>>Wendy wrote: Hmm. I can see that when it comes to regulating individuals'
>>activities, but I can't see how anyone on the left can argue that
>>fewer laws are needed to regulate businesses, corporate bodies and the
>>like. Most of what's wrong with this country can be directly linked
>>to the carte blanche given them by the government over the years.
>>
>>
>
>Do elablorate. I'm naturally inclined to agree with you (in theory, if not in practice) but I'd appreciate it if you could give a few concrete examples. [...]
>
>
You are talking about house-building, saying that energy efficiency
norms will squeeze buyers even more at no cost for developers, but it's
a good area to illustrate Wendy's point. According to this:
http://www.finfacts.com/irelandbusinessnews/publish/article_10004680.shtml
, site costs now average 42.5% of the price of a house in Ireland (it's
around 20% in other countries), and the house building cost index has
gone from 114 in 1995 to 170 in 2002 while house prices went from 116 to
296. It really puts additional costs due to green policies in
perspective, and it might not have happened if laws had been put in
place to curb speculation, like not allowing developpers to sit on land
for 10 years, or compensating landlords for re-zoned land at
pre-re-zoning rates.
>I'm am against proportional representation for that reason. Tiny groupsicles like the Progressive Democrats or the Greens whinging their way into government.
>
>
Well then tough luck for the left in Ireland, in the tiny groupsicle
category these days. (Not that it would go in any coallition, Cf. Joe
Higgins)
>You don't think Higgins will keep hi seat? I thought the Socialist party had broken the habit of a lifetime and actually got themselves a base.
>
>
I think both Joe Higgins and Clare Daly will be elected, but then I'm a
bit biased, I've been canvassing for them. They wouldn't if the system
was like in France or the US. Obviously I'd rather have them in there
than a TD each for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.
>>Wendy wrote: She went away, wrote to the
>>Council and they came out to do the work. But they did a terrible job
>>- so he won't vote for her. Hopeless, isn't it?
>>
>>
>
>That's brilliant. Some politics...
>
>
Hehe yes, judging from what I hear at the doors, you'd think Joe is a
well rounded mason, carpenter, painter, traffic agent, landscape artist,
road worker and community militia man all at once
>>I don't really think it makes that much of a difference. A Fine Gael
>>victory would at least have the effect of giving FF a kick up the
>>arse, although it would probably form such a hopeless government that
>>FF would come back with a huge victory and then repeat it in every
>>election for the next 20 years ... all over again.
>>
>>
>
>Yes, that does seem to be the pattern. Don't know how much, or what kind of, kick it woulf give FF, though - a party that has long specialised in posing as both radical and conservative simultaneously. Do you remember a few years back it looked as though FG were finshed for good. Enda Lazarus.
>
>
I don't know much about FF, FG, Labour or the Greens, but I have trouble
believing a government made out of the last three would be more inept
than the current one.
Yann