Hypothetical Dáil

[XRoot]

RSF insisting the're (sic) the legit govt despite not having the mandate for it, constatnly harping on about 1919.

Although the mandate for Sinn Féin does exist, I am unaware of Sinn Féin claiming to be the legitimate Government. Perhaps you could point me to the policy document?

Theres not a single democracy on earth where mandates last longer than 7 years before having to be renewed...sorry.

I think Risteard means that he believes authority rests with the Army Council, not with the aforementioned split-off group from Sinn Fein, namely Republican Sinn Fein.

[Gladstone]

ahhhh a military junta...and they wonder why RSF don't get many votes.

[badinage]

Christian Solidarity: 50

Socialist Workers Party: 50

Republican SF: 66

Do those parties even have that many members?

[Risteard] Sinn Féin is not a party. It is a movement. 'Party' smacks of constitutionalism. [/Risteard]

[Pax]

Tom what would be best in that situation is if the centre-left and left parties (Labour, SF, Green) formed a permenant election pact exluding FF and FG, it would force a permenant reallignment to a normal right left model and force the two in together.

I think the individual elements would benefit over the medium to longer term through co-operation, transfers and efficiencies through a lack of unnecessary competition. SF would add genuine rural growth, while Labour and the Greens would benefit in transfers and vice versa.

The support and possibility of growth of such an alliance is there and it is not possible because we are so different, we are not, as people have said that about other areas of Irish life only to see them change in recent years.
I also don’t believe the individual parties need to loose their identities within such a loose grouping.
While in opposition there would be obvious benefits and I think co-operation would grow the whole and the elements of it.

-------
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Evolut ... ooperation

The book included two chapters comparing Axelrod's findings to surprising findings in seemingly unrelated fields. In one of these, Axelrod examined spontaneous instances of cooperation during trench warfare in World War I. Troops of one side would shell the other side with mortars, but would often do so on a rigid schedule, and aim for a specific point in the other side's trenches, allowing the other side to minimize casualties. The other side would reciprocate in kind. The generals on both sides were satisfied that shelling was occurring and therefore the war was progressing satisfactorily, while the men in the trenches found a way to cooperatively protect each other.

http://www.cscs.umich.edu/Software/CC/ECHome.html
http://www.cscs.umich.edu/Software/CC/E ... assic.html

Abstract: How can cooperation emerge in a world of egoists without central authority? Computer tournaments and mathematical analysis demonstrate that cooperation based upon reciprocity can emerge and prove stable provided the shadow of the future is long enough. Applications include politics, economics, and evolutionary biology.

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v4 ... 04131.html

[kerrynorth]

My Hypothethical Dail 2007 at present:

FF 62; FG 51; LAB 22; SF 9; GREENS 6; PD 4; SP 2; OTHERS 10.

[BarryW]

FF 62; FG 51; LAB 22; SF 9; GREENS 6; PD 4; SP 2; OTHERS 10.

I'd give FG 2 or three more, FF 2 more, Labour 3 more, SF 2 or 3 less, Greens 2 less, PDs one or two less, no gain for the Trots, and one or two less for Indos

However, KerryNorth: The interesting thing from your prediction is that you think an FF/Labour alliance will only have a majority by the skin of its teeth, but an FG/Lab/Green/PD alliance would also have an effective majority.

Your prediction would REALLY make for an interesting result - and make the Shinners utterly irrelevant to any coalition wheeling and dealing

[Lord Reidy]

I’m not sure that Sinn Fein are going to gain as many seats as some of you seem to be thinking, I believe that many of the votes last time around were accounted for through the profound yearning of the people to finally have the IRA decommission and to move into the realm of democracy. Now that they are here they must produce policies which are actually palatable to the people, throwing out Marxist dogma for economics and supporting Castro in foreign affairs aren’t exactly real vote winners in the real world. My own assumption is that the next government shall either remain or be a Fianna Fáil/Labour coalition with Rabbite booted away. Fine Gael shall make gains, it just isn’t possible that they’d actually lose seats, Greens and PD’s shall both be lucky to retain their current numbers. Thinking of Sinn Fein, I wonder what are Mary Lou’s chances in Dublin Central?

[Risteard]

and they wonder why RSF don't get many votes.

Probably because they haven't contested in years, you donkey. They are abstentionist. No Sinn Féin candidate has EVER stood for election to Leinster House. And as for mandates expiring "after seven years" - I think you will find that mandates only expire upon being replaced.

[Risteard]

the aforementioned split-off group from Sinn Fein, namely Republican Sinn Fein.

Republican Sinn Féin is not a split from Sinn Féin. Republican Sinn Féin IS Sinn Féin. Republican Sinn Féin ALONE is Sinn Féin.

We Ourselves...

[edifice.]

I’m not sure that Sinn Fein are going to gain as many seats as some of you seem to be thinking, I believe that many of the votes last time around were accounted for through the profound yearning of the people to finally have the IRA decommission and to move into the realm of democracy. Now that they are here they must produce policies which are actually palatable to the people, throwing out Marxist dogma for economics and supporting Castro in foreign affairs aren’t exactly real vote winners in the real world. My own assumption is that the next government shall either remain or be a Fianna Fáil/Labour coalition with Rabbite booted away. Fine Gael shall make gains, it just isn’t possible that they’d actually lose seats, Greens and PD’s shall both be lucky to retain their current numbers. Thinking of Sinn Fein, I wonder what are Mary Lou’s chances in Dublin Central?

With PIRA gone a main plank for PSF publicity goes with it. Until the Donaldson matter broke they were nowhere to be seen on the screens.