Ray Foley

A lot of blame can be laid at the feet of the politicians, but we now need to start holding our representatives to account like never before, writes Ray Foley.

It’s been hard to exist in Ireland in the past couple of weeks without being exposed to the ongoing soap opera that our political system has finally disintegrated to.

It has been my intention over the last number of weeks to write a few words about it, but every time I do, I flick on the news and there’s another development: The Taoiseach won’t quit... The Taoiseach will quit... The Taoiseach will quit as leader of his party, but he won’t quit as Taoiseach... We’re going to the polls on March 11th... we’re not going to the polls on March 11th... the Greens are in... the Greens are out... Brian Lenihan supports Cowen... and now he wants to be leader... and now Micheál Martin is the top man in a party that might not even fill a mini with TD’s after the next election.

I suppose I’d better get whatever I’ve got to write written now, before something else happens.

It is all anyone wants to talk about: at the water cooler, in the gym, on the train, even on corners the talk is all about politics. There’s a feeling of suspense across the country as we count down the moments Brian Cowen will (finally, please!) get into his car and be driven to the Áras and we’ll get to go to the polls. There’s two years worth of suppressed rage among voters who are just chomping at the bit to get in there and have their say.

And who can blame us? It’s been a roller-coaster couple of years. The country is in hock for billions, businesses are still going under and all of us, whether we’re fortunate enough to be in work or not, are being hit in the pocket. And, for as long as the Greens stayed in bed with Fianna Fáil, it seemed like the never ending story.

Scandal

A new revelation here, another scandal there, one more vote of no confidence and the odd hurly burly in the Dáil. All fairly predictable and incredibly galling for a nation who just wanted to start afresh.

Justifiably, much of the public ire has been directed at Fianna Fáil, who are being held to account for their deeds and misdeeds of the past ten years. We’re angry and ashamed of what’s become of our country - and the last week’s circus of party scandals and confidence motions has hardly done anything to improve matters.

But the so-called opposition haven’t exactly been rousing the masses, have they? It was only a few months ago that Fine Gael were throwing their own circus, as Enda Kenny was forced to fight his own home fires, with a leadership heave and a celebrity TD walkout to contend with from George Lee.

The real blame lies with us - the easily-bought, SSIA-drunk electorate who ignorantly just went along with whatever we were spoonfed.

Labour have had more leaders than hot dinners in the last decade, while the Greens got into a cold, loveless bed with an elderly, bloated Fianna Fáil. And Sinn Féin? Well, Gerry Adams (or Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead as he’s known to David Cameron) is still hunched over a calculator trying to work out where he’s going to find the €14 billion to run the country next year, after a series of gaffes in interviews this week where he argued that we tell the EU and IMF to stuff their bailout.

It’s been interesting in the last few days that, since the prospect emerged of an election being so close, we’re starting to assess the options as we head into the booths to tick the boxes. And whose boxes do we tick? Are we really so sure of any of the opposition parties as much as we’re unsure of the current administration? Would they have done things differently over the last decade? Can they dig us out of the mess we’re in? Can anyone?

Of course, the real blame lies with us - the easily-bought, SSIA-drunk electorate who ignorantly just went along with whatever we were spoonfed, voting just enough (or not at all) to allow more of the same to continue. Our eye was as off the ball as much as anyone else’s. Which is why, next time around, we cannot allow that to happen.

This time, let’s make them work for their over-inflated salaries, state cars and government jets. Let’s interview them for the jobs. Let’s hear what they’ve to say for themselves, their parties, leaders and policies, let’s read their propaganda, argue with them on our doorsteps and pick the best men and women for the job. Let’s not have ourselves to blame in another ten years - and be sure to check that you have a voice on www.checktheregister.ie