Not been canvassed...

Cahir said:
I haven't had anyone call to the door either but I've had a few leaflets that don't really give information.
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Got a leaflet from the Shinners in the post y'day - Several of the bullet points were written in Irish so I hadn't a clue what they were about . Perhaps the skinhead corner boys with the staffies have a better understanding of Irish than me !
 
I live in Swords and there is not a day where I don't see groups of election hopefulls and their slaves running through the estate.

I have a sign on the door "NO political canvassing" and up to now beside one all the other professional charlatan's have respected that wish.

The one that rang I asked if he read the new home defence bill he voted for and if so, if he would know if I could hit him with my baseball bat for trespassing on my property. He was gone very fast.

The amount of personalised election flyers (via AnPost) I get is unreal (well maybe that is because my postman only comes 3 times a week as they don't have enough staff to cover my estate). I always cross it out as "unsolicted junk mail/return to sender" and put it into the post box.
 
The parties have a legal right to send one piece of personalised election literature to all persons on the electoral register - it's not covered by the data protection/opt-out direct marketing lists.
 
Can I take it that you are not a big fan of democracy then?
I would be very offended if I gave up my evenings for free in order to promote the democratic process and someone referred to me as a slave or a professional charlatan. There are people who post on this website that are publicly minded enough to give up their time to support political parties. I have the greatest respect for them because without them our democracy would be weaker. Democracy is a blip in a historical context, it is fragile and should not be taken for granted. I do not give up my time so I would never criticise those who do because whether I vote for their party or not they are giving up their time for me.
 

An Post delivers one item per party per constituency.

DublinTexas said:
The one that rang I asked if he read the new home defence bill he voted for and if so, if he would know if I could hit him with my baseball bat for trespassing on my property. He was gone very fast.
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I do hope there is a bit of poetic licence going on here. While it is offensive that the canvasser did not comply with your sign (assuming the sign was of a visible size and in a visible location), to start talking of baseball bats is unforgiveable in this day and age.
 

Funnily enough I took it as humour myself.
 
Purple said:
Can I take it that you are not a big fan of democracy then?
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I am a fan of direct democracy, I wish that democracy would be practiced all over the world like it is in some kantons in Switzerland where the public actually is involved into the process. I would like to vote on all major policy decisions not just every 4-5 years. Be it if we need bin tokens, water charges or if we should join Schengen.

We however live in an representative democracy where we elect people on the basis of their promises, which we have no way of forcing them to keep. Politicians have generally few binding restrictions (party line, perceptions of voter wishes etc.) however they do for the next 4-5 years what they want because even if they break their promises we have no way of forcing them to stop doing what they are doing.

One symptom of representative democracy without term limits for ministers, delegates etc. is that a new profession “Politician” is created in which people go for life. It is a well paid career and while “there is no job security” (as per a statement of the Minister of Health) even after a short period serving the public the retirement benefits are enormous.

In a direct democracy the people have more rights; issues can be dealt on a merits of the case and not by a blank cheque provided every 4-5 years.


I’m sorry if you are offended by my statement that politicians as they are currently presenting themselves are charlatans.

I stand by that, the majority of politicians these days are engaged in nothing else than ensuring that their own benefits are put above others. Sure there are exceptions but in the majority they run a confidence game attempting to intentional misleading me the public with the goal of a personal gain. And in that sense they are charlatans.

They should be salespeople (no I have nothing again salespeople) but salespeople deal with facts, they present their goods in the best light but usually they don’t overstep the border to make a con out of it. Politicians in their vast majority are sales people that overstep the border, very much like the seller of medicine in the Wild Wild West with his outrages claims. And that is where the word comes from.

However having said that, I do apologize for the word slave in the context I have written it. It was not the best choice of words and I should have considered it more carefully.

Lipstick69 said:
The parties have a legal right to send one piece of personalised election literature to all persons on the electoral register - it's not covered by the data protection/opt-out direct marketing lists.
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That is assuming the electoral register is up to date. Despite several visits in which I pointed out that the 6 people s/he had on her list don’t live here, these people are STILL on the electoral list and still get party mail.


Well it was said to the person with a smile in a sarcastic tone of voice (which does not translate when written down).

However giving that I’m not a great fan of the home defence bill (I wish the president would have send it to the court) I think that the arguments used during the debate included the example of a home owner using a baseball bat to defend his rights. So the analogy would be correct here.

And I think that the caller got the reference, because when he went away he was smiling and I don’t think he or his party faithful did feel threatened at all.
 
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To add my two cent...I live out in Tallaght and the only policitican to call to my door is Brian Hayes from Fine Gael...I didn't even know that Pat Rabbitte was the local TD until the posters went up..thats pretty damning on him
 
The election letters are sent from the register, you can choose not to ahve your name on the public register and still vote this is to satisty data protection rules
 

Thanks Purple - I'll put my head above the paraphet and freely admit I am one of those slaves and unpaid charlatans who has been going around annoying people and invading their personal property in pursuit of their views and opinions on the very trivial matter of who will be running our country and the future direction it will take!

To be honest the negative comments don't upset me - I've developed a rather thick skin over the last 3 weeks or so - they sadden me - even if the poster in question would prefer more direct democracy - well hey , get involved , start your own political organization to campaign for more direct democracy - you are probably not alone - you are definitely not alone - but cynically bitching from the sidelines and turning your back on the democracy that we have is not going to bring it any closer!

I have been politically inactive since I returned to Ireland about 6 years ago - but this time I decided to get involved in some way - I've had enough of giving out and pontificating on websites such as this - if you want to change anything you have to get involved and its been a really positive thing for me. I'm not even a member of the political party of the candidate I'm canvassing - didn't even know of her beforehand - just read the manifesto , agreed with about 40% of it , good enough for me - went down to her campaign office ,walked in the door and asked how I could help out and its been an absolute blast since.

It has been a real eye-opener - I have been to and talked to hundreds of people in parts of my community I never knew existed , been out in all kinds of weather , chased by dogs down driveways , talked and more importantly listened, to everything from peoples feelings about the health service , local jobs ,fear of crime , schools, the economy in general, lack of parking , local post office closures, rampant development ,lack of recycling facilities and why we should be doing more to make sure that the pigeons in the local park are better fed (I kid you not!). Sure we have the apathy contingent who want nothing to do with the political process and who's precious time we are taking away from the TV - but they are, thankfully , a distinct minority, most people are very courteous and welcoming on the doorstep and genuinely want to meet and talk with you and the candidate. If you are a good candidate , you will already be aware of many of the issues and more importantly people will know you and I can see now that this can take years of hard slog and you are never off duty - As cynical as I am of politicians at times ,I have massive respect for anybody who will put themselves up for public office - whether I agree with their views and policies or not.

So get involved - I think many of us these days live our lives in seperate cubicles - I have been as guilty of that as the next man - a borderline workaholic, leaves the office, goes home , hangs out in a select group of friends and contacts in various social activities and sports - when you are face to face with people who you would never meet in the your normal course of life , hearing their stories and seeing the world through their eyes it can only be a good thing - and if you want to change anything or feel there are things that can be done better - well , as the old catchphrase goes "if you're not in , you can't win"

Now - lecture over - off to tend my aching feet and bruised fingers (terriers and all small narky dogs should be given a sedative between the hours of 6.00 and 9.00 on weekdays!)
 
Our first canvasser called last night. They were from Sine Fein. Armed with clipboard. When I opened the door I was asked would I vote for X and my answer was entered on the list. My answer was no - I was then asked why I wouldnt vote for him. They didnt actually ask for my vote. I thought it was a strange approach to canvassing. They all had very Northern accents. I see alot of Northern reg cars around with vote Sine Fein stickers on them.
I wonder if it is right that Gerry Adams should be included in the leaders debate tonight on Primetime as he is not a member of the Dail.
 
grizzcol said:
...I didn't even know that Pat Rabbitte was the local TD until the posters went up..thats pretty damning on him
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Or on you? Unfortunately, because I was putting together a Trampoline in the back garden, I missed both the Lab and FF canvassers last night. As it happens I vote for everyone, I start with the candidate/party I most dislike and work backwards to No. 1.
 
As the OP and a week on, I still haven't been canvassed. However there is a picture on the Green Party website of the candidate (O'Gorman) at the entrance to the estate so they do know we exist. Also got my first flyer last night (Sinn Fein).

Right, open challenge, the first person to call and tell me why they want my vote can get it.

That's Waterville, Snugborough Road, Dublin 15 by the way!
 
Great post Edo.

One of my colleagues got the best ever "can't talk to you now" excuse today. "Sorry, I can't talk now, I'm cleaning out my guinea pig box". I'm still trying to work out of this is some kind of euphamism?
 
I live in a small vilage in the south of Laois and to date no one has knocked my door asking for my vote. I am amazed by this. Does no one think that my vote is worth having.

Notice to all those running in Laois/Offaly, the first one to call to my house gets my vote, all are welcome even Sinn Féin. You have 6 days!
 
Well one of them was at the train station this morning and shook my hand - does that count as canvassing? Couldn't stop to ask him anything as I would have missed my train.
 

Don't think I'd be too happy about being added to any list the Shinners were compiling ...
 
canvassers arrive at very specific times i.e. between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm Monday to Friday in the three weeks before a general election. If you don't want to interact with them its very simple. Don't open the door to strangers during these times. There is no need to turn off the TV or pull the curtins . All canvassers are aware that only those people that want to talk to them will open the door. So if you want a discussion, open the door. If you don't, stay watching Corrie, but don't open the door and then bitch about how much you were upset about your TV watching being interrupted.
 
madisona said:
canvassers arrive at very specific times i.e. between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm Monday to Friday in the three weeks before a general election.
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Not true, for hard-working teams trying to break through with new candidates. We've been doing door-to-door canvasses for about 14 months now. Since the election was called, we're doing 3 sessions daily - morning (11 am), afternoon (2.30pm) and evening.
 

Must be neighbours! Was just saying the same thing at a meeting on Friday night and nobody our side of Waterville had been canvassed. Everyone at the meeting was on the register so votes there for the asking.
 
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