People Before Profit Party Election Broadcast – 2011 Assembly /Local Elections April 20, 2011
Posted by irishelectionliterature in Northern Ireland, The Left.Tags: people before profit, The Left
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Doesn’t appear to be on youtube yet but is here …I could listen to McCann all day.
Amongst their Assembly candidates is ex Stiff Little Fingers drummer Brain Faloon who has the below image linked on his facebook page.
The Cedar Lounge Revolution 
Good broadcast, bit livelier than the SP effort, which was rather ponderous. Would be better off avoiding Cardinal Relations (N-S, E-W) than making the somewhat awkward attempts to dance on that tightrope.
Since the image above references corporation tax, I think it’s interesting to note that the TUV has a more progressive stance on the issue than SF (or any mainstream party in the Republic, for that matter): http://www.tuv.org.uk/press-releases/view/1065/tuv-article-in-news-letter-on-corporation-tax
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Well its worth considering the motivation for his saying so;
‘The reason IRA/Sinn Fein advocate this is clearly part of their lunatic “Provonomics” all-Ireland strategy, but it’s harder to understand why some unionists run with this.’
Its an interesting debate though, how the assembly can in fact create its own revenue streams. The corporation tax angle isnt without merit.
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That’s one interpretation of their motivation, certainly (not one I’d agree with.)If you actually read the piece, you’ll find it begins by stating that massive multinationals don’t need and have no right to demand tax cuts, and draws the clear fiscal and moral link with the SF/DUP assault on public services. Radical stuff!
Also, is it really so silly to point out that seeking closer economic links with the Republic at a time when the Republic is a basket-case makes little sense, particularly when done for ethno-chauvinist reasons?
There’s a lot of right-wing twaddle in the article, but on the core issue it pisses all over SF’s position.
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I have read the article, and yes I do think thats the key motivation. Were the article otherwise anything more than a straw man, I might be persuaded otherwise. As it is, Vance is attacking arguments not in fact made. It makes the presumption that the exchange of an amount in the bloc grant (never mind a chunk as large as 1bn) in exchange for the coporation tax powers is a fait d’accomplit. That isnt the case, and the argument being made is that the block grant be maintained and the corporation tax being lowered. Now it may well turn out to be the case that that we will be what the UK treasury wants as a quid pro quo, but thats not a certainty. If that becomes the case, the debate then turns on if the reduced corporation tax would off set the bloc grant cut that would accompany it, and if so to what extent. If it does so to a satisfactory level, I can’t see any reason why not to go for this, given that it would then in fact reduce the extent of cuts in public expenditure. Which is what everyone, maybe even Mr Vance, wants. Taxation is a tool, not an ideological end. It should be used to benefit and advance the conditions of ordinary people. If the reduction of the corporation tax outweighs any cut in the grant, which isnt inevitable in itself, then it isnt of any benefit to anyone to refuse it. I would also add that SFs (for whom i dont puport to speak by the way) support is as i understand it, for this is general and not unqualified, it depends on the T and Cs. I would agree with that, and naturally if the reducation wasnt on balance of benefit to ordinary people, then I would be opposed.
He also states that the intention is to lower corporation tax ‘to try and match levels prevailing in the Irish Republic.’
There really is no question of the rate dropping to levels as low as the southern state. Even if that was what was desired, which it isnt, there is about as much chance of my old man getting pregnant as there is of that happening.
Having said all the above, I am unconvinced by the argument that the current SF approach in a more general sense, to what is left of the bloc grant, and the budget, is the right one. Id say i was uncomfortable with it. But neither have I heard any alternative to it which makes the slightest sense. Im all ears on that score.
Oh yeah, and ethno chauvinist reasons. Sound. Yep, clearly they want a reduction in the corporation tax because they hate england. And scotland and wales. Yep, that must be it.
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Well, the PUP are to Sinn Fein’s left on issues like abortion rights, so I suppose it isn’t all that surprising that the TUV are to their left on economic issues.
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I dont think ‘the taigs might start getting notions about fiscal powers if we do that’ counts as further to the left.
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Sinn Fein have a policy in favour of cutting taxes on corporations. The TUV do not. Therefore the TUV policy is to the left of the Sinn Fein one.
It really isn’t very complex. Sinn Fein have a position on corporation so right wing that even other right wing parties sometimes think it’s a bit over the top. SF are implementing massive cuts to the services of working class people while advocating significant tax cuts for big business.
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The broadcast is very professionally done, although as usual no mention of the “s” word.
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WP political broadcast on BBC 1 tonight at 10.30.
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-131373
WP political broadcast
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13137381
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Why isn’t the WP spokesperson named in the piece? Is it their candidate
SECT
ARIA
NISM ?
Also, what’s with the wink at the end?
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No need to name him,everybody knows it’s John Lowrey.
SECT
ARIA
NISM…New this would catch some people out,but keep trying it will come to you.
The wink at the end was for the Ladies!
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Stop this now to the person whose commenting under an assumed name. I’ll keep blocking your IP address and deleting your comments. It’s a huge waste of my time and energy but you’re being deliberately unfair to other users. If you can’t post your opinions openly and under your own name you have no place here.
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“under your own name” or a consistent legitimate handle…
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Does this mean I’m stuck with ‘Earl Williams’ now?
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Well, that depends… 🙂
But seriously, and the comment above wasn’t addressed to you, I have no problem with people using their own name or made up user names as long as they’re consistent in posting with the latter and abide by the rules of the site.
After all, with worldbystorm as mine who am I to complain, but at least if you see the wbs handle elsewhere you know who I am – at least in terms of my outlook – and what to expect.
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I thought the People before Profit was one of the best PPB I have seen and Eamonn, who for me at times comes across as long winded was just fine.
The comrade from the workers party did a good job and came across very well, however I felt the overall broadcast was caught in a party political time warp, i e, a talking head, whereas the mix between that and video-prop in the PBP was about right.
Sadly the most obvious shortcoming of these left PPBs stares us in the face, why do we have three (WP,PBP, SP) with more to come, when it is obvious to all, policy wise, they do not have a cigarette paper between them, and running against each other is cretinism and I would guess the more intelligent average voter might think, if these people cannot come together in a single party, what hope do they have of sorting the complex society they wish to help govern.
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its time again to prove yourself once again !!
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