the Hypothetical Party

[evercloserunion]

While this party is busy voting to give themselves less money, what are they going to do about the economy, Europe, the environment, law & order, social services etc.?

[goosebump]

But I will not believe for one minute that any party could get elected on this mandate. The same fools will continue to vote Fianna Fail, even when they continue to bleed the country dry.

One of FF's strengths is the presumption on the part of members of the Opposition that everyone who votes for FF is an idiot and that there isn't any point in trying to convince them otherwise.

[Libero]

Fellas I admire you're idealism, but what you suggest is totally unrealistic because it stirkes at the very heart of what politics is.

Takefor example the junior ministers. They started out as P Secretaries for ministers with a of of responsibilities, then they morphed into JMs so a politician could hold together a coalition of supporters by giving them important sounding jobs and then when deals needed to be done like when the rainbow was put together in 1994 they were expanded again so everyone could get something. In reality we could go very well with 12 Depts and 7 JMs but politics necessitates...

Same could be said of Dáíl sitting time, Dáil committees and lots of other things. Even if one party could be constructed with this as a part of it's platform, it would be impossible for it to achieve these aims in coalition because of the necessary horse-trading that would be required when forming govts. To save face a piecemeal gesture would be made, sacrificing one JM or having the Dáil sit for an extra week ect. Even if such a party was in an overall majority, the need to placate 84+ egos and ambitions would blunt the drive for "reform". Junior Ministers, Dáil committees ect are our version of pork barrel spending. No party, believe it or not, including Fianna Fáil, really wants 17 JMs but they would consume to much political capital to get rid of them. A necessary part of a Democracy with many checks and balances. We should be greatful for them in an perverse sort of way, the alternative where back-room deals don't have to be made would entail an unhealthy concentration of power.

I agree that the present system is a form of equilibrium.

But I don't think that equilibrium is stable and sustainable, even though the actors enjoying its benefits can be expected to defend it.

Right now, politics in the Irish Republic is failing. Hopefully, the people will keep faith with democracy and the constitution. However, as the state of the nation deteriorates, the people will barely tolerate the current pantomime of ineptitude that is Irish politics, at least not if alternative parties becomes available - and they won't care much for the old equilibrium of backroom deals and backbencher payoffs.

[stringjack]

While this party is busy voting to give themselves less money, what are they going to do about the economy, Europe, the environment, law & order, social services etc.?

In theory, if in the majority, it could abstain on all votes other than those relating to the structural issues with which it is concerned. If part of a coalition, it could agree to vote as the remainder of the coalition had determined, so long as the structural issues were addressed as part of the government programme.

This might be the kind of issue that is better addressed through an initiative method for calling referendums, though (which would require, of course, a prior structural change).