Greetings From The Emerald Isle

Hi,

I am a bit of a politico from Dublin, Ireland. I am here because I would like to keep up with US political and social issues. I am politically non aligned, and I Iike to think that I have an open mind in relation to my opinions and my values. Give me hard evidence and a good argument and I will take into consideration any sane and well thought out point.

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

- Oscar Wilde

Regard,
JS

 

Greetings and let us know if you have any questions.

 

Thanks for the welcome, will do.

 

Are you the guitarist John Squire?

 

I certainly wish I was! It is probably easier if I repost what I wrote in the "How did you come up with your online name?" thread:

My username John Squire, is the name of the quite magnificent guitarist in the iconic band (where I am from anyway) The Stone Roses. I decided to use it here because it is the name I put on my fake ID card when I came to the US on a J1 student visa. Nothing overly illicit or anything, I just needed fake ID to get served booze in the US when I came here for a summer, many years ago. I was fairly sure that bar staff in the US wouldn't recognise the name and I was right. That was one hell of a summer!

I probably wouldn't have fooled you though!

 

I'm an ethnic Irishman, but born and raised in the U.S. I'm a Dubliner at heart.

 

wait, are you the guy that built The Giant's Causeway?

 

Born and bread Dub myself. Joyce, Wilde and Beckett taught me everything I know!

 

wait no, you're the guy who gave Molly Malone all her cockels and mussils?

 

Just call me Mr Cool, Fionn MacCool for short.

 

Welcome! Nice to meet you!

 

Depends. Rugby or FIFA. Which one ranks higher?

 

I gave her my cockels alright!

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Thanks for the welcome Kranes.

 

No, no, Fionn was the greatest hurler that ever lived. He would easily take on and beat the current legendary 10 times All Ireland hurling champions Kilkenny without breaking a sweat!

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Or did I misunderstand the question? That will happen a lot with me here!

 

Irish hurling? Well that certainly says something about you. I am not sure what, but fáilte nonetheless.

 

The fastest and greatest field sport in the world!!

Agus,Go raibh mile maith agat.

 

Hello nice to have another Irish person on the board. We had a socialist knocking around for a few years but unfortunately people pop up for a few weeks and disappear.

Did you march in the water protests? And who did you vote for in the last general election.

I didn't march, Kate Bopp got my first preference and I gave my second to Alan Kelly. I don't vote for people so much as vote against people. I like starting with my number 8 and working my way back up.

 

Welcome, nice to meet you!

 

Where is your Irish accent?

 

Welcome. I'm brand new here, too. Pauli from Ohio, USA. >>>MOD EDIT Link to Blog Removed<<<

 

Myself, I am centre-left with the emphasis on the centre. I am as socially liberal as they come, but I like to think that I am an economic realist. For example, I run my own web/app development company, and one thing you can say about modern tech companies is that they are generally not in favour of regulation and government interference i.e traits of 'The Right'. Yet, and I continue to generalise, their founders/employees are in the main socially liberal i.e. traits of 'The Left'. So, for me these terms really only apply to the extremes of both sides.

Re the water protests in Ireland, I don't believe they are about water charges per say. Of course, charging for water is always going to be an emotive issue. However, I believe the protests are against this being the last straw after some crippling years of austerity. By the end of 2008 my take-home salary had been reduced by 20%. It has been six years since then, and if you have been lucky enough to keep your job, all manner of of government policies have brought people to their knees.

For me the protests are, among other things, people finally standing up and saying no to successive governments thinking that the people of Ireland can't see through their hypocritical BS. The tax is not about water wastage/user pays for use/cost of production, the tax is being introduced because two governments borrowed against the wealth of its citizens (€100B) to rescue and nationalise a group of private banks. It most certainly is not about people leaving their taps running when they brush their teeth.

I have been a Labour voter all my adult life. I will not be voting for them in the next election for a myriad of reasons, not least their disgraceful butchering of the likes of the mental health budget, in a country that has the second highest suicide rate in Europe. I grew up and live in South Dublin, but sometimes I wish I lived in Wicklow where they are blessed with the admirable Stephen Donnelly.

 

Aragh begarah, 'tis there to be sure!

 

I do like him I hope that he hangs onto his seat in the next election. Shane Ross is a decent TD? That would be your neck of the woods.

I've been disappointed with the result of the "democratic revolution". I accept that economically and fiscally things were always going to be difficult but reform seems limited to expecting more for less from public servants.

No significant changes to the dail, a disastrous attempt to abolish the seanad, completely ignoring the issue of reform of the body now that it is here to stay, guillotined legislation, no relaxing of the whip and the EMC usurping the role of cabinet. I don't know who I will vote for next time.

Part of me is hoping for either Creighton or Ross to set up a new party. I would prefer Ross who at least seems to have a real appetite for reform of the dail and the whip system.