Comments on: Questions For Fianna Fáil Election Candidates http://bocktherobber.com/2009/05/questions-for-fianna-fail-election-candidates/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:35:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: BoldPilot http://bocktherobber.com/2009/05/questions-for-fianna-fail-election-candidates/comment-page-1/#comment-115276 BoldPilot Tue, 18 Jan 2011 21:31:36 +0000 http://bocktherobber.com/?p=4123#comment-115276 If your wife has voted in presidential elections (assuming that she has not taken up Irish citizenship) then that's technically an abuse of the electoral system AIUI. Possibly an administrative error? I think you and I may have a different understanding of the term "electoral reform". The gun control debate is far too emotive for my taste. Logical, pragmatic views appear to be unwelcome by the "ban all guns" zealots. I decided to keep my own counsel on that topic. If your wife has voted in presidential elections (assuming that she has not taken up Irish citizenship) then that's technically an abuse of the electoral system AIUI. Possibly an administrative error?

I think you and I may have a different understanding of the term "electoral reform".

The gun control debate is far too emotive for my taste. Logical, pragmatic views appear to be unwelcome by the "ban all guns" zealots. I decided to keep my own counsel on that topic.

]]> By: No.8 http://bocktherobber.com/2009/05/questions-for-fianna-fail-election-candidates/comment-page-1/#comment-115274 No.8 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 21:08:48 +0000 http://bocktherobber.com/?p=4123#comment-115274 With respect they are not. Electoral reorm of the second amendment is nigh impossible and political suicide. Access to fire arms has been the cause of mutiple killings in the US on numerous occasions, as you know. How are these killings and the Arizona killings spurious? You make a comparison between Ireland and Zimbabwe on the grounds that both countries do not afford voting by expats. Spurious comparison, no? I was aware of Irish citizens voting rights in the UK, but not the UK rights for expats. Thanks. BTW my wife has received a polling card and has voted in every election in Ireland including Presedential. PS Just saw this http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0118/breaking74.html With respect they are not. Electoral reorm of the second amendment is nigh impossible and political suicide. Access to fire arms has been the cause of mutiple killings in the US on numerous occasions, as you know. How are these killings and the Arizona killings spurious? You make a comparison between Ireland and Zimbabwe on the grounds that both countries do not afford voting by expats. Spurious comparison, no?

I was aware of Irish citizens voting rights in the UK, but not the UK rights for expats. Thanks.

BTW my wife has received a polling card and has voted in every election in Ireland including Presedential.

PS Just saw this http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0118/breaking74.html

]]> By: BoldPilot http://bocktherobber.com/2009/05/questions-for-fianna-fail-election-candidates/comment-page-1/#comment-115273 BoldPilot Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:59:21 +0000 http://bocktherobber.com/?p=4123#comment-115273 No. 8 For your wife: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/register_to_vote/british_citizens_living_abroad.aspx Since you bring that up, how about this little perversity? Your wife can vote here in all elections (with the exception of presidential elections). She is not, however, allowed a vote at referenda. She still retains her full democratic rights to vote in the UK as if she were resident. Let's say for the purpose of discussion that you have a sister, and that she is living in the UK. She is granted full voting rights in that jurisdiction, but denied her voting rights in the country of her citizenship, Ireland. With respect, your argument about recent events in Arizona are spurious. No. 8

For your wife: http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/register_to_vote/british_citizens_living_abroad.aspx

Since you bring that up, how about this little perversity? Your wife can vote here in all elections (with the exception of presidential elections). She is not, however, allowed a vote at referenda. She still retains her full democratic rights to vote in the UK as if she were resident.

Let's say for the purpose of discussion that you have a sister, and that she is living in the UK. She is granted full voting rights in that jurisdiction, but denied her voting rights in the country of her citizenship, Ireland.

With respect, your argument about recent events in Arizona are spurious.

]]> By: No.8 http://bocktherobber.com/2009/05/questions-for-fianna-fail-election-candidates/comment-page-1/#comment-115272 No.8 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:47:02 +0000 http://bocktherobber.com/?p=4123#comment-115272 "What does gun control have to do with electoral reform/procedures??" A lot. Disgruntled voters get a chance to shoot their politicians with legally held fire arms, see last week in Arizona. The second amendment is a seriously outdated piece of legislation which is beyond mature debate and hence reform in the US. I did look at the (free) w book that you attached. Unfortuneately being colour blind maybe I mis read the colour key. My wife is a UK citizen and has never heard of a right to vote for expats regardless of limitations. Where could she learn more? "What does gun control have to do with electoral reform/procedures??"

A lot. Disgruntled voters get a chance to shoot their politicians with legally held fire arms, see last week in Arizona. The second amendment is a seriously outdated piece of legislation which is beyond mature debate and hence reform in the US.

I did look at the (free) w book that you attached. Unfortuneately being colour blind maybe I mis read the colour key. My wife is a UK citizen and has never heard of a right to vote for expats regardless of limitations. Where could she learn more?

]]> By: BoldPilot http://bocktherobber.com/2009/05/questions-for-fianna-fail-election-candidates/comment-page-1/#comment-115271 BoldPilot Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:47:00 +0000 http://bocktherobber.com/?p=4123#comment-115271 Here's an interesting view on the issue from Noreen Bowden, a US citizen born to Irish immigrants, and now living in Ireland. http://www.ean.ie/issues/emigrant-voting/ Here's an interesting view on the issue from Noreen Bowden, a US citizen born to Irish immigrants, and now living in Ireland.

http://www.ean.ie/issues/emigrant-voting/

]]> By: FME http://bocktherobber.com/2009/05/questions-for-fianna-fail-election-candidates/comment-page-1/#comment-115270 FME Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:40:45 +0000 http://bocktherobber.com/?p=4123#comment-115270 I know that unless you are a citizen of the U.S for example you are not entitled to vote in most elections. You are also not entitled to vote back home. That doesn't seem fair to me. Unfortunately every club has rules. ha. Ireland being a beacon to the world in that regard. I know that unless you are a citizen of the U.S for example you are not entitled to vote in most elections. You are also not entitled to vote back home. That doesn't seem fair to me.

Unfortunately every club has rules. ha. Ireland being a beacon to the world in that regard.

]]> By: BoldPilot http://bocktherobber.com/2009/05/questions-for-fianna-fail-election-candidates/comment-page-1/#comment-115268 BoldPilot Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:37:07 +0000 http://bocktherobber.com/?p=4123#comment-115268 No. 8 I direct you to the (free) e-book that I linked earlier. The UK places a 15 year limit on ex-pat voting, Australia 6. India is in the same bracket as us (and Zimbabwe) - voting by non-resident citizens is only offered to certain state employees stationed abroad (diplomatic services and the military). I think that the US system is particularly enlightened. What does gun control have to do with electoral reform/procedures?? No. 8

I direct you to the (free) e-book that I linked earlier.

The UK places a 15 year limit on ex-pat voting, Australia 6. India is in the same bracket as us (and Zimbabwe) – voting by non-resident citizens is only offered to certain state employees stationed abroad (diplomatic services and the military).

I think that the US system is particularly enlightened.

What does gun control have to do with electoral reform/procedures??

]]> By: No.8 http://bocktherobber.com/2009/05/questions-for-fianna-fail-election-candidates/comment-page-1/#comment-115267 No.8 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:26:55 +0000 http://bocktherobber.com/?p=4123#comment-115267 Unfortunately every club has rules, and with privilage comes responsibility. You compare us to Zimbabwe yet in the same colour code are the UK, Australia and the worlds biggest democracy, India. Would you rather we were bracketed with the USA who are to gun control what Herrod was to child care? Unfortunately every club has rules, and with privilage comes responsibility. You compare us to Zimbabwe yet in the same colour code are the UK, Australia and the worlds biggest democracy, India. Would you rather we were bracketed with the USA who are to gun control what Herrod was to child care?

]]> By: BoldPilot http://bocktherobber.com/2009/05/questions-for-fianna-fail-election-candidates/comment-page-1/#comment-115266 BoldPilot Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:12:17 +0000 http://bocktherobber.com/?p=4123#comment-115266 Indeed it's a privilege to be an Irish voter. However, it's a privilege conferred by citizenship, and artificially limited (for emigrants) by legislation. Most countries hold a far more enlightened view on this topic. Meanwhile, we find ourselves in the august company of Zimbabwe, beacon of democracy that it is. Indeed it's a privilege to be an Irish voter. However, it's a privilege conferred by citizenship, and artificially limited (for emigrants) by legislation. Most countries hold a far more enlightened view on this topic. Meanwhile, we find ourselves in the august company of Zimbabwe, beacon of democracy that it is.

]]> By: No.8 http://bocktherobber.com/2009/05/questions-for-fianna-fail-election-candidates/comment-page-1/#comment-115265 No.8 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:04:14 +0000 http://bocktherobber.com/?p=4123#comment-115265 "Take the current wave of people forced (by economic conditions) to leave the country, for instance. They will be disenfranchised and unable to have any input to the democratic process here, just as those who were forced to emigrate in the 1980s." That's exactly my point. People have chosen to leave, sometimes they feel that they have no choice, but they leave none the less. Why should they have a right to vote when living abroad? The right to vote is a privilage, a privilage that should be reserved for the qualified residents of a country. What if you are a citizen of several countries, through birth, parents and grandparents, should you have a vote in all the countries that you area citizen? "Take the current wave of people forced (by economic conditions) to leave the country, for instance. They will be disenfranchised and unable to have any input to the democratic process here, just as those who were forced to emigrate in the 1980s."

That's exactly my point. People have chosen to leave, sometimes they feel that they have no choice, but they leave none the less. Why should they have a right to vote when living abroad? The right to vote is a privilage, a privilage that should be reserved for the qualified residents of a country. What if you are a citizen of several countries, through birth, parents and grandparents, should you have a vote in all the countries that you area citizen?

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