a bit like the minister for housing being upfront about having invested in cuckoo funds
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I think the content should be able to stand up for itself without needing to know the background of the writer. If the content is logical and substantiated, then it shouldnt matter who he is. There are plenty of commentators or journalists who I think are complete arseholes, but if they write something good, who they are or from what background shouldnt make a difference to their piece. I know nothing of this guy at all, but I found both his articles ok. Some of it was accurate and reasonable, other was just populist common denominator blame the government shite.
He is right that government policy of the late 90s and early 00s drove the housing market as an investment opportunity rather than a home to live in issue. However he is entirely wrong in saying that government policy since 2013 is the reason for the price of housing going up.
He is also decrying the purchasing of housing by investment fund agencies etc and that houses should be only bought by first time buyers, but then you are leaving out a huge market of people who do not want or need to buy a house. Many people live in cities because of work and prefer to rent. There is still a need for a rental market and driving housing to purchase only for first time buyers is not a conducive way to ease rental issues.
It’s like calling all Palestinian sympathisers militant Provos - everyone has to be put in a pre determined bucket
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That was my use of hard left. I’m sorry it upset you. I don’t suggest that he be labelled as such at the bottom of an article - just some reference to his political alignment/past.
I think if an academic, who was a former FG politician, was writing on something like housing then he/she should be referenced as so too.
I’m not sure why you’re so worked up about it. Surely it’s a more transparent way of doing things?
I think that’s a good example. Other good examples which are frequently referenced are politicians being landlords etc. That might be uncomfortable for them and they’ll argue it doesn’t influence their decisions but I think it is right that it is made public.
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I think if you present pertinent information as to the writer then the reader can decide whether that influences their assessment of the argument.
Regularly opinion pieces are written in papers by lobbyists making cogent arguments for a particular policy.The arguments may be sound (or not) but I still think its appropriate that it be referenced what background they’re coming from/biases they bring to the argument
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they should also have to list their liabilities, especially after the anglo/INBS fiasco. there’s no way that some TDs werent in hock to those entities
Yeah, I think that’s fair enough, or certainly if they are above a certain threshold.
I’d agree with your point above about landlords more so than that. A particular leaning or stance is not as big an issue as advocating for something which someone has a vested interest in.
Much like Kevs persil survey saying kids should get mucky.
I wasn’t upset, really. No need for that kind of pettiness.
I did a Google and I found reference to hearne being in a socialist workers network which he left in 2008. Is he still involved in a political party somewhere?
The point about people disclosing their interests or background or connection to a policy is area is fair. But I think you’re stretching it.
You also introduced “hard left”, which his article wasn’t. If you label anyone hard anything everyone can dismiss everything they say.
Did he say only first time buyers should be allowed buy? I didn’t think he did but perhaps I’m wrong. Removing investment funds from the market doesn’t necessarily mean there is no longer a rental market either, I don’t think.
Ok. When was that? Until when is it still relevant?
yeah I may have read the above line arseways.
well the poster says “no to bush’s war” so some time before 2008
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Cormac O hEadhra stitched up Josepha Madigan like a kipper there on Drivetime. Apparently Micky Martin said one of the drivers of the housing shortage is Sinn Fein objecting to residential developments. Cormac asked Josepha if she agreed with this. She did. Why then did she object to Charlie Chawkes development in Goatstown. She didn’t object she made a submission. He read out the submission- “object” “object” “object”. She made a submission detailing her constituents objections. That’s not the same as objecting which is what Sinn Fein do. She has a duty as a public representative to make submissions on behalf of her constituents (she doesn’t. That’s all in her head).
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Once a Comrade always a Comrade.
The problem with quick fix populist solutions is written large over Ireland’s property landscape over last 25 years.
Remote working and demographics will solve it.
Any day Josepha is stitched up is a good day.
I’ve a pamphlet in the bin from last week where she made virtue of the very thing she is complaining about.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have been in power for the last 25 years. People before Profit bear no responsibility for the housing shortage.
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They’re still his politics, you wouldn’t discount the background of a right-winger in the same circumstance.
Nothing John McGuirk, for example; puts up in relation to Covid goes without reference to his politics, and it’s fair enough in that instance.
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