Friday's rant

[Dave Cahill]

Just think that there are millions of people around the world that would love to do what we are doing today, something we almost take for granted, and, shamefully, many don't even bother. I always think of those who fought for the right to allow me to vote, and those who have protected that freedom.

Whilst I always vote, I don't think its shameful if people don't do so (as long as they don't complain about things they could have changed by doing so), people fought to allow you to vote, not to force you to do so. Compulsary voting is anti-democratic and an infringment on Civil Rights, the right to vote is not a duty to so, and implicit in the right, as in any of our civil rights, is our freedom of choice not to invoke it.

[johng]

Just think that there are millions of people around the world that would love to do what we are doing today, something we almost take for granted, and, shamefully, many don't even bother. I always think of those who fought for the right to allow me to vote, and those who have protected that freedom.

Whilst I always vote, I don't think its shameful if people don't do so (as long as they don't complain about things they could have changed by doing so), people fought to allow you to vote, not to force you to do so. Compulsary voting is anti-democratic and an infringment on Civil Rights, the right to vote is not a duty to so, and implicit in the right, as in any of our civil rights, is our freedom of choice not to invoke it.

See? This freedom sh1t is complicated. Bring back gengis khan I say. It's political correctness gone mad!

[domhnallj]

Just think that there are millions of people around the world that would love to do what we are doing today, something we almost take for granted, and, shamefully, many don't even bother. I always think of those who fought for the right to allow me to vote, and those who have protected that freedom.

Whilst I always vote, I don't think its shameful if people don't do so (as long as they don't complain about things they could have changed by doing so), people fought to allow you to vote, not to force you to do so. Compulsary voting is anti-democratic and an infringment on Civil Rights, the right to vote is not a duty to so, and implicit in the right, as in any of our civil rights, is our freedom of choice not to invoke it.

See? This freedom sh1t is complicated. Bring back gengis khan I say. It's political correctness gone mad!

or just move to Australia

[Amz]

Had an exam today, so couldn't buy tickets for the final at1. So had dad go to a ticketmaster kiosk/outlet to buy 2, or 4. But he was told "online only for sales". So by the time I got out of the exam they were sold out.

Boo!

Is that just so they can get the charges?

[TheBear]

Yeah! You can't beat a good old dictator. They make the trains run on time and everyone does what they are told.

Few little niggles like death squads and torture and stuff but hey.

That's not what I mean. It's just that neither the local candidate elected on local issues, nor the career politician who is shoved down our throats, is competent to make decisions about how to run the country at a national level.

The Belgian idea of having specialists appointed to ministerial positions from outside of the parliament is an interesting one which might work here. We even have a facility to do it, with the Taoiseach's Seanad appointees and the ability to have Senators in the government, but it's never used for that purpose.

[fourthirtythree]

Yeah! You can't beat a good old dictator. They make the trains run on time and everyone does what they are told.

Few little niggles like death squads and torture and stuff but hey.

That's not what I mean. It's just that neither the local candidate elected on local issues, nor the career politician who is shoved down our throats, is competent to make decisions about how to run the country at a national level.

The Belgian idea of having specialists appointed to ministerial positions from outside of the parliament is an interesting one which might work here. We even have a facility to do it, with the Taoiseach's Seanad appointees and the ability to have Senators in the government, but it's never used for that purpose.

Because having people from Goldman Sachs running the finance portfolios internationally has worked so very, very well for the world in the last decade.

Not to mention the revolving door between the pentagon and directorships of large defence contractors in the US. Their corporate specialist knowledge has really helped the world.

I want civilians in government thanks. Ones that are accountable, if even only to some small degree, to the electorate. Unelected technocrats always end up like Peter Sutherland and Alan Greenspan - wobbling away from the smoking ruins of their smug certainties with cheesy grins and fat, fat, fat portfolios and pensions.

[Oldschool]

Yeah! You can't beat a good old dictator. They make the trains run on time and everyone does what they are told.

Few little niggles like death squads and torture and stuff but hey.

That's not what I mean. It's just that neither the local candidate elected on local issues, nor the career politician who is shoved down our throats, is competent to make decisions about how to run the country at a national level.

The Belgian idea of having specialists appointed to ministerial positions from outside of the parliament is an interesting one which might work here. We even have a facility to do it, with the Taoiseach's Seanad appointees and the ability to have Senators in the government, but it's never used for that purpose.

I think Garret Fitzgerald once appointed a minister of Foreign Affairs (I think) who was a senator. He was a professor of engineering in UCD. Jim Douge or something like that.
Of course the body political condemned the appointment because he wasn't elected by the people and therefore wasn't answerable to the people.
They conveniently forgot however that the man who appointed him was elected by the people.
It was one less job for the boys, simple as.
As regards the US and it's ministerial appointments. I'd wait until they try the alternative before I'd be too critical.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dooge

[MarkyDeSad]

Sometimes I just despair.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27586067

Sorry if wrong thread.

[sid]

And that's why the world would be better off without religion. All of it.

[Hornet]

And that's why the world would be better off without religion. All of it.

Totally agree.

[Hippo]

And that's why the world would be better off without religion. All of it.

Totally agree.

+1. The Sudanese story is truly depressing. No matter how bad things get here...

[mfjoc]

Missing the match tomorrow!

[mfjoc]

Aer Lingus cabin crew

[cormac]

People who needlessly block other people's views with a massive flag.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Whoever chose the jerseys for this South Africa v World XV match should be shot.

[Oldschool]

And that's why the world would be better off without religion. All of it.

Totally agree.

+1. The Sudanese story is truly depressing. No matter how bad things get here...

-1. Religion is only an excuse. Be under no illusion, things would be just as bad without religion.

Religion is just a flag of convenience for man's inhumanity to man.

[sid]

things would be just as bad without religion.

Nonsense. When you indoctrinate children from a young age to blindly believe the kind of things that religions teach you're inevitably going to have a much more inhumane society than you otherwise would. I'm not saying religion is the only way that can happen, but it's the only one that enjoys such a privileged position.

[TerenureJim]

Whoever chose the jerseys for this South Africa v World XV match should be shot.

How did they manage to take to the field like that

[Oldschool]

things would be just as bad without religion.

Nonsense. When you indoctrinate children from a young age to blindly believe the kind of things that religions teach you're inevitably going to have a much more inhumane society than you otherwise would. I'm not saying religion is the only way that can happen, but it's the only one that enjoys such a privileged position.

As I pointed out already - The current flag of convenience.

[Peg Leg]

things would be just as bad without religion.

Nonsense. When you indoctrinate children from a young age to blindly believe the kind of things that religions teach you're inevitably going to have a much more inhumane society than you otherwise would. I'm not saying religion is the only way that can happen, but it's the only one that enjoys such a privileged position.

As I pointed out already - The current flag of convenience.

G'wan outta that OS, countries such as Uganda have a huge dependency on the church as they (like Ireland of old) run many hospitals and schools- that is a position of privilege. But there are pro's and cons to a state been semi-dependent on the church- Pro's= education etc. Cons= Aids epidemic etc.

Largely though, you'd have to accept that most of the people involved are victims of circumstance!