New campaign launched to support Independent candidates

by IMI Thu Nov 25, 2010 11:20

The above statement was deleted from politics.ie

Are Libertas coming back on the scene or something?

by IMI Thu Nov 25, 2010 12:14

Just to let you know, in response to queries we have had elsewhere, we do support all the small political groupings, like Fis Nua, Amhrain Nua, Direct Democracy Ireland, and so on, who are not yet political parties. We will be happy to give their candidates a platform.

Yes, this may appear to some cynics that this is some kind of Fianna Fail scheme, but please come to the meeting tonight and you will see that this is not the case.

We did consider saying we would not support existing Independents, because of the the likes of Healy-Rae and Lowry, but we want to be able to support people like Maureen O'Sullivan.

There is not enough time for any of the smaller groups or parties to organise properly before the election and make a significant impact. So, in realistic terms, we will either have Fine Gael/ Labour or something entirely new and democratic

by Sceptic - None Whatsoever Thu Nov 25, 2010 12:30

How Dare You propose such an idea after what the slobs of the greedy greens & the so called independents have done to the
electorate of Ireland , away with you , be gone.

by IMI Thu Nov 25, 2010 13:02

Ireland will cease to be a democratic, sovereign country if it is handed over to the IMF and Fine Gael/Labour. I hate the Greens and the Independents who have supported the Government., who are about 10 altogether. Most of those 10 will not be re-elected, due to their records.

There are 166 seats in the Dail. Imagine if they were all filled by Independents. Then we would finally have democracy in Ireland.

This is the only real alternative to Fine Gael/Labour. If you support them, then you should say so, to make your position perfectly clear.

by Meanie Thu Nov 25, 2010 13:37

Sceptic - None Whatsoever >
I agree

Feck off

by IMI Thu Nov 25, 2010 16:31

The IMI Statement has been picked up by The Press Association, and can be found at the end of an article about the launch of the United Left Alliance (ULA):

"Meanwhile, the Independents Movement of Ireland (IMI) launched a new initiative to encourage Irish citizens in all constituencies to run as Independent candidates and to vote for Independent candidates.

'"An Independent Government is the only real alternative to a Fine Gael/Labour coalition Government that is currently available to the Irish people," it added.

We will draft a Declaration of Independents, to be signed by any candidate, which would contain a promise never to vote with the Government, in the event that a national Government composed of Independents is not formed.

We are not opposed to ULA and wish them the best. But let's face it, they probably wouldn't get a majority. Then what will they do? Either stay in Opposition, and be useless, or join the Government coalition, and be worse than useless.

IMI may end up in the same position, but there is a much higher likelihood of getting a majority and creating a new kind of democracy, given the right candidates and campaign.

by Member of the Public. Fri Nov 26, 2010 02:31

1) whatever' polithickical' party is elected this time around must be paid on work done ( not promises made ).
2) No Independents whatsoever must be allowed to ru(i)n this country , so out the scabs ,now.
3) No Greenless fingers allowed to participate as the 'other motley crew' kept Fianna Failure afloat .
4) No Senates = No Senators need apply , as they never made sense in the first place.
5) All Banksters who were involved in political treason must be arrested , charged , and ( i'll leave you to fill in The End)
6) All members of the judiciary , inc Solicitors , Barristers & Judges must be regulated, forthwith.
7) All Legal Aid funding must be investigated immediately .
8) All Fas 'Schemes & Scams' must be the subject to a thorough investigation , forthwith .
8) All prices ( from a loaf of bread to a pint of Guinness to a Litre of Petrol etc ) must be returned to 2007 rates.
9) All New Motor Vehicles Manufacturers must repay a levy , eg 1,000 euros, rising to - - , to the Govt coffers.
10) All Rents / Mortgage repayments must be brought back to 2007 rates .
11) All Schools must take responsibilty for their little darlings anti - social behaviour , even after they are at home .
12) All F.C.A recruitment drives must be implemented forthwith .
13) All Efforts to combat the drugs crisis must be investigated as also the racket involving evading duty on cigarettes'
14) All efforts to gain employment must be encouraged ,immediately .
15) All off license's must employ a security person from the opening to closing times.

Remember , The I.M.F. people are effectivlly holding the combination to our wallets and credit cards , and it is just the beginning

by Meeting goer - IMI (recently joined) Sun Nov 28, 2010 00:50

Very Productive meeting. There was so many people there with so many talents and it was uplifting to see the track records of the potential candidates. This has my full support.

by Sarah Sun Nov 28, 2010 15:23

I had not really ever thought of voting independent but now more than ever we need to have independent citizen politicans in the Dail. Following Thursday's meeting I thought to myself why should we keep voting in the same old crony parties. The Dail is like a creche on a bad day and so many of the TD's are even related to eachother we see the roots of nepotism grow.

With the greatest of respects to Joe and Richard I want to see them elected more than anyone, but we need to have Independent candidates across the whole country as Ireland is bigger than Kingstown (Dun Laoighre) and Dublin West.

I think ordinary people need to make a stand now and not merely be used to deliver leaflets but to actually run themselves. I saw a fine cailibre of candidates and honest decent people at the IMI meeting. I left feeling a sense of empowerment and as I gave my details to the organisers will help in whatever way I can.

IMI has my full support and is the way forward against the cronyism and corruption of the past. We need honest community candidates and not careerists in the Dail.

by brix - none Sun Nov 28, 2010 17:22 rbrixl at hotmail dot com 33 glendale drive letterkenny co donegal

i am hoping that we can all organise a music based protest in the next 2 weeks the aim is to have a voter registration drive on all campuses nationwide, traditionally the election happens on a thursday which tends to disenfranchise students as they tend to be outside their electoral area on polling day. I say that we should get as may students registared as possible in the area they are on polling day then turn out the vote for the best canadate there which will hopefully ne an trueindeprndant. I am located in letterkenny and so i will be attempting to set it up here hope a few more decide to join me in this endevour

by Brian Keogh - Independent Sun Nov 28, 2010 22:18

I attended Friday's meeting and too share the view we need independents running across the country and unite and put an end to the old boys club.

We need honest independents from all communities and all walks of life and take back what was "a great little country"! From bad planning to sheer cronyism , gombeen politicians have destroyed the whole place.

Think of all the homelesss on the streets tonight and ask yourself-after 20 years of "BOOM" why is that?

The party is so over.

by KK Mon Nov 29, 2010 04:19

You're not going to find bigger gombeen men than Jackie Healy Rae and Michael Lowry. Even Saint Tony Gregory saw himself primarily as a fixer who could get stuff like jobs, flats, and medical cards for his constituents (and never asked for any thing in return of course).

Finian McGrath signed a deal with Fianna Fail, and Maureen O'Sullivan has voted with them more than once.

Just being an Independent doesn't make you honest.

At least with parties there is some sort of manifesto and national strategy.With independents it's all about local hospitals, roads and schools, and often, jobs for their friends.

by Debbs Mon Nov 29, 2010 06:01

Yes, with parties there are manifestoes and strategies but such pre-election documents don't mean anything when the votes have been counted and the mathematical configuration of the new Dail becomes apparent. As Sean Lemass said, all promises are null and void after an election. Look at how the Greens reneged on their 2007 pre-election promises about putting FF out and about accountability. They've committed suicide by propping up blustering government since 2007.

Each independent can be judged according to personal pedigree and actual performance. In the case of Gregory, yes, he extracted lots of local concessions for what in the 1980s was the most depressed urban constituency (only the Ardoyne in Belfast was worse) and the people who live there will remember his real achievement for a long time. But Gregory voted against FF after six months on a critical economic issue. He had an economic bottom line while some rural constituency 'wild carders' are bombastic populists, sometimes self serving.

Let voters nationwide size up independent candidates according to their principles and their known political behaviour.

by Martin - Community Activist (20 years) Tue Nov 30, 2010 15:47

Finally a voice of reason. I will be directing all of the people in my local organisation to this group. Best of luck

by Dave - possibily IMI Wed Dec 01, 2010 02:31

imi about more than 3 electoral areas...join us

by Frances - IMI Wed Dec 01, 2010 12:32

www.irishindependents.org