Do we need Councillors at all?

[jayblue]

I am starting to come to the view that local elections for councillors are a complete waste of money, and a waste of time. In my opinion it is time to abolish them altogether. What we need is to have directly elected mayors for a four year term on a salary which is linked to that of a first term td, with deputy mayors on a salary linked to that of a senator.

We also need to ensure that these mayors/deputy mayors serve out their terms of office rather than using it as a stepping stone to the dail. I would also propose bringing in legislation that would prohibit a person from been a member (elected/appointed) of a elected assembly and running for a vacany in another elected assembly unless they resigned their other position first.

In a modern society with easier forms of communications with council officals do we need to have clrs paid to link with these on our behalf, I think the answer is no.

A waste of time, a waste of money and a total lack of respect for the population at large when it comes to co options.

[Pauli]

I am starting to come to the view that local elections for councillors are a complete waste of money, and a waste of time. In my opinion it is time to abolish them altogether. What we need is to have directly elected mayors for a four year term on a salary which is linked to that of a first term td, with deputy mayors on a salary linked to that of a senator.

We also need to ensure that these mayors/deputy mayors serve out their terms of office rather than using it as a stepping stone to the dail. I would also propose bringing in legislation that would prohibit a person from been a member (elected/appointed) of a elected assembly and running for a vacany in another elected assembly unless they resigned their other position first.

In a modern society with easier forms of communications with council officals do we need to have clrs paid to link with these on our behalf, I think the answer is no.

A waste of time, a waste of money and a total lack of respect for the population at large when it comes to co options.

There is a lot of merit in what you are saying. Many councillors do a lot of civic good in the way they serve their communities but a great many of them, to compensate for a lack of salary, chose to allow their palms to be greased by developers if they "voted the right way" on planning decisions, resulting in the planning disaster we have now.

[angelcounty]

[QUOTE=jayblue;1262790]I am starting to come to the view that local elections for councillors are a complete waste of money, and a waste of time. In my opinion it is time to abolish them altogether. What we need is to have directly elected mayors for a four year term on a salary which is linked to that of a first term td, with deputy mayors on a salary linked to that of a senator.

We also need to ensure that these mayors/deputy mayors serve out their terms of office rather than using it as a stepping stone to the dail. I would also propose bringing in legislation that would prohibit a person from been a member (elected/appointed) of a elected assembly and running for a vacany in another elected assembly unless they resigned their other position first.

''Ac said''

I personally i am in support of the comment above, however in some area or community i believe that the number of councillors should be reduced dramatically and there should be a system in place to check their day to day work in the council to be honestm maybe six month checks on their functions by an independent body to equalise things in our communities around the country.

[Big Bobo]

We need to form soviets in every town and city rather than have bourgeois politicians who pretend to represent us.

[Barry]

I am starting to come to the view that local elections for councillors are a complete waste of money, and a waste of time. In my opinion it is time to abolish them altogether. What we need is to have directly elected mayors for a four year term on a salary which is linked to that of a first term td, with deputy mayors on a salary linked to that of a senator.

We also need to ensure that these mayors/deputy mayors serve out their terms of office rather than using it as a stepping stone to the dail. I would also propose bringing in legislation that would prohibit a person from been a member (elected/appointed) of a elected assembly and running for a vacany in another elected assembly unless they resigned their other position first.

In a modern society with easier forms of communications with council officals do we need to have clrs paid to link with these on our behalf, I think the answer is no.

A waste of time, a waste of money and a total lack of respect for the population at large when it comes to co options.

Participatory people's congresses, like those seen in Libya - [ame=http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=2dQHvIwJrF0]YouTube - Libya: Popular Democracy Or Police State?[/ame]

Would be a more democratic solution - minus the executive dictatorship.

[macdarawhitfield]

We need to form soviets in every town and city rather than have bourgeois politicians who pretend to represent us.

Weren't their soviets in Limerick and Waterford back in the 20s?

However ,thanks to gombeen capitalism,Limerick is the envy of all great cities in Europe.Barcelona? I laugh in your face.Copengagen? You're havin'a chuckle aintcha?

Seriously ,though,what about scrapping the Dail and giving all power to the Corporations/Councils.Our TDs are really just local councillors in drag anyway. I believe Jackie Healy-Rae never goes anywhere without a box of earth from South Kerry which he sleeps in at night.

[Big Bobo]

Weren't their soviets in Limerick and Waterford back in the 20s?

However ,thanks to gombeen capitalism,Limerick is the envy of all great cities in Europe.Barcelona? I laugh in your face.Copengagen? You're havin'a chuckle aintcha?

Seriously ,though,what about scrapping the Dail and giving all power to the Corporations/Councils.Our TDs are really just local councillors in drag anyway. I believe Jackie Healy-Rae never goes anywhere without a box of earth from South Kerry which he sleeps in at night.

Exactly, scrap the Dáil and hand power to democratically elected soviets. It's the only logical solution.

[BodyofEvidence]

no. we dont. 98% are corrupt/stupid wanna bees, never weres and never will bes. The 2% that arent entirely corrupt or terminally stupid are ineffective, due to their own inabilities or the vagaries of the system