Politicians’ self-interest leaves us little to vote for

MUCH has been spoken about the very low turnout in the recent local elections. Hardly surprising since confidence in our politicians must surely be at an alltime low.

The children’s hospital, broadband, Votegate, thousands of homeless, huge rents, Printergate, young people unable to buy a home and now with the blessing of Leo Varadkar we find Dara Murphy has been claiming his TD salary by double jobbing.

Since the foundation of the State, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, the Greens and Progressive Democrats have, during various periods, governed. Each of them either alone or in coalition has been responsible for overseeing the destruction of the economy, either through complete ineptitude or at the very least some very dubious practices

based on political self-interest. In the past two decades alone, Fianna Fáil in coalition first with the Progressive Democrats and then the Greens presided over the destruction of the economy and the loss of the country’s sovereignty, agreeing to a bail-out designed by Germany and France to pay back the gambling debts of their own banks. Following Fianna Fáil came Fine Gael, in coalition with Labour, who simply continued where Fianna Fáil left off, despite pre-election promises to contest the bail-out deal.

More recently we have been treated to the policies of Fine Gael, first with Labour partners and presently with Fianna Fáil and the cynical confidence and supply agreement which is likely to continue for several years to come with

one or the other as the lead party, the sole purpose of which will be to keep real opposition at arms length in the Dáil.

So is it any wonder there was such a low turnout in the local elections? I have voted in almost every election over 40 years, but I have now come to the conclusion that voting is a futile exercise if it is done in the hope it will change how things are done in this country. Anthony McGeough

Kingswood Heights, Dublin 24