Participatory Democracy The Bullman Way

January 22, 2016

Eureka! what an idea, we will have to follow this Youghal man closely. His political philosophy is like a breath of fresh air. It will blow the cobwebs away from the stale, boring, maddening, humdrum political system which we have been saddled with for years and years and years, a centenial almost. A system where we elect someone, promising the earth, moon and starts, on a wing and a prayer, never to hear from them again for another four years while they sit in the windy old Oireachtas halls gathering dust and a big hefty salary. Sweep away the bluffers, the spiffs, the spouting financial gurus, the fiscal charlatans. Ireland needs a clean sweep.

Unlike the Battle of Kinsale, this time we might win our political and intellectual freedoms. Man! we need change badly. We need independent thinkers, fresh ideas. We need people with integrity, people who will not sell their soul for the whiff of a sovereign. Could this be'The Paddy Bullman Way' .

Paddy Bullman is standing in the 2016 Irish General election as an Independent candidate for East Cork. He is advocating 'Participatory Democracy'. Before Mr Bullman briefly explains his philosophy, here is an extract from Wikipedia about Patricipatory Democracy.

'Participatory democracy is a process emphasizing the broad participation of constituents in the direction and operation of political systems. Etymological roots of democracy (Greek demos and kratos) imply that the people are in power and thus that all democracies are participatory. However, participatory democracy tends to advocate more involved forms of citizen participation and greater political representation than traditional representative democracy.

Participatory democracy strives to create opportunities for all members of a population to make meaningful contributions to decision-making, and seeks to broaden the range of people who have access to such opportunities.'

The Bullman Way

I am a political activist and I am passionate about my Country! .. .. ..
I always have been. I always will be. And I believe in Direct Participatory Democracy.

As far as I'm concerned, any community, large or small, be it a village, a town, a whole country or a union of countries that makes decisions that affect each individual in that community must also provide each and every individual in that community with the unfettered RIGHT to participate in the making of ALL such decisions.

It is the People of Ireland that have the sovereign right to formulate and decide ALL state policy.
Each Individual Citizen in this country has the Right to Representation! Not any particular group or 'party' ..
Yet, the people are Denied that right by a treacherous and corrupt Government made up of just such 'vested interest groups' or 'Parties'.

The Government no longer serves the Irish people.
It is time the people of Ireland got rid of their corrupt, nepotistic and cronyistic political system that has plagued the country for the last 100 years. Time to clear the rot out of Dail Eireann. All of it! Time to make way for a new Ireland.

The Irish themselves are to blame for the state this country is in today. It's not the Germans, the Greeks nor the Japanese that put the Traitor oligarchy into power in this country . . . . We did! . . . . And every 5 years we keep putting them back in there!

Come on! We need to do it differently now! Let's clear out the rot and corruption once and for all and never put ANY mainstream Political Party in power again. We need to take politics out of the gutter.
We need to establish Real Democratic Representation !
Not the pseudo democracy served up by this dirty corrupt political party system whose parasitic minions serve only their own interests.

We need Representatives who will put aside their personal opinions.
Who do not follow a Party whip.
Who will bring your collective opinion to the decision making table.

Who will represent you !

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Let's elect our own candidates!
Not those chosen for us by political parties.
Not those chosen by self-serving political parties to represent their own interests.

100 years ago individuals stood up against injustice and oppression. That's what the 1916 rising was about.
To cast off the yoke of oppression of a foreign oppressive regime!

100 years on and once again individuals must stand up
and cast off the yoke of oppression, this time of a domestic Oppressive regime!

Last year I ran as an Independent candidate in the Local Election in East Cork. I also ran as a Candidate in the last General Election for the East Cork Constituency in 2011. I didn't do too bad either, but hope to do better this time around.

If you want to know more about Paddy Bullman you can look him up on Facebook or just Google him or if you want help him go to https://www.gofundme.com/87k2wnm4 .
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How to avoid paying your water bill
( a short video by Paddy Bullman )

Buncrana Together advocates 'Return to Sender' as our way of dealing with Irish Water Bills. We advocate Boycott of Irish Water. But Paddy different strokes for different folks.

Response to Labour TD's call for referendum on privatisation of Irish Water Ltd. Smoke and Mirrors

January 20, 2016

by Buncrana Together

What do Labour TDs, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Ciaran Lynch, Michael McNamara, and Emmet Stagg mean by signing a SIPTU petition? This was revealed in the Irish Examiner Wed January 20, 2016. It states that the petition calls for a public vote to ensure that Irish Water remains in public ownership? Was this their 'Road to Damascus' moment where they saw the error of Labour's ways? Maybe it was because they knew something is very iffy with Irish Water's setup and they do not trust their leader Tanaiste Joan Burton. Or was it because Ireland is now close to a general election? What is the full content of SIPTU's petition and do they agree with it? For instance, does SIPTU also want water management to revert back to Local Authorities?

TweedleDum, TweedleDee John Tenniel's illustration, from Through the Looking-Glass (1871) — TweedleDum, TweedleDee John Tenniel's illustration, from *Through the Looking-Glass* (1871)

TweedleDum, TweedleDee and there's too many questions

Can it be that this is the best that some, cap in hand, loyal Labour party members can come up with? And is it the sum of their answer to the complex question of Water Charges, to support an ambiguous referendum? I bet you Fianna Fail and it's possible, even the ultra right-wing Fine Gael party could agree to something like this.

What do they mean really? They need to spell it out. Do they mean that the Irish Water Ltd company should belong to the people of Ireland and run by the state on their behalf, in perpetuity? Do they mean that our water, rivers, lakes seas, reservoirs above and below ground, all infrastructure should belong to the people forever? Something like Aer Lingus, An Post, ESB, Bus Eireann, Bord Na Mona, Coilte, Eircom or maybe our oil, our gas, air, electricity, energy, and so on and so forth, all privatised or in the process of?

And a final question, do they think that water shouldnot be treated as a commodity and sold to those who are able to afford it? Questions, questions and still more questions. Forget the nitty gritty, just support a referendum, sounds good but don't get bogged down in details.

No doubt we will hear the cry of referendum from many parties in the run up to the general election and we will hear the promises after promise that all things will be done for our benefit and on our behalf.

I think it's a smokescreen, smoke and mirrors, a red herring, used by wily politicians to deflect us away from the real issues of the disaster that is Irish Water and camouflage the involvement of Fianna, Fail, Fine Gael, Labour even the Greens, Renua and some right wing Independents in introducing and perpetuating the trick that is Irish Water.

Constitution not worth the paper it is printed on
Is that a sacrilege? Is saying that the Labour Party's nominated President signed Irish Water repressive legislation into Law , a sacrilege? Is saying that the Constitution is not worth the paper it is written on a sacrilege?

Anyway I would like someone to explain what Article 10 of the Irish Constitution really means, or for that mater the whole Constitution itself. Our legislation including this supposedly be-all and end-all of legal arguments , 'Buncreacht Na hEireann'' is full of archaic, convolutedlanguage that only judges, barristers and solicitors, and maybe the multitude of overpaid civil servants and ministers can fathom or seem to understand.

I thought the Irish Constitution already enshrined our national resources as belonging to the people of Ireland. I thought that the Constitution and legislature are there to guarantee the people of Ireland a fundament quality of life. Yea, pull the other one.

Tell that to the people in the Corrib dispute, tell it to those in Save the Foyle, tell it to the Anti Dublin Incinerator Campaign and to all the campaigns the length and breadth of Ireland now and in the past. Ask them how much the Constitution protected or helped them. What about our gas and oil resources given away for nothing? What about the fishermen, the islanders, sitting at home while foreign boats sail back home from our waters laden? Ask them how much the Constitution protected their way of life.

Super dooper whiz kids, the constitution and Irish Water's incomprehensible make-up.

Like the companies mentioned above, some of whom have been sold off, privatised, or are in the process of being flogged, or only still a twinkle in the eye of the IMF, Irish Water is and will be no different. It won't matter about Constitutions or legislation. Some form of wording or legal loopholes or deception will be found to disregard and subvert the Constitution in order to fulfill the requisiteagenda, especially when well off moguls back it with their cash.

As it is it would take a super dooper whiz kid to fathom out the intricate structures of Irish Water and all the aforementioned companies. For example who owns Bord Gais, explain to me how it was sold off, who owns it now and how come the Irish people got left withthe unprofitable bits, the crud.

Not even Eurostat could decipher the structure that is Irish Water. See footnote 8 page 3 of Eurostat Report 'Sector Classification of Irish Water'. I wonder could theLabour Ministers explain the nitty gritty of this to us?

“They maketh as thoughe butter wolde nat melte in their mouthe”

Plans for Water Charges, Irish Water and the relevant legislation have been ongoing since 2000. Ever since the Planning and Development Act came into being. The three main movers and shakers were of course, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Labour Party, each doing their bit in their respective Tweedledum, Tweedledee terms of office.

Not only that but Fine Gael and the Labour Party have been hard at introducing Water Charges as early as 1974. They are sticklers, aren't they, "They maketh as thoughe butter wolde nat melte in their mouthe."

In other words they look you in the eye, cool as a cucumber and tell you that our resources will be enshrined in the constitution. That is not the only little fibs they have been dishing out. All three, deft at politics slowly let our water infrastructure decline by underfunding it and having no long term plans except of course, Irish Water and Water Charges and god knows what else. In the case of Fianna Fail, Water Charges since they want to do away with Irish Water and replace it with, well that is the question. Even in the time of Bertie when the country was awash with 'Cash' nothing was funded properly, Local Authorities, infrastructure, hospitals, education. Now they are telling us that Irish Water isour 'great white hope' for the future.

Water bonanza

Irish Water Ltd structure was a mess to start with and no amount of tinkering will reform it, even if something is mentioned in the Constitution about it. It will not be in the interest of the Irish Public. One thought that comes to mind is; can a company, a private company, or semi privater company or whatever be mentioned in the Constitution? Ah it is ridiculous you would need Article 10 to be as long as your arm. What is the relationship of Veolia Environmental Services, Siteserve (remember Denis O'Brien) or whatever the company is called now, GMC Sierra, and a host of other private companies, with Irish Water and our water resources.

Infrastructure reverted back to Local Authority

There is a major question about ownership of our natural resources, about Article 10. All this talk about referendums would be irrelevant if our water resources and infrastructure reverted back to the local authorities. I would say that could be included in the Constitution. SIPTU members have called for this. The water workers throughout Ireland have first hand knowledge of all water systems and they have a close relationship with the public. They are the public. This is where I am in agreement with SIPTU, a lot of whose members have personally been supportive of the campaign against Water Charges and Irish Water. I hope that the leadership reflect this support from their members.

What is the Water Charges Campaign all about, a referendum?

It is our view that the Water Charges' campaign is not solely about, Irish Water, or Water Charges or related oppressive legislation or a referendum. It encompasses all of these. It is about the fundamental right of every citizen to water which is the basis for life, health and well-being. It is about how water should not be contingent on the ability to pay. It is about the duty of the state to provide this right to every citizen and ensure that water will not be turned into a commodity. It is about the duty of the state to make sure our water and infrastructure remains, in perpetuity, in the hands of the people. As such the introduction of water charges is against this principle. Water Charges should be provided for through general taxation and it is up to the state to make sure that everyone can enjoy an equal opportunity in every facet of life. It is up to the state to provide full employment from which we, as citizens, can contribute our share to help the country grow and pass it on to our children.

Water Meters

The idea of water meters are an anathema. They are not about saving water. They are not about finding leaks. No, they are designed to go hand in hand with privatisation of water. They are designed to turn water into a commodity, to itemise it's use, in short a money making machine. Water meters are just like electricity meters, itemised billing that no one can understand but we all see the bills going up and up. All this and I am not even going to get into the whole sinister area of 'Smart Meters'.

Aodhan, Ciaran, Michael, Emmet what are your thoughts? How do propose that our water will not be privatised and that the present setup is in the interest of the Irish people?

Brave New World and Why Irish Water must be stopped

January 18, 2016

Article by Buncrana Together - Edited

Ireland has a chance to abolish Irish Water Ltd along with all the related oppressive legislation and relegate them to the toxic scrapheap of history, cover it with a ten inch thick leaded dome, never to surface again.

We then should turn our attention to it's inventors and those who enthusiastically helped in it's creation and development, like Dracula's controlled helpers. We must strike a stake through their greedy hearts, bury them and never allow them to do such a thing again.

In the case of Irish Water's and Government minister's insatiable thirst for power and profit, sucking dry Ireland's life force, this sarcophagus is a necessity. It must be done now before there is no going back.

Control and ownership is the weapon. This essential natural resource, our water, our lakes, seas, rivers, reservoirs and infrastructure must be given back to the people of Ireland. To ensure this, it's day to day running should be undertaken by much needed reformed local authorities where representatives and ordinary citizens have more say and control. This time, however, the water authorities must be properly funded, have proper long term plans to satisfy the needs of the people and the infrastructure must not be allowed to be neglected, underfunded as it has been.

Control must not be centralised but must be as close to our citizens as possible. This is the only way to ensure our continual ownership and to ensure it will never fall into the hands of unknown, worldwide private investors and speculators.

Control of this resource involves costs and how it is funded. Water can not be allowed to be turned into a commodity. This is the present plan of the Government and Irish Water. The principle of turning our natural resource into a commodity is wrong. Part and parcel of turning it into a money making operation is the idea of meters, especially smart meters which determine how much you use and so will determine how much you pay. Every person should have the fundamental right to good, clean, hygienic water. It is a natural right, an amenity and it is a health necessity.

Not only that but water is a resource which has immense importance for our economy. The only way to ensure that it is not turned into a commodity is by funding it through taxation.

Central control whether by government or especially by the private sector is dangerous especially when dealing with this valuable resource. Not only because of the potential for extortion and exploitation but also for corruption.

Corruption has one master, power and a lot of disciples.

The old saying power corrupts is very apt in this context. We see Irish Water and it's faceless bureaucratic apparatus splashing billions of euro about, cosying up to Ministers, and European magnates such as the ECB and the international IMF and working hand in hand with billionaires like Denis O'Brien. Sometimes it is difficult to see who is controlling who. Is it Irish Water controlling the Government or is it the other way about? Maybe it is all one and the same. Lately we see Irish Water has developed plans to extract 330 of water a day from the Shannon and pipe it all the way to Dublin, costing they say 1 billion euro. We heard that before. 600 landowners are going to get their palms greased to facilitate this. See this article 'Irish Water Ltd presents controversial plan'. Butterring up the locals seems to be the way of doing business. This was done in the Corrib gas controversy in County Mayo. We even had Shell spokespersons saying they made mistakes at the start and they should have buttered up the locals from the start.

Brave New World

It was this revelation by Fliuch'Smart Metering Project Phase 3 Public Consultation' which sparked off this article. CER, Commission For Energy Regulations. Another bureaucratic body is going through the consultation motions but in the end will give their full steam ahead approval for 'Smart Meter'. You can find out all about these meters in Fliuch.org.

People are of the opinion that it wouldn't happen, that it is not as sinister as that, that our government and regulators will protect our health and freedom. If this article does not make you site up and take notice nothing will.

Big brother, mind control is coming and it's coming with a vengeance.