

They are wondering where the mythical recovery is because they aren’t seeing it.

They know we are a deeply unequal country where half the households in the country have just 5% of the total wealth. But the top 20% have 70% of the wealth.

And what the government have ignored to their peril is that the water protests, the Marriage Referendum and the Repeal the 8th campaign are part of a grassroots and generational shift in views of people looking for real, substantive, change.

My research into the water movement, for example, found that people are not just protesting about the water charges but even more so about the devastating impact of the recession and austerity, the injustice of the banking debts, and growing inequality. They are protesting for a more equal Ireland – for Ireland to be a caring society and not just an economy.

They are angry at the political establishment for not standing up to Europe and the bondholders on the saddling of the bankers and developers debt on to the Irish people. Noonan and the government laugh and scorn at Syrizia, the Greek government, for failing in its attempt to stand up and challenge Europe.

But the Irish people have more respect for Syrizia than the Irish government because even though Syrizia might not have succeeded this time, at least they stood up for the Greek people.

Now the question is. Is there an alternative to King Kenny?

The answer is yes, and no.

Fianna Fáil are clearly not an alternative. They wrecked the economy and showed they are no different -while the Green Party were their supportive side-kick, just like Labour is now with Fine Gael. Fianna Fáil are also likely to go into coalition with Fine Gael after the election.

As for Renua – well they are even more right-wing than Fine Gael and most of them are ex-Fine Gaelers who all voted for austerity budgets until the abortion issue came along. Then they decided Fine Gael were not conservative enough for them. They are also likely to support a Fine Gael Government

That leaves Sinn Féin, Independents, the Social Democrats and the Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit.

These are offering an alternative. They will substantially increase their vote and the polls show that they could get up to 50 or 60 TDs in the election. But that is still short of the 80 TDs needed to form a government.

Unfortunately they are divided, fragmented and do not appear as a coherent alternative government.

The Right2Water/Right2Change campaign tried to get them to unite around a set of really good common policies and a vision for an Ireland of ‘equality, democracy and justice’ (you can see the policy principles here).

Unfortunately they all didn’t row in behind that initiative.

But there is still time.

I wrote in the Irish Examiner in December 2014 that “it is very possible that in the next general election, whether it is in 2015 or 2016, the Irish people will vote for the most dramatic transformation in politics since the foundation of the State”

I still believe it is possible. But I think it depends on whether people are presented with a coherent alternative. One way would be for the Sinn Fein, Independents, the Social Democrats and the Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit to unite and present themselves as an ‘alliance for change’.

Imagine a press conference with Mary Lou McDonald, Gerry Adams, Stephen Donnelly, Catherine Murphy, Paul Murphy, Richard Boyd Barrett, Finian McGrath and Clare Daly – where they state that they have put aside their differences and have come together to offer the people of Ireland a real alternative government.

That would be a game changer.

Dr Rory Hearne is a Senior Policy Analyst with TASC, the Think-Tank for Action on Social Change. His column appears here every Wednesday. Follow Rory on Twitter: @roryhearne

Pic: Fine Gael

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123 thoughts on “Who Can Take The Crown?

  1. Condescending Nana

    you really need to learn how to write without sounding like a whingeing pseudo marxist student, it’s so juvenile and unappealing.

    1. Tish Mahorey

      Ah yes, the sneering personal attack by the Young Fine Gael type.

      Can’t debate, so resorts to insults.

      FG are out of ideas and out of lies. They’ll probably bring the army on to the streets as some last ditch attempt to hang on to power.

      1. Neilo

        You’re no stranger to playing the man yourself, Tish.

        Army? There’s only one party running for office that can source some good-to-go gunmen and it ain’t Fine Gael.

    2. Harry Molloy

      +1

      Way too much hyperbole to take seriously. Really, if broadsheet was like this the first time I popped my head in the door I wouldn’t have looked back, I’d have associated it with a socialist soc college society…

        1. Harry Molloy

          some funny posts, gives you an idea of some things going on around Dublin. Soem really funny posters.

          There seems to be a massive increase in socialist ranting thought – I don’t mid socialism, used to be quite socialist and still am to a large extent (as is all of irish politics except for Renua), but it’s endless lefty ranting. The complete inability to admit any positives aboutt he current administration, or state of the country.

          It’s juvenile, biased, and boring.

          1. MoyestWithExcitement

            Nice right wing rant. Actually, wait, not nice, I mean dull and unoriginal and based completely in fantasy.

          2. Harry Molloy

            MoyestwithExcitement – I will vote FG and Soc Dems as I believe in balance. Being in the centre really isn’t a bad thing, it will convey more benefit to most people and will not completely ostracize one section of the community.

            I love balance. Just am seeing little of it here. How many socialist opinion pieces do we have now?
            And as for standards!? This one is incredibly juvenile…

            t’s worthwhile trying to understand and appreciate others points of view. Until you can do that you are lacking in emotional intelligence. And so your opinoon is of little value, especially in politics.

          3. MoyestWithExcitement

            “How many socialist opinion pieces do we have now?”

            None. Socialism means the state own all the industry. We have no pieces that call for the state to control all the industry.

            “t’s worthwhile trying to understand and appreciate others points of view.”

            Are you showing appreciation and understanding by calling opinions you disagree with ‘socialist ranting’?

          4. Harry Molloy

            I can pick out the good from them, but they are delivered in the form of hyperbolic rants.

            Would you like to see balance or do you want to see everyone agree with you?

          5. MoyestWithExcitement

            “but they are delivered in the form of hyperbolic rants.”

            In your opinion. You can call them that if you like, it’s just you can’t then try and take the moral high ground. You calling them rants is a rant in itself.

            “Would you like to see balance or do you want to see everyone agree with you?”

            We *are* seeing balance. I can get all the establishment propaganda I like in pretty much every newspaper. BS provides a platform for people who might’n’t get it elsewhere.

          6. Harry Molloy

            always find it surprising at how critical the “establishment” publications often are of the establishment.

            You’re just highlighting that this is a biased medium, in which case the opinions expressed therein are not objective? Fair enough

  2. andre2016

    kenny has his head in the sand over all of this .. any of his own party question him and they get sent packing. anyone from the public, if they can get within a country mile of him, get cast aside, and he hurrys off .. he cant face anyone or debate anyone. he’s useless. thats why he didnt even attempt to get a good deal on our repayments to europe. he just saddled us with whatever they asked. no questions asked. no bargaining. he hates confrontation or anyone questioning his ability or decisions. he’s got all the qualities you dont need in a leader. hes a p***y.

  3. Carlos Strange

    Can we get the Independents, SF, SD, AAA & PBP to hang out a night and binge through Borgen (seasons 2 & 3, I think) and go from there?

  4. poppy

    Liked this by Dr Hearne. My relative , a lovely popular decent man took himself off with gallon of petrol and took his life after his business collapsed. I realize suicides have gone through the roof and it nausates me listening to ‘recovery’and ‘spin’ and plucking billon figures out of their FG arses. Ditto labour. Week after week we have to look at tragic heartbroken parents who have lost babies through hospital failures. The HSE drag their cases on 9, 10 , 11 years and finally apologize. The HSE staff that shuffle papers like this should be sacked. It is an absolute disgrace to treat parents like this. And ordinary irish people feel a deep shame that HSE could and have inflicted terrible unnecessary suffering on these loving parents.

    1. Rob_G

      I’m sorry to hear about your uncle, but suicides in Ireland peaked in 2001, so your conjecture about suicides is demonstrably untrue, as I imagine most of the rest of assertions are.

      1. rory

        Where did you get that suicide figure, if you don’t mind me asking. (Genuine question, not looking to belittle you or anything. *Waves white flag*)

        1. Rob_G

          That’s an absolute figure; the population grew between 2001 & 2011, so it would probably be more accurate to measure the rate of suicides per 100,000 of population.

          You’re welcome :)

        1. Cowenwatch

          @RobG, this Gov altered how suicide figures are calculated, so now they can say ‘It’s not as bad as 2004 numbers’. Obviously the Gov are very good at counting things differently with lots of things these days!

  5. Ronan

    Does your coalition of independents and others include the likes of Lowry, Mattie McGrath, Shane Ross? How likely are they to row in behind this SF/AAA/PBP cabinet?

  6. Jonsmoke

    But aren’t Sinn Féin, AAA etc all promising to abolish the USC too? Along with getting rid of water charges and property tax. So, the hole in the finances will be there no matter who gets to form the next government.

  7. Owen C

    “Imagine a press conference with Mary Lou McDonald, Gerry Adams, Stephen Donnelly, Catherine Murphy, Paul Murphy, Richard Boyd Barrett, Finian McGrath and Clare Daly”

    A genuine motley crue. This isn’t analysis of the electorate, this is simply Rory’s preferred coalition. He doesn’t provide an answer as to “Who can take the crown”, he simply says who he’d like to take the crown. This is dull stuff. The simple fact remains – between 50-60% will vote for FG, FF and Labour. Another 10% will vote for spin offs of these groupings. 70% don’t want any radical shift in policies or government.

    1. scottser

      not according to the polls FG and Lab running at a collective 38%, largely the same as SF plus all the independents. this election won’t be as clear cut as you think.

      1. Owen C

        @ Scottser

        u saw the part about FF in there right? Current average of major opinion polls:

        FG 29%
        Lab 8%
        FF 19%
        Total = 56%

        Renua and ex FG/FF/Labour Independents ~10%.

        @ Fergus

        I plucked the facts from the latest opinion polls.

        @ Moyest

        always the class clown. Great to have you here for the bitter-comic-relief. Keep up the good work. You’ll be missed when you find a job.

        1. MoyestWithExcitement

          Oh I don’t need to provide any comic relief when we have your hilarious contributions.

          1. MoyestWithExcitement

            And another! Although that one wasn’t as funny as you telling people that a guy gave his own opinion in an editorial column he wrote. We’re not worthy of your wit, Owen. Please, take your hilarious musings to a platform with a wider reach. You deserve it. You should check out The Journal. You’d be a hit over there.

          2. MoyestWithExcitement

            Translation; ‘I know you are but what am I?’ You’ve lost it. Shame. I’m cancelling my fan club membership.

          3. Owen C

            You see, we’re thinking along the same wavelength now. This could be beautiful. No refunds though on the fan club sub, just to be clear.

          4. MoyestWithExcitement

            I’m voting for you, Pardon. You were talking about the votes for ‘Handsomest Poster on Broadsheet’ award, right?

      2. Pardon

        Polls were wrong in UK election. My money is on the same happening here. So called far left don’t have well thought out policy, no money to fund many of their promises and no real leadership. Come the election, Johnny and Mary will hop into their election booth with money jingling in their back pocket and think ” ah yerra they aren’t that bad”.

        1. Fergus the magic postman

          Yeah, you see, this is the spiel we’re getting from the promoters of the somewhat mysterious recovery we’re hearing about.
          I presume you’re doing ok financially Pardon, & that makes it easy to completely ignore the fact that lots of people are not doing ok, & are not seeing any recovery, and in some cases are not any closer to being homed.
          But hey, I’m alright Jack, yeah?

          1. MoyestWithExcitement

            “But hey, I’m alright Jack, yeah?”

            Yeah that attitude is counter evolutionary propaganda and, I think, dying out. Younger people have never really engaged with the political process before because they didn’t relate to it and didn’t understand it. That’s changing. FF and FGs days as parties 1 and 2 are numbered…..*ba dum tsch*

          2. Pardon

            When you , yourself, Jack the Lad get over YOUR militant self obsession I would suggest you reread my comment.

          3. Fergus the magic postman

            “Come the election, Johnny and Mary will hop into their election booth with money jingling in their back pocket and think ” ah yerra they aren’t that bad”

            Now you move your swinging helmet to one side & read mine again.

    2. MoyestWithExcitement

      Yeah, an editorial column generally carries the authors personal opinions. Tomorrow we’ll cover long division.

  8. Jake38

    “But the Irish people have more respect for Syrizia than the Irish government because even though Syrizia might not have succeeded this time, at least they stood up for the Greek people……..” Really, Comrade Dr Rory? You may need to up your tablets if this is the depth of your analysis.

    1. DubLoony

      No, I have no respect for people who put ideology before real actual people.
      As a result of the immature posturing of Syrizia, over 24% of Greeks are unemployed, pensions have been cut 12 times to €300 a month, health system has run out of drugs and a whole society is beggared. They haven’t managed to get a proper tax collection system in place. There is NO welfare system there, so if unemployed, single parent, disabled, tough, you get nothing.

      People here have had a very difficult time. But we have a welfare system keeping the workst of it at bay.

  9. Zuppy International

    Who is this buffoon Hearne with his pHd arguing for more New Taxes?

    Why is she/he calling Bellenda a King?

    Does Hearne PhD vote?

    Is it a citizen?

    What’s his/her interest in our domestic administration?

    Who does he/she work for really?

    I call spook.

      1. Zuppy International

        No, I’m looking for actual answers to these valid questions.

        I conditionally offer to withdraw the terms ‘buffon’ and ‘spook’ if these answers prove to be satisfactory and true.

        Shall I hold my breath?

  10. J

    And policy will be dictated by the EU and civil servants rather than some pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. …Gerry and the orangemaker….*.Phew* .

    1. Zuppy International

      Good catch Joe S. The phd and broadsheet being very circumspect with their full disclosure.

    1. Jake38

      Of course they did. Tory money from the English taxpayer pays for all the “community activists” and other slush in West Belfast.

  11. Kingdomer

    What a rant.

    “Irish People no longer vote the same way as their parents or family did. They no longer vote for who can ‘fix the potholes’. People are not as easily fooled or bribed by cute hoorism ”

    Michael Healy Rae is the bookies favourite to garner the highest number of first preference votes of any candidate in the election. Michael Lowry is also one of the favourites. Potholes. Cutehoorism. Yeah that stuff just doesn’t wash anymore….

      1. rory

        In fairness we don’t know what the count was for that mock election. Eames may have got 3rd place, but it doesn’t necessarily mean she got a lot of votes.

  12. Anne

    Sorry, but USC was supposed to be a temporary measure.
    It was brought in to pay back the Troika.

    People are being hammered with taxes in this country..
    What’s the rate after 33k? 52% isn’t it?
    HAMMERED.

    What are the capital and interest payments we’re making every year on the ‘bail out’ we were forced into?
    http://www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-services/ireland-paid-interest-of-1-billion-to-imf-last-year-1.2102208

    That piece there says –

    “The NTMA paid €7.59 billion in interest costs on Ireland’s national debt in 2014, an increase of 1.9 per cent on the previous year.

    It has spent some €28.5 billion in interest payments over the past five years, while the annual cost of servicing Ireland’s national debt has more than doubled since 2010.

    In additional to the bailout funds, the interest costs last year included just under €5 billion on sovereign bonds, €394 million on State savings schemes, and €64 million on other categories.”

    7.59 billion in Interest in 2014. Billion, with a B.

    1. Owen C

      Not all the debt is from the banking sector bailout btw. We have debt of around 200bn. The banking sector part cost 64 billion up front, and around 35-40bn after all the money we got back. So 75-80% comes from non-banking debts.

        1. Owen C

          Upfront cost 60bn, net 43bn, as at end 2014, per comptroller and auditor general. Its improved a little bit since then.

          General government debt, at end September 2015, was 204bn per NTMA.

          “The C&AG has estimated that the cost to the State from banking stabilisation measured up to the end of 2014 was about €60 billion. The investments in the various banks were worth €17 billion at the time. Net them off against each other and the notional net cost at the end of last year was €43 billion.”

          http://www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-services/c-ag-calculates-cost-of-banking-crash-at-60bn-1.2371837

          1. Anne

            Ah 60 billion, is that all?
            I’ve read reports that it was 64 billion, 35 billion of which were to bail out Anglo and Irish Nationwide, of which we won’t get a penny back.

            http://www.irishexaminer.com/business/ireland-spent-373-of-gdp-on-bank-bailout-costs-323195.html
            “Ireland’s bank bailouts cost the country the equivalent of nearly 40% of its annual economic output, most of which it is unlikely to see again, new figures show.”

            “The news is bad for Irish and Greek citizens, as only a third to half of the money was used to acquire assets that could potentially generate a return, and instead was spent on bank recapitalisations and toxic assets.”

          2. Owen C

            yeah, none of that seems to contradict my suggestion that 75%+ of our debt burden has nothing to do with the banking sector bailouts?

          3. Anne

            Well 64 billion as a percent of 200 odd billion is 32%…

            Servicing the debt alone is about 8 billion a year..

  13. Rainy Day

    Good piece….
    However….the big problem with the grouping on the left for a lot of people (me included) is Sinn Fein. For all the merits or otherwise of the arguments of the left the connection Sinn Fein have with violence in their past is a major problem for a lot of ‘middle ground’ voters.
    Gerry Adams denying he was ever a member of the IRA is not believed by anyone. For all the ills and sins of the recent pro austerity parties they didn’t murder anyone, and they don’t have dead bodies in bogs around the country.

    1. Anne

      They’d probably do better if he stepped down and put Mary Lou at the helm… Saw her on last night with Genuinely Miriam and Frances Fitzgerald. Hyenas in the wild would be more civilised, but they’d probably still do better if he stepped down.

    2. Karl

      Rainy Day, maybe you should look forward instead of backwards. Or else we’ll be stuck with FG for the next generation.

      1. Rob_G

        Hard to look for forwards when Martin and Adams are still at the helm, and SF still uses convicted child murderers to canvass for them in elections.

  14. ColintheDachshund

    Just a quick one and certainly not looking for sympathy in anyway merely interested on people’sv iewpoints

    What classifies as a high earner in these magical plans that the indos and SF are espousing?
    Currently i see almost 41% of my wages deducted each month. Iv worked hard my whole life, put myself through college with part time jobs, went through many years of low wages as i worked my way along the ladder until finally I have reached a place where i am earning a good gross income.
    Alternates to the current Government propose a ‘Wealth tax’ on earners over €100k per annum. To me this is a rather punative tax and personally I see it as a punishment to achievement.
    As an aside I am the the sole earner in my household where further taxation would impact heavily and live a life that is far from the extravagant lifestyle that the likes of Paul Murphy, Richard Boyd Barrett et al seem to believe.
    Would this wealth tax be applicable to a household where the cumulative earnings of two people are €100k plus?
    These are the details that just don’t seem to exist in the socialist paradise they see.

    1. DubLoony

      Paul Murphy and Richard Boyd Barrett have never had jobs outside of politics.
      Utterly clueless who are wlling to lead people on protests, encouraging non-payment and abandoning them to face additional charges when it does suit – Bin charges, property tax.

      The only lefties on the planet who don’t support property tax.

      1. rory

        I thought property taxes in other parts of the planet tend to pay for home related services such as bin collection, whereas property tax in Ireland is for bail out debt. Totally different beasts I would have thought, though I am not an expert so feel free to correct me (with accurate info.)

        1. Harry Molloy

          We are running a deficit regardless of the bank bailout.

          Only 10% of the mney we have borrowed is to service the bank bailout. We borrow so much because our outgoings are a lot more than what we receive in taxes. Our outgoings are the usual, social welfare, public service etc.

          To close this gap we can borrow more money, or introduce more taxes. Which would you prefer?

          Maybe we’ll up ColintheDachshund’s tax bill to 50% and remove iincome tax for everyone under €30k?

          Serves you right for working your ass off ColintheDachshund!

          1. Deluded

            That’s excellent, thank you.
            (I didn’t think it quite accurate to say “it’s being used to pay for social welfare.”)

  15. MoyestWithExcitement

    “What classifies as a high earner”

    How much you earn compared to everyone else.

    “these magical plans that the indos and SF are espousing?”

    You must be talking about Fine Gael and their €2 billion that doesn’t exist.

    “To me this is a rather punative tax and personally I see it as a punishment to achievement.”

    Taxes aren’t punishment. We need to pay for the roads and schools and fire brigades and police officers. Speaking of magic, do you think the money for all that comes from thin air?

    1. ColintheDachshund

      Appreciate the attempt at a patronising response MoyestWithExcitement, perhaps i can elaborate slightly,

      1. I never said Fine Gael were the panacea to any ill, however sweeping statements like tax the “rich which cant be elaborated on by Richard Boyd Barrett hardly fill one hope for the future

      2.What classifies as a high earner – as you probably know although that maybe giving you too much credit, this is a complex question that cant simply be answered through a wooly comparison to “everyone else”. There are many facets to this as i mentioned briefly, multiple earners per household etc
      2. I fully understand why the exchequer collects taxes, a wealth tax or taxation of the ‘rich’ is hardly a well thought out economic plan. My perception of this as a punishment tax does not mean i am against taxation as concept far from it. But perhaps getting into an explanation of perception and reality could be taking this a little outside your comfort zone.

      1. MoyestWithExcitement

        “Appreciate the attempt at a patronising response MoyestWithExcitement”

        No problem. Just sticking with the tone you already set.; “What classifies as a high earner in these *magical* plans that the indos and SF are espousing?” and “These are the details that just don’t seem to exist in the *socialist paradise* they see.” Did you forget you wrote that or something? How embarrassing for you.

        Your “1” I can barely read. What are you saying? Richard Boyd Barrett said tax the rich so you’re worried someone who *isn’t* Boyd Barrett is going to take all your money away or something?

        As for 2, It very much can be answered through a “wooly comparison to everyone else”. High is a subjective, relative term. If you’re on 100k, but everyone else is on a million, you’re a low earner. See how that works? Where’s that post from earlier today about poor numeracy in Ireland?

        As for your other 2, I just don’t even know what to say. ‘Tax the rich is not a good economic plan’. Well ok. Thanks?

        1. ColintheDachshund

          There was no patronising tone in my original comment in fact I stated I am genuinely interested in peoples viewpoints, a debate without an attempt at belittling opinions or making sweeping generalisations is clearly beyond your capability. Banging my head off a wall wasn’t my intention but i suppose more fool me for commenting on the internet in the first place so il leave it there, have a great evening.

  16. ollie

    This is the reason that FG and FF won’t powershare. It would leave the way open for a real alternative and over the course of the next 2-3 elections it would see a power shift away from the right.
    Imagine it, FG and FF out of power! Happy days.

  17. sǝɯǝɯʇɐpɐq

    I love that picture of Enda doing his ‘man with two pints’ routine.
    Cracks me up every time.

    Imagine, a man with two pints.
    Two.
    One in each hand.

  18. Truth in the News

    What the electorate need to find out is where all the austerity taxes they
    coughed up went in the last five years of Kenny + Gilmore-Burton rule
    have ended up,and if the they continued on with Fianna Fail in 2011 would
    it not be just them same, in effect FF 4 year plan, which they got ran out office for, was endorsed and implemented over 5 years by Kenny and Co, and after the
    election is over, and once FF and FG have over 80 seats, they will quickly
    bed down together, whats at stake is not the Country, its soft jobs, the perks
    even the free parking around the Dail, and three main parties have enjoyed
    them since foundation of the State, and Sinn Fein above all people are not
    not to get near them, and if one is to guage the new type of “BlueShirt” inspired
    Armed Militia patrolling the streets of Dublin in recent days, is not an omen for
    a very silent Coup d’Etat……an 1916 in reverse

    1. sǝɯǝɯʇɐpɐq

      You had me at ‘free parking around the Dáil.
      De bastards.

      -After that I had to catch my breath, so I nipped out for a quick smoke. Did I miss anything important?

  19. Peter Dempsey

    I intend voting 1 FF 2 FG 3 Renua 4 Labour

    Don’t have anything against SF, Greens, Soc Dems.

    However FF and FG doing well means that Broadsheet and Rabble readers, Twitter SJWs along with many journalists from The Journal will be p*ssed off. Which is only a good thing.

    1. Fergus the magic postman

      You are a prime example of everything that is wrong, not just this country, but mankind. Well done you.

    2. Ron

      What you’ve just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone is now dumber for having read it. I award you zero points, and may God have mercy on your soul

  20. Baz

    ah Rory, tell us, who widdled on your cornflakes?

    the whining is tiresome, some of us have spent the last 8 years carrying the economy with hard work and personal adjustment, we wont allow the professional whiners and ‘looking for a handout brigade’ to piss our hard earned work away

    try maturity, marxism is for angst filled teenagers

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