In Ireland we end up with the politicians we elect. That sounds perfectly logical and democratic; suggesting anything else would be, well, non-democratic.
However this means 3 things, firstly a TD needs to make a lot of people happy to be elected and re-elected. All politics is local, but a large amount of a local TDs work is giving their constituents the things they are already entitled to. National politics can be scuppered due to local pressures.
Secondly a TD tends to be a certain type. The talking professions such as teachers and lawyers (and one or two professional PR types) account for most of the Dail. The corporate types (who understand standard expenses claims systems) or small business people tend to not run as they don’t have the time. That and family ties. If their mother/father/close relation was a TD, there is a high chance that they will give it a shot too. Of course there are the party lines being followed.
And thirdly, a TD usually wants to be re-elected. Which means caution and conservatism.
So why not try something out. Dail reform is being talked about so lets add a radical element. A National Lottery. We already have the “millionaire raffle” so why not offer a more desirable prize; a job. Also having the National Lottery run this makes sense as they have all the infrastructure in place.
I know it sounds dumb, but how many people have said “I could do better”, so lets let them. Its one way to get a random person in there. The seat would have to be non-local, as its a national lottery, anywhere could have a winner. There should be some criteria for eligibility, I assume that the standard types for a TD would apply (age limit, Irish citizen and not in prison etc) but with a few additional catches. Current public servants would be ineligible as would currently sitting TDs and Senators. This is important; the winner cannot win next round.
Why, well its a random element. One person who is (at the start anyway) whip-less. He or she need not follow a party. This person will, statistically, not have the standard background of a TD. Could be a Moore Street trader, or a Cavan farmer or a new citizen in Mullingar. And as he or she is not incumbent to a constituency, then they can think a little more nationally. Naturally he or she will have a local focus, but those strict constituency lines may not apply. And there is nothing to stop this person trying to run as a standard TD, and declaring his or her constituency (probably local for them) next election. But they cannot try to enter again next time. And the next person to get the job will also be a random (self) selection.
Anyway, it would be an experiment. And could shake up the ruling class.
And partially because around the time that the caricaturist, artist and t-shirt maker Allan Cavanagh was being interviewed by George Hook on Newstalk about the reaction to the Cowen/Casby scandal, I was being interviewed by Fianna Fáil (*waves at the appointment panel monitoring this blog*). I actually brought up the painting/apology and the reaction (seconds later) on Twitter and in the Irish blogging political sphere in the interview.
They were aware of it. This was 20 hours in to the anger.
Since then there has been front page coverage in the Irish newspapers, and coverage across the UK, European and American news. Anger at the apparent change in Garda resources to investigate the hanging of the paintings. Cried of state censorship and stifling of free speech. Questions attempted to in the Dáil.
It’s gone from being a (admittedly distasteful if you are in the Cowen family but) mildly amusing “And Finally…” style story to a major news story which its unlikely that RTÉ will want to touch with a bargepole.
The reaction, well I did a bit of Twitter trending and here are the results from Stream Graphs
If I could access this graph for an earlier time the graph would be scary around 21:30h on March 25th when the apology was read out. Twitter exploded for a little while then. It hasn’t stopped yet. It looks like its easing down a bit, not going to completely die down.
The internet changes things.
Once, if this happened you would have a number of very upset people. Maybe they would ring each other. One to one. And agree in their anger. Now, they can communicate many to many. Pass the latest news to each other behind the mainstream media. React, repeat, retweet the latest information until everyone knows. Dig a story left along by the mainstream media back in to the harsh light of international news coverage.
So if you are going to react, you had better monitor and react quickly.
Things have changed. Its good to talk/type/tweet. Communication behind the scenes will ensure information gets out there, in the same way that the internet treats attempts at censorship (be it a blocked site or bad news) as damage that it routes around. This isn’t always an automatic thing. Often people keep that which they deem important alive.
James the EirePreneur posed the simple “how will you vote in the Lisbon Treaty”
I asked for a more detailed set of questions… If you’ve voted already in this poll, then you’ll probably see the results. If you haven’t it might help lot of people.
This morning the newspapers reported that an TaoiseachBertie Ahern was celebrating this court battle win over evidence to be submitted to the Mahon Tribunal. This afternoon however…
…well. Mr Ahern announced his decision to step down on May 6 2008 is causing quite a stir on the Irish media. Only those in politics seem surprised, which shows just how much support he had inside the Fianna Fáil party. There seems to be less surprise amongst those outside the party.
and so imagine turning a political speech to music. And what do you know, will.i.am is a talented mash up artist (which has clearly replaced re-mixer sometime since 2006). So please find the Yes We Can Obama Song by will.i.am which took Senator Barak Obama’s concession speech after loosing the New Hampshire primary, and turned it to music.
The plan this morning was to get up early, head over to Cork City hall and take over from Stephen. however leaving Mallow last night I heard about Dan Boyle of the Green Party loosing his seat. But the counting continued. I woke up early to hear that counting had finished in the small hours of the morning.
So no need to take over.
Pity, I would have liked to compare them.
At the moment the figures are that Fianna Fáil has won 78 seats, Fine Gael has 51 seats, Labour got 20 seats, the Greens took 6 and Sinn Féin ended up with 4, the Progressive Democrats’ vote saw their seat total reduced to 2, while Independent candidates took the remaining 5 seats.
84 is needed for a majority. I’ll let you do the sums while the trading continues.
The disadvantage of having a laptop with a live feed of the election results (yes I’m streaming RTE live in the count centre) is that people rush over to hear what’s happening.
Is McDowell gone? asked one elderly lady over my shoulder.
“Yes”
“Oh goody” and off she goes smiling.
Was he really THAT hated?
So far in Mallow, Michael Aherne and Ned O’Keeffe (FF) elected, with Sean Sherlock of Labour and Paul Bradford and David Staunton of Fine Gale left in a 4 seat consitituency.
As speculated Bertie Ahern requested that Mary McAleese disolve the 29th dáil today (about 30 mins ago).
Jounalists recieved phone calls at 6am to be in position at Áras…
… so it’s planned.
The election for Dáil 30 will be on May 24th 2007.
The manifestos are being delivered now… Pity, I woundered if we could have set up the Irish Bloggers Party for the election (no problems getting access to the count if you’re a candidate).
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