Our elected reps, local & national need to start executing some of the recommendations from off of their inquiries and “start building again” not just housing but energy infrastructure and alternative transport systems!!
Select program managers who have delivered big project & know how to motivate and keep within budget!!
Yes - and people like us must not check out of the political process. we must do what little we can! Hence I bang on about these things and will keep doing so. We must become a vested interest!
We've been burned by personalist regimes and cults of personality in the past. Maybe we've a still got a bit of collective memory of seeing former taoiseaigh before various tribunals that serves us well...
We should not underestimate the strength of parliamentary systems combined with PR to resist the rise of strong man rule - unlike presidential systems - see https://muse.jhu.edu/article/225694/pdf and
They need a cult of character figure to coalesce around. So far Herman Kelly or the comedy sketch that is Justin Barrett haven’t got the juices flowing. A cult can’t exist without a figure head. Its a not forever problem for them though
It's very simple. The far right in Ireland are a complete joke. No charisma, no credibility and no organisation. Our electoral system unlike most of Europe is based on voting for individuals rather than a party list system so the reputation of individual candidates in each of the 43 constituencies matters far more than their party affiliation. Therefore it is much more difficult for any new party to make a breakthrough. Even if the far right had a high profile credible leader they would still need to find good candidates around the country which is not the case in the likes of Germany where if the party leader is popular the party will do well.
We do however have Sinn Fein who are as dangerous and authoritarian as any far right party but are clever enough to present themselves as a left wing liberal socialist party.
Our elected reps, local & national need to start executing some of the recommendations from off of their inquiries and “start building again” not just housing but energy infrastructure and alternative transport systems!!
Select program managers who have delivered big project & know how to motivate and keep within budget!!
Yes - and people like us must not check out of the political process. we must do what little we can! Hence I bang on about these things and will keep doing so. We must become a vested interest!
Agreed
We've been burned by personalist regimes and cults of personality in the past. Maybe we've a still got a bit of collective memory of seeing former taoiseaigh before various tribunals that serves us well...
We should not underestimate the strength of parliamentary systems combined with PR to resist the rise of strong man rule - unlike presidential systems - see https://muse.jhu.edu/article/225694/pdf and
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_url?url=https://reis.cis.es/index.php/reis/article/download/1008/1236&hl=en&sa=X&ei=zjOFZ_OgO-mmy9YP1IzA8Qw&scisig=AFWwaeYBDR4aIBzPniMoWQ3lXqDO&oi=scholarr
Even a populist like BoJo had to go when he could no longer command a majority in the House of Commons.
Thanks Shane - well made points, as ever.
That 2nd reference is in Spanish. Apologies. I pulled up the wrong one by mistake.
They need a cult of character figure to coalesce around. So far Herman Kelly or the comedy sketch that is Justin Barrett haven’t got the juices flowing. A cult can’t exist without a figure head. Its a not forever problem for them though
Indeed. One charismatic leader and they are off. Where is Ireland's Nigel Farage?
It's very simple. The far right in Ireland are a complete joke. No charisma, no credibility and no organisation. Our electoral system unlike most of Europe is based on voting for individuals rather than a party list system so the reputation of individual candidates in each of the 43 constituencies matters far more than their party affiliation. Therefore it is much more difficult for any new party to make a breakthrough. Even if the far right had a high profile credible leader they would still need to find good candidates around the country which is not the case in the likes of Germany where if the party leader is popular the party will do well.
We do however have Sinn Fein who are as dangerous and authoritarian as any far right party but are clever enough to present themselves as a left wing liberal socialist party.
All very fair points. But don't extremist political movements often start our as jokes? And then figure out how to gain power?