Our political system divvied up by those hanging on to power
LEO and Michael must be hoping the heatwave that’s put a smile on everybody’s faces over the weekend keeps going into the week as they face a vote of no confidence in the Dail.
It’s hard to stay angry – or even focused – when the sun is shining outside.
It looks certain the Independents and stragglers who lost the party whip will get the Government over the line, even after the Fine Gael TD Joe Mchugh bailed over the Government’s handling of the mica crisis (y’know, when they allowed loads of homes to be built out of Weetabix).
Sinn Fein have been accused of an auld stunt. And it does look like a parting kick before the Dail breaks for the summer (well deserved, lads, ye have done Trojan work over the past few months!)
But as the cost of living crisis deepens, as we head into an autumn and winter when working families may have to choose between food and heat, or new shoes for the kids or bringing them on the odd visit to the cinema (we’re mad for our luxuries), it’s increasingly looking like this
Government is running out of time. Two years in, and they have definitely run out of ideas.
Seriously, when was the last time you heard one of our revolving taoisigh, or a senior minister come out with some bold solution to any of the huge problems facing our country?
You’ll hear the more comfortable type of pundit point to the bonkers goings-on across in London and say like: “Sure isn’t it great that we don’t have that kind of drama here, lads?”
This is, of course, pure bollix as it ignores the reasons why we don’t do drama, much, in Irish politics.
It’s because our political system is too comfortable and divvied up between the people and interests who have always been in power.
We have a coalition that is just a way for the two main parties, both shadows of what they were, to cling to power. We even have revolving door taoisigh so there’s no surprises or no room for any change.
There’s not much drama in Irish politics because there’s nobody in charge trying to do anything dramatic – just hang on to power, keep the core supporters happy, don’t scare the vested interests or the comfortable, the inside boys and girls, the people who will always do well no matter what the weather. God send us some drama soon, the change this country is crying out for on housing, health, cost of living and opportunities for all.
Here’s to a wild time when the TDS return after their holliers – here’s to a bit of drama.
Two years in, and they have definitely run out of ideas