Needs a title
So, I’m writing again. I’ve spent a surprising amount of time thinking about how I’d open my next post, what I would write, would I just dive straight in as if it was routine, yet another post (perhaps even with some outrageous or provocative opening gambit) or would I labour the point (a little sheepishly maybe, a hint of shame at the many long weeks since I last wrote something here). Or something else. And instead here I am, meta-blogging or meta-writing, whatever they call this curiously introspective form of reflection on the act of writing whatever it is that I’m writing, and thinking about how to go about explaining what finally spurred me back into action. Maybe there is only one way.
I was shamed into it. Pure and simple. Now, you might, if you knew something about the nature of this site and it’s recent history, think that it might be the continued chiding of Tony and his enthusiasm for my posts. Or the mockery of Garret. Or my girlfriend, or one of various women that haunt and taunt me. Or by the blogging efforts of any one of my peers, and how they continually manage to post under adverse conditions, while I do not.
You’d be wrong. I was shamed into it, because I really do want to write, and exercise my ability for the written word, and if Michael McDowell – Michael McDowell! That’s right! Him!- can write a blog, then I damn well better be writing! He is the leader of one of the smaller (well, after the upcoming election, probably non-existent) political parties here in Ireland, the Progressive Democrats, and my feelings on the whole subject of the aforementioned Progressive Democrats, Irish politics, all the related issues that go with it… It’s a whole can of worms. I’ll admit that the post was probably written by one of his runners or aides, but the point is that there is a blog out there where he is in some form or fashion publishing material under his name.
The site (www.rockthevote.ie) claims to have a blog for the leader of each major political party; they all have one entry and of course those entries are setting out their stalls. The idea is to motivate young people to vote so I guess it’s a good thing. The Irish in recent years have been less than good about partaking in elections; I don’t know if it’s cynicism, apathy or distractions cause by money, but hopefully they’ll take an interest this year because it could turn out to be one of the more important elections in the last few decades. Or rather, the eventual outcome (Ireland has a very convoluted election process, which is intended to be democratic but is complex and has occasionally unintentionally undemocratic results) of the election will be very important.
Yes, the upcoming election has been an obsession of mine recently because I think it’s going to be a big deal, and because the processes, the manoeuvres, the strategies, these all interest me. I’ll be back with my views on where I think this will all end up.
Other stuff that happened recently was as you saw in the previous post from about seven years ago that I turned thirty-four or so (I can’t remember any more, it’s a big number at any rate), my back got hurt, I’ve been trying to buy a new car (that is truly a recent and huge obsession), I’ve been coping with work and apathy in my life, and Oana came over to visit, which was truly a very big deal for me, and for anyone who had to listen to me go on about it.
Annette and Oana at the 12th Lock Bar Restaurant Hotel and whatever else have you. It does a lot. Are they just ever so slightly like sisters? Which is for me slightly disturbing? But they got on great. 9th April 2007.. Click image to view larger version »
Oana checks out the beach! She sure does. 13th April 2007. Click image to view larger version »
Oana contemplates how the beach economy might be based on shells, and ponders the effects of inflation… Actually, maybe she just thought they were pretty. Maybe. 13th April 2007. Click image to view larger version »
When worlds in my head collide spectacularly, albeit unknown to anyone else; Oana and a suburban commuter train. She really is a good Bizian, you know. 17th April 2007. Click image to view larger version »
Damn, those Eastern Europeans always have the best fun, don’t they? Foarte krezi! Oana, Pavel and Poudek go wild after a Baby Guinness too many in Doheny and Nesbitts… Clyner hides, meanwhile. 17th April 2007. Click image to view larger version »So, I’m going to work hard at this, because there’s no way Michael McDowell or Pat Rabbitte are going to play me off my game. Even if they looked this good. There’ll be more.
Thomas Jefferson – “A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.”
That’s an interesting quote Darren, but as I say the situation here is more complicated thanks to proportional representation and combined Parliamentary majorities – so that a small party such as the Progressive Democrats can decide healthcare and justice issues despite having relatively very low overall support (I know that you know this already, this is for the benefit of anyone who is unclear on how this works in Ireland).
To put it another way, forty-seven percent of the people want to take the rights of the other forty-nine percent, so they need the remaining four percent to do it. In return, the four percent get to have whatever it is they ask for in order to get them to join up.
Somehow that seems to me to be every bit as lacking in democratic spirit as the fifty-one/forty-nine model.
I suppose you’re faced with the problem of just who makes the decisions on behalf of the 51 percent. Probably around .2% of the population that have organsied themselves into various lobby groups :-).
That .2% is a very scientific figure, by the way
Hoodia effortlessly reduce their caloric intake by 7000 calories each week. This translates to an average weight loss of 2 lbs per week.
Well, it’s not as scientific as the comment by Weight Loss, which as you can see is backed up by hard science and incontrovertible fact.
Mocking it would be more fun if it wasn’t a soulless automated spam-bot
More seriously, the representatives of the 51% are making decisions on behalf of the .2% (scientifically arrived at), rather than the other way round.
The important thing is we know the system works. If not all that well…
Hey, glad to see a post here after so long… so why do you think this election is particularly important? Do you think there’s any chance that it won’t be FF in charge again after it?
Looks like I’ll be around for the election itself, although I’ll have to look into whether or not I get to vote…
That’s a very good question Tadhg, and I’m very glad you asked me that. A lot of other young people just like yourself have been taking an interest in the issues of the day, and asking themselves what do we really want? Do we want the same messages, the same stale ideas, or do want change, a new direction, a way forward out of the mess that we find ourselves in today? What we need is the courage to take a bold step into the future where we can all work together to improve our lives, and live in harmony. A vote for us, Tadhg, is a vote for your future and the future of your children – one with lower taxes, better healthcare, free from crime, no stamp duty free chocolate and what’s more, we’ll send all those criminal elements, those illegal immigrants who have no place here, back to where they came from.
In our vision of a better future, everyone who does not belong, the ‘Others’, will wear a badge of some sort, and we will encourage them to live in designated areas, where they will be safer, and can learn about our culture in peace and safety. Our System will prevail!
Yeah, I’ll post again as soon as possible about why I think this is a big deal. I think there’s some unease in this country about where things are going to go in the next five years.
I think today is the last day for registering to vote – you can do it by fax. Maybe I better call you about that. There’s a site where you can check this out too.
No matter the outcome, of any election, policies are propaganda (panic about stamp duty and M50 upgrades is short term), what makes the impact is the percentage of people who vote, voice themselves and make the difference between 51% and 49% of the numbers voting as compared to 51% of the population (whom can vote) voting. In example 86% of the frenchies population voted in 2007 (Sarkozy). So if we Oirish can do that, that’ll say alot about us and who takes the reins, and if a parties policies were propoganda – we can voice ourselves in the next election.
There is no “system”, unless you’re already at the top of the human pile with your hand on the bread.