Texts and Emails, Wednesday 23 June 2010

Topic: Dysfunctional Irish politics, spin, and the emerging political class.

Guests: Mary Corcoran, NUI Maynooth; Ciaran McCullagh, UCC; Jill Kirby, economist; Conor Lenihan, Department of State; Marion McKeown and Ger Gilroy

 

With science, technology, mechanical engineering and that black hole machine, man can lift Europe up out the sea and save us from global warming.

***

How about getting rid of these lucky-sperm politicians. Fixing footpaths, etc. is not a patriotic duty, it's a pain in the butt. That can be done by appointed councils reps, again elected as ordinary people to represent ordinary people and not by these royal political families who don't represent the so-called "little people." Give me a break.

***

I voted Fianna Fail last time. Never again.

***

I want to know who decided to have governments. It’s just a way of controlling people and taking money from us, so those in government can live the high life. Who needs that.

Rose, Ballymahon

***

Fianna Fail needs reform ... in power 20 years; they had ample time for reform.

Nick, Castleknock

***

Politicians get voted in by the people. If the people don't want them, they are out. I get the impression that the media would like to be the deciders and controllers. The people are quite happy with things as they are.

Larry

***

To Conor Lenihan, there will be a breakdown of democracy, and there will be civil unrest within the next two years!

Kenneth

***

That tie! I'm half blinded. Is it radioactive?

Ned

***

Could you give your woman Mary Corcoran a couple of pockets to put her hands into before they fly off, they are a most annoying and ignorant means of expression.

Hans, Galway

***

Could you ask Conor, is he in favour of getting rid of local councils.

***

The regulator worked in Canada. Why not use the Canadian system, as we have a Canadian as regulator in charge here now?

David, Wicklow

***

Tell Conor he wills a breakdown of democracy if his party brings in property tax!

***

We need TD'S who have the power to do the job. Get rid of the mafia of overpaid civil servants.

Maurice

***

Maybe this country needs an honest, straight talking without spin-doctoring. Lies of omission or cow-towing to vested interests and being held to account. Lenihan is brass-neck spin-doctoring, get him off. Insulting our intelligence.
Fianna Fail bought elections with our money. Criminals all.

Nick, Castleknock

***

Vincent: Politics, religion, corporate--all hierarchical. Leaders! Same old pyramid within a pyramid! Monoculture. Linear Malthusian eugenics. Old paradigm of the Columbian legacy with its industrial capitalist fiat money out of thin air.
We have had middle class revolutions and their division of labour. Virtual violence. Seven planets for urban high tech cult. Another four to feed people. Eleven in total! Environmental pressure! Pathology of civilization!

Mr. P

***

Vincent, you are right again, a bunch of 5-year-olds would have done a better job running the country.

***

Brian Cowen is not doing right by us; he is pleasing the EU and will have no say on anything since we voted yes to Lisbon.

Margot

***

Take Conor Lenihan off, he is robotic, repeating, repeating what the leader says.

***

Please ask Mr. Lenihan to be innovative and sing, "I'm forever blowing bubbles!"

***

Please forget the glory of having Gods and Goddesses in the Dáil, as they're paid to govern, not cost us billions for the bailing-out of their reckless friends, the bankers.

Mattie, Westmeath

***

That lady is dated with her opinions and book. On September 2008, we stopped pursuing celebrity and started pursuing Seany Fitzpatrick. Alas, no sightings...

Jacqui, Letterkenny

***

Can we please have even a small bit of democracy back into our beautiful country? Let them begin by stemming the squandering of the taxpayers' money. Are they man or woman enough to even do this much. Thanks Vincent.

***

Most of our politicians are overpaid, pampered and not accountable. We cannot afford them--we must make them answerable to us, the people.

Mk

***

A Harvard Business Review article last year actually found that great leaders possess incredible humility. They possess other traits such as intellect, dexterity, integrity, etc. but they deemed humility the great differentiator.
In fact, they found that few great leaders possess charisma to any great extent.

John, Terenure

***

Vincent, back to the same old cobblers.

John, Lucan

***

We just need somebody who is honest and has some patriotism, and who is not motivated by much, financially.

***

Bertie was not a good leader, look at the way he left the country.

Mike, Cork

***

We are a corrupt nation led by corrupt politicians--we need honest and good managers.

Mk

***

Bertie Ahern loyal to Fianna Fail ... he was loyal to himself!

***

The only understanding Bertie had of hedge funds was a paper bag full of money. This hero worship of Bertie is nauseating.

***

Who is going to fix the pothole and may he rest in peace. That sums up Irish politics, and it would be funny if it weren’t so ridiculous.

David, cork

***

Would Mary's husband Alex Whyte of Labour exhibit any of the qualities that she is listing?

***

I see Fianna Fail have sent in their big hitter, he did well to find the studio!

P., D9

***

Government, like our Dail, has become totally irrelevant. You now vote for Fianna/Fine Quango, in which the leaders are "Doctor Spin". Government is for the poor ... the rich govern themselves.

A.

***

Twice in the last 30 years, Fianna Fail governments have bankrupted this country. How do they have the gall to say they can run the country?

David, Dublin

***

Did that 30-meeting meeting with Obama last about 30 minutes?

***

Irish TV follow Man U. around the world and no coverage of our 17 s girls.

***

What is Biffo playing at, inviting the Queen to Ireland? It's like Iran inviting Obama for a state visit, or like God inviting the Devil into heaven.

***

Vincent, is it just me or is it a bit dated to see on news, late general Dermot Earley in Lourdes with Irish Army telling them they had to have their religion.

How about ethics? Where’s the secular republic? Let him rest in peace. Maybe not the day to bring it up but could you go into it in near future?

Also, saw army in cathedrals at installation of R.C. Bishops in news when resignations being discussed.

Niall, Ennis
ts:

 

With science, technology, mechanical engineering and that blackhole machine, man can lift Europe up out the sea and save us from global warming.

***

How about getting rid of these lucky-sperm politicians. Fixing footpaths, etc. is not a patriotic duty, it's a pain in the butt. That can be done by appointed councils reps, again elected as ordinary people to represest ordinary people and not by these royal political families who don't represent the so called "little people." Give me a break.

***

I voted Fianna Fail last time. Never again.

***

I want to know who decided to have governments. Its just a way of controlling people and taking money from us, so those in government can live the high life. Who needs that.

Rose, Ballymahon

***

Fianna Fail needs reform ... in power 20 years, they had ample time for reform.

Nick, Castleknock

***

Politicians get voted in by the people. If the people don't want them, they are out. I get the impression that the media would like to be the deciders and controllers. The people are quite happy with things as they are.

Larry

***

To Conor Lenihan, there will be a breakdown of democracy, and there will be civil unrest within the next two years!

Kenneth

***

That tie! I'm half blinded. Is it radioactive?

Ned

***

Could you give your woman Mary Corcoran a couple of pockets to put her hands into before they fly off, they are a most annoying and ignorant means of expression.

Hans, Galway

***

Could you ask Conor, is he in favour of getting rid of local councils.

***

The regulator worked in Canada. Why not use the Canadian system, as we have a Canadian as regulator in charge here now?

David, Wicklow

***

Tell Conor he will a breakdown of democracy if his party brings in property tax!

***

We need TD'S who have the power to do the job. Get rid of the mafia of overpaid civil servants.

Maurice

***

Maybe this country needs an honest, straight talking without spin-doctoring. Lies of omission or cow-towing to vested interests and being held to account. Lenihan is brass-neck spin-doctoring, get him off. Insulting our intelligence.
Fianna Fail bought elections with our money. Crimnals all.

Nick, Castleknock

***

Vincent: Politics, religion, corprate--all hierarchical. Leaders! Same old pyramid within a pyramid! Mono-culture. Linear Malthusian eugenics. Old paradigm of the Columbian legacy with its industrial capitalist fiat money out of thin air.
We have had middle class revolutions and their division of labour. Virtual violence. Seven planets for urban high tech cult. Another four to feed people. Eleven in total! Environmental pressure! Pathology of civilization!

Mr. P

***

Vincent, you are right again, a bunch of 5-year-olds would have done a better job running the country.

***

Brian Cowen is not doing right by us, he is pleasing the EU and will have no say on anything since we voted yes to Libon.

Margot

***

Take Conor Lenihan off, he is robotic, repeating, repeating what the leader says.

***

Please ask Mr. Lenihan to be innovative and sing, "I'm forever blowing bubbles!"

***

Please forget the glory of having Gods and Godesses in the Dàil, as they're payed to govern, not cost us billions for the bailing-out of their reckless friends, the bankers.

Mattie, Westmeath

***

That lady is dated with her opinions and book. On september 2008, we stopped pursuing celebrity and started pursuing Seany Fitzpatrick. Alas, no sightings...

Jacqui, Letterkenny

***

Can we please have even a small bit of democracy back into our beautiful country. Let them begin by stemming the squandering of the taxpayers' money. Are they man or woman enough to even do this much. Thanks Vincent.

***

Most of our politicians are overpaid, pampered and not accountable. We cannot afford them--we must make them answerable to us, the people.

Mk

***

A Harvard Business Review article last year actually found that great leaders possess incredible humility. The possess other traits such as intellect, dexterity, integrity, etc. but they deemed humility the great differentiator.
In fact, they found that few great leaders possess charisma to any great extent.

John, Terenure

***

vincent, back to the same old cobblers.

John, Lucan

***

We just need somebody who is honest and has some patriotism, and who is not motivated by much, financially.

***

Bertie was not a good leader, look at the way he left the country.

Mike, Cork

***

We are a corrupt nation led by corrupt politicians--we need honest and good managers.

Mk

***

Bertie Ahern loyal to Fianna Fail ... he was loyal to himself!

***

The only understanding Bertie had of hedge funds was a paper bag full of money. This hero worship of Bertie is nauseating.

***

Who is going to fix the pothole and may he rest in peace. That sums up Irish politics, and it would be funny if it wasn't so ridiculous.

David, cork

***

Would Mary's husband Alex Whyte of Labour exhibit any of the qualities that she is listing.

***

I see Fianna Fail have sent in their big hitter, he did well to find the studio!

P., D9

***

Government, like our Dail, has become totally irrelevant. You now vote for Fianna/Fine Quango, in which the leaders are "Doctor Spin". Government is for the poor ... the rich govern themselves.

A.

***

Twice in the last 30 years, Fianna Fail governments have bankrupted this country. How do they have the gall to say they can run the country.

David, Dublin

***

Did that 30-meeting meeting with obama last about 30 minutes?

***

Irish TV follow Man U. around the world and no coverage of our 17 s girls.

***

What is Biffo playing at, inviting the Queen to Ireland? It's like Iran inviting Obama for a state visit, or like God inviting the Devil into heaven.

***

Vincent, is it just me or is it a bit dated to see on news, late general Dermot Earley in Lourdes with Irish Army telling them they had to have their religion.

How about ethics? where's the secular republic? Let him rest in peace. Maybe not the day to bring it up but could you go into it in near future?

Also, saw army in cathedrals at installation of R.C. Bishops in news when resignations being discussed.

Niall, Ennis