Movement for political change manifesto (Wicklow Branch )

Machholz 07.09.10

Movement for political change manifesto (Wicklow Branch )

An Open Manifesto

Overview

Not since the war of independence have the Irish People collectively been faced with
the level of difficulties that now confronts them. The collapse of the economy has
exposed how corrupt and inefficient the Irish political system of government has
become. It is now no longer fit for purpose. It is time for radical change. Unless this
change takes place we fear that our country will never adequately recover.
Difficult times call for difficult decisions. We do not believe the current political
parties are capable of executing the necessary political reform. Accordingly, we set
out below some of the changes we believe must be carried out to give ourselves and
our children a chance of a better future.

The current predominance of policy measures that are designed to invoice ordinary
families and individuals (consumers and taxpayers) with the full cost of stabilizing
vested interests and elites must stop. Continued devastation of private
entrepreneurship and businesses reflected in contracting investment and lack of
confidence must be halted through enlightened government policy and effective
executive action.

We hope all Irish citizens who share in our despair and our bewilderment at the
ineptitude and corruption of the current system will help us bring a new political dawn
to Ireland. This task will not be easy; it will require pain and effort. Many will regard
our efforts as futile but we believe we must try. Circumstances demand it. We ask you
in patriotic sincerity to join us and help make moral change a reality. We do not know
for sure where this endeavour will lead but we are ready for the challenge, are you?

Character lies in the will and in the execution of purpose. Let us join together for the
purpose of redefining who we are as a people and what our country is to become. The
current tragedy has got to stop and stop now! It is our belief that Ireland's electorate
is ready for an alternative political and popular movement that will put the interests of
consumers and taxpayers at the top of governance and the policy agenda.

If you agree with most of the core values set out below and sincerely believe that the
current system of no accountability and cronyism should no longer be the norm in
Irish politics then please take action. Join our group or a similar grouping in your
area. Please consider running in your local constituency for election under this banner
of ideals. If you yourself cannot run please help and support, in any small way
possible, the men and women who choose to do so. Only focused local effort acting in
teams but bonded in a spirit of national community can bring about the change our
country sorely needs.


Banking and the National Debt

The Development of a National Commercial Bank to promote commerce and
employment must be given top priority.

Nearly two years following the outbreak of this banking crisis no guilty parties have
been prosecuted and imprisoned. We find this state of affairs unacceptable.

The enormous burden of debt as a result of fraud that has been inflicted on the Irish
taxpayers by a self elevated group of citizens within the state must be fully
investigated. Criminal prosecutions must be brought against all these perpetrators. All
losses should be recouped by the state where possible.

None of the people both in private and public sectors responsible for the current
financial devastation should be allowed continue to benefit from the bankruptcy of
Ireland. We propose a referendum to secure these emergency modifications to the
Irish Constitution if necessary.

We believe the way the National Debt can be dealt with is through economic growth.
The availability of a New National Commercial Bank coupled with enlightened
economic policy will restore confidence and growth to the Irish economy. We believe
that once confidence is restored to the National spirit then and only then will recovery
commence.

The socialization of private commercial debts is not justified and the Irish taxpayers
have no legal obligation to honour such debts. Commercial liabilities should be the
responsibility of the private banks and their shareholders. Bondholders and
shareholders must bear all appropriate risk before the Irish taxpayer is made
contribute to any ongoing institutional bailout. This is the law of commercial reality
and this law should have been applied in first instance.

Agriculture

We will promote the growth of a sustainable intensive farming system. This
programme will have as its goal the ability of the country to efficiently supply all
population centres with meats, poultry, vegetables, and dairy products.

Natural Resources

The natural resources of the country belong to the entire nation and contracts
negotiated by the previous corrupt government must be made null and void and re-
negotiated.

Fishing

The disastrous treaties negotiated by corrupt Irish politicians should be voided
and the fishing industry in Ireland developed to become the major employer it once
was.

Technology

we live in a web based world. The web is the “Modern Electricity”. Access to this
facility should be granted to every citizen as a top priority. Cutting edge broadband
distribution techniques (such as BPL) should be brought into service with the
intention of having a nationwide network capable of delivering a 100gigs to every
home in the country at a set annual fee. This roll out to include wireless connections.

All commercial centers, government departments and institutions of education should
be interconnected to this grid.

Education

We are committed to lifelong learning and have a strong belief that an educated
workforce is the best protection against unemployment and under-employment. With
this is mind we are committed to introducing legislation that would allow all
unemployed citizens to return to full time education for the purpose of obtaining the
necessary qualifications. A payment equal to the job seekers allowance will be paid
during the period of attendance.

Ireland has a reputation for excellence in education. The new high efficiency web
could be used to connect and market our institutions and educators to the world thus
allow this industry to become a major contributor to our “balance of trade.”

Health Care

We are committed to universal health care for our people. The current two tier system
must be abolished in favour of a fair single national health insurance system.

Irish doctors and nurses are renowned the world over. We should tap this resource to
enable Ireland to become one of the best transnational health care locations of choice.
Our low cost airlines are an added advantage in this area.

The free market should be allowed to set drug prices in the republic.
It is no longer sustainable to expect out citizens to pay multiples of prices for the same
medicines that can be bought in other European countries. By the same token costs of
GP services must be set for the country as a whole and these costs should be broadly
in line with our European neighbours. Health should not be dealt as a commercial
commodity. The “qangos” infesting the HSE should be abolished and front line
resource expanded.

Tourism

to enable this important industry to be saved from this depression a more enlightened
policy toward hotels, restaurants and bars must be promoted. This policy must be
based on proportionality and not misguided idealism.

We are committed to giving the tourist a unique sense of Irish culture and Celtic
history. To this effect we hope through education and the media to re-energise the
Irish people and the world’s interest in the true value and uniqueness of Irish history
and culture.


Government Reform

Every T.D. should be capable of being removed from office by a constituency
referendum if he or she is found guilty of conduct unbecoming by an independent
Judicial committee set up for this purpose.

Inefficient local boards, city councils, county councils, health boards and committees
must be abolished. Government must become economically fit for purpose. Irish
government must learn again to serve and not encumber.

The payment structure of all government employees, including elected officials, must
be reviewed and adjusted to the economic reality of the majority of citizens working
in the private market economy.

Real tax efficiencies must be brought about through this reform of government.
Savings should then be passed on to all citizens by means of an annual dividend or
lower taxes.

Corrupt business leaders, government officials including ministers, T.D s, Senators
and Judges should be tried and imprisoned and all necessary changes to the law must
be made to ensure that this policy can be carried out.

Members of the cabinet will have no drivers, state cars and there will be no
Government jet. Members of the cabinet will qualify for a car allowance
Equivalent to €10,000 per annum. All members of the Oireachtas and Government
travelling on official business will be reimbursed only to the full cost of the ticket for
economy flight on any flight less than 5 hours of length and business class for flights
of
longer duration. No employee of the State will be entitled to any travel reimbursement
in excess of an economy class ticket.

All state purchasing will be carried on-line, made public and transparent.

Property

Property taxes are a form of bondage and such taxes means one does not own
property but rents it. There should be no property taxes in Ireland, ever.

The citizen’s home must be extracted from the commercial markets and instead
brought into a government scheme that would offer citizens loans at a low fixed rate
for the period of the mortgage. Commercial leases should allow for negative
adjustment to reflect lower turnover. Tax allowances over 10 – 20 Years can be
granted to landlords to help ease the implementation of this policy.

Transport

The Infrastructure of the republic is in a shambles even after the “Celtic Tiger”.
All major population centres should be connected by fast track rail and all major cities
should have light rail systems. To facilitate this initiative compulsory purchase
legislation must be over-hauled to enable speed of execution coupled with fair
compensation to affected land owners.

The introduction of the NCT has created a new monopoly and is a major infliction of
costs on motorists. We would propose that all garages in the country should be able to
carry out such tests and renew the NCT cert. Costs should be set by the free market.

Road tolls are another example of stealth taxes on motorists. We believe that tolls
should not be enforced until real improvement in public transport is available. Toll
companies should be bought out and all outstanding contracts voided.

Where possible city transport through the use of bicycle lanes should be promoted.

All full time workers should be allowed discounted prices for using public transport to
and from work.

Unemployment

All “unemployed workers” should be given fair economic support and re-trained in
agriculture or industry. All unemployed citizens that are able should return to full time
education for the purpose of obtaining the necessary qualifications to obtain full time
employment and a payment equal to the job seekers allowance will be paid during the
period of attendance.

Self-employed individuals who are fully tax compliant should have access to same
unemployment benefits as anyone else.

Justice

The judicial system needs to be rebalanced in favour of the victims of Crime.
A system of reimbursement should be introduced that would allow victims clam and
receive compensation from convicted criminals who have caused harm or damage to
them or their property.

The direction of the police involvement in the daily life of the populace needs to be
modified. The police should be given the time to concentrate on serious crime and not
“nanny state” misdemeanours. Accordingly a code of citizen’s rights should be
published and made sacrosanct in the training of Gardai.

The Serious crime squad and CAB should receive all the technological resources
required to carry out their operations effectively.

The operation of the legal system and the law courts must be made more efficient and
transparent with the co-opting of ordinary citizens on to judging panels


Environment

The environment is our most cherished resource. It should be protected against abuse
and exploitation. This ideal must be respected in all policy enacted by government
departments.

Ensure greater coordination between, environmental regulation and planning control.

Establish a formalised structure for the integration of environmental and human
health assessment, monitoring and decision making capacities.

Establish a forum of appeal for the Integration Pollution Prevention and Control
license system.

The development of an all-island structure for environmental protection and
enforcement.

Enact the provision in the Environmental Protection Act to subject local authorities'
sewage treatment activities to an EPA licensing regime.

Increase consistency and severity sentencing in environmental court cases of and the
establishment of an environmental court.

Measures to address delays suffered by parties to judicial review litigation.

Allocate additional resources to the EPA, with a particular emphasis on investment in
monitoring and enforcement activities.

Introduce annual audits of local authority environmental performance and invest in
local government environmental enforcement capacity e.g. training, consistent
approach to enforcement, minimum inspection criteria and best practice.

Access to environmental justice and the right to participate on environmental
decision-making.

Establish a National Environmental Action Plan.


Conclusion

We in the Movement for political change agree with the above policies. We will
seek to implement these policies. While we believe in Europe, the imposition of
regulations should take the interests of the citizen into respectful consideration.
Accordingly, we will at all times guard ourselves from imposing unnecessary
financial strain on our citizens and commerce when proposing new legislation.

The absence of other proposals in this open manifesto is a consequence of our recent
establishment and not because of our disinterest in such areas. We aim to be a true
democratic party. We are open to discussion on all resolutions and solutions that will
rid us of the corruption and destruction that has despoiled our country.

However, we are aware that we need to have core positions that will not be abandoned
for political expediency. We hold dear the notion of a free Irish republic that
embraces free enterprise, but not at the expense of the well being of its citizens. We
believe in an independent sovereign state engaged within Europe that holds all its
citizens equal in the eyes of the law. We demand that the government be fully
accountable for its actions whilst holding office. We demand moral integrity, fairness
and professional leadership. Above all we demand that a failed corporate elite should
not be bailed out whereby the economy of the Republic is made bankrupt thus
saddling the ordinary citizen with rising taxes, collapsing social services, long term
structural unemployment, emigration and social despair.