List System - Forget about it, it is an abuse of democracy. Too bad that the large political parties cannot come to terms with protest votes and Independents. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour created the monster over the years. Now they have to live with it. Stop Whinging and get on with the job you were elected to do.
We should have a list sytem
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22 European countries have an Open List System, 5 have a Closed List System. To say it's an abuse of democracy is a bit myopic.
Only two countries in Europe have the single transferable vote system (Malta and Ireland). It works here and we are not bothered about one-man-one-vote systems in other countries.The List System disqualifies some from entering elections. What we have is not perfect, but it works. You don't have to be in a political party so why force people join one if they want to get involved in politics? Like it or not, the Healy-Rae's will fight for Kerry while other politicians there watch the grass grow and ignoring those who voted for them. Who is getting things right? My money is on the Healy-Raes.
The List system is again raising its head because our main political parties (well Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour) this time round cannot come to terms with what we call democracy. So, they might want to change what we have just to suit the party representatives. They want a closed shop much more closed. The message is clear and simple, work for the people who voted you to power.
We have just endured an election where one third of the voters stayed away, considerable amounts of voters voted for no-hopers, many spoiled their votes, some voted through party lines, some spread their votes. Others just voted 1 and failed to use the floating vote. Ireland is growing up and at last is not prepared to keep single party government. This is the way it should be and we have it, like it or not.
The List system is again raising its head because our main political parties (well Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour) this time round cannot come to terms with what we call democracy. So, they might want to change what we have just to suit the party representatives. They want a closed shop much more closed. The message is clear and simple, work for the people who voted you to power.
We have just endured an election where one third of the voters stayed away, considerable amounts of voters voted for no-hopers, many spoiled their votes, some voted through party lines, some spread their votes. Others just voted 1 and failed to use the floating vote. Ireland is growing up and at last is not prepared to keep single party government. This is the way it should be and we have it, like it or not.
Duke of Marmalade
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Healy-Rae as Teashop
Bertie was bad enough swanning around with Bush and co in his banana suit but I think Healy-Rae in his cap might not be the sort of image that attracts FDI.
The problem seems to me that we haven't the correct demarcation between national and local administration. Apparently Healy-Rae can use his influence in the Dail to fix potholes, so how can you blame the people of Kerry voting for him, likewise Lowry etc.?
But if Dail responsibility was restricted to national issues such as setting the Budget then people would vote on purely national grounds.
Bertie was bad enough swanning around with Bush and co in his banana suit but I think Healy-Rae in his cap might not be the sort of image that attracts FDI. The problem seems to me that we haven't the correct demarcation between national and local administration. Apparently Healy-Rae can use his influence in the Dail to fix potholes, so how can you blame the people of Kerry voting for him, likewise Lowry etc.?
But if Dail responsibility was restricted to national issues such as setting the Budget then people would vote on purely national grounds.
T McGibney
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No he can't. But you forget that, until Saturday, his brother Danny was still a councillor and could indeed, in common with any other councillor, have potholes fixed.
Almost all successful Dáil candidates, urban and rural, are serving or past county councillors.
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