Any honest conversation about misinformation would include the basic fact that the greatest purveyors of misinformation in any democracy – not only Irelands – are elected politicians and unelected political actors.
This is a Government – and in fact an entire political class – with very low levels of respect and admiration from the public by historical standards.
The Soc Dems have every chance of watching Labour sink, and picking up the survivors. In the meantime, they have no reason to lash themselves to a sinking ship.
The significance of 2023 is that it is the year when “far right” stopped being a label people feared, and began to become a standing joke.
It’s very likely that the kind of young voter who’s minded to vote McGregor would see the revulsion displayed towards him by the establishment as a net-positive, rather than a net-negative.
This new venture should be welcomed onto the scene. But those of us who do wish it well should also temper our expectations.
But who is truly honest and humble enough to serve the people of Ireland?
The prospect of Labour, the oldest party in the state, being entirely wiped out at the next election is now firmly on the table.
Trusting the old ways of lobbying and influencing politics may well be the downfall of rural Ireland
you’d be foolish to bet heavily against our current crop of Ministers, minus maybe the Greens, getting another go at this.
in a more relaxed setting, politicians were obviously and perhaps understandably more open to expressing, and considering, a wider range of views.
Everything about the electoral commission’s new mandate – which it is already enhancing by itself – speaks to a body that is designed to funnel voters towards particular decisions and away from other decisions.