Politics.ie http://www.politics.ie/ en Sun, 19 May 2013 04:05:01 GMT vBulletin 10 http://www.politics.ie/images/misc/rss.png Politics.ie http://www.politics.ie/ Traditions; Telling the Bees. http://www.politics.ie/forum/culture-community/210853-traditions-telling-bees.html Sun, 19 May 2013 00:43:55 GMT I've only just come across this, I think beautiful tradition, of telling the bees of a death.

Does anyone know if this is still a practice anywhere in Ireland or indeed of other, maybe obscure, strange or odd traditions past or present? ]]> tonic http://www.politics.ie/forum/culture-community/210853-traditions-telling-bees.html Should our immigration policies discriminate of ethnicity and faith? http://www.politics.ie/forum/justice/210852-should-our-immigration-policies-discriminate-ethnicity-faith.html Sun, 19 May 2013 00:37:07 GMT Interesting article here by newly-American citizen, former Dutch-Somali writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali. Why the U.S. Needs a New Loyalty Oath - WSJ.com... Interesting article here by newly-American citizen, former Dutch-Somali writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

Why the U.S. Needs a New Loyalty Oath - WSJ.com

I think she makes some compelling points regarding immigration to the Western world. It's time we cut Islamic immigration. Let's just stop the politically correct crap. Strict quotas ensuring the proportion of Muslims here never rise above the 0.8% they currently comprise, and countries with larger proportions such as France needs to ensure their numbers decline over time.

Whatever legal maze liberals have created to prevent this needs to be dismantled. I've had enough of ethnically-motivated rapes in Sweden, paedophile grooming in Britain and riots in France. This quarrelsome religion must be tackled. Liberals too need sorting out: I see Muslims and aggressive secularists as two nasty little minorities, that enable one another and we need to squash them. ]]> Justice Eric Cartman http://www.politics.ie/forum/justice/210852-should-our-immigration-policies-discriminate-ethnicity-faith.html Government spending well over half of national income-enough? http://www.politics.ie/forum/economy/210847-government-spending-well-over-half-national-income-enough.html Sat, 18 May 2013 22:04:26 GMT See bottom of page 9 for total government spending in 2011 and 2012 http://www.finance.gov.ie/documents/publications/meb2013/January2013.pdf With Gross National Income of €128 billion in 2011 according to CSO statistics,government spending is well... See bottom of page 9 for total government spending in 2011 and 2012 http://www.finance.gov.ie/documents/...anuary2013.pdf With Gross National Income of €128 billion in 2011 according to CSO statistics,government spending is well over half the economy,around 55% to 60%-a levitating public sector! By comparison,the biggest spending countries in Northern Europe,France and Sweden,are around 55% and other northern European advanced economies are around 45%. But unlike Ireland,they provide very generous state benefits-free health care,heavily subsidised day care,plentiful social housing,excellent public transport,free third level education and generous retirement benefits. That takes a lot of pressure off family budgets. This comparison is highly unfavourable to Irish governments which for at least a generation have obviously failed to get value for taxpayers' money.

But to listen to many on the left of politics,the government is a cheapskate.Before demanding more spending,they should demand remedies for the poor record on value for money and delivery of promised services. The main remedy could be a constitutional change that would emphasise the Senate's role in long range strategic planning and holding the Dail to account for that. ]]> Economy patslatt http://www.politics.ie/forum/economy/210847-government-spending-well-over-half-national-income-enough.html New Milward Brown Pol 18th May 2013 - FF 26%, FG 23%, SF 19%, Labour 12%, Others 18% http://www.politics.ie/forum/current-affairs/210837-new-milward-brown-pol-18th-may-2013-fianna-fail-26-fine-gael-23-sinn-fein-19-labour-12-others-18-a.html Sat, 18 May 2013 18:21:25 GMT Early reports of the latest poll findings, this time from Milward Brown. No major falls, surges etc, though SF are back in the kind of territory they had inhabited in polls last year, at 19%. Irish Examiner Report - Milward Brown Poll 18/05/13... Early reports of the latest poll findings, this time from Milward Brown. No major falls, surges etc, though SF are back in the kind of territory they had inhabited in polls last year, at 19%.

Irish Examiner Report - Milward Brown Poll 18/05/13

The poll measures attitudes on the abortion issue as well as party support, with a majority still supportive of the inclusion of the threat of suicide in legislation, though this is down from 58% to 53% since the last comparable poll. ]]> Current Affairs onlyasking http://www.politics.ie/forum/current-affairs/210837-new-milward-brown-pol-18th-may-2013-fianna-fail-26-fine-gael-23-sinn-fein-19-labour-12-others-18-a.html State of the Nation. Who is Irelands Lionel Asbo? http://www.politics.ie/forum/culture-community/210833-state-nation-who-irelands-lionel-asbo.html Sat, 18 May 2013 14:52:17 GMT The dumbing down of Irish culture and society has continued apace now for some years with RTE in the vanguard.

English author Martin Amis has produced a scathing novel 'Lionel Asbo" about a lowlife chav who wins the lottery and then joins the wealthy classes to fling his bling at all and sundry.

Do posters think we have equivalent types in Irish society who,suddenly enriched and having come from allegedly deprived backgrounds then corrode said society with feckless, vulgar and loutish conduct?

]]> The Field Marshal http://www.politics.ie/forum/culture-community/210833-state-nation-who-irelands-lionel-asbo.html <![CDATA[Garlic man doesn't pay tax, gets jail, Google man doesn't pay tax, gets taken to lunch]]> http://www.politics.ie/forum/economy/210831-garlic-man-doesnt-pay-tax-gets-jail-google-man-doesnt-pay-tax-gets-taken-lunch.html Sat, 18 May 2013 13:59:25 GMT Trenchant comments by Trinity professor Jim Stewart. Basically he says huge MNCs such as Google are able to negotiate tax arrangements which suit them but Irish small businesses and individuals have no such clout. ---Quote--- Ireland... Trenchant comments by Trinity professor Jim Stewart. Basically he says huge MNCs such as Google are able to negotiate tax arrangements which suit them but Irish small businesses and individuals have no such clout.

Quote:
Ireland operates two very different tax systems, one for corporate multinationals and a second for smaller companies and individuals, according to Trinity finance professor, Jim Stewart.
Stewart gives this example of Google having the tax regime altered in its favour

Quote:
It has been reported that last year Revenue Commissioner did tailor the tax regime to Google’s advantage. Revenue agreed to let Google make billions of dollars in royalty payments directly to a Bermuda subsidiary, helping to cut the company’s tax bill by at least $2bn a year, according to US and overseas securities filings.
Dual tax system benefits the big players | Irish Examiner ]]> Economy parentheses http://www.politics.ie/forum/economy/210831-garlic-man-doesnt-pay-tax-gets-jail-google-man-doesnt-pay-tax-gets-taken-lunch.html Should foreigners pay an extra tax? http://www.politics.ie/forum/current-affairs/210827-should-foreigners-pay-extra-tax.html Sat, 18 May 2013 12:33:01 GMT With the country on its knees and many of our younger citizens fleeing our shores to Australia and Canada by the boatload, many would argue that we can scarce afford an influx of mass immigration of people without the skills or gumption to stand on... With the country on its knees and many of our younger citizens fleeing our shores to Australia and Canada by the boatload, many would argue that we can scarce afford an influx of mass immigration of people without the skills or gumption to stand on their own two feet. Many complain that they are here to take advantage of our soft benefits system - and while I think the problem is overstated, it got me to thinking that a possible solution (and a way to get us out of the hole we are in) is to require that new immigrants make a small but not unsubtancial payment on arrival to the exchequer, and pay a immigrants tax annually until eligable for citizenship through naturalization.

This, I think, would slice down benefit scammers, and ensure that we only get people who willing to make a serious commitment. They would also be showing this commitment by helping us get out of the dreaded economic mess that the Germans and their cronies in the EU put us in!

I know some of the cranks on this site will probably jump down my neck for this, but think about it - what is wrong with asking for a solid commitment in this time of greatest need? ]]> Current Affairs Concerned Irishman http://www.politics.ie/forum/current-affairs/210827-should-foreigners-pay-extra-tax.html Who would want to be a farmer in Ireland in 2013? http://www.politics.ie/forum/economy/210823-who-would-want-farmer-ireland-2013-a.html Sat, 18 May 2013 11:45:33 GMT Before you city slickers glaze over, agriculture was supposed to produce 1% of the 2% growth required by the troika as part of the package. An act of god has intervened and farmers are fodderless and facing probably the shortest summer yet. Most are... Before you city slickers glaze over, agriculture was supposed to produce 1% of the 2% growth required by the troika as part of the package. An act of god has intervened and farmers are fodderless and facing probably the shortest summer yet. Most are paralysed by debts for last winters feed and either cant afford to or unable to fertilise the (sopping)ground to produce grass for feed for this winter. The psychological effect of all this is devastating- a review of coroners reports for 2013 will make grim reading.

This sector is on the edge. I feel compelled to bring this to your attention - perhaps as a call for the government to think carefully before wielding the axe next time to satisfy the ecb and as a call to unity for urban and rural folk - we all in much the same boat. ]]> Economy tipp revolution http://www.politics.ie/forum/economy/210823-who-would-want-farmer-ireland-2013-a.html Would you still support austerity if... http://www.politics.ie/forum/economy/210821-would-you-still-support-austerity-if.html Sat, 18 May 2013 10:31:29 GMT ... you couldn't leave Ireland, or get your money out of here?

I have a strong suspicion that many of those who support this extremely dubious policy are secretly betting on being able to escape the consequences if and when it all goes pear-shaped.

In fact, I believe many actively want it to go down the tubes, and getting themselves and/or their dosh out of Ireland and into a tax haven. Then they wait for everything to collapse, then come back in with their stash, and buy up lots of things at rock-bottom prices.

Clearly, if a person has this plan, the rational thing for the country to do is the precise opposite of what he wants.

So, pro-austerity folk: would you change your demands if you had to suffer the full consequences of an Nicosia-style collapse, and you couldn't get your cash out of danger.

That means that if a post-collapse Irish government took all your savings, you couldn't escape it. ]]> Economy feargach http://www.politics.ie/forum/economy/210821-would-you-still-support-austerity-if.html Foreign words that should be used in the English language http://www.politics.ie/forum/culture-community/210820-foreign-words-should-used-english-language.html Sat, 18 May 2013 10:18:39 GMT In recent times, the German word "schadenfreude" (i.e. taking pleasure in the misfortune of others) has come into more common use among English speakers. It is a very useful way of expressing a common emotion in one word, where English requires several. Indeed, given the magpie-like qualities of the English language in nicking words from other tongues, it is only a matter of time before it becomes a - de facto - English word.

With this in mind, I'm wondering what other foreign words could be appropriated into the English language in the future. My own nomination is the Middle-Eastern Arabic word "wasta".

Wasta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The closest equivalent of the use of wasta in Hiberno-English are the words "pull" or "stroke" - in the sense of using power, wealth or cronyism to have decisions go your way. For example, one could use one's wasta to have penalty points quashed or to have land rezoned for one's benefit. In my opinion, the word wasta would be particularly appropriate to the nature of Irish society and politics.

Any other nominations for foreign words that should be incorporated into the English language? ]]> Berchmans http://www.politics.ie/forum/culture-community/210820-foreign-words-should-used-english-language.html <![CDATA[One year in to Hollande's France. How are things going?]]> http://www.politics.ie/forum/foreign-affairs/210807-one-year-hollandes-france-how-things-going.html Sat, 18 May 2013 09:21:18 GMT Hollande was elected one year ago, a sweeping, comprehensive victory that gave the French left complete control of the Presidency and parliament, giving him a mandate unseen in decades. Hollande promised change. * Higher taxes for the rich (A... Hollande was elected one year ago, a sweeping, comprehensive victory that gave the French left complete control of the Presidency and parliament, giving him a mandate unseen in decades.

Hollande promised change.
  • Higher taxes for the rich (A whopping 75% rich tax)
  • Lower VAT
  • Higher corporation taxes
  • Crack down on tax avoidence
  • Protect industrialisation in the country.
  • Reverse unemployment by the end of 2013



Unfortunately it's not going to plan.

It started terribly with VAT going up and corporation taxes being reduced.

Francois Hollande lurches Right in historic U-Turn to save French economy - Telegraph

Hollande's team had to admit getting their figures wrong immediately after the election and infact needed to increase VAT and reduce business taxes. This started a drop in support that hasn't let up.

The 75% tax was struck out by the Supreme Court as being "unfair", but it still spooked the rich, with an increasing amount leaving. Beloved national hero Depardeau attracted the most attention by his flirtation with Russia and Belgium, but many companies chiefs have also left, and more importantly: Those companies are saying they're going to recruit management from outside of France as a result of this:

Top executives join France exodus - FT.com
Quote:
But Bernard Charlès, chief executive of Dassault Systèmes, was sharply critical of the high tax policies of Mr Hollande’s Socialist government, telling Le Monde newspaper in an interview: “Residing in France has become a big handicap. Very largely, our hiring of top managers will have to be done elsewhere than in France.”
In his (Second as president. Seriously) Thursday press conference he declared the worst over. On the day it was announced France is in a double dip recession.

The crack down on tax avoidance was hit when the budget minister had to be fired for.....avoiding taxes. In Switzerland. He's not exactly going quietly:

Quote:
Meanwhile, Hollande’s disgraced former budget minister, Jerome Cahuzac – who lied to parliament about his tax fraud – has accused the president of “telling lies worse than his.”
Cahuzac said: “It is less serious to lie for 15 seconds before 577 MPs than to lie for a whole year about the state of France, as Francois Hollande has done.”
Industrialiastion....well no. Some of the sites Hollande actually campaigned at, promising keep open have closed, with a bit of a mess from the government about the possiblity of nationalising them:

French steel furnaces mothballed amid ‘broken promises’ by Hollande | Inquirer Business

Unemployment is near 11% now (up 1% since he took over), a record high. Hollande made this his number one priority and it's stalling badly.

The social side has seen him utterly underestimate the ferocity of discontent amongst the minority of people opposed to gay marriage, which he signed into law this week.

Added to the above there's an upcoming documentary where Hollande allowed camera's to follow him around for his first months in office. By all accounts he comes out of it as dithering and unfamiliar with the details of issues.

It's all combined into a pretty horrific polling situation. He's now the most unpopular president ever with only 25% of people approving of him.

And Sarko hasn't gone away. Flush with cash from investment gigs, the feeling is that he's saving a warchest for the next election, one that he's predicted to win handily at this point.

The left need to have a period of introspection to decide how they're going to stabilise, because right now the house of French socialism is showing signs of collapse. ]]> Foreign Affairs Sync http://www.politics.ie/forum/foreign-affairs/210807-one-year-hollandes-france-how-things-going.html Contactless payment snafu http://www.politics.ie/forum/current-affairs/210804-contactless-payment-snafu.html Sat, 18 May 2013 08:19:02 GMT BBC News - Contactless 'charging errors' at M&S

Contactless payment is coming to a wallet near you. You may have it already, but I haven't seen it in use in Ireland yet. In the UK M&S' contactless paypoints are accused of charging the wrong cards, cards in your bag, etc.

Its supposed to only work if you put the card near the till, but it seems it can accidentally find the card, and charge it (without entering a pin) at much greater distances.

If this is possible accidentally, it is surely possible for criminals to mug you contactlessly. No pin, no receipt, no record.

It reminds me of those RFID chips in passports which can allow tech-savvy criminals to steal identities of people as they walk past. Of course, if your identity is stolen, you may never know. It never appears in your bank balance - no statement will highlight it.

There is protection available. Several companies sell RF shielded wallets and handbags which prevent remote access to your cashcards.

Surely contactless payment is just a fundamentally bad idea. ]]> Current Affairs seabhcan http://www.politics.ie/forum/current-affairs/210804-contactless-payment-snafu.html