Anybody presenting themselves for election as President of Ireland need to be prepared to break protocol and be radical.
At least, anybody not from the Fine Gael/Fianna Fail camp. We expect them to wallow in the pomp of it all and keep out of the grubby business of what really matters to people at this time. And this is a dangerous time, folks.
The contest for the Irish Presidency has to be used as an opportunity by progressive activists to do two things.
1. To clearly define what a citizen is. To understand that it is about society - the collection of people. The responsibility that we all have to each other. Of course, that puts plenty outside of all of that. Most politicians have disavowed the concept of society - a la Thatcher. The actions of many private companies towards their workers, the environment or to pay their way in the collective raising of public finance - ie Taxation. These people are failing the citizenship test and any presidential candidate worth a damn has to use the attention generated by such a high profile campaign to play a part in stopping the erosion of gains made by ordinary people.
2. Obviously. To promote a 21st century progressive agenda not only to defend the best of what has been secured for ordinary people during the past few decades, but to play a vociferous part in showing that we want to disavow the barbarism of neo-liberalism.
There is no room for the luxury of keeping out of politics here. It is far too dangerous a situation for that. The current crisis in capital has been turned around to attack the gains made. This is much more serious than even the Thatcher period. Political parties of the progressive left cannot afford the luxury of presenting themselves as 'responsible', working within the paradigm laid out by the same reactionary forces that are supposed to be our enemies.
It's time to get thrown ut the Dail chamber once in a while. Put up with media jibes and ridicule about unworkable policies.
We don't need safe presidential candidates who look nice for the camera's. We need a rebel.
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Very true- so who do you think is the person for the job? Do you think Norris has a shot if he re-enters and do you think he'd be the right person? He's certainly not afraid to share unpopular opinions...
ReplyDeleteNorris was hounded out in a concerted way. I hope he comes back in, though Im not sure he'll get the required nominations.
ReplyDeleteIf McGuiness goes hard on a radical agenda and doesn't follow the protocol then it could get interesting, but we all have to critically engage with any candidate.
This campaign has to focus on the defence of public ownership, citizenship and most importantly the rejection of Thatcherism - which is the real problem.
Yeah. Am surprised at prospect of McGuinness as a candidate to be honest. Don't think he'll go down too well.
ReplyDeleteNorris is on the Late Late tonight, popular opinion is that he's going to announce his re-entry, but you're right, getting the 20 TD/Senators would be tricky at this point.
What's your opinion of Michael D.? I tend to quite like him but he's fairly quiet at the mo.
I should probably say, my uncle Mick Sheehan sent me to this site, said you were in school together or something?
Yes, I was in the year above your uncle.
ReplyDeleteMichael D is going to find it hard as his party, labour, are tainted by their implementing the austerity measures that will hurt ordinary working people.
McGuiness will do well, I think.
I don't care who wins, as such, but I would like to see the right issues raised and debated.