Comments on: Fantastic - Seanad Vote for sale on eBay http://www.mulley.net/2007/07/19/fantastic-seanad-vote-for-sale-on-ebay/ Invisible people have invisible rights Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:30:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Dan Sullivan http://www.mulley.net/2007/07/19/fantastic-seanad-vote-for-sale-on-ebay/#comment-332960 Dan Sullivan Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:24:21 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/?p=2370#comment-332960 squid, I would agree that the Seanad elections are undemocratic but the principle of votes not be for sale underpins the Dail and Seanad and if we allowed it in one that how long before it happened in the other. One other peculiar aspect is that we have had for the last week or two, and rightly so, reporting in the media of the various inducements (completely unrelated to their voting intentions I'm sure ) being sent out to councillors by Seanad candidates. Is the selling of votes the egg and the buying the chicken in this instance. This isn't the election of the Mayor of Puck or the Lady of the Laune we're talking about here. squid, I would agree that the Seanad elections are undemocratic but the principle of votes not be for sale underpins the Dail and Seanad and if we allowed it in one that how long before it happened in the other.

One other peculiar aspect is that we have had for the last week or two, and rightly so, reporting in the media of the various inducements (completely unrelated to their voting intentions I’m sure ) being sent out to councillors by Seanad candidates. Is the selling of votes the egg and the buying the chicken in this instance. This isn’t the election of the Mayor of Puck or the Lady of the Laune we’re talking about here.

]]> By: squid http://www.mulley.net/2007/07/19/fantastic-seanad-vote-for-sale-on-ebay/#comment-332152 squid Thu, 19 Jul 2007 22:13:09 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/?p=2370#comment-332152 Since when were the seannad elections democratic. 90 percent of the population can't even vote in them.. That is not democracy Since when were the seannad elections democratic. 90 percent of the population can’t even vote in them..

That is not democracy

]]> By: braz http://www.mulley.net/2007/07/19/fantastic-seanad-vote-for-sale-on-ebay/#comment-332069 braz Thu, 19 Jul 2007 20:35:13 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/?p=2370#comment-332069 It's illegal, plain and simple. I've <a href="http://braz.blogspot.com/2007/07/ebay-preserving-democracy-well.html" rel="nofollow">posted an update</a> with the relevant legal standing. I'm not one for saying the sky is falling but if we start treating the Seanad as something that anyone can buy a seat in, well that's one of our houses of parliament down the tubes. How long before the other follows ? (I'll admit that given the previous behaviour of certain TDs this can probably be argued but I'll stand my ground in the hope of the now and of the future). Democracy is a fragile old system and I really think that you should take a pause and considered the long view implications of your attitude towards it. I'm no fan of the government but I do believe we've got the best system going and I'm going to fight tooth and nail to keep that system as open and transparent as possible, I'm no idealist merely a pragmatist. It’s illegal, plain and simple. I’ve posted an update with the relevant legal standing.

I’m not one for saying the sky is falling but if we start treating the Seanad as something that anyone can buy a seat in, well that’s one of our houses of parliament down the tubes. How long before the other follows ? (I’ll admit that given the previous behaviour of certain TDs this can probably be argued but I’ll stand my ground in the hope of the now and of the future).

Democracy is a fragile old system and I really think that you should take a pause and considered the long view implications of your attitude towards it. I’m no fan of the government but I do believe we’ve got the best system going and I’m going to fight tooth and nail to keep that system as open and transparent as possible, I’m no idealist merely a pragmatist.

]]> By: Primal Sneeze http://www.mulley.net/2007/07/19/fantastic-seanad-vote-for-sale-on-ebay/#comment-332026 Primal Sneeze Thu, 19 Jul 2007 19:47:58 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/?p=2370#comment-332026 I tried selling my spare Dáil <a href="http://www.primalsneeze.com/?p=135" rel="nofollow">votes</a> (yes, plural) and couldn't get a buyer. Why are Seanad ones more saleable? I tried selling my spare Dáil votes (yes, plural) and couldn’t get a buyer. Why are Seanad ones more saleable?

]]> By: squid http://www.mulley.net/2007/07/19/fantastic-seanad-vote-for-sale-on-ebay/#comment-331969 squid Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:33:30 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/?p=2370#comment-331969 Hah, the auction should have gone ahead. The Seannad should be voted for by the people, all the people, not just a select group of elites. Imagine some one with pass maths in the Leaving Cert having more clout in the seannad election than everyone except the Taoiseach. Hah, the auction should have gone ahead. The Seannad should be voted for by the people, all the people, not just a select group of elites.

Imagine some one with pass maths in the Leaving Cert having more clout in the seannad election than everyone except the Taoiseach.

]]> By: Daithí http://www.mulley.net/2007/07/19/fantastic-seanad-vote-for-sale-on-ebay/#comment-331681 Daithí Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:26:18 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/?p=2370#comment-331681 It's gone already...that took long. It’s gone already…that took long.

]]> By: Andrew http://www.mulley.net/2007/07/19/fantastic-seanad-vote-for-sale-on-ebay/#comment-331673 Andrew Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:18:31 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/?p=2370#comment-331673 Dan, If you sign up with Ebay you can register your dissatisfaction on this matter. ;o) Dan,

If you sign up with Ebay you can register your dissatisfaction on this matter.
;o)

]]> By: Andrew http://www.mulley.net/2007/07/19/fantastic-seanad-vote-for-sale-on-ebay/#comment-331669 Andrew Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:15:56 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/?p=2370#comment-331669 I can think of a better affront to Irish politics. Namely, Irish politics. I can think of a better affront to Irish politics. Namely, Irish politics.

]]> By: Dan Sullivan http://www.mulley.net/2007/07/19/fantastic-seanad-vote-for-sale-on-ebay/#comment-331664 Dan Sullivan Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:13:09 +0000 http://www.mulley.net/?p=2370#comment-331664 Leaving the politics aside for a moment, you can't tell ebay that someone is doing something illegal without having to register with them. That's a bit rich. Leaving the politics aside for a moment, you can’t tell ebay that someone is doing something illegal without having to register with them. That’s a bit rich.

]]>