Article by FINTAN O'TOOLE in Irish Times today says it all

People say that we are fed up with the politicians, the same old faces for years.
Surely doesn't that apply to journalists as well, O Toole, Ruane, Browne, Duffy etc.
At least we can vote out the politicians
 
Well said Yorrick; the media golden circle. They invite each other onto their radio and TV shows and plug each other’s books etc. Cronyism at its best.
 
Complainer said:
Actually, we do - we have the right to demand that private companies pay there fair share of tax for start, which they aren't doing at present.
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So let's cut off the hand that feeds the mouth. Private companies are providing more than their fair share to society by providing employment. And while their profits are taxed at quite a low rate in this country, that is not the end of taxation, as shareholders have to pay tax on their income as well, which comes from the companies' profits.

But this argument assumes (a) that these services would not be provided by private enterprises if government didn't have the monopoly and (b) if they were provided by private enterprises that the services would not be better and/or cheaper.
All of the services monopolised by government cannot be judged in any meaningful way, as there is no alternative to compare them to. Maybe the service is good, but that doesn't mean that the money spent on it is well or efficiently spent, including wages. I don't think the question should revolve around only how much senior civil servants are paid, but more importantly, is there any need for the services and civil servants in the first place. Merely assuming that everything government does, and sets out to do, is necessary and money well spent, has led to the mess this country is in.

Complainer said:
Indeed - because they can get away with charging excessive prices, because every one else charges pretty much the same prices.
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They can only charge prices that consumers are willing to pay. Prices are set by supply and demand, and unless there is sufficient demand at a certain price a company will not remain profitable.
This argument has zero merit, and ignores the fact that, in regards to prices, there is a market equilibrium, where prices tend to the same level. Using such arguments, private enterprises could never win in the public eye:
(1) If a company is large and resourceful and can charge significantly less than all others, then this is bad because they are "unfairly" bullying out competitors.
(2) If a company starts charging way more than competitors, this is bad as the company is ripping off the public.
(3) If a company charges the same as everyone else, this is bad as it is a price cartel.

At the same time, prices charged go up the more difficult it is for competition to enter the market. The most obvious examples of uncompetitive areas of the economy are medical services (GPs, Pharmacies), financial services and energy providers.
Let's look at parts of the economy where government doesn't directly meddle in, and ask yourself when you last heard someone complain about rip-off prices without having a cheaper alternative available here or abroad:
(1) clothing, yes we are charged more here for certain branded products than abroad, but you can buy extremely cheap clothes here and abroad
(2) food, with thanks to especially two German retailers the cost of food has been driven down significantly
(3) kitchen appliances and consumer electronics, yes a Miele integrated dishwasher or an iPod are not cheap, but there are very good and cheaper alternatives available


Not doing the job is certainly one serious problem. The other problem is doing a job that is completely unnecessary, or could be provided cheaper and/or better by a private competitive industry. I think there is too much focus on reducing wages and not enough focus on reducing numbers.
 
Not so much what he had in his newspaper opinion piece, but what he refers to in his new book, as reported in the weekend's Irish Times.

In summary he thinks we need less TDs and for them to give up on the local clientilism.

A couple of days earlier, the same paper printed a photo of 3 Healy-Raes 'triumphantly' walking along the new Castleisland bypass.

It's all very well for a 'leftie liberal media elite' like FOT to demand new things of TDs, but for every one of him, there are a hundred others in places like Castleisland who demand that their TD delivers locally.

And a book or an opinion piece or a meeting in Liberty Hall won't change that any time soon.
 
While we have our current electoral system and our current political system nothing will change.
We need to get rid of the single transferrable vote as it gives the balance of power to local lobby groups and extremists.
We need to separate our legislature from our government.
Until we do both of the above we will have glorified county councillors running the country.
 
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As if to prove your point Protocol here's the latest from Healy Rae. But you can bet he will be voted in again by all those who only care about what their TD does for themselves at a local level!
 
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