Bread and Circuses

To these political activists who want to put their case by slagging the 'opposite' side, I have a message for you. Would you try to convince a drunk at a party to vote for you? So why insist on trying to change the mind of the convinced, when there are so many floating voters out there - like me - who are open to suggestion, waiting to be convinced?

I enjoyed a bit of Brian-baiting as much as the next person, but frankly, it's starting to irritate. The focus has shifted, but the baiting continues, and is engaged in by everybody, it seems to me. We now have Me-hole Martin, Where-is-Enda Kenny, Moan Burton, John Gormless, and Baron Adams. I must say though, that the jibes at Sinn Féin are more bitter - references to Bank withdrawals, etc. may sting all the more because of relatively recent history, but for what purpose?

"Absentem laedit cum ebrio qui litigat"
Brian Cowen - Footnote in History, please take note

I still think that there is a sleight of hand afoot, so to speak. We are being entertained to 'the greatest show in Ireland' with this General Election, while the serious business of policy is more of a side-show. Policies regarding Health Care, Social Protection, Enterprise Development, and of course, the ones we have all become familiar - not to say experts in - within such a short time - The Deficit, Sovereign Debt, Burning Bondholders, et al.

We should live in a community, not an economy, as a man from Bartlemy I believe it was, once said. Manque de peau, here we are, in a failing economy, with windbags of all shapes, sizes, colours and creeds, telling us how they'll solve these problems. I know they won't. Maybe it would be better if they did less - efficient politicians are even more frightening than the inept.

I feel for Elaine Byrne - with the people who nearly took the plunge. I honestly believe though, that the talents of the likes of Fintan O'Toole, David McWilliams, etc. would be better used as commentators and advisors. Look at George Lee - what a sad loss to us all THAT was. Is it possible that in 10 or 20 years time, there'll be a younger version of one of Somerville or Ross (they are beautifully co-ordinated names, in fairness, aren't they) will be out on the hustings saying something like: "Dun Laoire Rathdown is a Ross Seat".

We are, unfortunately and fortunately, a tribal nation. Look at us. We have Fianna Fáil - the Soldiers of Destiny, and Fine Gael - The Tribe of the Gaedhal, since the 1920's. We shouldn't forget that a Taoiseach was an ancient tribal chieftain, and a Tánaiste was his heir apparent, or the person appointed where a chieftain had been deposed. We still retain that tribal attitude to our representatives, each constituency is a minor kingdom. This explains so many of the good things about ourselves, our sense of community, belonging to a place - as exemplfied by the GAA, This also explains why people will vote for 'their local man'. Shur, isn't he one of our own. We heard them on Pot Kennay's show lately - from Tipperary.

The thing is, they're not really one of our own, other than when the call comes every few years or so. hey've been seduced by the big Gathering, the Dáil, where they play on the senior team, God help them.

So we have neither fish nor fowl nor good red herring - other than the red herrings that Jim Higgins talked about - the ones that the Fianna Fáil / Green Party Government has been 'throwing at white elephants' over the last few years.

God help us.