Which party should I join?

I'm not up for writing a big OP right now so I'll keep it brief. I'm looking to join a party. I'm just out of the Socialist Party, am no longer a socialist. I am centre-left, socially liberal, believe in social democracy mixed with economic pragmatism. Pro-Europe, internationalist, secularist.

Any suggestions?

Evercloserunion, i'll exempt myself from suggestions, being as I reside on the other side of the Irish Sea, but I see you are quoting John Kelly underneath and I thank you for doing so. I rem. John Kelly.

Don't rem. ever agreeing much with him politically but God, politics needs more minds and characters like his these days.

Unfortunately I don't know who John M. Kelly is.

It sounds like the Labour Party or FF to me, evercloserunion. Both of them have described themselves as Socialist but otherwise seem to fit your bill.

This should be a good thread.

evercloserunion wrote:

I'm not up for writing a big OP right now so I'll keep it brief. I'm looking to join a party. I'm just out of the Socialist Party, am no longer a socialist. I am centre-left, socially liberal, believe in social democracy mixed with economic pragmatism. Pro-Europe, internationalist, secularist.

Any suggestions?

I think it depends on quite a lot of other factors. I'd fit your description, pretty much, but environmental issues are dominant for me, so I'd usually go Green-Labour in voting, and the Greens are the only party I've considered joining (the more so since the last GE).

Bearing in mind that you've just left a socialist collective....next stop would be Sinn Féin followed by the Worker's Party then veer more to your right to the Democratic left then bat your eyelids at Labour before declaring for the Blueshirts while later revealing that you were FF all along........you could end up as a Senator......bizarrer things have happened.

evercloserunion wrote:

I'm not up for writing a big OP right now so I'll keep it brief. I'm looking to join a party. I'm just out of the Socialist Party, am no longer a socialist. I am centre-left, socially liberal, believe in social democracy mixed with economic pragmatism. Pro-Europe, internationalist, secularist.

Any suggestions?

Ah, you were under a monicker of a rather different complexion there about a month ago. I remember reading the thread on P.ie about your wish to change username to more accurately reflect your newfound political affiliations and outlook.

I'd join the PDs for the craic and be there for the final moments of that party's existence before signing up for either Labour or the Green Party.

The PDs were my party but I'm going to be ideologically homeless in about a month's time so I think I'll invest my own energies into the Green Party. I think they'd be the perfect party if they adopted a firmly liberal economic policy to go with all the other great stuff they're doing.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

evercloserunion wrote:

I'm not up for writing a big OP right now so I'll keep it brief. I'm looking to join a party. I'm just out of the Socialist Party, am no longer a socialist. I am centre-left, socially liberal, believe in social democracy mixed with economic pragmatism. Pro-Europe, internationalist, secularist.

Any suggestions?

Ah, you were under a monicker of a rather different complexion there about a month ago. I remember reading the thread on P.ie about your wish to change username to more accurately reflect your newfound political affiliations and outlook.

I'd join the PDs for the craic and be there for the final moments of that party's existence before signing up for either Labour or the Green Party.

The PDs were my party but I'm going to be ideologically homeless in about a month's time so I think I'll invest my own energies into the Green Party. I think they'd be the perfect party if they adopted a firmly liberal economic policy to go with all the other great stuff they're doing.

now I know i'm definitely jetlagged dear Ard-T ...

Atticus wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

evercloserunion wrote:

I'm not up for writing a big OP right now so I'll keep it brief. I'm looking to join a party. I'm just out of the Socialist Party, am no longer a socialist. I am centre-left, socially liberal, believe in social democracy mixed with economic pragmatism. Pro-Europe, internationalist, secularist.

Any suggestions?

Ah, you were under a monicker of a rather different complexion there about a month ago. I remember reading the thread on P.ie about your wish to change username to more accurately reflect your newfound political affiliations and outlook.

I'd join the PDs for the craic and be there for the final moments of that party's existence before signing up for either Labour or the Green Party.

The PDs were my party but I'm going to be ideologically homeless in about a month's time so I think I'll invest my own energies into the Green Party. I think they'd be the perfect party if they adopted a firmly liberal economic policy to go with all the other great stuff they're doing.

now I know i'm definitely jetlagged dear Ard-T ...

Is that right Atticus? I'm just in from a night on the town so we're both in the same boat.

Em I think you're possibly in a happier state than i am, I'm simply awake and adjusting to time differences, without any nice additives! Your espousal of Green Party virtues caught me off the hop.

I wish I'd joined the PDs before the went,

Atticus wrote:

Em I think you're possibly in a happier state than i am, I'm simply awake and adjusting to time differences, without any nice additives! Your espousal of Green Party virtues caught me off the hop.

I'm grand except for the fact I can't seem to get a mojito this side of the M50 which aergert mich. I hope you get over the chronological distortion. I'm a great fan of the Green Party since they offer a lot more than fusty FF and FG. Labour is tired, lacks purpose and the only Labour TD I'd actually vote for is Ruarí Quinn. The only thing which gets to me about the Greens is that there's lots of leftists in it who want to tax and spend. If that can be weeded out, as Dan Boyle was largely successful in, then the Greens are the best we have.

cookiemonster wrote:

I wish I'd joined the PDs before the went,

As do I. They were just the right mix of people. It's very unfortunate that they're winding up.

SeathrúnCeitinn wrote:

Bearing in mind that you've just left a socialist collective....next stop would be Sinn Féin followed by the Worker's Party then veer more to your right to the Democratic left then bat your eyelids at Labour before declaring for the Blueshirts while later revealing that you were FF all along........you could end up as a Senator......bizarrer things have happened.

...let's be honest, this is how it often works isn't it?! ... well done young Seathrun ...

cookiemonster wrote:

I wish I'd joined the PDs before the went,

Get a membership card for the SDLp before their title falls apart

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

I wish I'd joined the PDs before the went,

As do I. They were just the right mix of people. It's very unfortunate that they're winding up.

Wonder who or what will take their place?

cookiemonster wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

I wish I'd joined the PDs before the went,

As do I. They were just the right mix of people. It's very unfortunate that they're winding up.

Wonder who or what will take their place?

It'd be interesting to see, Fine Gael will want to reclaim that middle class Dublin vote to shore up their position in the capital. Why don't we set up a party to fill the gap!

SeathrúnCeitinn wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

I wish I'd joined the PDs before the went,

Get a membership card for the SDLp before their title falls apart

*shudder*

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

I wish I'd joined the PDs before the went,

As do I. They were just the right mix of people. It's very unfortunate that they're winding up.

Wonder who or what will take their place?

It'd be interesting to see, Fine Gael will want to reclaim that middle class Dublin vote to shore up their position in the capital. Why don't we set up a party to fill the gap!

I've always though about it. But it would be too much like the PDs to do it while the PDs were around. maybe now that they are gone the time is ripe. But I have my eye on a different ball at the moment,

cookiemonster wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

cookiemonster wrote:

I wish I'd joined the PDs before the went,

As do I. They were just the right mix of people. It's very unfortunate that they're winding up.

Wonder who or what will take their place?

It'd be interesting to see, Fine Gael will want to reclaim that middle class Dublin vote to shore up their position in the capital. Why don't we set up a party to fill the gap!

I've always though about it. But it would be too much like the PDs to do it while the PDs were around. maybe now that they are gone the time is ripe. But I have my eye on a different ball at the moment,

It's something which would be good to do, but it's a tough climate for any non-mainstream parties. It seems FF and FG with Labour is the permanent political settlement in this country.

SeathrúnCeitinn wrote:

Bearing in mind that you've just left a socialist collective....next stop would be Sinn Féin followed by the Worker's Party then veer more to your right to the Democratic left then bat your eyelids at Labour before declaring for the Blueshirts while later revealing that you were FF all along........you could end up as a Senator......bizarrer things have happened.

The problem is that not only the individual punters but also the parties have drifted right. Notwithstanding evercloserunion's rightward trajectory, is there not a need for a party of the left that stays there, and show's some sturdy signs of life? evercloserunion doesn't seem to have been too sold on the Socialist Party. Where did it all go wrong I wonder?

If anyone wants ask Eamon Gilmore, he'll be at the Heritage, Port Laoise, tonight http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhqlidcwqlql/

cactus flower wrote:

The problem is that not only the individual punters but also the parties have drifted right. Notwithstanding evercloserunion's rightward trajectory, is there not a need for a party of the left that stays there, and show's some sturdy signs of life?

No there isn't because there is no basis for a party of the left given the total failure of socialism to provide a sustainably high standard of living for people in any country in which it has been attempted. However, when countries abandoned the lunacy of leftism in China, Vietnam and Eastern Europe a rise in living standards occurred.

Quote :

evercloserunion doesn't seem to have been too sold on the Socialist Party. Where did it all go wrong I wonder?

Came to terms with reality I'd wager.

Quote :

If anyone wants ask Eamon Gilmore, he'll be at the Heritage, Port Laoise, tonight http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhqlidcwqlql/

Thanks for that.

Join us in the Greens cos... we're lovely!
There was homemade cookies at one the last meetings I attended. I shit thee not.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

The only thing which gets to me about the Greens is that there's lots of leftists in it who want to tax and spend. If that can be weeded out, as Dan Boyle was largely successful in, then the Greens are the best we have.

Its a broader church than most people realise.
It also varies a little one local group to another.

Hey CookieMonster, bet Declan Ganley doesn't bring his own homemade cookies to Libertas meetings!

Thanks for the replies. I will answer in different posts because I find that no one reads long drawn out posts.

cactus wrote:

Unfortunately I don't know who John M. Kelly is.

It sounds like the Labour Party or FF to me, evercloserunion. Both of them have described themselves as Socialist but otherwise seem to fit your bill.

This should be a good thread.

John M. Kelly was one of the greatest legal minds this country has produced. I wouldn't have agreed with him politically either but I have great respect for him as an academic.

Labour of FF would have been what I was thinking. Labour seem to be very weak politically and I lost a lot of respect for them after they threw a wobbly and tore into Sarkozy after realizing they'd backed the wrong horse in the Lisbon campaign, It also bothers me that they seem to be rather irrelevant, consistently failing to impress in elections.

Fianna Fáil on the other hand are a stronger party politically, with more experience of leading the country. However, there are numerous problems with the country that FF built. The main thing is the very bad planning that has gone into much of the country, in particular the Dublin suburbs. I am also annoyed by the red tape and inefficiency that is to be found in many government departments.