"I am extremely likely to cut the number of councillors and local authorities" Hogan / FG on local government changes

[Baron von Biffo]

MPB is right broadening the constituency would lesson the chances of people like Lowry getting elected.

The constitution needs to be tightened so that those proven like Wallace who incur huge debts or others who are proven to be dishonest cannot stand for election.

The country is also changing dramatically and that will increase the chances of independent applicants.

Trying to engineer the electoral system to ensure that candidates you don't approve of can't be elected probably isn't the highest expression of democracy.

[bernadette]

Trying to engineer the electoral system to ensure that candidates you don't approve of can't be elected probably isn't the highest expression of democracy.

What?? Its a question of ensuring the correct number of representatives for the population and ensuring those representatives are honest and worthy of the peoples trust...It may be that the best way to ensure that is to widen the net.

[MPB]

Trying to engineer the electoral system to ensure that candidates you don't approve of can't be elected probably isn't the highest expression of democracy.

Nonsense.

Nobody is advocating engineering the electoral system to control who runs for election.

I am advocating for an electoral system that insures a fairer way of electing our representitives.

Nobody is advocating for preventing people running for election.

What I am advocating is that these politicians cannot buy their election, even when they have been proven to have abused their position and acted in a corrupt manner.

If we are not prepared to prevent people the judiciary believe to have been corrupt, from running for office, we have to create a system that makes it a true election, based on who the majority believe is the best candidate for the job.

[Baron von Biffo]

What?? Its a question of ensuring the correct number of representatives for the population and ensuring those representatives are honest and worthy of the peoples trust...

You were clear that you wanted changes to ensure that Lowry and Wallace couldn't get elected.

It may be that the best way to ensure that is to widen the net.

What grounds are there for thinking that?

[Baron von Biffo]

Nonsense.

Nobody is advocating engineering the electoral system to control who runs for election.

I am advocating for an electoral system that insures a fairer way of electing our representitives.

Nobody is advocating for preventing people running for election.

Bernadette is.

The constitution needs to be tightened so that those proven like Wallace who incur huge debts or others who are proven to be dishonest cannot stand for election.

What I am advocating is that these politicians cannot buy their election, even when they have been proven to have abused their position and acted in a corrupt manner.

If we are not prepared to prevent people the judiciary believe to have been corrupt, from running for office, we have to create a system that makes it a true election, based on who the majority believe is the best candidate for the job.

Bigger constituencies wouldn't prevent people buying elections, they'd just mean that a bigger purse was needed.

[bernadette]

You were clear that you wanted changes to ensure that Lowry and Wallace couldn't get elected.

Ideally all representatives should be above reproach larger constituencies would help to end the accusations of TDs buying votes.

What grounds are there for thinking that?

I think the wider the net the harder it would be to bribe the electorate.
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[Baron von Biffo]

Ideally all representatives should be above reproach larger constituencies would help to end the accusations of TDs buying votes.

How would that work? American Senators have much larger constituencies than our TDs and they've even coined the phrase 'pork barrel' to refer to the sort of voter bribery you refer to.

I think the wider the net the harder it would be to bribe the electorate.

Again, how do you see that working?

PS, Check your PMs.

[MPB]

Bernadette is.





Bigger constituencies wouldn't prevent people buying elections, they'd just mean that a bigger purse was needed.

More bloody nonsense.

Back your opinion up. Prove it. Defend your position.

Stop spouting inane nonsense.

I have put my beliefs out there to be critisized or defended.

Where are yours? Do you have any? If you do, debate them.

[bernadette]

How would that work? American Senators have much larger constituencies than our TDs and they've even coined the phrase 'pork barrel' to refer to the sort of voter bribery you refer to.



Again, how do you see that working?

PS, Check your PMs.

I answered my PM! Check yours.

This is not America and how we set a new system up would have to deal with the problem of pork barrel politicians. Its probably one of the hardest things to eradicate but it shouldn't be as blatant as it is here. We have too many TDs and not enough politicians. Go figure.

[Baron von Biffo]

More bloody nonsense.

Back your opinion up. Prove it. Defend your position.

Stop spouting inane nonsense.

I have put my beliefs out there to be critisized or defended.

Where are yours? Do you have any? If you do, debate them.

Maybe you should only post when the sun is below the yardarm.

[Baron von Biffo]

This is not America

If I believed in Gods I'd thank them every hour for that.

how we set a new system up would have to deal with the problem of pork barrel politicians. Its probably one of the hardest things to eradicate but it shouldn't be as blatant as it is here. We have too many TDs and not enough politicians. Go figure.

The point is that simply having larger constituencies wont eliminate the perceived problem of politicians pandering to populist demands.

[MPB]

Maybe you should only post when the sun is below the yardarm.

The typical retort of a coward.

I had you well pegged on P.ie as well. All p1ss and wind.

[Baron von Biffo]

The typical retort of a coward.

I had you well pegged on P.ie as well. All p1ss and wind.

[Count Bobulescu]

In my view, people who express their personal opinions and assumptions masquerading as a proven “fact” without explanation, have crossed the line from responsible posting into trolling, and there is evidence of that on this thread.

It’s kinda like the blurring of the line between hard news reporting and opinion journalism. The best news outlets for ethical reasons. clearly distinguish between each, the others quickly fall into disrepute.

[bernadette]

In my view, people who express their personal opinions and assumptions masquerading as a proven “fact” without explanation, have crossed the line from responsible posting into trolling, and there is evidence of that on this thread.

It’s kinda like the blurring of the line between hard news reporting and opinion journalism. The best news outlets for ethical reasons. clearly distinguish between each, the others quickly fall into disrepute.

I don't understand. Surely its obvious that there are some less than honest TDs in the Dail and some free riders in the Seanad? We also have too many reps for our population and that makes pork barrel politics easier. The same on a smaller scale applies to the counties.

Short of naming people its not possible to give facts but it is possible to give ones opinion on how to change it.