TheManFromFerbane wrote:Here is my idea for how our system should be setup.
Redraw your constituencies so that they are more reflective of the current population.
Elect your local government
The chairman of that local government then becomes that area's representative in the Dáil.
After the local elections have been run, candidates would then go forward for specific ministerial positions; there would then be a second vote, which would happen shortly after the initial vote. People would argue that this would be a pain having two votes, my view on that is we're doing something here that should last us 4-5 years and a month of campaigning and voting wouldn't be the worst thing.
The reason I think this would work is, after all is said and done:
You would be left with a local governments doing direct work for their locality, with a bigger budget, and the powers the implement those changes.
When matters arose in the Dáil that needed voting on, they would be voted on first at local level by the local government and the chairman of that local government would then cast the vote in the Dáil. Thus each vote being done on what local governments felt was the best for the nation rather than stuff getting through based on party political reasons.
When Ministers were running for office, they would do so based on their own aptitudes and abilities and would be voted for based on those, and their manifesto. Once in Government they would have the power to implement those changes but with the chairs of the local governments providing the checks and balances.
The main goal out of this is to remove the party political aspect and all the sh*t that comes with it. No more would you get a solicitor being you're Minister for Finance (despite the fact that I actually think Lenihan is playing the hand he was given fairly well). You'd have local governments working for their local communities with the financial backing to do so.
I can think of a few negatives against this plan but I'm sure more people will do that for me here so let’s air them out and see what we get!
I accept that it's easy to pick holes in things instead of being positive, however I do think that the problem with this system is that at least in America, the cabinet is picked on the grounds of being the type of people that will fit into an overall strategy. What you appear to be proposing is that each ministry is dealt with individually. I would guess that the upshot of this would be that the winner of the Finance Ministry election would be somebody who promises a right wing, low tax, low government interference administration - while the winner of the health, education and social welfare ministries would be the candidates who propose the most generous, all encompassing and ultimately costly plans. After all, if I can vote for a finance minister who will cut my taxes, and an education minister who will reduce the pupil-teacher ration and eliminate all third level fees and charges, well then I feel like I can win on both counts - until those two people start to work together.
You would have to have direct elections for the head of government, and then I guess that person could stand with their candidates for the various ministries behind them, suggested in advance. You would also love to see these people stand on the basis of their budget in 1, 3 and 5 years time, based on a fixed and agreed set of parameters, rather than a wishy washy manifesto promising everything. That way people know what they're voting for.
Kevin Egan. Signed out of respect for players and all involved with Offaly.