The vote for FG will hold in they discover the ability to tell the truth for a change and honour their promises.

It’s ultimately the performance of the economy that influences the polls. Sadly we had a FF government that for years wasn’t telling the truth yet they were continually re-elected because the Tiger was so strong. That’s what really matters in people’s lives. FG/Labour’s promise was primarily to get the economy going again and if they achieve that, little else will matter.

So just ignore all the pre-election promises.What about “doing politics differently”should we forget that one aswell?

No I’m not saying that should be ignored I’m pointing out that the general public will view it with less importance than you do. I personally view these issues as very important but the view of politicos like ourselves is totally different to that of the general public and they will vote on the general economic climate of the day.

Can’t disagree with that, it’s calling a spade a shovel.

And who leads Sinn Fein a “barman”, kinda makes your point about a teacher look slightly ridiculous, no!

Yes, Gerry was a bar man before he got his degree….. What is your point??? FG have Peter Mathews espousing very similar economic policies to SF… and Peter is the FG TD with the best qualifications and financial background… Where does Enda put Peter?? In the back benches, nowhere near Finance, where he might be able to do some good. SF now 2 elected TD withs degrees/masters in economics. I dont think Gerry would be so stupid as to ignore tht if he was picking a cabinet,….. Do you ????

Gerry wasn’t just a barman

* AN exercise in irony

*an exercise in irony

Yeah very confusing colours in the graphs. FG should be blue, FF, SF or Greens in green, Labour red and Mick Wallace in pink :D

No more suckered than getting FG/Lab.

They had to pick a golden orange for Labour because “watery” isn’t a colour.

Maybe you should stop staring at the ground.

Keep looking at the ground pretty soon you won’t need to raise your gaze to see labour nd Fine Gaels poll numbers.

Which is why politically I’m not worried about the rise of Sinn Féin. They’ve set the bar so high for themselves that if they fall even slightly below it, their support will TANK overnight.

The FG love in rolls on goodnight jimbob.

It is incredibly insulting to claim that Sinn Féin only appeal to the ill educated. Are you genuinely trying to claim that anybody who supports an alternative to the austerity inflicted on ordinary people are ill educated? Sinn Féin are offering genuine economically sound alternatives, that have even been endorsed by the IMF.

Even those on the objective Right have viewed continued austerity as a destructive rather than constructive force in fixing this financial crisis. Burning bondholders and speculators is the right thing to do. Demanding,(not negotiating) with banks to provide liquidity to business is the right thing to do. Using the PRF to stimulate growth is the right thing to do.

Selling State assets at fire-sale prices is the wrong thing to do. Inflicting austerity on the majority of the population thus creating stagnation in the economy is the wrong thing to do. Not demanding a total restructuring of the debt to sustainable levels to facilitate payment and growth is the wrong thing to do.

Not just the ill educated. The stupid also.

Explain to me the “stupidity”? Leaving out of course the usual Fine Gael cliched diatribe.

Stupid because they believe SFs guff that having no austerity is possible. “If you have 30 billion in this pocket and you spebd 50 billion….and no one will loan you money….”
Job creation is a good thing.

Tom, correct me if am wrong, but did FG not support increasing spending all the way through 2000-2011??? Were they stupid then??? And not now???

Well proposals to stimulate growth to get out of recession seem infinitely more intelligent than constant austerity. I agree in principle that of course there needs to be a balanced budget eventually. But renegotiating the debt, to allow room for growth in the short and medium term will result in a much better long term forecast, for Ireland and the E.U.

Jeeze Tom, the lack of pedigree is showing up in you tonight.

Good man Tom, unlike FG you never fail to deliver!

Wow Tom you sound like a 5yr old, why not wave a flag and shout ” I’m so much better than everybody else” Who’s really stupid I wonder after all its u who supports a group of career politicians that told every sort of lie to get into power and now there in they costantly backtrack on rolled out plans, pick consistantly on the soft targets for their cuts. Refuse to use the referendum to hammer out a deal. Sounds like Its driving you mad that Sinn Fein are evolving by the day and becoming a credible threat to your useless spineless bunch. Are you really Leo Varadkar maybe, your insulting tone towards the population might be giving you away.

Apologies. SF are a very smart bunch of folks who have made coherent proposals on the budget deficit. And elsewhere in the land of make believe…..