Opposition politican - is it the easiest job in the world?

[RMCF]

I have always been baffled by politics.

Parties draw up manifesto's and when elected renege on so many things they promised, yet quite often the public don't hold them to account for it.

Then when you are in power you can do nothing right - there is always a better way to do it, and the opposition tell you about it daily. But if they were in charge, things would be exactly the same.

I watch how the opposition leaders/politicans get interviewed these days and they are filled with glee as its like taking sweets from a child. The Gov has messed EVERYTHING up.

But do they think if they had been in charge for the last decade that Ireland would have escaped the current WORLD economic crisis? They make out like it would, but that's absolute nonsense.

I remember one politican ripping into Lenihan on a Q&A TV show and he basically said "if you hadn't of let the Irish house prices get so high we wouldn't be in this situation". Lenihan replied with the fact that the world economic crisis wasn't started by Irish house prices. And he is 100% right. We are only a very small player and we were always going to get hit hard no matter how well any Gov had prepared for it.

 

[Ceist Beag]

That's one way of looking at it. Flip the coin though and you could argue that being in opposition must be the most frustrating job in the world (that is if you assume they actually care about making a difference as opposed to just collecting a wage!). They don't have the power to change anything so are left talking the talk without ever being in a position to show they can walk the walk!

 

[MrMan]

I think the reason they are still the oppostion is that whenever a crisis appears they play the blame game and never offer an alternative like last night Jan O'Sullivan was lapping it up having a go at Mary coughlan ober Dell and when Miriam O'Callaghan said 'what would you have done Jan O'Sullivan' her reply was ' I wouldn't have let it come to this' she didn't say how, she didn't say well the damage is done and this is how we can get out of it. The oppostion are not offering solutions or the rays of light that we are crying out for and FF will keep stumbling from crisis to crisis safe in the knowledge that the other side still haven't got their act together. It would make you wonder do FF want to be in power at the moment and do the opposition want to take over.

 

[Purple]

I think the reason they are still the oppostion is that whenever a crisis appears they play the blame game and never offer an alternative like last night Jan O'Sullivan was lapping it up having a go at Mary coughlan ober Dell and when Miriam O'Callaghan said 'what would you have done Jan O'Sullivan' her reply was ' I wouldn't have let it come to this' she didn't say how, she didn't say well the damage is done and this is how we can get out of it. The oppostion are not offering solutions or the rays of light that we are crying out for and FF will keep stumbling from crisis to crisis safe in the knowledge that the other side still haven't got their act together. It would make you wonder do FF want to be in power at the moment and do the opposition want to take over.

I have to agree. Most of us know that the FG/Labour alternative would have been as much or more in bed with the unions (maybe this lot are not so much in bed but rather bent over with their pants around their ankles).

 

[NorthDrum]

Im sure it is frustrating being in opposition at times, but I dont think many could argue that this is the one time that its a good time to be on the outside throwing stones then on the inside trying to sort out the mess.

The easiest thing in politics is to say that FF are and have been doing everything wrong when the whole world appears to be falling apart. As mentioned here, we dont seem to be getting any alternative advice and for opposition to say what we should of done is like saying we know what the lotto numbers will be after they have been drawn! What does that say for the opposition that people are so disillusioned with FF, but there would still probobley be a close enough election!

Political will is normally decided by either money or votes. If enough people want, lets say 0 tolerance on crime, it will happen. Problem is that the public are reactive not proactive and it doesnt make political sense in many instances to do the right thing. E.G. - If FF raise taxes significantly for the long term good of the economy and started to deal properly with the Public Service expenses, opposition would simply argue that you dont need to raise taxes and that people are already on the breadline etc. People would say, "we dont mind paying taxes if they are spent right" but then say they have no confidence in the government.

Im not pro FF, but they are an easy target with things so bad. At the end of the day, we are only scapegoating them for our mistakes (ie voting for them and demanding tax cuts and not highlighting obvious deficiencies in the financial regulation!). We all knew that things werent right (builders, banks . . etc) but nobody wanted to face it as times were so good. The government generally mirrors its people . Take what you will from that .

 

[Complainer]

Im not pro FF, but they are an easy target with things so bad. At the end of the day, we are only scapegoating them for our mistakes (ie voting for them and demanding tax cuts and not highlighting obvious deficiencies in the financial regulation!). We all knew that things werent right (builders, banks . . etc) but nobody wanted to face it as times were so good. The government generally mirrors its people . Take what you will from that .

Likewise the opposition TDs are an easy target. Try spending 6-7 nights going to residents meetings and rubber chicken fundraisers. Try going for a job interview in front of 100,000 every 5 years, and paying €30k - €50k of your own resources to prepare for the interview. Try not seeing your family for months at a stretch. You wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy.

 

[Green]

Likewise the opposition TDs are an easy target. Try spending 6-7 nights going to residents meetings and rubber chicken fundraisers. Try going for a job interview in front of 100,000 every 5 years, and paying €30k - €50k of your own resources to prepare for the interview. Try not seeing your family for months at a stretch. You wouldn't wish it on your worst enemy.

I have little symapthy for TD's.

It is a unique occupation in that everybody who is in it already knows what they are getting into. The majority of TD's are already in politics at some level and know exactly what the deal is. Also, Irish TD's are very well remunerated, recent figures stated that each TD costs €250,000 plus their generous pensions and allowances for other staff including researchers.

TD's have also had an opportunity to rise above local politicals issues since councillors are now paid but they have chosen not to do so. Indeed, after Bertie's period in power there are very few TD's who do not have a second job in the Dail that does not bring in another allowance.

 

[Green]

The easiest thing in politics is to say that FF are and have been doing everything wrong when the whole world appears to be falling apart.

Some times that is because the easy thing is the correct thing, FF have been in power since 1997, and made no allowance at any stage for the end of the property/construction boom which they helped create despie the fact of being warned by the ESRI that it was unsustainable. This is the same ESRI that AAM'ers love to quote on their recent report on public sector pay.

 

[Green]

Lenihan replied with the fact that the world economic crisis wasn't started by Irish house prices. And he is 100% right. We are only a very small player and we were always going to get hit hard no matter how well any Gov had prepared for it.

I would not agree, in recessarionary times, house prices are always going to get hit...our economic boom was built to a large degree on construction and property so if we are dependant on that then we are going to get hit harder. Also, this Government never plannned for an end to property relaterd transactions...I was told three years ago by a TCD economist that if Irish house prices continued to rise we would rewrite the laws of economics..everyone knew it would end..even FF but they just did not come up with any alternative plan...

 

[capall]

It is not true to say that our boom was totally based on construction and property.
The growth in these sectors was fueled by growth in the real economy which meant that more people were working ,we had a big population increase of mostly young working age people who needed and could afford houses. OK then the property boom took on a life of its own and created artifical wealth and was completely mishandled by the government

In the current mood of self flagellation and doom and gloom we forget that we had a very successful economic policies that attracted pharmaceuticals ,computer and other industries to ireland and also the success of the IFSC which was created from nothing.

 

[Complainer]

I have little symapthy for TD's.

It is a unique occupation in that everybody who is in it already knows what they are getting into. The majority of TD's are already in politics at some level and know exactly what the deal is. Also, Irish TD's are very well remunerated, recent figures stated that each TD costs €250,000 plus their generous pensions and allowances for other staff including researchers.

I'm not suggesting that they are deserving of sympathy, and indeed I agree that they do know what they are getting into and they are well rewarded. Mind you, the €250k figure is a measure of cost not a measure of remuneration.

TD's have also had an opportunity to rise above local politicals issues since councillors are now paid but they have chosen not to do so.

The reality is that the TD that attempts to take this noble approach won't be a TD for long, and will get beaten by the local sleeveen who jumps in every pothole and climbs up every busted streetlamp.

 

[Purple]

The reality is that the TD that attempts to take this noble approach won't be a TD for long, and will get beaten by the local sleeveen who jumps in every pothole and climbs up every busted streetlamp.

Have to agree with that.

 

[NorthDrum]

Some times that is because the easy thing is the correct thing, FF have been in power since 1997, and made no allowance at any stage for the end of the property/construction boom which they helped create despie the fact of being warned by the ESRI that it was unsustainable. This is the same ESRI that AAM'ers love to quote on their recent report on public sector pay.

FF have been in power since 97 because we, the people, were obviously happy to ride pigsback with them and their way of running the economy. Thats my point, not that FF havent taken us to the depths of despair but that we were willing followers and have to take as much blame as them. As the saying goes, its harder to take when you do it to yourself. Its human nature to scapegoat somebody else to ease the responsibility we played in the whole mess.

 

[NorthDrum]

In the current mood of self flagellation and doom and gloom we forget that we had a very successful economic policies that attracted pharmaceuticals ,computer and other industries to ireland and also the success of the IFSC which was created from nothing.

Agreed to a degree. The problem is that these companies were going to move somewhere cheaper at a stage and our government should of been making provisions for this inevitability.

My problem with FF isnt necessarily the whole problem that has gripped the world, its their response so far and the obvious lack of foresight to have a plan in order for such times.

Would Labor or FG of done any better, I personally dont think so. Grass is always greener on the other side. Political will is swayed by public opinion. Public dont like being taxed, dont like piublic sector wages cut and dont like any Bills that may have a negative affect on them (irrespective of its overall potential positive affects).

I have no sympathy for politicians I believe that they are slaves to public opinions and cant always do the right thing (whether they want to our not). Its easy to be throwing stones from the outside, but were you in their shoes I think you would find these decisions werent as easy as writing them down on a website or discussing them in a pub!

Im not in politics in any way and I am not somebody who likes defending politicians, but I think that once we all start taking responsibility for the state of the country the sooner we can start to work together to get it fixed.