Will you vote for Fianna Fail?

[macdanger2]

Some mess in Longford last night when a female candidate with no track record in politics imposed. If they thought the Fianna Fáil vote in Longford collapsed in the last election,it will disappear now . The local independent will make hay with this .Bad enough that the Fine Gael candidate is known as Bonkers Bannon we now are expected to vote for a candidate that the local Fianna Fáil party don't want and most didn't know about till this morning. Equality my arse . The best person should always get selected irrespective of colour ,creed or sex with no pandering to gender quotas

Maybe someone without a "track record in politics" is exactly who we need??

Achieving better gender balance is a good idea but quotas is a fairly blunt way of doing it. Some effort should be made to increase the diversity of experience of those entering politics, something like 25% of TDs are or were teachers 

The imposition of quotas shows little we care about the level of performance and ability of our politicians.

Imagine announcing that next year 50% of all heart surgeons had to be women, or that 50% of all primary teachers had to be men. Obviously these figure couldn't be achieved unless there were loads of unemployed, but qualified, female heart surgeons or male primary teachers waiting for their big chance. Also consider the difference between an inexperienced heart surgeon and an experienced one.

None of these issues seem to bother those in favour of quotes, so when we get completely unsuitable, inexperienced TDs, we will know why.

We get that already. I can understand people having reservations around such quotas, but I don't believe for a minute that it will reduce the quality of representation.

I think it is bad at the moment too, but it will get worse with quotas.

I don't see any sound basis for this. It implies that the current system produces the best possible candidates. It's just as likely that this will produce candidates of equal or better quality.

How?

The current process sees the 'best' rise, battle, con, swindle or whatever their way to the top.

Quotas simply ensure that candidates with less political ability can now be fast tracked into the job. Suggesting that this might produce better quality is absurd. It wouldn't produce better candidates in any function, so why might it in politics?

We're not looking for politicians who are better at politicking though

[muppet]

We're not looking for politicians who are better at politicking though

Really?

What sort of politicians are you looking for?

[macdanger2]

We're not looking for politicians who are better at politicking though

Really?

What sort of politicians are you looking for?

Ones that are capable of doing what's in the best interests of the country instead of what's in their own best interests.

What sort are you looking for??

[muppet]

We're not looking for politicians who are better at politicking though

Really?

What sort of politicians are you looking for?

Ones that are capable of doing what's in the best interests of the country instead of what's in their own best interests.

What sort are you looking for??

One's that are capable of functioning in the dreadful world of politics. If they can't do that, then all the good intentions in the world won't get them anywhere.

[Maguire01]

Some mess in Longford last night when a female candidate with no track record in politics imposed. If they thought the Fianna Fáil vote in Longford collapsed in the last election,it will disappear now . The local independent will make hay with this .Bad enough that the Fine Gael candidate is known as Bonkers Bannon we now are expected to vote for a candidate that the local Fianna Fáil party don't want and most didn't know about till this morning. Equality my arse . The best person should always get selected irrespective of colour ,creed or sex with no pandering to gender quotas

Maybe someone without a "track record in politics" is exactly who we need??

Achieving better gender balance is a good idea but quotas is a fairly blunt way of doing it. Some effort should be made to increase the diversity of experience of those entering politics, something like 25% of TDs are or were teachers 

The imposition of quotas shows little we care about the level of performance and ability of our politicians.

Imagine announcing that next year 50% of all heart surgeons had to be women, or that 50% of all primary teachers had to be men. Obviously these figure couldn't be achieved unless there were loads of unemployed, but qualified, female heart surgeons or male primary teachers waiting for their big chance. Also consider the difference between an inexperienced heart surgeon and an experienced one.

None of these issues seem to bother those in favour of quotes, so when we get completely unsuitable, inexperienced TDs, we will know why.

We get that already. I can understand people having reservations around such quotas, but I don't believe for a minute that it will reduce the quality of representation.

I think it is bad at the moment too, but it will get worse with quotas.

I don't see any sound basis for this. It implies that the current system produces the best possible candidates. It's just as likely that this will produce candidates of equal or better quality.

How?

The current process sees the 'best' rise, battle, con, swindle or whatever their way to the top.

Quotas simply ensure that candidates with less political ability can now be fast tracked into the job. Suggesting that this might produce better quality is absurd. It wouldn't produce better candidates in any function, so why might it in politics?

Under the current system the candidates the local party members favour rise to the top. There's no clear correlation between that and the candidate that may make the best TD or Minister.

[muppet]

Some mess in Longford last night when a female candidate with no track record in politics imposed. If they thought the Fianna Fáil vote in Longford collapsed in the last election,it will disappear now . The local independent will make hay with this .Bad enough that the Fine Gael candidate is known as Bonkers Bannon we now are expected to vote for a candidate that the local Fianna Fáil party don't want and most didn't know about till this morning. Equality my arse . The best person should always get selected irrespective of colour ,creed or sex with no pandering to gender quotas

Maybe someone without a "track record in politics" is exactly who we need??

Achieving better gender balance is a good idea but quotas is a fairly blunt way of doing it. Some effort should be made to increase the diversity of experience of those entering politics, something like 25% of TDs are or were teachers 

The imposition of quotas shows little we care about the level of performance and ability of our politicians.

Imagine announcing that next year 50% of all heart surgeons had to be women, or that 50% of all primary teachers had to be men. Obviously these figure couldn't be achieved unless there were loads of unemployed, but qualified, female heart surgeons or male primary teachers waiting for their big chance. Also consider the difference between an inexperienced heart surgeon and an experienced one.

None of these issues seem to bother those in favour of quotes, so when we get completely unsuitable, inexperienced TDs, we will know why.

We get that already. I can understand people having reservations around such quotas, but I don't believe for a minute that it will reduce the quality of representation.

I think it is bad at the moment too, but it will get worse with quotas.

I don't see any sound basis for this. It implies that the current system produces the best possible candidates. It's just as likely that this will produce candidates of equal or better quality.

How?

The current process sees the 'best' rise, battle, con, swindle or whatever their way to the top.

Quotas simply ensure that candidates with less political ability can now be fast tracked into the job. Suggesting that this might produce better quality is absurd. It wouldn't produce better candidates in any function, so why might it in politics?

Under the current system the candidates the local party members favour rise to the top. There's no clear correlation between that and the candidate that may make the best TD or Minister.

How do they become 'the candidates the local party members favour'?

And I am not saying that they make the best TDs or Ministers. I am simply saying usually the ones with the ability to network, curry favour and gain support, politically, are the ones that make it. Now we are saying: make a percentage of them female, regardless of any ability or talent.

This is idiotic and an insult to women to boot. Women are well able to make it in politics as we have seen. Parachuting in more women, who never made it in politics, will improve things?

That more men are in politics probably indicates women's distaste for politics, much like their distaste for being bin-men.

[macdanger2]

We're not looking for politicians who are better at politicking though

Really?

What sort of politicians are you looking for?

Ones that are capable of doing what's in the best interests of the country instead of what's in their own best interests.

What sort are you looking for??

One's that are capable of functioning in the dreadful world of politics. If they can't do that, then all the good intentions in the world won't get them anywhere.

Status quo it is so.

The world of politics mightn't be so "dreadful" if it weren't full of self-interested politicians. Limiting a politician to 2 terms might be an option, if they weren't so worried about getting reelected, they might be able to concentrate on the job of trying to run the country.

[seafoid]

FF's vote share this election will be verra interesting. if it's around 20% that could be the future for them and that would take them a lot of getting used to. they really messed up with the crash.

[muppet]

We're not looking for politicians who are better at politicking though

Really?

What sort of politicians are you looking for?

Ones that are capable of doing what's in the best interests of the country instead of what's in their own best interests.

What sort are you looking for??

One's that are capable of functioning in the dreadful world of politics. If they can't do that, then all the good intentions in the world won't get them anywhere.

Status quo it is so.

The world of politics mightn't be so "dreadful" if it weren't full of self-interested politicians. Limiting a politician to 2 terms might be an option, if they weren't so worried about getting reelected, they might be able to concentrate on the job of trying to run the country.

I am not so sure.

It is naive to think that there is a world of good samaritans out there waiting to be politicians. Our species has never worked like that in any culture. It is why communism fails every time.

[foxcommander]

We're not looking for politicians who are better at politicking though

Really?

What sort of politicians are you looking for?

Ones that are capable of doing what's in the best interests of the country instead of what's in their own best interests.

What sort are you looking for??

One's that are capable of functioning in the dreadful world of politics. If they can't do that, then all the good intentions in the world won't get them anywhere.

Status quo it is so.

The world of politics mightn't be so "dreadful" if it weren't full of self-interested politicians. Limiting a politician to 2 terms might be an option, if they weren't so worried about getting reelected, they might be able to concentrate on the job of trying to run the country.

Indeed - the job for life mentality prevails. Your 2 (or 3 at most) term idea would mean they they aren't in it purely for the money. There needs to be some public service aspect for their reason to run.
The pension pot at the end of the rainbow should be cut off too. Get a real job once your term is over and earn it like the rest of us.

[Kursk]

We need politicians that understand what the people want and are prepared to stand up and verbalize those opinions even if the bed wetters attack them.

[seafoid]

We need politicians that understand what the people want and are prepared to stand up and verbalize those opinions even if the bed wetters attack them.

the people want stuff for nothing.

[Kursk]

Europe wants surrendered sovereignty for nothing.
Time to get out. It is not sustainable

[Maguire01]

We need politicians that understand what the people want and are prepared to stand up and verbalize those opinions even if the bed wetters attack them.

Yeah, but people want different things.

[Kursk]

I think we can safely say that a majority don't want their kids to be paying off the debts incurred by a neo-liberal elite. I think we can safely say that a majority don't feel they are responsible for housing and feeding thousands of people because of wars initiated by others.