Auction politics caused the massive budgetary deficits. The cure?

[patslatt]

In the last two general elections,the political parties were falling over themselves in the auction politics rush to promise more benefits and spending. While many of the promises were for good social causes,the dangerously accelerated growth of government in the years before both elections received insufficient attention.Now, the country is paying the price with a threat of national bankruptcy.

How can the political process be restrained from encouraging auction politics? The general election din of noisy claims and counterclaims about spending and taxes can be confusing for the public. It would help to provide clarity if political parties were required to submit their election spending proposals to independent economic consultancies which would be paid by the government to analyse the fiscal implications and report to the public.

[lapsedmethodist]

It would help to provide clarity if political parties were required to submit their election spending proposals to independent economic consultancies which would be paid by the government to analyse the fiscal implications and report to the public.

That's such a good idea that it will never be put into action. Even now, when it is clear that a fair property tax has to be put into place, the inate cowardice of all the parties is depressing.

[euroboy]

This auction politics is small compared to what is happening now. The opposition parties are telling the public what they what to hear, not what they need to hear(though the media commentaria like to think the people know).

This problem is worsened by the fact we have no real economic commentators in Ireland. What we have is people who think they know, and the media who hype them up to the public as if they know.

Poor economic commentary.

The OP mentioned that the election manifesto could be submitted for independent analysis. Academics, think tanks and international organisations were very vocal on every budget we had during the last decade(hell the EU criticised McCreevey's budget), the govt NOR the people bothered to listen then, I dont think they will listen to an 'independent' consultant paid for by their political masters.

In fact, any concern expressed was met with distain from the political elite and the public.

[Oblivion]

Auction politics caused the massive budgetary deficits

How much do you reckon we'd get for Brian Cowen, if we put him on eBay?

[wombat]

It would help to provide clarity if political parties were required to submit their election spending proposals to independent economic consultancies which would be paid by the government to analyse the fiscal implications and report to the public.

They submitted their manifestos to the dept. of Finance for evaluation before the last GE, they were all fine. Unfortunately the dept. of Finance was wrong, which is why we're in our current mess.

[anewbeginning]

Corrupt payments to politicians is one of the main reasons for our budget deficit, in a number of ways.

1. Corrupt payments from developers to county councillors lead to massive over-development and fueled an unsustainable property boom.

2. State energy and other assets were given away for half nothing, assets which could be used as revenue.

3. Massive tax breaks, the result of bribery lead to huge declines in certain types of revenue particularly from the rich.

What is most noticiable in the last 12 years under Fianna Fail is the rich got richer and the poorer got poorer. The poor from now on will pay large amounts of regressive tax, while the rich escape relatively unscathed in comparison, and the tax exiles will hardly be touched.

This is clear evidence of FF being in the pockets of the rich.

[Pauli]

Corrupt payments to politicians is one of the main reasons for our budget deficit, in a number of ways.

1. Corrupt payments from developers to county councillors lead to massive over-development and fueled an unsustainable property boom.

2. State energy and other assets were given away for half nothing, assets which could be used as revenue.

3. Massive tax breaks, the result of bribery lead to huge declines in certain types of revenue particularly from the rich.

What is most noticiable in the last 12 years under Fianna Fail is the rich got richer and the poorer got poorer. The poor from now on will pay large amounts of regressive tax, while the rich escape relatively unscathed in comparison, and the tax exiles will hardly be touched.

This is clear evidence of FF being in the pockets of the rich.

You are right. Corrupt payments rarely get pursued to the point of a court case and is clear evidence of a total lack of will to enforce the law.

The rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer was a core tenet of PD "thinking".

[patslatt]

This auction politics is small compared to what is happening now. The opposition parties are telling the public what they what to hear, not what they need to hear(though the media commentaria like to think the people know).

This problem is worsened by the fact we have no real economic commentators in Ireland. What we have is people who think they know, and the media who hype them up to the public as if they know.

Poor economic commentary.

The OP mentioned that the election manifesto could be submitted for independent analysis. Academics, think tanks and international organisations were very vocal on every budget we had during the last decade(hell the EU criticised McCreevey's budget), the govt NOR the people bothered to listen then, I dont think they will listen to an 'independent' consultant paid for by their political masters.

In fact, any concern expressed was met with distain from the political elite and the public.

An English Tory politician said towards the end of the strike ridden 1970s that a good dose of unemployment is needed to bring people to their senses. But it is best to avoid this if at all possible.

[patslatt]

This auction politics is small compared to what is happening now. The opposition parties are telling the public what they what to hear, not what they need to hear(though the media commentaria like to think the people know).

This problem is worsened by the fact we have no real economic commentators in Ireland. What we have is people who think they know, and the media who hype them up to the public as if they know.

Poor economic commentary.

The OP mentioned that the election manifesto could be submitted for independent analysis. Academics, think tanks and international organisations were very vocal on every budget we had during the last decade(hell the EU criticised McCreevey's budget), the govt NOR the people bothered to listen then, I dont think they will listen to an 'independent' consultant paid for by their political masters.

In fact, any concern expressed was met with distain from the political elite and the public.

They would be inclined to listen to economic analysis of election promises at election times.

There also needs to be economic analysis of the efficiency effects (or lack of) of high public sector pay which often starves government departments of other resources.

[cd27]

They ignored the elephant in the room, high public spending had gotten out of control, they didn't seem to think they should actually get something in return for all this spending, just swallowed by the unions wholesale...unions and government destroyed public services with more money!