Vote NOTA on 27th October 2011.
national |
rights, freedoms and repression |
opinion/analysis 
Friday October 14, 2011 20:19
by Sharon. - Individual.
'None Of The Above' vote called for in the October 27th 2011 State Presidential election.
A concerned group of people in the Clondalkin area of Dublin have initiated a campaign calling for voters to claim their ballot papers in the 27th October 2011 State Presidential election and purposely spoil them.
Hi !
For the last two weeks , a small group of people in the Clondalkin area of Dublin have been distributing 'NOTA' leaflets re the up-coming State Presidential election , calling on people to spoil their votes. Thousands of leaflets have been distributed on a door-to-door basis and as 'table drops' in pubs , clubs etc in that area of Dublin and the feedback has been extremely positive - so much so that some of the leaflets have become 'stickies' on the noticeboards of some of the venues where the leaflets were distributed.
I think this group should be congratulated for their efforts and I know that members and supporters of the Republican Movement in that area , and surrounding areas , are assisting them in the distribution of those leaflets. In an interview for the blog I help to publish , a spokesperson for the Clondalkin group stated - " The best way to appoint a new State President - if such a position should exist at all , and it shouldnt , in our opinion - would be to line all seven candidates in a row , have each one hold a scissors in their left hand , with their right arm and hand being held in a position as if to shake hands with somebody and announce that the candidate who looks best in that position be declared the winner : because that will be all that is required from them for at least the next seven years..."
....and at 5187 a week as the wage for the position , it's hard to disagree with that group !
Thanks,
Sharon.
Comments (14 of 14)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14or Martin McG will do the job of President for an industrial wage !
Hi Scorch !
My main issue - like that group in Clondalkin - is that "the job" of State president shouldn't exist in the first place ; however , it does , and it carries a weekly wage of 5187.
According to the latest CSO figure , the average industrial wage in this State is 750 a week which means that the VIP (!) in the Phoenix Park will take home 4437 a week more than the average industrial wage.
In a recent interview on RTE Radio One's 'This Week' programme, Martin McGuinness said that the remainder of the presidential weekly wage ( 4437) would be "donated to the Irish people" but there is no mechanism that I know of to actually facilitate such a 'gift' and to record same - have you any idea , 'Scorch' , how it will be put into practice ?
Also - on a related issue - I presume most people could live comfortably on 750 a week if their employer was footing the bill for foodstuffs , ESB , heating , car and driver, housekeeper, chef, etc etc ?
Like you , and most people reading this , I know of many families that are only taking home 400 a week (or less) , out of which they try to raise a few kids , pay for foodstuffs , ESB , heating etc and would love to have a 'spare' 4437 each week with which to assist their neighbours !
Chances are , if they had that much 'spare' cash each week , some of those households would use it to 'better' their own position and would soon forget where they 'came from'.
Nice to know that Mr McGuinness is above all that - probably as a result of years of practice ?
Thanks,
Sharon.
martin mcguinness will subtract his industrial wage from the 5000+ weekly infusion from the taxpayer, then the rest will be paid into the coffers of sinn fein to support that political party. We won't be any better off. And he'd look kinda ugly with the scissors. Norris would look better. Micheal D would be too short and ugly for cutting ribbons too.
Get rid of this post. its pointless and expensve.
The Taoiseach can do the job since the IMF and EU are doing his job
Nothing can justify the criminal activities by the political elite. We are constantly being told about the importance of the presidency, yet the people who are supposed to show leadership and patriotism for everyone else to follow, are the same people who promote and encourage this blatent misuse of taxpayers money. There is no comment from six of the candidates about the criminal salary handed to the president while oridnary citizens are crucified by the the same politicians who say they have no choice but to nail and crucify in order to save banks, bondholders, speculators and fellow politicians who have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.
McGuinness was the only candidate who offered to take an industrial wage while the rest found comfort in a silence that shielded their real intention for standing in the presidential election.
The Irish people have two real choices; maintain the status quo by electing a candidate that is part and parcel of the old sleaze and corrupt style of Irish politics or a candidate that has a vision for a new beginning and political direction for Ireland.
That choice must be Martin McGuinness
Hi Jim !
"Nothing can justify the criminal activities by the political elite."
That "political elite" , Jim , in my opinion, anyway, includes the political parties that are each backing their own candidates : I don't differentiate between any of them in Leinster House.
"We are constantly being told about the importance of the presidency, yet the people who are supposed to show leadership and patriotism for everyone else to follow, are the same people who promote and encourage this blatent misuse of taxpayers money."
Including the person you yourself support , and his backers !
"There is no comment from six of the candidates about the criminal salary handed to the president while oridnary citizens are crucified by the the same politicians who say they have no choice but to nail and crucify in order to save banks, bondholders, speculators and fellow politicians who have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo."
*That's not the case - there has been "comment" from those candidates re that issue :
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/kfgbojauidmh/rss2/
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/1001....html
- and here , in relation to the 4437 that Mr McGuinness will be 'handing back to the State taxpayer each week' ( which will , apparently , be given to the IMF or the bank-bailout fund !) :
http://www.mamanpoulet.com/presidential-pay/
"McGuinness was the only candidate who offered to take an industrial wage while the rest found comfort in a silence that shielded their real intention for standing in the presidential election."
But there is no "silence" from those other candidates in relation to that particular issue - see above *.
"The Irish people have two real choices; maintain the status quo by electing a candidate that is part and parcel of the old sleaze and corrupt style of Irish politics or a candidate that has a vision for a new beginning and political direction for Ireland."
By which you mean what , exactly - that he will hold the scissors in his right hand instead of his left ?
"That choice must be Martin McGuinness."
No thanks - it's a 'None Of The Above' choice for me !
Thanks,
Sharon.
Cde. McGuinness has already implemented the austerity/neo-liberal policies across the border, so his verbal opposition to cuts down here is rather hypocritical to say the least. Have you seen his election literature? A picture showing him with Obomba says it all!
Hi Derek !
I'm told that Mr McGuinness has a very good pictorial scrapbook , with this one taking pride of place - it's due to be 'blown up' (enlarged!) to poster size and hung from a tree in the Phoenix park.....
Thanks,
Sharon.
Our photo shows just what State President McGuinness would be capable of ......
Soo agree with them...... I'm So voting NOTA
The fact is even if we spoil our vote, someone will still get the cash.
Mcguinness has now undertaken that the remainder of his salary will not be put into sinn fein coffers but instead will be used specifically to take 4 people off the dole.
And If we spoil our vote then some wanker like sean gallagher will likely get in and just trouser the cash.
Therefore, it seems if we just care about using money wisely then mcguinness is the only candidate. ;-(
The rest will stuff the 5187 into their bank each week.
Norris claims he will put it aside for projects he feels will otherwise be hard to fund such as visiting all the counties. however this is rather vague.
So, Mcguinness is the best value for money.
Although ideally we should dispense with this pointless position.
Hi Serf !
"The fact is even if we spoil our vote, someone will still get the cash." But not with the consent of those of us who refuse to vote for any of the candidates - small consolation , I agree but, unfortunately , it's the 'best' on offer.
"Mcguinness has now undertaken that the remainder of his salary will not be put into sinn fein coffers but instead will be used specifically to take 4 people off the dole." The confines of the Office does not allow for any such 'official' distribution of State funds in that manner , and Mr McGuinness , when questioned on how exactly he intended to do that , could not give a satisfactory answer.
"And If we spoil our vote then some wanker like sean gallagher will likely get in and just trouser the cash." They are ALL 'palm-masters' , Serf - the difference between us is that I don't favour one over the other.
"Therefore, it seems if we just care about using money wisely then mcguinness is the only candidate. ;-( " In one of his brochure-style glossy leaflets , Mr McGuinness promises that a vote for him is a vote for 'jobs , fairness , equality (and) a new Republic...' , and the other six candidates make similar promises : is it 'wise' to believe that any of them are capable of delivering on their promises ?
"The rest will stuff the 5187 into their bank each week. " Whichever one of them 'wins' it will cost the taxpayer that amount , in a salary , each week - he or she 'wins' , the taxpayer loses.
"Norris claims he will put it aside for projects he feels will otherwise be hard to fund such as visiting all the counties. however this is rather vague." It's as "vague" as the answer given by Mr McGuinness as to how he will be allowed under the confines of the Office to distribute 4437 each week to six (not four) presently unemployed people.
"So, Mcguinness is the best value for money." The best that can be said for Mr McGuinness is that he won't be any bigger of a 'waste of money' than any of the other six candidates.
"Although ideally we should dispense with this pointless position." We should indeed - and we have to start somewhere. Voting 'None Of The Above' is a good place to begin....
Thanks,
Sharon.
(PS - more re this subject at the 'Related Link' below.)
To vote nota is to spoil your vote and spoilt votes are simply discounted, not a good idea.
Hi Democrat !
The alternative , in this instance, is a worse idea , in my opinion.
Thanks,
Sharon.
Not voting green-lights cynical acceptance of the status quo..which suits the invisible handlers...erode all confidence in what little democracy has been extracted over the centuries...voting is not enough..agreement there...but I kicked them back their amendaments, and voted McG 1, MDH 2, Norris 3...on the grounds of keeping out Gallagher, Mitchell, Dana, and the total forelockers..and at least trying to put in who they obviously DONT want.. mind yu, they'll be happy with MDH..a loquacious safe pair of kid gloves.. but if it comes to a constitutional decision(and its gonna land sometime)on NATO(long-term FG policy)he should, on his past form, at least not kow-tow. Thats my convoluted logic, for its tuppence.
And he might just, despite swallowing the 300k, balk at us getting slashed back to tuppence in the pending budgets..
Hi Opus !
We'll have to agree to disagree - I view all seven candidates as either "total forelockers" or wannabe "forelockers" , and wouldn't vote for any of them , never mind the 'necessity' for the actual 'Office' itself.....
However : 'NOTA' votes were cast today in Crumlin , Lucan , Ballyfermot , Inchicore and Clondalkin , so far , as per the photograph .
More info at the 'Related Link' , below.
Thanks,
Sharon.
'NOTA' vote , Thursday 27th October 2011 , State Presidential Election.
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