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Irish Elections also up for Sale
I guess they say that misery loves company. One of the neat things about the internet is you can run across people all across the globe who have the same troubles that you do. Case in point -- here's a story from Ireland where one candidate says

There is no legal limit on campaign spending for the European elections, and consequently the wealthy candidates and parties can afford to manage their public image, avoiding media engagements where they may have to defend their policies and explain what they will do. The much-hyped quarrels between candidates and political parties with almost indistinguishable track records on health, education, foreign policy, and the environment smack of spin doctoring. Independent candidates, and political parties unable and unwilling to spend their money putting image above substance hardly get a word in edgeways.

Somehow, it all sounds vaguely familiar.