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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Doyler, for me, it's arguable that there's better education than our parents time. I'm 56 so we'll say parents education time was 60 years ago. It's never been easier to get a qualification. Private colleges are advertising for courses, Springboard have cheap courses, the quality and practical learning on those courses is questionable. There's plenty of young people walking around with degrees, Masters, Doctorates that they got in online college using simulators for projects. They can pass exams but would struggle to cook a dinner, change a plug or sew a button their shirt. Even 30 years ago you had a good practical grasp of college subjects and lecturers had a genuine interest in improving your knowledge. Yet many of the current graduates think a qualification, with little experience, means they should be earning enough to buy a house. Maybe an old fashioned view but do a bit of grafting first.

Your PCP story is a great one, for 2024. I know plenty like that. Complain about not affording a deposit but ignoring their new electric car they paid through their noses for to impress the neighbours. I reluctantly got a Revolut card recently. Reluctant because I'm not convinced there won't be charges at some stage. Plus lads I know only have one to send money to each other for betting. Signed up and lo and behold, I can get a loan easily, or bet on stocks! Seems it's never been easier to get finance for what you want, no penalties if you pay on time. But too many, especially this time of year, can get into a debt spiral buying stuff they don't need and wonder why a bank, who check all their spending and loans, refuse their mortgage application."
You're not wrong about the practical skills piece for sure.

Most of my mates wouldn't even attempt to do any maintenance in their own homes. I work in financial services but am fortunate enough to have served time as a plumber until I was let go on 08 and decided to go to college. I have saved tens of thousands on renovations by re plumbing, fitting new sanitary ware, plastering, timber work, insulation, changing light fittings etc. Myself.

Just for context I am only 35 so my parents would have left education in the 70s with their inter cert then got good quality factory jobs with powerful Unions.

The one my mam was in until my older sister was born is gone but she left to rear the children.

My Dad is retiring at the end of the month having worked there since 84.

I also agree with the remark about the level of entitlement with some college kids. I've been a hiring manager for a few years and have noticed a massive change in attitude from applicants doing no prep and expecting not to get out of bed for less than 40k

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3151 - 20/11/2024 11:44:20    2580422

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All the talk about biden Harris campaign and now they seem determined to start WW3 before they leave office.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3151 - 20/11/2024 11:45:05    2580423

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Doyler, for me, it's arguable that there's better education than our parents time. I'm 56 so we'll say parents education time was 60 years ago. It's never been easier to get a qualification. Private colleges are advertising for courses, Springboard have cheap courses, the quality and practical learning on those courses is questionable. There's plenty of young people walking around with degrees, Masters, Doctorates that they got in online college using simulators for projects. They can pass exams but would struggle to cook a dinner, change a plug or sew a button their shirt. Even 30 years ago you had a good practical grasp of college subjects and lecturers had a genuine interest in improving your knowledge. Yet many of the current graduates think a qualification, with little experience, means they should be earning enough to buy a house. Maybe an old fashioned view but do a bit of grafting first.

Your PCP story is a great one, for 2024. I know plenty like that. Complain about not affording a deposit but ignoring their new electric car they paid through their noses for to impress the neighbours. I reluctantly got a Revolut card recently. Reluctant because I'm not convinced there won't be charges at some stage. Plus lads I know only have one to send money to each other for betting. Signed up and lo and behold, I can get a loan easily, or bet on stocks! Seems it's never been easier to get finance for what you want, no penalties if you pay on time. But too many, especially this time of year, can get into a debt spiral buying stuff they don't need and wonder why a bank, who check all their spending and loans, refuse their mortgage application."
There are a couple of posters here who put together their views on every day issues like housing, financial matters, national concerns, politics / political issues etc. There is a lot of honesty in them and make good reading.

I watched Prime Time with Sarah Mcinerney hosting her outside broadcast from Kilkenny last night, her first three guests were Peter Burke FG, Mattie McGrath Ind. and Adrienne Wallace PBP. I gave up after the first three panelists because it was like a clip from the Choir boys or a snap shot from the electric picnic without music.

Prior to when our economy went belly up a few short years ago we were getting warnings that went unheeded, we kept borrowing and spending until the bubble burst, we seem to be making the same mistakes now, are we not.? We also in my humble opinion have our priorities. wrong or at least out of sequence. I can resonate so well with Rebel2020's post. My choice was to stay in Carlow and hope for the best, I moved out reinvented myself, secure working life, a mortgaged house in another county and province, wife settled and kids happy enough, it's not always a comfort zone but it's affordable because of the economic decisions we made earlier on in our life.

Number 1 out of many on our priority list should be a better health care system with quicker and easier access to a family doctor, also an easier access to a hospital and bed as required. It's my believe that there's not much point buying a house and being strangled with its mortgage etc falling into bad health with worry if you can't enjoy it, good health care first everything else is secondary.

It's my own theory and I'm only guessing that, -

FF will secure one or two seats more than FG, therefore MM will automatically become elected Taoiseach. SH leadership will be brought into question.

SF will win more seats than anticipated at the moment. The Independent's will also do reasonably well. Labour will finish as is.

PBP and SD will struggle.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3055 - 20/11/2024 13:09:28    2580437

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Well it's obvious to me from the numbers, they won't go in with SF so it has to be FF/FG plus a smaller party, the only question is will FF or FG get the most seats and who will be Taoiseach, that's my read of it anyway, we'll know by Saturday week."
What i meant was, why do you think people will vote for them in sufficient numbers for them to get those seats?

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5195 - 20/11/2024 14:00:46    2580446

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Replying To cavanman47:  "What i meant was, why do you think people will vote for them in sufficient numbers for them to get those seats?"
Illusion of choice - everything is apple juice

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12200 - 20/11/2024 14:29:45    2580456

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Replying To cavanman47:  "What i meant was, why do you think people will vote for them in sufficient numbers for them to get those seats?"
Why do I think that? based on what I see and hear I suppose, how else, what's your own opinion? how do you think the election will pan out?
I can see MM being Taoiseach again, FF to get 40 plus seats. FG have lost too many sitting TD's who have opted not to run again, SF will prob get mid 30's at best, FG round the same.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3034 - 20/11/2024 18:03:31    2580486

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Replying To Breffni40:  "Illusion of choice - everything is apple juice"
People have a choice tho. Vote for the same government parties or don't vote for them.

I'm asking why sufficient numbers of people would vote them back in. . .if the multiple 'crises' are indeed as bad as some say.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5195 - 20/11/2024 18:32:11    2580488

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Replying To cavanman47:  "People have a choice tho. Vote for the same government parties or don't vote for them.

I'm asking why sufficient numbers of people would vote them back in. . .if the multiple 'crises' are indeed as bad as some say."
One look at the alternatives woukd make anyone stick to the outgoing lot.!

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1961 - 20/11/2024 20:41:30    2580497

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Why do I think that? based on what I see and hear I suppose, how else, what's your own opinion? how do you think the election will pan out?
I can see MM being Taoiseach again, FF to get 40 plus seats. FG have lost too many sitting TD's who have opted not to run again, SF will prob get mid 30's at best, FG round the same."
I agree the numbers will pan out similarly to how you've outlined.

SF will do slightly better than current estimates and Independent Ireland will do considerably better than forecasted.

But I do think FF/FG will lead the next government and my point is that this wouldn't happen if things weren't going well, on the whole, in this country.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5195 - 20/11/2024 22:01:36    2580506

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "All the talk about biden Harris campaign and now they seem determined to start WW3 before they leave office."
All funding will be pulled from Ukraine when the lunatics take over in January. Let's see how Europe fairs out then. Ireland will need to start pulling its weight in terms of defence and security. It's a joke we have the RAF protecting us.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11409 - 20/11/2024 22:02:33    2580507

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Replying To yew_tree:  "All funding will be pulled from Ukraine when the lunatics take over in January. Let's see how Europe fairs out then. Ireland will need to start pulling its weight in terms of defence and security. It's a joke we have the RAF protecting us."
Judging by the last few days there won't be a Europe in January

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3151 - 20/11/2024 22:34:07    2580509

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Replying To Breffni40:  "With the greatest respect to your father, did he have to pay a huge chunk of his income on a mortgage?"
I don't know if his father had a mortgage but I certainly had and I can identify with everything he said not alone did we have a mortgage but in the early 80s interest rates reached double figures I recall my mortgage going up 4 times in as many months you dreaded the postman appearing we had no car couldn't afford one a colour tv would set u back 300 punts we both worked semi skilled jobs which I have just retired from after 48 years

minor77 (Galway) - Posts: 241 - 20/11/2024 23:38:27    2580512

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "One look at the alternatives woukd make anyone stick to the outgoing lot.!"
BINGO!

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5195 - 21/11/2024 03:51:23    2580516

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "All the talk about biden Harris campaign and now they seem determined to start WW3 before they leave office."
I posted on here months ago about the general thinking behind the middle east conflicts.

Iran want access to the Mediterranean. Currently they have that, either via Iraq-Lebanon or Iraq-Syria.

Now, the Lebanon route is pretty much cut off, due to Israel's targeting of Beirut (claimed to be a targeting of Hezbolah).

And wouldn't you just know - last week, Israel hit Syria with missile attacks. What were Syria doing to Israel? Precisely zero.

Why can Israel contine to attack these non-combative sovereign states? Because the USA want to curtail Iran influence in the region and block Iran access to the Mediterranean.

And what is the price the USA need to pay for such a situation?

The need to support Israel's stated (openly) objective. . .of wiping Palestine off the face of the earth.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5195 - 21/11/2024 04:00:13    2580517

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Replying To yew_tree:  "All funding will be pulled from Ukraine when the lunatics take over in January. Let's see how Europe fairs out then. Ireland will need to start pulling its weight in terms of defence and security. It's a joke we have the RAF protecting us."
Ireland are neutral.

We won't need to pull our weight.

Europe (NATO), with or without the US, would wipe the floor with Russia if it came to it.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5195 - 21/11/2024 04:01:56    2580518

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Replying To cavanman47:  "I posted on here months ago about the general thinking behind the middle east conflicts.

Iran want access to the Mediterranean. Currently they have that, either via Iraq-Lebanon or Iraq-Syria.

Now, the Lebanon route is pretty much cut off, due to Israel's targeting of Beirut (claimed to be a targeting of Hezbolah).

And wouldn't you just know - last week, Israel hit Syria with missile attacks. What were Syria doing to Israel? Precisely zero.

Why can Israel contine to attack these non-combative sovereign states? Because the USA want to curtail Iran influence in the region and block Iran access to the Mediterranean.

And what is the price the USA need to pay for such a situation?

The need to support Israel's stated (openly) objective. . .of wiping Palestine off the face of the earth."
Israel is half of Palestine. Sooner those that are leading their coalition government realise this, or preferably get voted out at the next election, the better for the region.
As regards trying to paint regimes like Syrias as victims maybe you should study what they have done to the Kurds.
Hezbollah and Hamas are not like the IRA. Islamic Extremists have little value on life. People of differing religious persuasions don't deserve to live at all. And people with the same religious beliefs as themselves are expendable as they will thank you for sending them to heaven dying getting rid of the non believers.
The problems in the region date back well over 2000 years . Interesting history. Very bloody, very sad, and reading it would definitely make you question how close to God any of the worlds major religions actually are.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13884 - 21/11/2024 09:39:19    2580536

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Replying To cavanman47:  "People have a choice tho. Vote for the same government parties or don't vote for them.

I'm asking why sufficient numbers of people would vote them back in. . .if the multiple 'crises' are indeed as bad as some say."
If either of them got an overall majority the fine and dandy but I find it odd that nothing is said about about the expectation that the two biggest parties will go into coalition. Just accepted as normal. It isn't. Not very democratic in my book and you could legitimately say the system is rigged against change.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12200 - 21/11/2024 10:13:42    2580542

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Replying To Breffni40:  "If either of them got an overall majority the fine and dandy but I find it odd that nothing is said about about the expectation that the two biggest parties will go into coalition. Just accepted as normal. It isn't. Not very democratic in my book and you could legitimately say the system is rigged against change."
Dáil elects Taoiseach and Government.
The people haven't given any single party an overall majority since 1977.
P.R. works.
Viable Coalitions are formed all over Europe, based on Parties discussions after elections.

In the island next door a party gets 37% of the vote, 66% of the seats and 100% of Governnent.

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1961 - 21/11/2024 10:33:06    2580544

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Replying To Viking66:  "Israel is half of Palestine. Sooner those that are leading their coalition government realise this, or preferably get voted out at the next election, the better for the region.
As regards trying to paint regimes like Syrias as victims maybe you should study what they have done to the Kurds.
Hezbollah and Hamas are not like the IRA. Islamic Extremists have little value on life. People of differing religious persuasions don't deserve to live at all. And people with the same religious beliefs as themselves are expendable as they will thank you for sending them to heaven dying getting rid of the non believers.
The problems in the region date back well over 2000 years . Interesting history. Very bloody, very sad, and reading it would definitely make you question how close to God any of the worlds major religions actually are."
Very interesting question re the worlds major religions. I would ask another one. What would the world resemble if the different religions hadn't been hijacked over the millennia by bloodthirsty and power hungry emperors and despots. In my opinion, the propagation of the various religions was always a smokescreen for land and assets grabs. Look at the way Mr Putin cosied up to the leader of the Orthodox Church when he first decided that Russia's "strategic" interests were more important than Ukraines right to self determination. And there have other such scenes over the centuries. The Crusades were another example.

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1274 - 21/11/2024 10:54:42    2580545

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Replying To Breffni40:  "If either of them got an overall majority the fine and dandy but I find it odd that nothing is said about about the expectation that the two biggest parties will go into coalition. Just accepted as normal. It isn't. Not very democratic in my book and you could legitimately say the system is rigged against change."
Their policies are almost identical. Both are centre-right. Makes sense that they form a coalition and provide stable governance.

And it's perfectly democratic - if their candidates don't get voted for, they won't win seats.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5195 - 21/11/2024 11:15:27    2580548

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