Middle Ireland says "No" to change
Whether the polls got it famously wrong or that the public changed their minds mid-stream is of little significance now. Let their voice be heard loud and clear. On Thursday, Irish voters said it was okay to be a little bit corrupt, said it was okay to have to put up with declining quality of life standards and said that change was unwanted and unnecessary. What they couldn't write on the ballot paper was that their real first preference is for economic prosperity to continue. In short, they got the heeby-jeebies.
Let's look at the detritus as it lies strewn across the Irish political landscape. The only real socialist, Joe Higgins, joins a long, sorry list of independents, PDs and Sinn Féiners to lose out to the big two.
An interesting point to note is that in this age of environmental goodwill, the Green Party has failed to match this trendy public sentiment with an increase of support. Fianna Fáil might do well to add this ready-made package to their own without sacrificing too much in terms of cabinet assignments.
While Bertie Ahern can deservedly bask in FF's clinical vote getting and distribution success, he has his work cut-out to maintain support in face of what appears to be an economy in decline. It is simply not realistic to hope that the flagging construction industry will not have too much of an impact on all other areas of the economy. Tradesmen who have made vast amounts of money from a booming property market are now finding lucrative work in short supply. This is particularly true for rural Ireland. Oversaturation of new houses has seriously reduced the demand levels we have seen in the past 10 years. What is to become of these people who have no easily-transferable skills to put to use in other areas of industry? The dole queues will be supported by the wages of young middle-class Ireland who failed to reap the same monetary rewards afforded to carpenters, bricklayers and roofers. Admittedly, this doomsday prediction might happen no matter who got elected this weekend. But when was preparation for this ever mentioned in the past two electoral terms?
All of the failings and disappointments of this government have been ignored by the electorate. The scandals, the dereliction of duty to provide adequate healthcare, the failure to put in place any immigration policies have all been ignored in favour of maintaining the status quo. Are the countless Tribunals now a waste of money? Does Bertie Ahern and Fianna Fáil have carte blanche to act as they wish without fear of being held accountable? Will the notion of standards of conduct in public life now be considered as nice-to-have but not essential? Time, and Fianna Fáil's upcoming term in government, will tell.
** Political persuasions and opinions aside, In Fact, Ah would like to congratulate Michael Kitt on his topping the poll in Galway East. Who says there's no such thing as an honest Fianna Fáil politician?
EDIT: Shed a tear with us and lament what could have been.
tags:irishelection
Published by Colm.
Let's look at the detritus as it lies strewn across the Irish political landscape. The only real socialist, Joe Higgins, joins a long, sorry list of independents, PDs and Sinn Féiners to lose out to the big two.
An interesting point to note is that in this age of environmental goodwill, the Green Party has failed to match this trendy public sentiment with an increase of support. Fianna Fáil might do well to add this ready-made package to their own without sacrificing too much in terms of cabinet assignments.
While Bertie Ahern can deservedly bask in FF's clinical vote getting and distribution success, he has his work cut-out to maintain support in face of what appears to be an economy in decline. It is simply not realistic to hope that the flagging construction industry will not have too much of an impact on all other areas of the economy. Tradesmen who have made vast amounts of money from a booming property market are now finding lucrative work in short supply. This is particularly true for rural Ireland. Oversaturation of new houses has seriously reduced the demand levels we have seen in the past 10 years. What is to become of these people who have no easily-transferable skills to put to use in other areas of industry? The dole queues will be supported by the wages of young middle-class Ireland who failed to reap the same monetary rewards afforded to carpenters, bricklayers and roofers. Admittedly, this doomsday prediction might happen no matter who got elected this weekend. But when was preparation for this ever mentioned in the past two electoral terms?
All of the failings and disappointments of this government have been ignored by the electorate. The scandals, the dereliction of duty to provide adequate healthcare, the failure to put in place any immigration policies have all been ignored in favour of maintaining the status quo. Are the countless Tribunals now a waste of money? Does Bertie Ahern and Fianna Fáil have carte blanche to act as they wish without fear of being held accountable? Will the notion of standards of conduct in public life now be considered as nice-to-have but not essential? Time, and Fianna Fáil's upcoming term in government, will tell.
** Political persuasions and opinions aside, In Fact, Ah would like to congratulate Michael Kitt on his topping the poll in Galway East. Who says there's no such thing as an honest Fianna Fáil politician?
EDIT: Shed a tear with us and lament what could have been.
tags:irishelection
Published by Colm.
|