Sunday 26th SBP RedC Poll - FF 26% (-10) FG 33% (+5)

[factual]

Of course that's what their statements are. That's my point. FG knows that public spending is too high. They know that any government, including them or not, will have to raise taxes and cut spending.

But instead of telling the people this, and acting like a genuine government-in-waiting, that fool Kenny persists in playing base politics. That is not the actions of a party that 'puts the nation first'.

It does, however, commit them to higher tax and that will mean they and Labour will have a shared agenda.

[wombat]

Of course that's what their statements are. That's my point. FG knows that public spending is too high. They know that any government, including them or not, will have to raise taxes and cut spending.

Listening to Richard Bruton, he leans toward cutting spending & reducing loopholes rather than raising taxes.

[the klingon]

No it's not. My criticism of FG is that they are not offering a coherent critique of FF, and they are not offering an alternative vision of how to get the country out of the mess.

They can criticise FF all they like. But if they don't do anything more than blow rasberries at Cowen and egg on all the self-interest groups (including stoking unrealistic fears), they are just a bunch of opportunistic gobshytes like FF.

Very true.... the opposition to FF has been very half hearted.
They have no vision, and are incapable of backing FF on the rare occassions when they are in the right.

As for the voters - too late to change your mind - donkeys.

[Fr. Hank Tree]

But instead of telling the people this, and acting like a genuine government-in-waiting, that fool Kenny persists in playing base politics. That is not the actions of a party that 'puts the nation first'.

You think standing up for pensioners and primary school kids is playing base politics? What if FG happens to believe that targetting school kids is a bad thing that can never be justified.

This is the false dilemma being offered by FF - it's either education cuts and hitting the elderly, or its no fiscal rectitude at all. There is a another way, which FG and Leo Varadkar have been talking about lately - reforming the public sector, particularly the HSE and Fás, taxing windfall profits of energy providers etc... Certain FG TDs have also been making noises about the HomeChoice loan scheme, aka the Builder Bailout/State sub-prime lending programme.

FG have been spelling out how they are going to attack more worthy interest groups than the ones you've mentioned.

[factual]

You think standing up for pensioners and primary school kids is playing base politics? What if FG happens to believe that targetting school kids is a bad thing that can never be justified.

This is the false dilemma being offered by FF - it's either education cuts and hitting the elderly, or its no fiscal rectitude at all. There is a another way, which FG and Leo Varadkar have been talking about lately - reforming the public sector, particularly the HSE and Fás, taxing windfall profits of energy providers etc... Certain FG TDs have also been making noises about the HomeChoice loan scheme, aka the Builder Bailout/State sub-prime lending programme.

FG have been spelling out how they are going to attack more worthy interest groups than the ones you've mentioned.

Higher spend on public services?

[hiding behind a poster]

I see your point, but I also feel that a govt containing SF might finally drive that wooden stake through Lisbon's heart that the people thought their pencil was in the referendum last June.

Except, of course, that nobody knows whether the people thought that or not. You're just guessing.

[Fr. Hank Tree]

Higher spend on public services?

I think the priority is to achieve maximum efficiency with regards to spending. That means that we can reduce spending, but in a way that will not significantly harm frontline services.

[factual]

I think the priority is to achieve maximum efficiency with regards to spending. That means that we can reduce spending, but in a way that will not significantly harm frontline services.

But don't you want much better public services? This is particularly important for the least well off/vulnerable.

[hiding behind a poster]

Great stuff -vintage factual - "sf never expected to take dublin central in one election and the long-term strategy is paying off. "

Yeah, its a good one alright - imagine the strategy meetings:

"Right guys, here's a seat that we came within 79 votes of taking in the last election. Now, my plan is that we develop a long-term strategy to take that seat, because clearly it can't be done in just one go from here....."

[Keith-M]

Labour left the Left a long time ago

Indeed, but at least they were clever enough to recognise the the death knell of the left, which is more than those left stranded on the left have done.