VERY USEFUL MEME for Irish bloggers: what are you asking politicians who call to your door? I have some questions that affect me personally. I want to know why my tax money was used to pay someone to keep my housing estate off the voting register. I live in a building site along with 43 other homeowners. A congenial man was paid good money to sweep through all housing estates in Cashel to ensure everyone was registered. Unlike the census taker, the voting registrar didn't think he needed to walk on unfinished paths to provide registration forms to new residents. Nor did anyone think it logical to compare the databases of people paying for rubbish collection to the electoral register. I also have a few other questions.
Like Antoin O Lachtnain, I want to know whether the visiting politician thinks my privacy should be protected. And if privacy needs to be subordinated to the needs of the State, I would like to know why that important erosion of personal liberties was never debated in the Dail.
I would like to know whether the politician who comes calling believes it's important to allow universal broadband access and if so, whether the politician thinks free wireless access should be offered at the same level of service as free public lighting.
Unlike Damien Mulley, I don't care if politicians earn more through their State-approved expense accounts than they do through their taxed salaries. Every shopkeep takes pocket money from the till. I am interested in what the politicians are personally doing to offset the carbon footprint of the vehicles they are driving around while stumping for votes. Even the Green Party candidates drive an estate wagon into rallying points. So it saves time but is there any thought about offsetting the carbon used when hustling for votes?
I want to know whether any of the politicians have asked migrant workers like myself about getting involved in community affairs.
I want to know whether the politicians calling at my front door on a busy national road care that every third car travels above the posted speed limit. If they care, what would they do about blatant disregard for speed limits right there in front of my house. Would they consider parking their campaign car alongside the road and let a Garda Traffic Corps member sit inside with a radar gun?
The mood on the streets in South Tipperary suggests Bertie Ahern has lost his sheen. That should translate to a single Fianna Fail seat (probably not the one favoured by the national committee), one Independent and one Fine Gael politician. This result would reflect the current status quo in South Riding. (Note to Labour: Your candidate is too fluffy on most issues and that means the lads wearing wellies don't connect with her.)
Damien Mulley -- "Resources for when politicians call"
Antoin O Lachtnain -- "Nobody's business but your own"
Fergus Cassidy -- "Doors to Perception"
