Race for the ARAS 2025

[Armagh18]

It'a trait of Thatcherites to ONLY punch down. Becuase it's definitely the disabled who are the problem, eh?

I don't think anyone here expressed a problem with disabled. It's those that are claiming disability but are perfectly able bodied  are the scourge.

They are a scourge. But snapchap is right, be better to punch up rather than down. The rich are scrounging a whole lot more from society than the poor.

Rich and off shore havens are a scourge. They own government and politicians. That's a whole other issue. It's pretty much always been the way since Moses was a boy. Only changes when people are pushed too far, revolt, tear the place up and break the wheel. We're not at that stage yet. This type of change most people don't want. They want stability. And anyway it doesn't take long for the new crowd in to show themselves up to be just as big of pricks. Gradual change without all that may be possible with strong politicians fighting for the people but that's a whole other discussion.

What the discussion was about, at least what I think it was about, was comments on HH wanting putting in checks on people claiming benefits. Reasonable enough. No need for all the hyperbolic shite came afterwards and people jumping on their high horses.

Fair enough.

[PadraicHenryPearse]

comparing what was proposed for people with disabilities to to an NCT and returning from sick leave!!!

[Look-Up!]

comparing what was proposed for people with disabilities to to an NCT and returning from sick leave!!!

Proposing dropping people out of wheelchairs to see if they can walk!!!!

[PadraicHenryPearse]

comparing what was proposed for people with disabilities to to an NCT and returning from sick leave!!!

Proposing dropping people out of wheelchairs to see if they can walk!!!!

As I stated when making that comment it was to show you and others  how stupid those other comments were

[armaghniac]

Disability activists said the plans were a "degrading and humiliating" value judgment that would give the impression that some people were falsifying the extent of their impairment or illness.

I'm not that familiar with this. However, it seems to be that some people are falsifying the extent of their impairment or illness. Some people, not most people.
So you need the power to investigate, but use that in  directed way so as to not investigate the really disabled, but do check others.

Anyone can be breathalysed at a checkpoint, because some people are drink driving. Anyone can have their taxes audited, because some people are not paying their taxes. But in reality, the Revenue have criteria to focus their efforts on actual offenders.

What the disabled advocates should concentrate on is designing proper criteria to identify the genuine from the chancers, then more money can be spent in those who actually are deserving because it has not been appropriated by those who are not.

It'a trait of Thatcherites to ONLY punch down. Becuase it's definitely the disabled who are the problem, eh?

The growth in payments to disabled people has to be extracted from those who work. People are happy to pay for people with genuine disabilities, but the growing number of people designated as such contains many who are less deserving.

are the disabled activists falsifying the extent of their impairment or illness (or families members] do you think?  they made the comment, you mention you are not familiar... I would think they are..

Some really vile posts but not surprising. Ill take a leaf from those arguments by asking should people in wheelchairs because of disabilities but lifted out and dropped to see if they fall or walk.

I said that disability advocates did understand real disabilities, and their advice should be sought on designing criteria which protected these people but still allowed the status of other less clear cases to be checked.
You completely reversed what I said. What is the point of a discussion forum if a serious post is followed up by nonsense?

[Look-Up!]

comparing what was proposed for people with disabilities to to an NCT and returning from sick leave!!!

Proposing dropping people out of wheelchairs to see if they can walk!!!!

As I stated when making that comment it was to show you and other  how stupid those other comments were

Listen here Padraic. Shouldn't have to spell this out but comments were clearly about bogus claimants and NCT is a perfectly common description, at least where I'm from, of going to the doctors. We can behave like adults or take the no context route and I can claim your comment clearly describes disabled people.

From memory without going through your posts, I seem to remember you're a fairly reasoned and good poster. But I'm not going to waste my time with an over and back again like the one we've just had. So in future if you're going to engage with me, fine, my all means do so. But if you're going to go the route you took earlier, please don't engage with me again.

[Rossfan]

About today's election .......
Will it reach 40% of the electorate?

[Rossfan]

1945 63%
1959 58.4%
1966 65.3%
1973 62.2%
1990 64.1%
1997 46.7%
2011 56.1%
2018 43.87%

[Armagh18]

1945 63%
1959 58.4%
1966 65.3%
1973 62.2%
1990 64.1%
1997 46.7%
2011 56.1%
2018 43.87%

Shame.

People really should come out and vote.

[Blowitupref]

About today's election .......
Will it reach 40% of the electorate?

Don't think do. I expect 35 to 38%

[Hand of God]

That's a bit much. So when a doctor signs off on them going on the sick that's ok. But if they go in for a re-check and he says they're fit for work that's degrading and dehumanizing.

It's degrading and dehumanising to frame people with genuine disabilities as welfare cheats. That was the net effect to it. You might want to take on board the feelings of people with disabilities who voiced how it impacted them when the legislation was announced. Surely they are the people we should be listening to here?

As I've stated the same parties who gladly rolled back regulation of banking and other industries, who gladly privatized energy, health, the housing market are the same ones who are dehumanising the poorest and most vulnerable in society.

It is sadly the way neo liberal parties work in today's world. It's a two tier society for them. If you're rich and elite you enjoy all the access and freedom in the world to enjoy life and grow your wealth. If you're not, you are caught in a poverty trap and the message is to stop being poor.

[weareros]

The Indo had one final poll which continued to show Catherine Connolly with a massive lead over Heather Humphreys. Fine Gael have never won a presidential election but were leading at the outset in opinion polls. Could spell the end of Harris. 



Young voters set to put Connolly in the Áras - if they come out to cast ballot
Rival Humphreys trailing behind in election poll, but over-65s back her
MARY REGAN
Young voters are on course to send Catherine Connolly to Áras an Uachtaráin if they turn out at the polls today.
New polling data shows the Galway woman has a massive lead over her �rival among voters under 34.
But Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys is more popular with older voters, who traditionally turn out in bigger numbers.
Ms Connolly's campaign team now believe that mobilising the youth vote - who are traditionally less inclined to vote - will be key to ensuring she is elected the 10th president of Ireland.
But Fine Gael believes Ms Humphreys can "defy expectations" and still win - if "middle Ireland" comes out in strong numbers.
Around 3.6 million people are �eligible to vote today. However, with a choice of just two candidates on offer, observers predict that turnout could hit a historic low.
And polling suggests that thousands will still give their first-preference vote to the Fianna Fáil candidate, Jim Gavin, who withdrew dramatically from the race but still remains on the ballot paper.
Yesterday, both sides in the two-way race made 11th-hour appeals to their supporters to turn out to vote. Despite her big lead Ms Connolly said "we take absolutely nothing for granted".
Her campaign team will make a major push to ensure younger people and those in more marginalised communities turn up at polling stations today.
Speaking at St Anne's National School in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, Ms Connolly said: "To be president of Ireland is an absolute privilege and I leave that to the people of Ireland."
On the campaign trail in Donegal, Ms Humphreys appealed to "middle Ireland" voters, saying: "Don't waste your vote, don't allow somebody else to speak for you."
Fine Gael leader and Tánaiste Simon Harris made a "particular appeal to people from other political traditions" to support Ms Humphreys. "It's important that middle Ireland comes out and says, 'we don't want to send out a message about this country being far left'," he said.
"The polls said Michael D Higgins was never going to be president - he won the election, he won twice and did a very good job," Mr Harris said. "We are going to defy all the sceptics, and we're going to elect Heather Humphreys as the 10th president of Ireland."
The Ireland Thinks poll - the last of the campaign - suggests Ms �Connolly's lead increased as polling day drew closer.
Her overall support levels were at 40pc on the eve of the election, compared with Ms Humphreys at 25pc and Mr Gavin at 7pc. Those who won't vote or don't know how they will vote are at 28pc.
When this cohort is removed, more than half, 55pc, say they will vote for Ms Connolly compared with 35pc for Ms Humphreys - suggesting that the Independent TD is on course to be elected on the first count when the ballot boxes are opened tomorrow. The biggest divergence in vote preference is when it comes to age, with the over-65s the only demographic where Ms �Humphreys has greater levels of support.
The data shows Ms Connolly has won over a huge majority of younger voters, with 83pc of 18-34-year-olds saying they will vote for her, compared to 12pc of this age group who support Ms �Humphreys and 5pc who support Mr Gavin.
Ms Connolly's support drops when it comes to over-65s, with just 38pc of that age group supporting her compared to 48pc for Ms Connolly and 14pc for Mr Gavin. Among 55- to 64-year-olds, it is almost evenly split - with 45pc for Ms Connolly and 43pc for Ms Humphreys.
A key member of Ms Connolly's campaign team said there was "no complacency" and said her victory wound hinge on the mobilisation of younger voters, as well as ensuring that the support bases of Sinn Féin and Labour Party are motivated to vote in significant numbers.
The poll suggests that Ms Connolly will win right across the country - but her lead is greatest in Connacht-Ulster where she has 59pc support compared with 33pc for Ms Humphreys.
Ms Connolly's support levels are lowest in Dublin, but she will still win in the capital where she is polling at 52pc compared to 35pc for the Fine Gael candidate.
Among those polled in small towns, Ms Connolly has 63pc of support compared to 34pc for Ms Humphreys. In larger towns Ms Connolly has 56pc of support compared to 31pc for Ms �Humphreys.
Among city populations, Ms Connolly has 56pc support compared with 43pc for Ms Humphreys.
Ms Connolly is even winning in rural areas, where she has 48pc of support, compared with 39pc for Ms Humphreys.
Polling stations across the country will be open from 7am to 10pm today.

[Rossfan]

About today's election .......
Will it reach 40% of the electorate?

Don't think do. I expect 35 to 38%

Not that it matters as decisions are made by those who vote but no doubt the Steen and similar factions will claim that up 80% of the people didn't vote for Connolly.

[PadraicHenryPearse]

can you point out where you said "that disability advocates did understand real disabilities"?

You did not say their advice should be sought  you said "disabled advocates should concentrate on is designing proper criteria to identify the genuine from the chancers". Disabled advocates now have to solve "chancers"

I didn't reverse what you said, you have articulated yourselves very well and second post is completly.different to what you said in the first..

[PadraicHenryPearse]

About today's election .......
Will it reach 40% of the electorate?

Don't think do. I expect 35 to 38%

Not that it matters as decisions are made by those who vote but no doubt the Steen and similar factions will claim that up 80% of the people didn't vote for Connolly.

i think it will be closer than people think, I am very interested to see the spoilt vote above the norm and what areas of the country vote for each candidate.

While I don't think anything was wrong with how the 3 candidates were selected I would have liked to see more, and I believe more candidates would have reduced Connollys chances, something I would not like to see