You could be a candidate
national | miscellaneous | news report
Friday April 26, 2002 20:09
by fellow candidate
Democracy requires participation. Representative democracy requires subversive participation.
Running in the General Election is very simple.
Full details from your local authority.
Essentially you need to have the assent of 30 persons who are registered as Dáil electors in the constituency, or, a certificate of affiliation from a registered political party. You also have to supply some photos for the ballot paper. After that it’s just filling out forms and providing some ID.
There is no longer a deposit because the courts decided that was undemocratic.
The deadline is Thursday next.
Ah go on.
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (7 of 7)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7misleading the public is very easy.
full details from your local politician.
Essentially you need to either self-deluding enough or dishonest enough to tell people that you can do things for them that you can't. All you have to get them to ignore the fact that the system doesn't work!
Then you can be in coalition with FF!
Ah go on!
Dishonesty, delusions etc. are not conditions for being a candidate. Nor is wealth, shares, land speculators, etc. It's pointing out the obvious to say you don't need to go into coalition with FF or anyone else.
All you need are 30 signatures or a certificate of party affiliation. What you do then is up to you. You could use it to criticise the system, or you could leave the way open for those who use the system to their own ends.
Someone with a bit of imagination might paint an A or a peace sign or satirically € and $ on their face for the ballot paper photograph, or if they have imagination for the following election change their name to "none of the above" etc.
Consider the possibilities.
Alternatively you could devote yourself to bitter sectarian sniping on internet websites and mailing lists.
Ah, but that's the problem isn't it. Suppose I vote for you (because you shave your balls and paint a euro on one and a flower on the other) and you've promised to bring down the 29th Dail with your fillibusters.
But, you're a lying careerist dick and you discover that you like being a professional dissenter and you don't bring down the system.
I'm going to look like a right eejit for not going out and destroying the system for myself.
Especially because meanwhile my vote can be taken by FF to say "we're a democracy, look it works, even people that don't want it get their say!".
Shag that.
And if you don't manage it do you look like a right eejit as well?
If you're not going to vote for me then would prefer you not to vote. I don't remember ever saying "but I don't really have a mandate, too many people boycotted the elections." Do other politicians say this?
I would like to protest at the gross misrepresentation of my views by the fraud that is posting under my name.
Fianna Fail is proud to serve the people of Ireland and I think that our record in the last Dail stands as a glowing reminder to the people of Ireland that this golden period of prosperity and hope in both the economic and moral sphere is the result of our stewardship.
I look forward to returning to power and offer my congratulations and encouragement to those proposing to participate in our democracy. Young people need to realise that is THEIR democracy and that we can only do this together.
Is mise le meas,
Bertie Ahern (FF, personal capacity only)
I would like to protest at the gross misrepresentation of my views by the fraud that is posting under my name.
Fianna Fail is proud to serve the people of Ireland and I think that our record in the last Dail stands as a glowing reminder to the people of Ireland that this golden period of prosperity and hope in both the economic and moral sphere is the result of our stewardship.
I look forward to returning to power and offer my congratulations and encouragement to those proposing to participate in our democracy. Young people need to realise that is THEIR democracy and that we can only do this together.
Is mise le meas,
Bertie Ahern (FF, personal capacity only)