A New Government?

If we are truly to see a change in the political and economic system in Ireland, then all whose aims are for a progressive and equal society need to come together and present a vision as a distinct alternative to the status quo.

It is clear than Fine Gael has a broadly similar policy platform to Fianna Fail.  They too are champions of the free market.  The reason bankers and developers have always appeared closer to Fianna Fail is that the ‘republican party’ have been in power for longer and have attracted the ‘cute hoors’ and high achieving ‘fat cats’ as fellow travellers.

The current crisis is born of political action.  The Banks were not on a solo run.  Light-touch regulation as part of the overall trend to deregulation and privatisation facilitated this collapse.  We haven’t heard anything from Fine Gael to suggest that their support for this type of untrammelled neo-liberalism has wavered.

The Labour party have a responsibility to work with others on a longer term project to truly transform Irish society.  Propping up Fine Gael in a more-of-the-same government will not deliver those changes.  Playing second fiddle in this scenario is worse than useless.  Things will not change.

Labour were right to rule out coalition with Fianna Fail.  They should set very high standards for Fine Gael to earn a right at the government table too.

Surely it would be better for Labour to be part of a process of working with progressive people in the Unions, Voluntary sector and community activists throughout the country to develop a 21^st century, people-centred policy platform that other political parties would have to sign up for if they want to be part of government.