Values are important, and when I look at the values of the people in the major political parties in Ireland I get annoyed.

So let's talk about values.

• TRUTH

  • Deal with facts...the facts are your friends

  • Speak the truth or don't speak at all

  • Be logical

  • Act on the consequences of facts and logic.

• An Actual REPUBLIC

  • The rules are the same for EVERYONE

  • Protecting the status-quo or protecting vested-interests is not ok (this is a huge problem in Ireland)

  • People are people...whether you like them or not. Rich, poor, straight, gay, man, woman, white, black, Catholic, Protestant, athiest...even Tipperary hurling and Mayo football supporters. They all get the same rights and the same consideration under the law and the same opportunities.

• PLAIN TALKING

  • Answer questions, don't evade them

  • Speak plainly about the problems and opportunities we face

  • If you don't know the answer to a question, say so. Don't bullsh*t people

• HUMAN DIGNITY

  • There's a great line in the German constitution.

    • "Human dignity shall be inviolable. To respect and protect it shall be the duty of all state authority. The German people therefore acknowledge inviolable and inalienable human rights as the basis of every community, of peace and of justice in the world."

    • We could use some of that around here. And we need to work for it everywhere. Compassion is undervalued, IMHO.

• INTEGRITY

  • If you're in public office, you work for the people. ALL the people. Not for your party. Not for your party supporters. Not for yourself. You work for the people.

• "The GOLDEN RULE"

  • Not the one about whoever has the gold making the rules....the other one

  • It's a good rule. And should be interpreted that "you" might not be the "you" that you are now. "You" might be the waiter, the homeless person, the nurse. "You" might not be the wealthy person, the factory owner.