A nice man with an equally nice name has a column in the Irish News today where he points to something important: too many political decisions are made with an eye to the next election. I’m with him there. It’s only human – we all need a roof over our head and grub on the table.
But it has serious implications for others. If all your political decisions are made with an eye to getting re-elected, what good will that do the state or country you are supposed to be serving? There are very, very important issues which extend beyond the next election.
The only thing worse than a politician whose main focus Is on being re-elected, and that’s a politician who focuses on being re-elected and who cares only for his or her own constituency. In the South the prime example of this is the Healy-Raes. You can safely vote them in and feel assured they’ll look after the pot-holes of Kerry, the jobs in Kerry, the government grants that find their way to Kerry. The rest of the state? Pshaw! Who cares?
That’s what makes the task of those who believe passionately in a reunited Ireland so difficult. It’s an issue that extends beyond the local constituency and will almost certainly be an issue beyond the next general election.
Since people in the South (and everywhere) know that Sinn Féin Is the leading united Ireland party, it has felt the need to show it cares about other matters too. Which is why it has created such a stink about the South’s abysmal housing provision, and the inequality of wealth in the state. I think by now they’ve convinced everyone they’re serious about both.
What remains to be done is to communicate with the public and show them that a reunited Ireland would knit in with matters like housing and health and education. That’s what the reunion of Ireland is all about : one country, free from arbitrary interference,and providing the best possible service in terms of housing, health, education and equality.
It’s not a question of a united Ireland or a just society. It’s both, and Sinn Féin owes it to the people of Ireland to show how it’s a false choice to talk about a reunited Ireland vs bread-and-butter issues. We must show that the two are…what shall I say?…inextricably linked.
Comments are closed.