A Comparison of the Candidates
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by Edana Savage
I started this article three times and erased it three times. This will be number four. I have thought long and hard about how I wanted to write this. While I can tap into my analytical side well when necessary, I just wasn't feeling it.
What I do have an abundance of is uncanny intuition and a slightly twisted view on things. So instead of fighting it, I have decided to embrace it.
This will not be an analysis. I want to make that clear. This is simple my take on the two candidates and what piqued my interest and what irritated me. I may ask questions. In which case, I hope the candidates would indulge me and answer.
So here we go....... 🙂
Brian Boru: Candidate for the Irish Socialist Republic Party
As I was running down his manifesto, two things caught my eye. One his views on free trade and the how it could be implemented. Having just read Chris Stanwicks article, http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/global-trade-analysis-921206/1/20, I thought that this was very interesting and very doable. I'm not sure what it would take to move us from a Moderationist to a philosophy of free trade, but I'm interested. My question would be who could be the potential partners he speaks of and how would he go about establishing trade relations? As a former Advisor to Starks Hayter on Foreign Affairs, I would be particularly interested in a more detailed view on how all of this would fit together in a comprehensive strategy. Could you expound on this BB?
The second thing that caught my eye was his views on Defence. Seemed a bit vague and uninspiring. Of course, we aren't afraid to fight! Kinda ruffled my feathers a bit. I have also read the Defence of the Republik Act. It does a fine job outlining what we would do should be become occupied, but it doesn't tell me what we are doing to prevent something like that from happening in the first place. I have PM'd him on this and I'm still left unsatisfied by his answers. *sigh* I know I'm a noob, but can you outline your views on this please? It may seem rudimentary, but I really would like to know.
Overall, it was ok. Nothing I could get all excited over other than the Free Trade, and I would expect that with his background in Finance and Foreign Affairs. Those are his obvious strengths. It's the weaknesses that concern me. I am sure he would be appointing people who have expertise in specific areas. I'd be interested to see who he would choose.
Patton: Candidate for the Irish Union Party and supported by the Irish Freedom Party
The first thing that interested me was the tremendous amount of experience this man has! This guy has been around. Super Soldier award twice. A Colonel in the military, a former MoD, a congressperson 6 times. Hardworker award twice. And has been president before.
And all of my correspondence with him has always been delightful and informative. Something a wordsmith like me can appreciate.
As far as Defence, I think he is being too modest. He has said that he would defer to Grainne's expertise, but I think that he has more there than he said. Expound, please, Mr. Patton. I would be interested in hearing more. What would be an ideal military alliance in your opinion? What does Ireland need to ensure her continued defence?
Another thing that I found interesting is his views on state jobs. Recently, the wages were dropped from 5 IEP to 4 IEP. Would you support further decreases, or do you think we are at the level we need to be at this point in time?
As for the gifting that you mentioned in the Health Section of your Manifesto, how would you go about determining who should receive these gifts? How would you discourage inactivity? And how precisely would you go about reducing waste? And do you have any thoughts about improving existing hospital quality?
It is obvious, that his strengths lie in Defence and the Economy. There wasn't enough clarity to satisfy me on how he would go about cultivating relations with alliances or with other countries as it pertains to trade. As I said with BB, I would be very interested to see who he would appoint as advisors in the areas that he is weakest in.
Overall I thought the presentation was clear in the areas he has the greatest strength in and vague in the areas that were not. His manifesto was ok too. Maybe it was the format in which it was presented. While ok for a point by point comparision, it doesn't appeal to my intuitive nature.
Summary:
If I were to go by facts alone, I would be looking at an extremely tough decision. Both have strengths in different areas. And both are areas that I am interested in, Free Trade and Defence. Both have loads of experience and an obvious drive to do what is best for Ireland. That cannot be in doubt.
But, I don't operate on facts alone. I have had personal contact with both men. I came away with two very different impressions. One favorable and one not so favorable.
I am leaning more one way than another, but I would like to give both candidates a chance to respond before I make an official endorsement. 🙂
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Comments
nice
Honest and balanced. Great article!
hhhhhmmm, an interesting viewpoint, mine is slightly different of course, we all see from a different standing location 😃
Do you feel there are only two runners, now Edana?
The PMs you have exchanged? Will you be editing the above, or asking each man to make a comment here?
You have not to call yourself a noob any more. That title no longer describes you.
Brilliant article, balanced and informative. I look forward to both candidates responding to you.
I was looking through the bowels of eRep and i noticed that
declandonaghy88 the Independent Voices party nominee has not worked in three days and not published in 2months. I haven't seen a manifesto from him so I think that Edana is right in no including him. Because this isn't the kind of inactivity we want from a President. Can anyone tell me is he active on the Independent Voices Forums?
I agree with Tarazis, Edan. This article is very well written and definitely puts you above the ranks of noobs. In these comments I will endeavor to fill the gaps my manifesto left open. If you have any more questions or feel Im still too vague in one thing please message me or meet me in IRC. I would be delighted to engage in dialogue
Here we go
An ideal military alliance - For Ireland an ideal alliance would be something like were doing nowadays in Greece. Were defending a neutral country against an unjust aggressor while not putting Ireland in an over vunerable situation. Of course , I hope we can defend a neutral country regardless of our vunerability. If we have to do it secretly then thats what we will do.
State Companies - The dropping of the state companies wage to 4 IEP made me and my party members very excited. However, I still think it needs to be lowered to 3 IEP at least until workers get to level 2. My critics call me " cruel " and forcing people to " scrape by ". I say at best it takes 6 days to get to level 2 and people can " scrape by " until then
Health - Because of our continued state of war games gifting is losing its importance. However, Vyse, Kolshire and I were discussing a new plan yesterday on IRC that would change the entire focus of the Health department and might potentially abolish it. I dont want to release any details about it because were still thinking it through
Lol. I never thought I'd see such a thinly disguised attempt to suck up to Patton.
I find your take on the candidates to be interesting. I'd still like to hear more from the candidates as well, and perhaps see another platform release from each before the election. Thanks, Edana.
@Mannimarco
What is incorrect in the article? Both receive praise and have weaknesses highlighted. The manifestos seem to be equal overall in her eyes while Patton is has a better record than BB in PMs with Edana.
Abolishment of Health ? heh if you abolish Health then where can citizens recieve help on wellness ?
Incorporate it into the MoD, they have to look after some of that stuff anyway. Personally I would keep MoH and get rid of MoD.
This is one excellent article.
Damn, I'm impressed.
Gabriel : MoD is one of the most important positions we need it to orangise the IDF if we get rid of it than we will have bad prepares for an upcoming war.
My response:
http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/response-to-edana-savage-s-questions--923143/1/20" target="_blank">http://www.erepublik.com/en/article/resp[..]/1/20
Thanks for the independent perspective.
Let me say this. You both have impressed me. Even now I can't endorse one over the other.
Thank you both for clarifying some finer points. The more people are informed about your views the better they will be able to make a decision.
I will have to weigh both of your responses carefully and I honestly don't think I will know how to vote until the time comes. It is that close for me.
@Manni
It's not sucking up! lol I genuinely have a respect for his acheivements. Just as I'm learning to respect your acerbic view of the world. Such a cynic. And I mean that affectionately. 🙂
@Grainne
Yes, I do think there is only two. As TS said, I haven't seen a manifesto from Declan, and he hasn't been very active on here as of late. I have attempted to find out more about him and his views and I've got nothing to go on. The other two have put in the time and effort and therefore they are the ones I will consider.
@TS
Thank you. That means a lot. Yeah! I'm not a noob no more! 😃