Comments on: Harney has to go http://bonhom.ie/2008/10/harney-has-to-go Tue, 12 Oct 2010 23:37:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: You won’t find me doing this often « The musings of Ian http://bonhom.ie/2008/10/harney-has-to-go#comment-712 You won’t find me doing this often « The musings of Ian Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:43:31 +0000 http://bonhom.ie/2008/10/harney-has-to-go.html#comment-712 [...] Dermod gives a very eloquent voice to what I would really like to say regarding Health in Ireland [...] [...] Dermod gives a very eloquent voice to what I would really like to say regarding Health in Ireland [...]

]]> By: Dermod http://bonhom.ie/2008/10/harney-has-to-go#comment-711 Dermod Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:31:10 +0000 http://bonhom.ie/2008/10/harney-has-to-go.html#comment-711 Actually, Colm Rapple says it all much better than me, and he did it ages ago. I just don't read the Mail on Sunday, that's why I didn't see it before. http://colmrapple.com/?p=75 Actually, Colm Rapple says it all much better than me, and he did it ages ago. I just don’t read the Mail on Sunday, that’s why I didn’t see it before.

http://colmrapple.com/?p=75

]]> By: Dermod http://bonhom.ie/2008/10/harney-has-to-go#comment-710 Dermod Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:52:51 +0000 http://bonhom.ie/2008/10/harney-has-to-go.html#comment-710 Thanks Neil and Ian, Yes, I'm still a green party member, and I'll be very interested to hear what other members think at our next constituency meeting next week. The nature of Harney's influence is unmistakeable and understandable. The curious nature of collective cabinet responsibility and confidentiality, especially in the run up to a budget, means cabinet members are in a hot house with each other, and grassroots opinions do not enter into the picture. In that atmosphere, which seems to have been one of utter dismay over the past few months at how little money there is, that's when ideologues sound most attractive, because they sound like they know what they're talking about, and offer direction. As I've said above, there aren't any socialists in the cabinet, so there's no one to challenge the assumptions that Harney is making. I suspect the Green ministers were just as taken in by everyone else in the cabinet. Today on the radio she said that the increase in the cost of the over-70s medical card over the next few years would be "unsustainable, and that's a fact." The truth is, it's not a fact, it's an opinion, based on the assumption that to increase tax to pay for a vital service is bad. Whereas I believe that Irish people would be only too willing to pay more tax during these hard times, as long as it's fair and equitable and doesn't unduly cause hardship to the poor. Why not hypothecate? A new tax directly to pay for the over-70s card, that is directly related to the cost of providing the service. It would change every year. That way, people will know exactly how much it costs. And they will pay it because they know that, that way, they will be guaranteed the service themselves when they are old. What is wrong with this proposal? A right-wing ideologue would never entertain that idea, because taxation is bad. It's the same argument in the US election at the moment. Let's hope that the Republicans lose in the States, and the PDs get evicted from government in Ireland. Thanks Neil and Ian,

Yes, I’m still a green party member, and I’ll be very interested to hear what other members think at our next constituency meeting next week.

The nature of Harney’s influence is unmistakeable and understandable. The curious nature of collective cabinet responsibility and confidentiality, especially in the run up to a budget, means cabinet members are in a hot house with each other, and grassroots opinions do not enter into the picture.

In that atmosphere, which seems to have been one of utter dismay over the past few months at how little money there is, that’s when ideologues sound most attractive, because they sound like they know what they’re talking about, and offer direction. As I’ve said above, there aren’t any socialists in the cabinet, so there’s no one to challenge the assumptions that Harney is making. I suspect the Green ministers were just as taken in by everyone else in the cabinet.

Today on the radio she said that the increase in the cost of the over-70s medical card over the next few years would be “unsustainable, and that’s a fact.”

The truth is, it’s not a fact, it’s an opinion, based on the assumption that to increase tax to pay for a vital service is bad. Whereas I believe that Irish people would be only too willing to pay more tax during these hard times, as long as it’s fair and equitable and doesn’t unduly cause hardship to the poor.

Why not hypothecate? A new tax directly to pay for the over-70s card, that is directly related to the cost of providing the service. It would change every year. That way, people will know exactly how much it costs. And they will pay it because they know that, that way, they will be guaranteed the service themselves when they are old. What is wrong with this proposal?

A right-wing ideologue would never entertain that idea, because taxation is bad. It’s the same argument in the US election at the moment. Let’s hope that the Republicans lose in the States, and the PDs get evicted from government in Ireland.

]]> By: Ian http://bonhom.ie/2008/10/harney-has-to-go#comment-709 Ian Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:52:26 +0000 http://bonhom.ie/2008/10/harney-has-to-go.html#comment-709 Agreed - that is probably one of the most eloquent and articulate arguments I've read - Dermod - are you still a green party member? How do you think they could handled this better Agreed – that is probably one of the most eloquent and articulate arguments I’ve read – Dermod – are you still a green party member? How do you think they could handled this better

]]> By: Neil http://bonhom.ie/2008/10/harney-has-to-go#comment-708 Neil Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:57:52 +0000 http://bonhom.ie/2008/10/harney-has-to-go.html#comment-708 *Applause* Well said Sir. It's wonderfull to see someone blogging about the principles involved rather than just examining the bottom-line figures (of which I'm as guilty as anyone else)... *Applause*

Well said Sir. It’s wonderfull to see someone blogging about the principles involved rather than just examining the bottom-line figures (of which I’m as guilty as anyone else)…

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