Category Archives: Politics

from the Dail to the White House and back via Downing Street and elsewhere.

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Cenk Uygur of the Young Turks on TPP and the Trade In Services Agreement (TISA). You may feel an uncomfortable tingling sensation in your democracy glands. To wit:

The entire basis for maintaining our private extractive banking monopoly may have been thrown out the window. And that could help explain the desperate rush to “fast track” not only the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), but the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA). TiSA would nip attempts to implement public banking and other monetary reforms in the bud.”

MORE: If the TPP passes, banks will wield awesome power (Scoop World)

(H/T: John Gallen)

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Darren Conlon asks:

The Australian definition of marriage is for Parliament to decide and a referendum is not required. The current thinking is that same-sex marriage is close to passing and becoming law if it were to be brought before Parliament.

However, the Australian press cannot seem to accept that the majority of Irish people who chose to record their opinion on same-sex marriage voted ‘Yes’. The latest argument is that because 40% of the population chose to not vote then claims of a resounding ‘Yes’ vote are invalid. Rather, 72% of the population did not vote ‘Yes’.

In keeping with this thinking, the inference is that same-sex marriage should be decided by a referendum in Australia because voting is mandatory and therefore a ‘Yes’ vote from a vocal minority would carry less weight. The risk of same-sex marriage resulting from politicians ´bending knee’ to a populist and vocal minority would be neutered.

Two problems with this thinking that I think remain unanswered:

1. This Utilitarian model is, as expected, flawed; because a portion of society will remain very unhappy if same-sex marriage does not pass. It clearly breaches 3 of the 4 the bioethical principles being justice, beneficence and non-maleficence. It also impinges on the 4th, autonomy.

2. The fact that voting is mandatory in Australia. In a true democracy members can choose to participate, or not participate. Forcing persons with no real opinion to make a choice by its very nature is undemocratic. Again a breach of autonomy.

Any thoughts?

Previously: How Low Can Australia Go?

(Image via Star Observer)

  

Judge Donal Binchy’s written judgment released today giving his reasons for granting an injunction to Denis O’Brien and Irish Bank Resolution Corporation against RTÉ.

Court issues written judgment on O’Brien injunction (RTÉ)

“What is particularly curious is that Deputy Murphy is persistent in her claims even though I have made clear that what she is saying is untrue and she has repeatedly made erroneous and untruthful statements about my banking relationship.”

Denis O’Brien yesterday.

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They see them pollin’.

They hatin’.

Laura, of Amsterdam Gaelic Athletic Club, writes:

Just some of the photos the girls took of Danish General Election posters. It should be noted that all the candidates are ridiculously good looking and young, not one TD type between them…

Thanks Laura

The Guardian: Danish cowboy bares all in bid to be prime minister

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Polisario Soldiers stand posed as toy soldiers in a bomb crater from the conflict

Polisario Soldiers stand posed as toy soldiers in a bomb crater from the conflict

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British photographer Simon Brann Thorpe’s project Toy Soldiers (collected in a book of the same name) – a commentary on the conflict still raging in the Western Sahara after 40 years, largely ignored by Western media.

The photographer collaborated with a military commander to have real soldiers pose as toys.

MORE: Toy Soldiers Who Are Not Toys (Fotografia)

thisisnthappiness

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Alan Hurley writes:

For the sake of balance, you may be interested in this Vote No video. I was going to Vote Yes in the referendum on May 22nd, and so I was making one of those #RingYourGranny / Parents videos. However when I spoke to my dad, he raised a legitimate reservation that made me change my mind. I just hope that people don’t judge me until they’ve heard all the arguments and made up their own minds….