A sad day for Ireland

by John Boy Fri Jun 15, 2007 09:33

"To-day is a sad day for politics, for Ireland and for what is left of our democracy."

It's not that sad a day for democracy since the election was democratic and the mainstay of the previous government were heavily backed by the voters. Democracy, innit.

by paul o toole Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:44

It is a sad day for ireland when the people vote with their wallets and support the government who are currently involved in comitting war-crimes-which , by the way was never raised or discussed in any of the national debates on RTE-(Refuse to Tell the Electorate).prior to the election.
If any of the opposition had raised these issues we would have a different outcome yesterday I'm sure, but they diddnt. By not raising the involvment Ireland has in murdering Iraqi citizens the opposition actually support this massacre
We are no better now than the Nazis and the German people who knowingly stood by and let their government exterminate Jews by the million, Hitler was voted in democratically, much the same way as Bush. We have lost the right to condem the Nazis, something we stood against at one time, now we are participants in, international war-crimes .

Its a sad day for politics to see the opposition offer.....well....no opposition. They oppose none of the major issues, only what seems to me to be pre agreed debate over hospital bed numbers, police numbers etc.
And if you think we actually live in a functioning democracy I urge you to question your beliefs, the dictionary is a good place to start. So it was a sad day for democracy also.-Even if you support Fianna Fail.

by John Boy Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:59

"It is a sad day for ireland when the people vote with their wallets and support the government who are currently involved in comitting war-crimes-which , by the way was never raised or discussed in any of the national debates on RTE-(Refuse to Tell the Electorate).prior to the election.
If any of the opposition had raised these issues we would have a different outcome yesterday I'm sure, but they diddnt. By not raising the involvment Ireland has in murdering Iraqi citizens the opposition actually support this massacre"

The opposition tend to trot out the main issues that they've been hearing on the doorsteps as they canvass so as to curry favour with the watching public. That they didn't address it means that they didn't think there was enough there to sway enough people. If there were so many people calling for the opposition to change the situation in Shannon, they'd have brought it up as a stick to beat FF with. They did actually want to get into power. That they didn't is indicative of the priorities of the people.

The comparison with the Nazis is laughable.

by paul o toole Fri Jun 15, 2007 16:13

The fact that Bertie said shannon is a dead issue and that there is a percieved threat of dis-investment into Ireland from the US if we dont leave shannon open and continnue participating in war is the only reason I believe none of the opposition will tackle the issue. Not talking / debating the irrational fear of disinvestment if you mention our participation in mass murder is a choice. Their choice. Not mine.

To completely ignore the issue as both political sides and RTE have done, dosent mean it dosent exist. This is exactly what I was saying and I agree with you about the priorities of the people.
The politicians 'tend to trot out what they are hearing on the doorsteps' is an example of the public voting with their wallets, and shows a lack of moral leadership in our politicians. Political cowardice.
Dont under estimate the power of the media and the gullibility of the public. People believe that what they here on the radio is the truth, what they read is fact, and that the news is impartial, nothing could be further from the truth. If you think we get balanced unbiased media coverage you arent living on the same planet as I am. Look at the outporing of emotion, the vigils the coverage the moments of silence over Maddie McGann on Rupert Murdocks Sky News. He hasnt shown any interest in any of the 265,000 children he supported killing.
As one American CIA agent said recently ...'the second world war diddnt end , the epicentre just shifted to Washington'...Believe what you will about the Nazi reference, believe we live in a democracy if you want, and trust the media all you want. good luck.