End of PDs a bad day for Irish politics?

[riker1969]

The Pds to me represented proper control of Public expenditure and free enterprise. The mess we are currently in is largely a result of poor budgeting over a 10 yr period. A 10 yr perioid in which they were in power. For me the PDs electoral success in 1987 was there greatest gift to Irish politics. It showed people were ready for necessary cut backs. After that its really debatable if they achieved anything bar smog control.

However, personally Im starting to doubt the value of right wing economics. Im facing a wage cut and my wife has lost her job. The state meanwhile bails out the banks -but I hear of neither panacea when it comes to Bankers.

[Baron von Biffo]

would you say that now
there is only one of them left, costing the country dearly, had to hire someone else to do her work, while she fly first class, don't know what she does really

Quite. It was the start of the PDs that was a bad day for Ireland not their overdue demise.

[bob3344]

For me the PDs electoral success in 1987 was there greatest gift to Irish politics. It showed people were ready for necessary cut backs. After that its really debatable if they achieved anything bar smog control.

McDowell & citizenship referendum. Would not have happened without him as the rest of our politicians are spineless g1ts terrified of how it might play out in the Irish Times.
He was called a fascist for putting it to the people.

[hiker]

For me the Progressive Democrats were a very influential party but I post a link here to a story about another liberal party that followed the correct route in my opinion.

SPIEGEL Interview With FDP Leader Westerwelle: 'I Consider a Coalition With the SPD and Greens Out of the Question' - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International

Its not rocket sceince but the allure of power is a very strong thing. The refusal of power takes great strenght and courage.

We did'nt have it in recent times, unfortunetly.

[Lloyd-Apjohn]

Controlling public expenditure and cutting taxes without strucural reform gets you into the mess we are now in so the PDs were flawed from the start - add to that the fact it was set up because Des O'Malley's ego was too big to accept he failed to get more of his colleagues to get rid of CJH and the fact that at heart he is a santimonious hyprocrite who is no different to any number of FF politicians and you can see that the PDs were never set up to change the system just to get power in the system through different means. Ditto for McDowell and the ego and Harney. I don't think there was a single PD who you could say was policy driven on the PD issues except maybe Pat Cox and again his ego was too big for him to stay when O'Malley shafted him - instead of staying and changing things he went off on his own.

The PDs had plenty of power and opportunites to get it right but chose not to because at heart they are FFers.

[hiker]

The PDs had plenty of power and opportunites to get it right but chose not to because at heart they are FFers.

Yeah, well, if you say so.....

[bogtrotter]

Good riddance to them, they were a party of opportunists seeking to line their own pockets......

[mollox]

While I didn't agree with much of PD ideology, I still think the demise of the PDs is bad for this country in terms of another political outlet being closed down. It will see a return to the FF versus FG politics of old with Labour the meat in the sandwich, depending on how many seats each get.

The PDs were far more beneficial to this country than for example the Green Party on the bigger questions of taxation, economic policy and in the early years tackling FF corruption.

I believe that PD members should create a new party, and I personally would be interested in joining such a party if only to provide opposition to the FF, FG and Labour triumvirate. Having these three parties alone dominate Irish politics would not be in the best interests of the country. The electorate needs more of a choice.

In hindsight, the PDs were screwed that same day Dessie O'Malley cut a deal with his nemisis Charlie Haughey. There's no such thing as "slightly compromised" - you've completely sold out on your core principles when you do a deal like that. Even though you may not think you have and it may take several years to come to fruitition.

Ditto the Greens in May 2007. They're completely compromised, they will inevitably go the way of the PDs before them. Into oblivion.

[hiker]

what a pity it is only down to one person, can it still be called a party with only one member, what will hapen come next general election

No daffodil. It's no longer a party and will be emoved from the Dail register quite soon I believe.
I wear the avatar because I've always liked to do things a lttle differently. I was a memeber for many years and I made a few friends thru the party too.

I'll miss it. Its social as well as political.....

[Bobert]

Yes.