astute NYT piece in tomorrows paper…
“The deal between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael attests to the diminished stature of Ireland’s traditional parties as its political landscape fractures and as support for Sinn Fein grows.”
“What happens at the end of this four or five-year period?” said Theresa Reidy, a political scientist at University College Cork. The two parties, she said, could “emerge in an even more diminished state.”
Two parties
One being Sinn Féin and the other Not Sinn Féin
I suppose
That’s everyone in the opposition not already Sinn Féin or spawns from the FFFG gene pool pretty feiced so
Greens may well be Government draft excluders for years to come
goldenbrown
years to come?
I give this trough iteration 18 months tops…there’s some very hard times ahead. Greens are gonna be badly burnt.
Charger Salmons
Anway, time to introduce Charger’s Inferiority Complex Index.
Whereby I rate on a scale of 1-10 the Irish media and BS posters who obsess about Blighty to an unhealthy degree that betrays their own insecurity and inferiority complex.
The opening entry from the Irish Times about Boris’ ” caving in ” on summer school meals. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/uk-government-caves-in-on-school-meals-after-marcus-rashford-campaign-1.4280507
Ireland currently has no plan to extend the provision for school meals for the needy into the summer.
CICI: 7/10
Nigel
We’ve ALWAYS had Charger’s Inferiority Complex here, in fairness.
Charger Salmons
Another 7/10 on the CICI ratings ..
Armed Chechen and Algerian immigrants fight running battles as they take control of the streets of Dijon over the weekend. Not a peep out of the Irish media.
Interesting article – have climate and seasonal factors played a larger role in Australia and New Zealand’s low numbers of Covid cases as opposed to the lockdown measures? Evidence emerging that the virus doesn’t transmit well in warm, humid environments. UV rays play a role too, from what I’ve read.
Professor Michael Ward, epidemiologist at the University of Sydney:-
“We have a lot of armchair New Zealand epidemiologists who have advised the government using theoretical statistical modelling on how to prevent the spread of covid -19 but this is a rare forensic (peer-reviewed) epidemiology study that provides a true insight into the spread of covid,”
…“Our government’s lockdown modelling data was based on a set of environmental and demographic conditions prevalent in the northern hemisphere and irrelevant in the New Zealand and Australian summer settings. Covid just doesn’t like warm humid environments so transmission rates are low.”
Ben Madigan
Why then has Brazil been so badly affected? NZ is not particularly warm or humid in March April or May. Neither are parts of Australia like Melbourne or Tasmania.
f_lawless
I’m not sure Ben – I just thought that it’s a noteworthy study that is stated as peer-reviewed and is led by an epidemiologist from the region.
If you’re asking me to indulge in some “armchair epidemiology” for the sake of it, then I would suggest that according to some research, a high UV index also plays a role in killing off the virus . However, it is known that high levels of air pollution have a mitigating effect on UV radiation- air pollutants absorb and scatter UV rays. Whereas Australia, NZ, Tasmania have a high UV index and relatively clean air, Brazil’s cities have extremely high air pollution.
Studies have also indicated that long-term exposure to air pollution is contributing to higher numbers of COVID-19 fatalities.
India is pretty warm and humid and their outbreak is ramping up
Otis Blue
New Zealand have recorded two new cases. Seemingly, both from Brits who arrived recently.
No doubt, in the face of all facts, Charger will see this as a triumph for British exports.
Charger Salmons
Me ?
I just reckon it’s a huge hoot that Varadkar gets a 75% approval rating for his handling of C-19 when Ireland has the 9th worst death rate per capita in the world and the second worst record for deaths in care homes.
Ireland truly does have the best, if somewhat gullible,supporters in the world.
No wonder they put up with some much guff being shovelled their way by successive governments.
ReproBertie
You want to talk about gullible supporters? Just yesterday you were bragging about Britain’s teaboy Taoiseach’s approval rating despite having the 3rd highest Covid 19 death count. Almost 42,000 dead but that’s OK because the shops are open. No wonder the Brits are happy with a government that doesn’t show up to answer any questions and promotes the principle of “rules are for the plebs”.
Otis Blue
Yeah, I know. Mad isn’t it?
High approval rating here. 80 seat majority in the UK.
You’d think that would reflect competence and capability. I blame the voters myself.
Gerry
After the uprising of the 17th June
The Secretary of the Writers Union
Had leaflets distributed in the Stalinallee
Stating that the people
Had forfeited the confidence of the government
And could win it back only
By redoubled efforts. Would it not be easier
In that case for the government
To dissolve the people
And elect another?
Charger Salmons
You do realise the 80-seat majority was won at an election before anyone had ever heard of C-19 ?
The Tory poll lead has actually been cut from 20 to 8 points during the course of the pandemic – rather the opposite of Varadkar’s soaring popularity even though he presided over poor handling of the virus.
But let’s be fair – from Haughey through to Varadkar via Bertie the Irish electorate has never been anything other than gormlessly gullible.
It’s why the EU was able to get away with lumping all the bondholders debts on Ireland in the bailout without any fear of the Irish being uppity.
Oct 2 2009 was when Ireland sold its soul.
The day this country died of shame.
Otis Blue
That’s the spirit, Charger. Good to see you put some ‘oomph’ into proceedings.
scottser
hilarious – charger banging on about how gullible we are when it simply took a known liar with a three-word slogan to lead 20 million people into a culture war.
our problems pale into insignificance compared to the uk’s. which is probably why charger lives over here, eh?
ReproBertie
“The Tory poll lead has actually been cut from 20 to 8 points during the course of the pandemic”
Not quite your triumphant tone from yesterday Spoofer.
“An 80-seat majority and still 8 points in front of Labour as Covid-19 peters out.” was your take then.
Charger Salmons
My post was entirely accurate.
Unlike your predictions that Brexit would never happen and Boris wouldn’t become PM.
Morto.Sad emoji face.
I hope you don’t waste money on the Lotto …
ReproBertie
See the way I quoted things you actually said to prove my point Spoofer? You should try that instead of just making stuff up to satisfy your fantasies. I know it’s easier to feel like you get a win when you just invent a position I never took but that’s not the way the world works. I never said Sasamach wouldn’t happen. Can’t be 100% on my position on the Tories being gullible enough to elect the teaboy as their puppet leader but I’m sure you can provide evidence, right?
I do remember that it wasn’t the teaboy you were touting as taking over from May though so I guess you were wrong there. “Morto.Sad emoji face.
I hope you don’t waste money on the Lotto”
So nothing to back up your usual spoofing then. Even you must be getting embarrassed about trotting out the same old lies every single time I show you up.
Two new cases in New Zealand. Travelers from the U.K. . You would have to wonder about the other passengers.
Formerly known as @ireland.com
Melbourne based BSer here. Melbourne is not particularly humid. It has had the wettest Autumn in 30 years. Tasmania and the South Island of NZ would be very cool places. The lockdown here meant I could see the stars at night, due to reduced air pollution. I think the biggest factor was closing the borders and forcing all arrivals to quarantine for 14 days. That meant the lockdown (a lot less strict than Ireland’s – all shops could stay open, hairdressers stayed open, most businesses allowed to stay open) and social distancing worked. In Ireland, the lockdown was futile while you let anyone fly in or arrive on a ferry.
Public satisfaction with Leo is running at 75% – that’s SEVENTY-FIVE percent. C’mon – he’s quite good, he’s not that good.
I wonder if Giggidy will change his tune now and stop complaining about the FF-FG-G coalition – if they don’t form a government now, Leo could call a snap election, and who knows, first single-party government in 40 years?
GiggidyGoo
Rob – when will you ever learn that figures released by polling companies, which poll 1200 people out of 5,000,000 , haven’t been at all accurate in recent times. I know you’re young, but it’s time to start learning don’t you think?
Varadkar may have no choice but to call an election. FF are borderline non-agreement, but the Green Party’s voters for the agreement is less than 50%.
Hopefully a new election will be called. There is now a clear distinction between SF and FFG. The shame of Michéal Martin succumbing to FGs advances. If he does in fact become taoiseach for a while, it is just for his own self-gratification.
The picture in the Irish World – is he checking that he hasn’t lost any envelopes, or lodgement slips to the wife’s account ?
Rob_G
I always find it very funny when GG decries the efficacy of statistics when he doesn’t happen to agree with them… You are right in that a poll with that sample size in a country of 5m people would have a margin of error of 3%, so he actually could be as unpopular as… 72%
“The shame of Michéal Martin succumbing to FGs advances.” – I’ve never come across such a load of hyperbolic old nonsense…
ReproBertie
“figures released by polling companies … haven’t been at all accurate in recent times”
but also
“the Green Party’s voters for the agreement is less than 50%”
So just how accurate is that “less than 50%” then?
3 GP TDs abstained on the vote. The rest of the parliamentary party, including Catherine Martin, voted in favour. Now it’s up to them to get the 2/3 of the party on board which shouldn’t be a massive task if they already have almost 1/2 before they even start the conversation.
Rob_G
I think, even if certain members do have (well-founded) reservations, if they reject it would mean another election, and I don’t think any one party would want to be blamed for causing another election; the voter are not likely to reward them for it.
ReproBertie
No party could expect to go into another election and come out with a majority. We’d just be facing into another coalition of some shade or other. When it comes to coalitions compromises have to be made but where would we be come talks for another coalition if one party or other collapsed the current deal? How could either of the other parties trust them in negotiations again? It is in the interests of the three parties to get this deal done and then spend 5 years showing why people can trust them with their vote come the next election.
GiggidyGoo
Repro – I can only go on what I’ve been told by an active member of the Green Party as to the level of support this has. Family member. The conversation has already been started weeks ago as far as the membership are concerned.
See my figures below on the accuracy of Polling companies polls. Quite clear that they’ve been trying to push FG for a long time now. And making fools of themselves in the process.
ReproBertie
The “less that 50%” figure reported today comes from the same Irish Times poll that Leo’s approval comes from.
The GP position will be interesting to watch now that Catherine Martin is on board and promoting it as the best available deal.
Cian
“I can only go on what I’ve been told by an active member of the Green Party as to the level of support this has”
hahaha. ha ha. you say that polling companies who choose a representative selection of 1,200 people to represent 5million are useless; but then your family member can accurately represent the whole Green Party? haha. ha. ha.
GiggidyGoo
It will be interesting alright. She’s in a predicament. Does she go against the TD’s line, or go against the grassroots (actually a term that’s suitable for them). The ‘new’ greens are more radical and have broader social justice objectives than Eamon Ryan. Catherine Martin would be closer to that.
GiggidyGoo
Well you may laugh Cian. After all, you’re the one getting the memos with the bullet points from the frape room, and take them as gospel. Haw haw.
Just so happens that it isn’t just one opinion of the family member. I did say that he was active in the Green party, and that’s the divide of the opinions he has heard – from other members of the green party. Take it or leave it.
Cian
@GiggidyGoo
you know one of the differences between us?
I respond to what you write. I don’t make stuff up. I don’t make wild accusations. I stay on topic. I try to distinguish between facts (I provide sources) and my opinions.
You, on the other hand, constantly make things up, make wild accusations deny thing you have said… which isn’t very nice. But to top it off you’re a hypocrite as you constantly harp on about how you
– “play the ball not the man”; you consistently attach posters rather than the posts; and
– “will admit to my mistakes”; which you don’t.
Johnny
..says the chap who yesterday wanted commemorate a terrorist act by splinter group from the Provo’s as he’s getting a little worried that I’m going blow the lid off the FG killings in care homes-24 years gosh Cian such a milestone thanks for that link yesterday…
GiggidyGoo
Jeez Rob. Here’s an example of the type of poll you place your trust in. Red C Poll October 2019, and MRBI poll October 2019 with the election called by Varadkar on 14th January 2020 (based on polls no doubt).
Now, Rob – that’s how I come to my conclusions on polls.
How do you come to yours?
GiggidyGoo
Paging Rob. Come in Rob.
Cian
You are comparing a poll in October with an Election in February. Even you can understand that things can change over 4 months – especially as “don’t knows” choose a party/candidate?
Running up to the election: FG FF SF Lab PBP SD GP (poll)
21 22 25 4 3 3 7 (election)
20 23 25 4 2 2 8 (1st Feb 2020 Ipsos MRBI/Irish Times )
21 24 24 5 1 3 7 (30 Jan 2020 Red C/Business Post )
GiggidyGoo
I’m comparing a poll taken 3 months before the actual result of what they were polling about actually took place. At a time when FG were mulling over whether to call an election. Polls like those helped FG make the decision. We all saw the result. We all saw the ‘failure’ of the polling companies.
Margin of error?
They’re mulling it over now again (like it or not), and here we’re seeing the usual polling gobsh….ery going on.
Apart from that – I was teaching Rob the difference between imagination and reality. He has a lot to learn.
Cian
So you agree that the polls are accurate when they are taken?
Because there is evidence (my post above) that they are.
Which would suggest that the poll published today is accurate.
Are you going to retract: “figures released by polling companies, which poll 1200 people out of 5,000,000 , haven’t been at all accurate in recent times.”?
GiggidyGoo
Where did I say that Cian. The October polls were very far from being accurate. They related to a question regarding first preferences, while FG were considering calling an election. Are you trying to say that the mood changed so much in three months?
This current poll is similar. It’s a forerunner to a possible decision to call an election in the next 2-3 months (why else would it have been ‘taken’?) A poll taken a week before an election would be more ‘accurate’ as the polling companies now have no way to cover up any little lies that they may want to put out there.
Once you realise the type of company that takes the poll, and their recent history (Does RedC and the improper recruitment for the People’s Assembly ring any bells Cian?), then you realise that results from them aren’t to be trusted.
Rob_G
“Are you trying to say that the mood changed so much in three months?”
Yes; the Irish electorate are a fickle bunch; almost incredibly so
May 2019: Sinn Féin loses two MEPs and a full one-third of its councillors
February 2020: SF tops polls all over the country
GiggidyGoo
Both of those were a result of SF not engaging with the electorate. FFG always engage, with the help of the likes of friendly polling companies. Once SF started engaging, their popularity went up – despite FFG and their pollster friends.
Politics isn’t driven by fickle people. You have an awful lot to learn Rob.
Rob_G
“Both of those were a result of SF not engaging with the electorate.”
– that’s a strange backwards-rationalisation; I’d imagine it’s because they were limited in being able to promise free goodies like increasing the dole and free houses for everyone, which won it for them this time.
As I say Rob – you’ve an awful lot to learn about Politics. You show your immaturity and lack of comprehension of politics with a sentence like this….”I’d imagine it’s because they were limited in being able to promise free goodies like increasing the dole and free houses for everyone, which won it for them this time.”
At least you’ve finally agreed on the ‘won’ part. We’re getting somewhere at last.
Cian
@GiggidyGoo seriously?
where did you say “figures released by polling companies, which poll 1200 people out of 5,000,000 , haven’t been at all accurate in recent times.”?
the second comment on this chain (about 25 higher).
@GG “[…] It’s a forerunner to a possible decision to call an election in the next 2-3 months (why else would it have been ‘taken’?) A poll taken a week before an election would be more ‘accurate’ as the polling companies now have no way to cover up any little lies that they may want to put out there.
No and No.
Polls are taken every few weeks. Red C/The Sunday Business Post & Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times have one each month. Political parties run their own polls too – and will prioritise their own results when deciding on when to call an election.
A ‘poll’ is more accurate closer to an election for two reasons. Primarily the thing you are comparing the accuracy of the poll to is the election. A poll 4 months prior to an election is showing how people felt 4 months earlier. Secondly, as the election looms the question become more realistic “who will I vote for now that I have a list of actual candidates and have read their bumpf” rather than “who would I vote for (if an election were called)?”
surely even this level of sycophancy makes you wince a bit
James P R
Micheál Martin is the still standing remnant of the Haughey Ahern era. Haughey was hugely unfit for public office of any kind; Ahern, at worst, could be probably found to have been a bit too flaithiúl with the public purse and various vanity projects, and to have possessed areckless, wanton disregard for fiscal oversight.
Micheal Martin represents the very worst of Irish public life. The vested interest/builder/developer/Range Rover/Galway tent mentality that epitomised a race to the bottom of the barrel by Fianna Fáil. Too many criminal types, occupying the same top tables as Micheál Martin, were steeped in legal actions, tribunals, garda investigations, tribunals, unfavourable findings and even jail sentences.
ENOUGH! This deal must be opposed by anyone with a scintilla of concern at how badly the nation may be led astray by Micheál Martin and his barely presentable coterie of parliamentary FF colleagues.
Cian
If fairness Micheál Martin brought in the smoking ban in Ireland – which was groundbreaking at the time.
As much as I dislike him (for the reasons you listed above) – he has done some good too.
James P R
Smoking ban could be viewed as a doff of the hat to neoliberal Europe in the wake of Ireland’s initial rejection of the Nice Treaty. Suddenly we were the good boys and girls in the class again, with absolute reams of positive press.
Gerry
If you remember, he was a lot less courageous about the ban when it was brought in, the line was that bar workers had/have a right to a smoke-free workplace. He covered his ass and backed into the policy after getting endless advice, no leadership shown there
Nigel
Ah, yes, I remember when the smoking ban was the new intolerant fascism and smokers were the new victims of prejudice and discrinination. Nowadays it’s racists and transphobes (see below.) Plus ca change.
Cian
we were (one of) the first country in the world to ban smoking in the workplace. It wasn’t an easy thing to implement but he did it. He stood up to the publicans (when they realised it was actually going to happen they started looking for “air quality” exceptions if they installed air filters and all kinds of guff) and pushed it through.
More insane hatred by the Neo-Right trans-activists I see. JK Rowling being given the woke treatment by those fine bigot thought police. And as for Daniel Radcliffe… /rollseyes Denying facts doesn’t work Daniel. You can do it for a while, but they will eventually catch up with you. Stupid boy.
xx Female
xy Male
class wario
at the very least it’s comforting to see the likes of you, glinner, rowling (the latter two actual successes at some point, admittedly) etc get so deranged by hatred for trans people that they become thoroughly miserable
SOQ
Does Rose of Dawn, a fully transitioned transgender, have a deranged hatred of trans people too?
He won’t answer that because he can’t. Rose is a great example of someone who ACTUALLY DOES SUFFER from gender dysphoria and can see it for what it is. But you know what, even with Rose’s lived experience, lack of class worrier will just ignore it all because it doesn’t conform to “the orthodoxy”. All Hail the Orthodoxy!
I’d better grab my bin lid again, I can feel another slur masquerading as an argument about to be thrown.
scottser
thanks for that soq – it’s the most sensible thing i’ve seen so far on the debate. there are some around this parish who should watch it and reign in their chops a little.
Junkface
Yes, it’s JK Rowling being the intolerant one. How dare she think different on this, she must be destroyed! How dare educated adults have different opinions. Wreck her career! She’s not a human anymore. Biological Science has nothing to do with truth. Let’s just let our feelings and outrage guide our Science. Bullying is IN!
millie von strumpet
Well done on a measured, nuanced response to a complex and difficult topic.
I’m sure this was exactly the kind of think you were thinking of when in your comment below when decrying hysterical, nonsensical reactionacry behaviours. Bravo indeed.
Junkface
Yes this topic does not devolve into hysteria and career destruction every time. Check the newspapers, the news, it’s everywhere and yes it is bullying. It is anti-intellectual.
Here’s an example: Thousands of people in many democratic societies, with their own/ different opinions on the topic are afraid to say anything, because they are worried about their jobs, their children, their families. There are scientists doing important biological work, that needs funding, who are afraid to speak.
Does this sound like a mature, fair climate that is free to debate and discuss nuanced complex themes of the modern age?
Everyone knows the real answer
NobleLocks
And that’s it isn’t it? That’s all you have. Casting slurs and avoiding open discussion. just like the bigots who won’t work on JK’s book. Anyone who has an opinion an inch in any direction away from theirs is someone to be immediately labelled, remove their humanity and then falsely accuse them of “hating trans people”. And when you do boil it all down that’s all any of these bigots who cannot stand opinions that oppose their own (the definition of bigot). They marginalize, de-humanize cast slurs and bully.
It’s rubbish of course, and to keep to the expected script you have burned into your head I now have to fawn and wring my hands and say “but I like trans people” so you can demonize me further. But I don’t play that script. Those folks and their lives are none of my business. Its the Neo-Right I’m after. The Bullys, the Bigots, the fact deniers.
Say I have “hatred” all you like but all you did was cast a lie and a pathetic slur. A slur is not an argument.
ReproBertie
To post “More insane hatred by the Neo-Right trans-activists… fine bigot thought police”
and then decry that
“Anyone who has an opinion an inch in any direction away from theirs is someone to be immediately labelled, remove their humanity and then falsely accuse them….They marginalize, de-humanize cast slurs and bully…..The Bullys, the Bigots, the fact deniers.” is surely indicative of a massive lack of self awareness.
For someone who thinks ” A slur is not an argument.” you sure use a lot of them for people you don’t agree with.
NobleLocks
Lol Bertie Bertie Bertie…. You see here’s the thing. Stating a fact is not a slur. Everything I said about the Neo-right is true. I mean I know that in their Neo-Right orthodoxy facts are something to be completely ignored but, you know…. they don’t go away. They are always there and they Always come back to haunt those who deny them.
A bigot is someone who cannot withstand an opinion contrary to their own. See any SJW.
The British police had to censure a police officer for saying to a man that they needed to check his thinking because he questioned trans-activistism (devilishly Orwellian isn’t it lol?)
Professor Stephen Pinker coined the term “Left-Pole” for the Radical Left when he said that it’s like being at the North Pole where the only direction you can move is South. These people think at the Left Pole, where any direction in thought away from theirs is to the dreaded boogeyman of the “RIGHT!!!!!” wahhhh! I need a safe space!!!!
Labeling is a classic Left tactic too. They use words like bigot or TERF to dehumanize people and once you do that it doesn’t matter what you do to them… That made it alright for yerman Tara Wolf to beat the crap out of 61 year old Maria McLaughlin after he stated that that was what he wanted to do that day on his facebook page. It was alright, Maria was just a TERF. Isn’t that right?
So yes I stand behind everything I said, all true and not a single slur was cast. Of course you could have tried to argue with me instead of using the whataboutyouery card… couldn’t you? …/sigh
ReproBertie
I have no interest in arguing with you about your hatred for all things Left.
What you call whataboutery was me pointing our your obvious hypocrisy in using slurs instead of arguments.
NobleLocks
Hypocrisy is the contrivance of a false appearance of virtue.
I am neither virtuous nor wicked. I simply seek to defend real, actual, verifiable truth.
I do not hate all things left. I used to be left until “the Left” left me. I want all people to be treated equally (no special cases). I want equality of opportunity, I want free education (to a point), I want society policed fairly, I want free healthcare for all. All of these things used to be “the Left”. But since then “the left” took a complete brain fart and jumped off a cliff of interminable stupidity by denying facts to suit their agenda, they are no longer “the Left” to me. They are the Neo-Right. If you don’t believe me, here’s why they are the Neo-Right:
Deplatforming
Deeply self-righteous and censorious
Intimidate and bully
Label and De-humanise
Destroy careers
Silence dissenters
Use physical Violence for political change (the definition of terrorism).
Insist on Politically Correct Views
Actively shout down speakers who they disagree with.
All of these were the tactics and calling cards of the NAZI’s in the 1930’s. They are also the tactics and calling cards of the “current year” Modern Radical Left. Now you tell me the difference? Go on, do it.
I see now why you don’t want to debate me or anyone like me. Because, AMAZINGLY, you might have to admit that on a lot of things your stance flies in the face of reality and is horribly, horribly wrong.
When we “Can’t say that”… that is when we MUST say it.
SOQ
+1
ReproBertie
So when “the Left” disagreed with your opinion you labelled them and accused them of being the new Nazis so that you can dehumanise them?
Nothing hypocritical there.
Junkface
That’s an excellent point Noblelocks. I agree. We must keep Biology and Scientific truth separate from group think. This trend of bullying and bigotry from all sides is disgusting. We live in free democracies! This stuff reminds me most of hysterical McCarthyism in 1950’s USA. Its not progress, its devolution.
How do those twits look now?
millie von strumpet
You’re an awful hypocrite. Every single one of your comments reads from the same script with the same buzz words and the same hate filled rhetoric you supposedly abhor. The only difference is that you hold a different opinion to those you are holding in such scorn.
I suggest you read this excellent response to JKR’s own blog post on the subject.
Interesting response there Millie but quite selective in its narrative- they do not address why so many young women want to be men and in particular, why so many young autistic women want to be men. That is the core reason why so many feminists and lesbians are so critical right now.
Mermaid UK is not without its own controversies of course.
“With organizations like Mermaids attempting to “educate” those within the public health services, teachers, and parents, we must be wary of the hokum being pawned off as “science.” It’s no more scientific than talking clownfish. And the downside of this story is that such balderdash is affecting our culture and ability to speak frankly with each other about the reality of sex and social expectations placed upon each sex. The true revolution around gender will come when we stop attempting to match or alter sexed bodies to a presumed “correct gender.”
Maybe people need to diversify their news reading and consider different points of view from other well qualified writers and academics from different parts of the world? Try Quillette, its Australian news website I think, and it is respected, balanced and headed by a woman I think. Here is their point of view, its is worth reading different opinions from your own. It is intellectually healthy to challenge your own assumptions.
+1 Quillette are an excellent organization and Claire Lehmann is great to listen to.
It’s funny how some people demand diversity in all things… except thought.
Nigel
If you want diversity of quality of thought, Quilette will certainly provide you with plenty of low-grade material.
Junkface
Not sure that you have ever read Quillette articles Nigel. The one I posted a link of is a very thorough investigation into the subject with quotes from qualified biologists, it is also well written, laid out in a comprehensible way. It does not jump into sensationalism at all. If you really think that Quillette is not balanced and tries to find the truth in a calm, grown up, collected manner then you may have problems ever leaving your bubble.
Nigel
Clampers linked to a few back in the day. They never said what he said they said. They rarely even said what THEY said they said. If you follow me.
NobleLocks
@Millie I hold an opinion that is based in fact. And I defend fact over all things.
If you don’t like my facts, then ARGUE with them lol. All you have done is the same thing as the others. Wahh “buzz words”, wahh “hate-filled”, wahh “scorn”. And then you post some link to mermaids. Lol you should listen to Posie Parker telling the real, verifiable and actual truth about mermaids.
I stand for the defense of real women. I stand with
Maya Forstater
Martina Navratilova
Sharron Davis
Selina Soule, Chelsea Mitchell and Alanna Smith
Posie Parker
Maria McLaughlin
the list goes on and it’s injustice grows every day.
Facts
Sex is a fact
Biological sex is a fact
Argue these facts without posting links to organisations that, in my opinion, will have a horrible day of reckoning when the inevitable lawsuits wipe them out and their… if you can.
millie von strumpet
Over the past weeks I have seen you call any opinion which differs from yours ‘the radical left/the neo left’ (still waiting on an explanation as to who they are btw) and you seem to have no problem with flinging insults because someone takes issue with the hyperbolic rhetoric you are posting, or don’t respond at all.
That sounds an awful lot like some of those people you’re getting so worked up about. You’re every bit as guilty of the same crimes you claim to despise in the ‘radical left’, whoever they are.
I’ve already laid out my position regarding gender politics in a comment below. It’s not one I know a lot about. I read JKR’S blog post, found it interesting, and last night read the mermaid response. I found both were interesting and made valid points. My view is that it’s not up to me to tell someone how they feel in their body, or what to do with it. I’m not going to sit here flinging insults, simply because my view clearly differs slightly from yours.
NobleLocks
@Millie At the risk of repeating myself, apologies all. Here’s why the current Radical left are really the Neo-Right:
Deplatforming
Deeply self-righteous and censorious
Intimidation and bullying
Label and De-humanise
Destroy careers
Silence dissenters
Use physical Violence for political change (the definition of terrorism).
Insist on Politically Correct Views
Actively shout down speakers who they disagree with.
All of these were the tactics and calling cards of the NAZI’s in the 1930’s. They are also the tactics and calling cards of the “current year” Modern Radical Left. If you can see a difference I’d love to hear about it.
…and the list goes on Millie, it’s not just those that I have posted. This new orthodoxy is poisoning everything it touches and in the case of JK Rowling, it’s even eating it’s own. No-one is safe from it.
Nigel
This is, of course, calculated hysteria aimed at silencing marginalised people and their supporters, ‘flooding the zone with s**t’ to exacerbate an already highly-strung issue. All your posts are ad hom attacks against straw men.
millie von strumpet
I wasn’t aware of that case, Andrew. That’s fairly awful reading. My heart goes out to that family, and it reads like a dreadful exploitation of a very vulnerable child and family in a desperate situation.
I found the website’s post to be a good read in response to JKR’s own blog post, both of which made valid points, imo. Now I admit to being pretty ignorant of gender politics. It’s not a topic I wade into often, simply because I take a fairly simplistic view that it’s not up to me to tell another person who they are or what they feel. I don’t have to like it or agree with it, but I have no right to tell another person what’s what when it comes to their body. We have history enough of that in this country.
Nigel
Take media reporting on trans issues with a massive pinch of salt, Millie. There may be truth to the story, there may not, but you can be almost certain it’s been distorted and twisted to some degree. It’s also a good idea to contextualise Rowling’s words with the viewpoint of trans people to find out why they are so critical of her. Better still, run away screaming from the whole thing, and pity the trans people caught in this ugly culture war crossfire.
scottser
you don’t see the obvious contradiction in the radical trans viewpoint nigel?
i do – it goes something like this:
every woman’s experience of being a woman is different. this paradigm allows the inclusion of trans experience as part of the debate about what it is to be a woman – fair enough. however, a section of those who advocate for the equality of the trans voice have no problem deriding the voices of regular, plain, ordinary ‘binary’ women. women who simply don’t agree the trans position and are labelled TERFs for their trouble.
rowling has stated nothing that could be claimed to cause violence to trans people or their ideology; she hasn’t belittled anyone. she has called ‘bullshit’ on some of the worst excesses of this hysteria though, and fair play to her for that.
Nigel
If the inherent contradiction comes down to a number of people having an argument ‘deriding’ each other, it’s honestly not much of a contradiction. Obviously I abhor any abuse hurled at anybody from any side, but let’s be clear here: the levels of abuse from respective sides have nothing to do with the rights and wrongs of the issue and everything to do with who gets targeted with abuse online.
Women have always been targetd. Trans people have always been targeted. It’s no surprise that in a debate between trans people and some women – with a lot of women on the side of the trans people, remember – the abuse is off the scale. It’s sickening and horrifying to watch, and does everything to obscure the rights and the wrongs.
In my opinion, trans women are women, trans men are men, trans rights are human rights. If I avoid wading into the debate deeper than that, beyond a bit of back and forth with the likes of Clamps, it’s for my own bloody mental health.
scottser
‘the levels of abuse from respective sides have nothing to do with the rights and wrongs of the issue’
yes it does – that’s the point. in this case rowling stated her position respectfully and intelligently and was abused by idiots who clearly have no clue about the rights and wrongs of the issue – they have a pretty distorted sense of what’s right and think that ‘wrong’ does not apply to them.
Nigel
Her views are either right or wrong, or somewhere in between. She should not receive abuse for stating them. Both these statements are true, but not co-dependant. I would also note that you can use a respectful tone to say incredibly disrespectful things, and then feign shock and horror when people get angry. Not accusing Rowling of such cyncism, but it’s certainly swirling around.
Clampers Outside
No, please don’t go there… mermaids is a joke, a very very bad and dangerous child abusing anti-science joke.
NobleLocks
+1
Nigel
A chraity for trans people attacked and smeared succesfully by the likes of ‘Glinner.’
Junkface
Smeared for a reason. It is dangerous to kids. Don’t mess around with children’s lives and do irreversible mental damage. Simple rule
Nigel
Yeah, linking ‘kids’ to ‘trans’ is automatically enough to bring out the satanic panic crowd. If people think this isn’t going to roll back on lgb people once they’re done with t, they’re deluding themselves.
Junkface
“Satanic panic crowd”? You may be referring to concerned parents of pre teens. They worry about peer pressure in the 2020’s. It’s quite different to peer pressure in the 90’s or even 00’s.
I mean, who wants to experiment on their kids with ideas that have not been fully researched / studied with care / psychologically investigated? But instead thrust upon society as the modern thing to accept or else you are a relic and we will destroy your career?
I can’t think of a more obvious example of bullying and intolerance. It’s wrong.
Nigel
Who wants to attack and slander and defund a charity devoted to helping incredibly vulnerable kids who require delicate handling, support, sensitivity and mental and physical medical care, bt who seem to get nothing but ignorant abuse and horror, all to often from within their own families? The only thing being thrust upon society is that these kids exist, and they always have. Some bits of society really can’t handle it.
Andrew
Some 50,000 social homes will be provided over the next five years, with an emphasis on new builds.
The Part V provision, under which developers must set aside 10 per cent of their projects for social housing, will be expanded to include affordable homes, although the exact level has not yet been set.
The current cap on the amount of money local authorities can spend on social housing developments will increase from €2 million to €6 million
All of the above seems very unambitious. Considering housing was one of the main issues for people. If this is the height of their ambition then it’s more of the same and SF will get close to an overall majority the next time.
If you’re trying to win people over to your “side” whatever that may be, you can’t expect them to invest that much time into what looks to be a niche youtuber with an axe to grind.
SOQ
I assume that is a response to my Rose link?
The whole area of Transgender is niche- the amount of people who are really affected by it is very small. But, Rose is right in there with the politics and surely has a point of view which is as equally as valid as any other?
My original take seems to be in line with his – ie that channeling American citizens outrage in the direction of racial identity politics ultimately divides and distracts from the underlying class injustice which won’t ever be addressed without a movement that unites along class lines.
Clip he posted is worth a watch
millie von strumpet
That’s a very good point. Very interesting indeed.
Clampers Outside
+1
Formerly known as @ireland.com
It worked in Ireland…….it has worked in Northern Ireland.
Nigel
Yeah, you can tell the corporations are really leading the way on this protest, as opposed to desperately dodging any backlash against their own racial policies and practices. Class lines – lol. The only thing that will unite the US along class lines IS the anti-racism movement. Labour got smushed in the US long ago.
Kim Jong Una
The anti-racism movement is proactively seeking a race war.
The anti-fascists are fascist in intent and act.
Up is down.
Black is white.
Night is day.
People like Nigel are here to scramble the truth with baby talk.
Very important and deep dive into the killing fields of NY-FG has done incalculable hard to inward investment with its negligence and ineptitude,when intel or google is considering new billion dollar investments you can guarantee how Irl navigated covid will be a major consideration-it failed.
astute NYT piece in tomorrows paper…
“The deal between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael attests to the diminished stature of Ireland’s traditional parties as its political landscape fractures and as support for Sinn Fein grows.”
“What happens at the end of this four or five-year period?” said Theresa Reidy, a political scientist at University College Cork. The two parties, she said, could “emerge in an even more diminished state.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/15/world/europe/ireland-coalition-government.html
Two parties
One being Sinn Féin and the other Not Sinn Féin
I suppose
That’s everyone in the opposition not already Sinn Féin or spawns from the FFFG gene pool pretty feiced so
Greens may well be Government draft excluders for years to come
years to come?
I give this trough iteration 18 months tops…there’s some very hard times ahead. Greens are gonna be badly burnt.
Anway, time to introduce Charger’s Inferiority Complex Index.
Whereby I rate on a scale of 1-10 the Irish media and BS posters who obsess about Blighty to an unhealthy degree that betrays their own insecurity and inferiority complex.
The opening entry from the Irish Times about Boris’ ” caving in ” on summer school meals.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/uk-government-caves-in-on-school-meals-after-marcus-rashford-campaign-1.4280507
Ireland currently has no plan to extend the provision for school meals for the needy into the summer.
CICI: 7/10
We’ve ALWAYS had Charger’s Inferiority Complex here, in fairness.
Another 7/10 on the CICI ratings ..
Armed Chechen and Algerian immigrants fight running battles as they take control of the streets of Dijon over the weekend. Not a peep out of the Irish media.
https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2020/6/16/chechen-algerian-gang-war-erupts-in-french-city
Essex bloke takes a piss next to a police memorial in London.
Blanket coverage.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/man-who-urinated-next-to-memorial-of-officer-killed-in-london-terror-after-16-pints-attack-jailed-1005298.html
Interesting article – have climate and seasonal factors played a larger role in Australia and New Zealand’s low numbers of Covid cases as opposed to the lockdown measures? Evidence emerging that the virus doesn’t transmit well in warm, humid environments. UV rays play a role too, from what I’ve read.
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC2006/S00015/nz-humidity-prevented-spread-of-covid-19-pandemic.htm
Professor Michael Ward, epidemiologist at the University of Sydney:-
“We have a lot of armchair New Zealand epidemiologists who have advised the government using theoretical statistical modelling on how to prevent the spread of covid -19 but this is a rare forensic (peer-reviewed) epidemiology study that provides a true insight into the spread of covid,”
…“Our government’s lockdown modelling data was based on a set of environmental and demographic conditions prevalent in the northern hemisphere and irrelevant in the New Zealand and Australian summer settings. Covid just doesn’t like warm humid environments so transmission rates are low.”
Why then has Brazil been so badly affected? NZ is not particularly warm or humid in March April or May. Neither are parts of Australia like Melbourne or Tasmania.
I’m not sure Ben – I just thought that it’s a noteworthy study that is stated as peer-reviewed and is led by an epidemiologist from the region.
If you’re asking me to indulge in some “armchair epidemiology” for the sake of it, then I would suggest that according to some research, a high UV index also plays a role in killing off the virus . However, it is known that high levels of air pollution have a mitigating effect on UV radiation- air pollutants absorb and scatter UV rays. Whereas Australia, NZ, Tasmania have a high UV index and relatively clean air, Brazil’s cities have extremely high air pollution.
Studies have also indicated that long-term exposure to air pollution is contributing to higher numbers of COVID-19 fatalities.
Population density is another factor of course.
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200515/Hot-temperatures-air-pressure-UV-radiation-may-decrease-COVID-19-incidence.aspx
India is pretty warm and humid and their outbreak is ramping up
New Zealand have recorded two new cases. Seemingly, both from Brits who arrived recently.
No doubt, in the face of all facts, Charger will see this as a triumph for British exports.
Me ?
I just reckon it’s a huge hoot that Varadkar gets a 75% approval rating for his handling of C-19 when Ireland has the 9th worst death rate per capita in the world and the second worst record for deaths in care homes.
Ireland truly does have the best, if somewhat gullible,supporters in the world.
No wonder they put up with some much guff being shovelled their way by successive governments.
You want to talk about gullible supporters? Just yesterday you were bragging about Britain’s teaboy Taoiseach’s approval rating despite having the 3rd highest Covid 19 death count. Almost 42,000 dead but that’s OK because the shops are open. No wonder the Brits are happy with a government that doesn’t show up to answer any questions and promotes the principle of “rules are for the plebs”.
Yeah, I know. Mad isn’t it?
High approval rating here. 80 seat majority in the UK.
You’d think that would reflect competence and capability. I blame the voters myself.
After the uprising of the 17th June
The Secretary of the Writers Union
Had leaflets distributed in the Stalinallee
Stating that the people
Had forfeited the confidence of the government
And could win it back only
By redoubled efforts. Would it not be easier
In that case for the government
To dissolve the people
And elect another?
You do realise the 80-seat majority was won at an election before anyone had ever heard of C-19 ?
The Tory poll lead has actually been cut from 20 to 8 points during the course of the pandemic – rather the opposite of Varadkar’s soaring popularity even though he presided over poor handling of the virus.
But let’s be fair – from Haughey through to Varadkar via Bertie the Irish electorate has never been anything other than gormlessly gullible.
It’s why the EU was able to get away with lumping all the bondholders debts on Ireland in the bailout without any fear of the Irish being uppity.
Oct 2 2009 was when Ireland sold its soul.
The day this country died of shame.
That’s the spirit, Charger. Good to see you put some ‘oomph’ into proceedings.
hilarious – charger banging on about how gullible we are when it simply took a known liar with a three-word slogan to lead 20 million people into a culture war.
our problems pale into insignificance compared to the uk’s. which is probably why charger lives over here, eh?
“The Tory poll lead has actually been cut from 20 to 8 points during the course of the pandemic”
Not quite your triumphant tone from yesterday Spoofer.
“An 80-seat majority and still 8 points in front of Labour as Covid-19 peters out.” was your take then.
My post was entirely accurate.
Unlike your predictions that Brexit would never happen and Boris wouldn’t become PM.
Morto.Sad emoji face.
I hope you don’t waste money on the Lotto …
See the way I quoted things you actually said to prove my point Spoofer? You should try that instead of just making stuff up to satisfy your fantasies. I know it’s easier to feel like you get a win when you just invent a position I never took but that’s not the way the world works. I never said Sasamach wouldn’t happen. Can’t be 100% on my position on the Tories being gullible enough to elect the teaboy as their puppet leader but I’m sure you can provide evidence, right?
I do remember that it wasn’t the teaboy you were touting as taking over from May though so I guess you were wrong there. “Morto.Sad emoji face.
I hope you don’t waste money on the Lotto”
As the Gipper once said “If you’re explaining, you’re losing.”
Don’t give up the day job.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX5yKfxWEZc
Blighty leads the way with a major breakthrough in drug treatment for Covid-19 patients on ventilators …
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/major-breakthrough-as-dexamethasone-found-to-reduce-covid-19-death-rate-1.4280502
So nothing to back up your usual spoofing then. Even you must be getting embarrassed about trotting out the same old lies every single time I show you up.
Good man Paddy yourself …
https://twitter.com/paddycosgrave/status/1272792731425923073
Two new cases in New Zealand. Travelers from the U.K. . You would have to wonder about the other passengers.
Melbourne based BSer here. Melbourne is not particularly humid. It has had the wettest Autumn in 30 years. Tasmania and the South Island of NZ would be very cool places. The lockdown here meant I could see the stars at night, due to reduced air pollution. I think the biggest factor was closing the borders and forcing all arrivals to quarantine for 14 days. That meant the lockdown (a lot less strict than Ireland’s – all shops could stay open, hairdressers stayed open, most businesses allowed to stay open) and social distancing worked. In Ireland, the lockdown was futile while you let anyone fly in or arrive on a ferry.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/poll-shows-rise-in-fine-gael-support-while-satisfaction-with-leo-varadkar-soars-1005443.html
Public satisfaction with Leo is running at 75% – that’s SEVENTY-FIVE percent. C’mon – he’s quite good, he’s not that good.
I wonder if Giggidy will change his tune now and stop complaining about the FF-FG-G coalition – if they don’t form a government now, Leo could call a snap election, and who knows, first single-party government in 40 years?
Rob – when will you ever learn that figures released by polling companies, which poll 1200 people out of 5,000,000 , haven’t been at all accurate in recent times. I know you’re young, but it’s time to start learning don’t you think?
Varadkar may have no choice but to call an election. FF are borderline non-agreement, but the Green Party’s voters for the agreement is less than 50%.
Hopefully a new election will be called. There is now a clear distinction between SF and FFG. The shame of Michéal Martin succumbing to FGs advances. If he does in fact become taoiseach for a while, it is just for his own self-gratification.
The picture in the Irish World – is he checking that he hasn’t lost any envelopes, or lodgement slips to the wife’s account ?
I always find it very funny when GG decries the efficacy of statistics when he doesn’t happen to agree with them… You are right in that a poll with that sample size in a country of 5m people would have a margin of error of 3%, so he actually could be as unpopular as… 72%
“The shame of Michéal Martin succumbing to FGs advances.” – I’ve never come across such a load of hyperbolic old nonsense…
“figures released by polling companies … haven’t been at all accurate in recent times”
but also
“the Green Party’s voters for the agreement is less than 50%”
So just how accurate is that “less than 50%” then?
3 GP TDs abstained on the vote. The rest of the parliamentary party, including Catherine Martin, voted in favour. Now it’s up to them to get the 2/3 of the party on board which shouldn’t be a massive task if they already have almost 1/2 before they even start the conversation.
I think, even if certain members do have (well-founded) reservations, if they reject it would mean another election, and I don’t think any one party would want to be blamed for causing another election; the voter are not likely to reward them for it.
No party could expect to go into another election and come out with a majority. We’d just be facing into another coalition of some shade or other. When it comes to coalitions compromises have to be made but where would we be come talks for another coalition if one party or other collapsed the current deal? How could either of the other parties trust them in negotiations again? It is in the interests of the three parties to get this deal done and then spend 5 years showing why people can trust them with their vote come the next election.
Repro – I can only go on what I’ve been told by an active member of the Green Party as to the level of support this has. Family member. The conversation has already been started weeks ago as far as the membership are concerned.
See my figures below on the accuracy of Polling companies polls. Quite clear that they’ve been trying to push FG for a long time now. And making fools of themselves in the process.
The “less that 50%” figure reported today comes from the same Irish Times poll that Leo’s approval comes from.
The GP position will be interesting to watch now that Catherine Martin is on board and promoting it as the best available deal.
“I can only go on what I’ve been told by an active member of the Green Party as to the level of support this has”
hahaha. ha ha. you say that polling companies who choose a representative selection of 1,200 people to represent 5million are useless; but then your family member can accurately represent the whole Green Party? haha. ha. ha.
It will be interesting alright. She’s in a predicament. Does she go against the TD’s line, or go against the grassroots (actually a term that’s suitable for them). The ‘new’ greens are more radical and have broader social justice objectives than Eamon Ryan. Catherine Martin would be closer to that.
Well you may laugh Cian. After all, you’re the one getting the memos with the bullet points from the frape room, and take them as gospel. Haw haw.
Just so happens that it isn’t just one opinion of the family member. I did say that he was active in the Green party, and that’s the divide of the opinions he has heard – from other members of the green party. Take it or leave it.
@GiggidyGoo
you know one of the differences between us?
I respond to what you write. I don’t make stuff up. I don’t make wild accusations. I stay on topic. I try to distinguish between facts (I provide sources) and my opinions.
You, on the other hand, constantly make things up, make wild accusations deny thing you have said… which isn’t very nice. But to top it off you’re a hypocrite as you constantly harp on about how you
– “play the ball not the man”; you consistently attach posters rather than the posts; and
– “will admit to my mistakes”; which you don’t.
..says the chap who yesterday wanted commemorate a terrorist act by splinter group from the Provo’s as he’s getting a little worried that I’m going blow the lid off the FG killings in care homes-24 years gosh Cian such a milestone thanks for that link yesterday…
Jeez Rob. Here’s an example of the type of poll you place your trust in. Red C Poll October 2019, and MRBI poll October 2019 with the election called by Varadkar on 14th January 2020 (based on polls no doubt).
1st Preference votes,
according to RedC: Actual
FG – 32% 20.9% Error Margin -52%
FF – 24% 22.2% Error Margin – 9%
SF – 11% 24.5% Error Margin +122%
MRBI Poll Oct 2019 Actual
FG – 29% 20.9% Error Margin -38%
FF – 25% 22.2% Error Margin -13.5%
SF – 14% 24.5% Error Margin +75%
Now, Rob – that’s how I come to my conclusions on polls.
How do you come to yours?
Paging Rob. Come in Rob.
You are comparing a poll in October with an Election in February. Even you can understand that things can change over 4 months – especially as “don’t knows” choose a party/candidate?
Running up to the election:
FG FF SF Lab PBP SD GP (poll)
21 22 25 4 3 3 7 (election)
20 23 25 4 2 2 8 (1st Feb 2020 Ipsos MRBI/Irish Times )
21 24 24 5 1 3 7 (30 Jan 2020 Red C/Business Post )
I’m comparing a poll taken 3 months before the actual result of what they were polling about actually took place. At a time when FG were mulling over whether to call an election. Polls like those helped FG make the decision. We all saw the result. We all saw the ‘failure’ of the polling companies.
Margin of error?
They’re mulling it over now again (like it or not), and here we’re seeing the usual polling gobsh….ery going on.
Apart from that – I was teaching Rob the difference between imagination and reality. He has a lot to learn.
So you agree that the polls are accurate when they are taken?
Because there is evidence (my post above) that they are.
Which would suggest that the poll published today is accurate.
Are you going to retract: “figures released by polling companies, which poll 1200 people out of 5,000,000 , haven’t been at all accurate in recent times.”?
Where did I say that Cian. The October polls were very far from being accurate. They related to a question regarding first preferences, while FG were considering calling an election. Are you trying to say that the mood changed so much in three months?
This current poll is similar. It’s a forerunner to a possible decision to call an election in the next 2-3 months (why else would it have been ‘taken’?) A poll taken a week before an election would be more ‘accurate’ as the polling companies now have no way to cover up any little lies that they may want to put out there.
Once you realise the type of company that takes the poll, and their recent history (Does RedC and the improper recruitment for the People’s Assembly ring any bells Cian?), then you realise that results from them aren’t to be trusted.
“Are you trying to say that the mood changed so much in three months?”
Yes; the Irish electorate are a fickle bunch; almost incredibly so
May 2019: Sinn Féin loses two MEPs and a full one-third of its councillors
February 2020: SF tops polls all over the country
Both of those were a result of SF not engaging with the electorate. FFG always engage, with the help of the likes of friendly polling companies. Once SF started engaging, their popularity went up – despite FFG and their pollster friends.
Politics isn’t driven by fickle people. You have an awful lot to learn Rob.
“Both of those were a result of SF not engaging with the electorate.”
– that’s a strange backwards-rationalisation; I’d imagine it’s because they were limited in being able to promise free goodies like increasing the dole and free houses for everyone, which won it for them this time.
Lynn Boylan even bizarrely tried to make the last Euro elections somehow about housing; small wonder she lost.
As I say Rob – you’ve an awful lot to learn about Politics. You show your immaturity and lack of comprehension of politics with a sentence like this….”I’d imagine it’s because they were limited in being able to promise free goodies like increasing the dole and free houses for everyone, which won it for them this time.”
At least you’ve finally agreed on the ‘won’ part. We’re getting somewhere at last.
@GiggidyGoo seriously?
where did you say “figures released by polling companies, which poll 1200 people out of 5,000,000 , haven’t been at all accurate in recent times.”?
the second comment on this chain (about 25 higher).
Here’s a link:
https://www.broadsheet.ie/2020/06/15/tuesdays-papers-37/#comment-2205956
Now are you going to retract it?
@GG “[…] It’s a forerunner to a possible decision to call an election in the next 2-3 months (why else would it have been ‘taken’?) A poll taken a week before an election would be more ‘accurate’ as the polling companies now have no way to cover up any little lies that they may want to put out there.
No and No.
Polls are taken every few weeks. Red C/The Sunday Business Post & Behaviour and Attitudes/The Sunday Times have one each month. Political parties run their own polls too – and will prioritise their own results when deciding on when to call an election.
A ‘poll’ is more accurate closer to an election for two reasons. Primarily the thing you are comparing the accuracy of the poll to is the election. A poll 4 months prior to an election is showing how people felt 4 months earlier. Secondly, as the election looms the question become more realistic “who will I vote for now that I have a list of actual candidates and have read their bumpf” rather than “who would I vote for (if an election were called)?”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_2020_Irish_general_election
surely even this level of sycophancy makes you wince a bit
Micheál Martin is the still standing remnant of the Haughey Ahern era. Haughey was hugely unfit for public office of any kind; Ahern, at worst, could be probably found to have been a bit too flaithiúl with the public purse and various vanity projects, and to have possessed areckless, wanton disregard for fiscal oversight.
Micheal Martin represents the very worst of Irish public life. The vested interest/builder/developer/Range Rover/Galway tent mentality that epitomised a race to the bottom of the barrel by Fianna Fáil. Too many criminal types, occupying the same top tables as Micheál Martin, were steeped in legal actions, tribunals, garda investigations, tribunals, unfavourable findings and even jail sentences.
ENOUGH! This deal must be opposed by anyone with a scintilla of concern at how badly the nation may be led astray by Micheál Martin and his barely presentable coterie of parliamentary FF colleagues.
If fairness Micheál Martin brought in the smoking ban in Ireland – which was groundbreaking at the time.
As much as I dislike him (for the reasons you listed above) – he has done some good too.
Smoking ban could be viewed as a doff of the hat to neoliberal Europe in the wake of Ireland’s initial rejection of the Nice Treaty. Suddenly we were the good boys and girls in the class again, with absolute reams of positive press.
If you remember, he was a lot less courageous about the ban when it was brought in, the line was that bar workers had/have a right to a smoke-free workplace. He covered his ass and backed into the policy after getting endless advice, no leadership shown there
Ah, yes, I remember when the smoking ban was the new intolerant fascism and smokers were the new victims of prejudice and discrinination. Nowadays it’s racists and transphobes (see below.) Plus ca change.
we were (one of) the first country in the world to ban smoking in the workplace. It wasn’t an easy thing to implement but he did it. He stood up to the publicans (when they realised it was actually going to happen they started looking for “air quality” exceptions if they installed air filters and all kinds of guff) and pushed it through.
…happy Bloomsday…thank you John Ryan…
Happy Bloomsday bisted. Jnr
+1
Stately plump B(uck) Isted came from the stairhead, bearing an internet comment on which Occam’s razor lay crossed.
…clam dever Bog_R…clam dever…
More insane hatred by the Neo-Right trans-activists I see. JK Rowling being given the woke treatment by those fine bigot thought police. And as for Daniel Radcliffe… /rollseyes Denying facts doesn’t work Daniel. You can do it for a while, but they will eventually catch up with you. Stupid boy.
xx Female
xy Male
at the very least it’s comforting to see the likes of you, glinner, rowling (the latter two actual successes at some point, admittedly) etc get so deranged by hatred for trans people that they become thoroughly miserable
Does Rose of Dawn, a fully transitioned transgender, have a deranged hatred of trans people too?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixCFuFvNgLw
He won’t answer that because he can’t. Rose is a great example of someone who ACTUALLY DOES SUFFER from gender dysphoria and can see it for what it is. But you know what, even with Rose’s lived experience, lack of class worrier will just ignore it all because it doesn’t conform to “the orthodoxy”. All Hail the Orthodoxy!
I’d better grab my bin lid again, I can feel another slur masquerading as an argument about to be thrown.
thanks for that soq – it’s the most sensible thing i’ve seen so far on the debate. there are some around this parish who should watch it and reign in their chops a little.
Yes, it’s JK Rowling being the intolerant one. How dare she think different on this, she must be destroyed! How dare educated adults have different opinions. Wreck her career! She’s not a human anymore. Biological Science has nothing to do with truth. Let’s just let our feelings and outrage guide our Science. Bullying is IN!
Well done on a measured, nuanced response to a complex and difficult topic.
I’m sure this was exactly the kind of think you were thinking of when in your comment below when decrying hysterical, nonsensical reactionacry behaviours. Bravo indeed.
Yes this topic does not devolve into hysteria and career destruction every time. Check the newspapers, the news, it’s everywhere and yes it is bullying. It is anti-intellectual.
Here’s an example: Thousands of people in many democratic societies, with their own/ different opinions on the topic are afraid to say anything, because they are worried about their jobs, their children, their families. There are scientists doing important biological work, that needs funding, who are afraid to speak.
Does this sound like a mature, fair climate that is free to debate and discuss nuanced complex themes of the modern age?
Everyone knows the real answer
And that’s it isn’t it? That’s all you have. Casting slurs and avoiding open discussion. just like the bigots who won’t work on JK’s book. Anyone who has an opinion an inch in any direction away from theirs is someone to be immediately labelled, remove their humanity and then falsely accuse them of “hating trans people”. And when you do boil it all down that’s all any of these bigots who cannot stand opinions that oppose their own (the definition of bigot). They marginalize, de-humanize cast slurs and bully.
It’s rubbish of course, and to keep to the expected script you have burned into your head I now have to fawn and wring my hands and say “but I like trans people” so you can demonize me further. But I don’t play that script. Those folks and their lives are none of my business. Its the Neo-Right I’m after. The Bullys, the Bigots, the fact deniers.
Say I have “hatred” all you like but all you did was cast a lie and a pathetic slur. A slur is not an argument.
To post “More insane hatred by the Neo-Right trans-activists… fine bigot thought police”
and then decry that
“Anyone who has an opinion an inch in any direction away from theirs is someone to be immediately labelled, remove their humanity and then falsely accuse them….They marginalize, de-humanize cast slurs and bully…..The Bullys, the Bigots, the fact deniers.” is surely indicative of a massive lack of self awareness.
For someone who thinks ” A slur is not an argument.” you sure use a lot of them for people you don’t agree with.
Lol Bertie Bertie Bertie…. You see here’s the thing. Stating a fact is not a slur. Everything I said about the Neo-right is true. I mean I know that in their Neo-Right orthodoxy facts are something to be completely ignored but, you know…. they don’t go away. They are always there and they Always come back to haunt those who deny them.
A bigot is someone who cannot withstand an opinion contrary to their own. See any SJW.
The British police had to censure a police officer for saying to a man that they needed to check his thinking because he questioned trans-activistism (devilishly Orwellian isn’t it lol?)
Professor Stephen Pinker coined the term “Left-Pole” for the Radical Left when he said that it’s like being at the North Pole where the only direction you can move is South. These people think at the Left Pole, where any direction in thought away from theirs is to the dreaded boogeyman of the “RIGHT!!!!!” wahhhh! I need a safe space!!!!
Labeling is a classic Left tactic too. They use words like bigot or TERF to dehumanize people and once you do that it doesn’t matter what you do to them… That made it alright for yerman Tara Wolf to beat the crap out of 61 year old Maria McLaughlin after he stated that that was what he wanted to do that day on his facebook page. It was alright, Maria was just a TERF. Isn’t that right?
So yes I stand behind everything I said, all true and not a single slur was cast. Of course you could have tried to argue with me instead of using the whataboutyouery card… couldn’t you? …/sigh
I have no interest in arguing with you about your hatred for all things Left.
What you call whataboutery was me pointing our your obvious hypocrisy in using slurs instead of arguments.
Hypocrisy is the contrivance of a false appearance of virtue.
I am neither virtuous nor wicked. I simply seek to defend real, actual, verifiable truth.
I do not hate all things left. I used to be left until “the Left” left me. I want all people to be treated equally (no special cases). I want equality of opportunity, I want free education (to a point), I want society policed fairly, I want free healthcare for all. All of these things used to be “the Left”. But since then “the left” took a complete brain fart and jumped off a cliff of interminable stupidity by denying facts to suit their agenda, they are no longer “the Left” to me. They are the Neo-Right. If you don’t believe me, here’s why they are the Neo-Right:
Deplatforming
Deeply self-righteous and censorious
Intimidate and bully
Label and De-humanise
Destroy careers
Silence dissenters
Use physical Violence for political change (the definition of terrorism).
Insist on Politically Correct Views
Actively shout down speakers who they disagree with.
All of these were the tactics and calling cards of the NAZI’s in the 1930’s. They are also the tactics and calling cards of the “current year” Modern Radical Left. Now you tell me the difference? Go on, do it.
I see now why you don’t want to debate me or anyone like me. Because, AMAZINGLY, you might have to admit that on a lot of things your stance flies in the face of reality and is horribly, horribly wrong.
When we “Can’t say that”… that is when we MUST say it.
+1
So when “the Left” disagreed with your opinion you labelled them and accused them of being the new Nazis so that you can dehumanise them?
Nothing hypocritical there.
That’s an excellent point Noblelocks. I agree. We must keep Biology and Scientific truth separate from group think. This trend of bullying and bigotry from all sides is disgusting. We live in free democracies! This stuff reminds me most of hysterical McCarthyism in 1950’s USA. Its not progress, its devolution.
How do those twits look now?
You’re an awful hypocrite. Every single one of your comments reads from the same script with the same buzz words and the same hate filled rhetoric you supposedly abhor. The only difference is that you hold a different opinion to those you are holding in such scorn.
I suggest you read this excellent response to JKR’s own blog post on the subject.
https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/news/dear-jk-rowling/
Interesting response there Millie but quite selective in its narrative- they do not address why so many young women want to be men and in particular, why so many young autistic women want to be men. That is the core reason why so many feminists and lesbians are so critical right now.
Mermaid UK is not without its own controversies of course.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4960080/Transgender-charity-banned-contacting-family.html
You’re seriously linking to Mermaids?
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/mermaids-uk-charity-ban-as-boy-forced-to-live-as-girl-dvx3j99cn
https://metro.co.uk/2017/10/08/charity-advised-mum-to-force-her-son-7-to-live-as-a-girl-6984649/
“With organizations like Mermaids attempting to “educate” those within the public health services, teachers, and parents, we must be wary of the hokum being pawned off as “science.” It’s no more scientific than talking clownfish. And the downside of this story is that such balderdash is affecting our culture and ability to speak frankly with each other about the reality of sex and social expectations placed upon each sex. The true revolution around gender will come when we stop attempting to match or alter sexed bodies to a presumed “correct gender.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/julianvigo/2018/12/27/pseudo-scientific-hokum-and-the-experimentation-on-childrens-bodies/#3139bf7c1167
Maybe people need to diversify their news reading and consider different points of view from other well qualified writers and academics from different parts of the world? Try Quillette, its Australian news website I think, and it is respected, balanced and headed by a woman I think. Here is their point of view, its is worth reading different opinions from your own. It is intellectually healthy to challenge your own assumptions.
https://quillette.com/2020/06/07/jk-rowling-is-right-sex-is-real-and-it-is-not-a-spectrum/
+1 Quillette are an excellent organization and Claire Lehmann is great to listen to.
It’s funny how some people demand diversity in all things… except thought.
If you want diversity of quality of thought, Quilette will certainly provide you with plenty of low-grade material.
Not sure that you have ever read Quillette articles Nigel. The one I posted a link of is a very thorough investigation into the subject with quotes from qualified biologists, it is also well written, laid out in a comprehensible way. It does not jump into sensationalism at all. If you really think that Quillette is not balanced and tries to find the truth in a calm, grown up, collected manner then you may have problems ever leaving your bubble.
Clampers linked to a few back in the day. They never said what he said they said. They rarely even said what THEY said they said. If you follow me.
@Millie I hold an opinion that is based in fact. And I defend fact over all things.
If you don’t like my facts, then ARGUE with them lol. All you have done is the same thing as the others. Wahh “buzz words”, wahh “hate-filled”, wahh “scorn”. And then you post some link to mermaids. Lol you should listen to Posie Parker telling the real, verifiable and actual truth about mermaids.
I stand for the defense of real women. I stand with
Maya Forstater
Martina Navratilova
Sharron Davis
Selina Soule, Chelsea Mitchell and Alanna Smith
Posie Parker
Maria McLaughlin
the list goes on and it’s injustice grows every day.
Facts
Sex is a fact
Biological sex is a fact
Argue these facts without posting links to organisations that, in my opinion, will have a horrible day of reckoning when the inevitable lawsuits wipe them out and their… if you can.
Over the past weeks I have seen you call any opinion which differs from yours ‘the radical left/the neo left’ (still waiting on an explanation as to who they are btw) and you seem to have no problem with flinging insults because someone takes issue with the hyperbolic rhetoric you are posting, or don’t respond at all.
That sounds an awful lot like some of those people you’re getting so worked up about. You’re every bit as guilty of the same crimes you claim to despise in the ‘radical left’, whoever they are.
I’ve already laid out my position regarding gender politics in a comment below. It’s not one I know a lot about. I read JKR’S blog post, found it interesting, and last night read the mermaid response. I found both were interesting and made valid points. My view is that it’s not up to me to tell someone how they feel in their body, or what to do with it. I’m not going to sit here flinging insults, simply because my view clearly differs slightly from yours.
@Millie At the risk of repeating myself, apologies all. Here’s why the current Radical left are really the Neo-Right:
Deplatforming
Deeply self-righteous and censorious
Intimidation and bullying
Label and De-humanise
Destroy careers
Silence dissenters
Use physical Violence for political change (the definition of terrorism).
Insist on Politically Correct Views
Actively shout down speakers who they disagree with.
All of these were the tactics and calling cards of the NAZI’s in the 1930’s. They are also the tactics and calling cards of the “current year” Modern Radical Left. If you can see a difference I’d love to hear about it.
…and the list goes on Millie, it’s not just those that I have posted. This new orthodoxy is poisoning everything it touches and in the case of JK Rowling, it’s even eating it’s own. No-one is safe from it.
This is, of course, calculated hysteria aimed at silencing marginalised people and their supporters, ‘flooding the zone with s**t’ to exacerbate an already highly-strung issue. All your posts are ad hom attacks against straw men.
I wasn’t aware of that case, Andrew. That’s fairly awful reading. My heart goes out to that family, and it reads like a dreadful exploitation of a very vulnerable child and family in a desperate situation.
I found the website’s post to be a good read in response to JKR’s own blog post, both of which made valid points, imo. Now I admit to being pretty ignorant of gender politics. It’s not a topic I wade into often, simply because I take a fairly simplistic view that it’s not up to me to tell another person who they are or what they feel. I don’t have to like it or agree with it, but I have no right to tell another person what’s what when it comes to their body. We have history enough of that in this country.
Take media reporting on trans issues with a massive pinch of salt, Millie. There may be truth to the story, there may not, but you can be almost certain it’s been distorted and twisted to some degree. It’s also a good idea to contextualise Rowling’s words with the viewpoint of trans people to find out why they are so critical of her. Better still, run away screaming from the whole thing, and pity the trans people caught in this ugly culture war crossfire.
you don’t see the obvious contradiction in the radical trans viewpoint nigel?
i do – it goes something like this:
every woman’s experience of being a woman is different. this paradigm allows the inclusion of trans experience as part of the debate about what it is to be a woman – fair enough. however, a section of those who advocate for the equality of the trans voice have no problem deriding the voices of regular, plain, ordinary ‘binary’ women. women who simply don’t agree the trans position and are labelled TERFs for their trouble.
rowling has stated nothing that could be claimed to cause violence to trans people or their ideology; she hasn’t belittled anyone. she has called ‘bullshit’ on some of the worst excesses of this hysteria though, and fair play to her for that.
If the inherent contradiction comes down to a number of people having an argument ‘deriding’ each other, it’s honestly not much of a contradiction. Obviously I abhor any abuse hurled at anybody from any side, but let’s be clear here: the levels of abuse from respective sides have nothing to do with the rights and wrongs of the issue and everything to do with who gets targeted with abuse online.
Women have always been targetd. Trans people have always been targeted. It’s no surprise that in a debate between trans people and some women – with a lot of women on the side of the trans people, remember – the abuse is off the scale. It’s sickening and horrifying to watch, and does everything to obscure the rights and the wrongs.
In my opinion, trans women are women, trans men are men, trans rights are human rights. If I avoid wading into the debate deeper than that, beyond a bit of back and forth with the likes of Clamps, it’s for my own bloody mental health.
‘the levels of abuse from respective sides have nothing to do with the rights and wrongs of the issue’
yes it does – that’s the point. in this case rowling stated her position respectfully and intelligently and was abused by idiots who clearly have no clue about the rights and wrongs of the issue – they have a pretty distorted sense of what’s right and think that ‘wrong’ does not apply to them.
Her views are either right or wrong, or somewhere in between. She should not receive abuse for stating them. Both these statements are true, but not co-dependant. I would also note that you can use a respectful tone to say incredibly disrespectful things, and then feign shock and horror when people get angry. Not accusing Rowling of such cyncism, but it’s certainly swirling around.
No, please don’t go there… mermaids is a joke, a very very bad and dangerous child abusing anti-science joke.
+1
A chraity for trans people attacked and smeared succesfully by the likes of ‘Glinner.’
Smeared for a reason. It is dangerous to kids. Don’t mess around with children’s lives and do irreversible mental damage. Simple rule
Yeah, linking ‘kids’ to ‘trans’ is automatically enough to bring out the satanic panic crowd. If people think this isn’t going to roll back on lgb people once they’re done with t, they’re deluding themselves.
“Satanic panic crowd”? You may be referring to concerned parents of pre teens. They worry about peer pressure in the 2020’s. It’s quite different to peer pressure in the 90’s or even 00’s.
I mean, who wants to experiment on their kids with ideas that have not been fully researched / studied with care / psychologically investigated? But instead thrust upon society as the modern thing to accept or else you are a relic and we will destroy your career?
I can’t think of a more obvious example of bullying and intolerance. It’s wrong.
Who wants to attack and slander and defund a charity devoted to helping incredibly vulnerable kids who require delicate handling, support, sensitivity and mental and physical medical care, bt who seem to get nothing but ignorant abuse and horror, all to often from within their own families? The only thing being thrust upon society is that these kids exist, and they always have. Some bits of society really can’t handle it.
Some 50,000 social homes will be provided over the next five years, with an emphasis on new builds.
The Part V provision, under which developers must set aside 10 per cent of their projects for social housing, will be expanded to include affordable homes, although the exact level has not yet been set.
The current cap on the amount of money local authorities can spend on social housing developments will increase from €2 million to €6 million
All of the above seems very unambitious. Considering housing was one of the main issues for people. If this is the height of their ambition then it’s more of the same and SF will get close to an overall majority the next time.
26 minutes? FFS
If you’re trying to win people over to your “side” whatever that may be, you can’t expect them to invest that much time into what looks to be a niche youtuber with an axe to grind.
I assume that is a response to my Rose link?
The whole area of Transgender is niche- the amount of people who are really affected by it is very small. But, Rose is right in there with the politics and surely has a point of view which is as equally as valid as any other?
She asks Is JK Rowling Transphobic?
Here is her summarised response. https://youtu.be/ixCFuFvNgLw?t=1484
“my token alt right [member of minority group] believes something ergo it must be true” again lol
https://mobile.twitter.com/ChrisLynnHedges/status/1272669430632374278
Chris Hedges asks “Why are corporations really supporting the George Floyd protests?”.
My original take seems to be in line with his – ie that channeling American citizens outrage in the direction of racial identity politics ultimately divides and distracts from the underlying class injustice which won’t ever be addressed without a movement that unites along class lines.
Clip he posted is worth a watch
That’s a very good point. Very interesting indeed.
+1
It worked in Ireland…….it has worked in Northern Ireland.
Yeah, you can tell the corporations are really leading the way on this protest, as opposed to desperately dodging any backlash against their own racial policies and practices. Class lines – lol. The only thing that will unite the US along class lines IS the anti-racism movement. Labour got smushed in the US long ago.
The anti-racism movement is proactively seeking a race war.
The anti-fascists are fascist in intent and act.
Up is down.
Black is white.
Night is day.
People like Nigel are here to scramble the truth with baby talk.
Ignore them and have a great day!
Anti-anti-racism.
Anti-anti-fascism.
U,p: up
Very important and deep dive into the killing fields of NY-FG has done incalculable hard to inward investment with its negligence and ineptitude,when intel or google is considering new billion dollar investments you can guarantee how Irl navigated covid will be a major consideration-it failed.
https://www.propublica.org/article/fire-through-dry-grass-andrew-cuomo-saw-covid-19-threat-to-nursing-homes-then-he-risked-adding-to-it
And in other news
https://www.politico.eu/article/commission-muzzles-trade-chief-hogan-over-wto-conflicts-of-interest/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
So tells us
Does the muzzle go over or under his face mask