Comments on: Is there any point to having both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael? http://www.johnmortell.com/2006/08/25/is-there-any-point-to-having-both-fianna-fail-and-fine-gael/ A blog about whatever comes to mind Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:03:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Eugene http://www.johnmortell.com/2006/08/25/is-there-any-point-to-having-both-fianna-fail-and-fine-gael/comment-page-1/#comment-85 Eugene Sat, 26 Aug 2006 12:41:32 +0000 http://www.johnmortell.com/2006/08/25/is-there-any-point-to-having-both-fianna-fail-and-fine-gael/#comment-85 who gives a fuck its politics same thing as always will happen, when fine gael win they fuck things up, so everybody votes for fianna fail granted it takes longer for fianna fail to completely fuck things up who gives a fuck its politics same thing as always will happen, when fine gael win they fuck things up, so everybody votes for fianna fail granted it takes longer for fianna fail to completely fuck things up

]]> By: Cian http://www.johnmortell.com/2006/08/25/is-there-any-point-to-having-both-fianna-fail-and-fine-gael/comment-page-1/#comment-84 Cian Sat, 26 Aug 2006 02:33:59 +0000 http://www.johnmortell.com/2006/08/25/is-there-any-point-to-having-both-fianna-fail-and-fine-gael/#comment-84 While it would probably make ideological sense for them to merge, I can't see it happening in the next few decades. I think both those parties are still very much run by dynasties whose allegiances stretch right back to the civil war, so that would be an immediate sticking point. I also think that, were they to combine, their collective vote would shrink, given that many constituencies would suddenly have, say, four candidates from one party seeking all four seats, and so massive vote-splitting would ensue. What I think Ireland really needs is a Liberal party. Okay, we have the PDs, but for many they're come to be seen as sour, withered old types and have attained a reputation for near authoritarianism thanks to largely unfair caricatures of McDowell in the media. If the Greens would just drop some of their Eurosceptism and socialist nonsense then I think they could really hoover up a lot more liberal votes. While it would probably make ideological sense for them to merge, I can’t see it happening in the next few decades. I think both those parties are still very much run by dynasties whose allegiances stretch right back to the civil war, so that would be an immediate sticking point. I also think that, were they to combine, their collective vote would shrink, given that many constituencies would suddenly have, say, four candidates from one party seeking all four seats, and so massive vote-splitting would ensue.

What I think Ireland really needs is a Liberal party. Okay, we have the PDs, but for many they’re come to be seen as sour, withered old types and have attained a reputation for near authoritarianism thanks to largely unfair caricatures of McDowell in the media. If the Greens would just drop some of their Eurosceptism and socialist nonsense then I think they could really hoover up a lot more liberal votes.

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