Waste Disposal

Doubtless there are many punters unhappy about Pearse Doherty’s by-election win in Donegal South West. But they can hardly say it was a shock. It wasn’t even worthwhile betting on. People were queuing up to rub the noses of the dirty dogs who crapped on the country in their own mess. When the moment came they struck with a vengeance.

Doherty had won the grudging respect of a swathe of people at odds with his party when he forced the by-election which had previously been delayed by the Fianna Fail-Green Party Coalition. The government’s action was calculated political cynicism designed to ensure that democracy would not be allowed to infringe on the self interest of government parties. It was also sinister in that it allowed us to see that the democratic veneer covering the governing parties was in fact just that; a mere façade. The instinct was authoritarian and the intimation alarming: elections are something better avoided. The people as Brecht would have said must not be allowed to vote, ‘the bastards.’ The downside of that is that Fianna Fail was blitzed by a party demonstrably more authoritarian than itself. Ominous for the future.

The victory hardly signifies the reversal of Sin Fein fortunes although for now it should help stop the rot although it will not stop the Trot. Left wing thinking and discourse is now developing audibility throughout the island and sketches a future that Sinn Fein has not the slightest intention of delivering.

Sinn Fein now feels it has some credit in its pocket, rather than just a cap in its hand, with which it can go to Labour and discuss bidding for a deal that would keep Eamon Gilmore’s party out of government with Fine Gael, the likely composition of the next ruling bloc. Party leader Gerry Adams claimed the electorate had clearly rejected any Fine Gael Labour coalition. It had not and this will be evident from the soon to be general election.

Adding his now amplified voice to the party leader’s Pearse Doherty said:

I would call on Labour now to change direction. You cannot credibly argue that you are of the left when you go into bed with a party like Fine Gael who are of the right. This is a wake-up call for Eamon Gilmore and that party.

Pearse Doherty, equipped with a knowledge wider than platitudes and a good constituency worker by all accounts, deserved his electoral success on that basis alone. The margin of victory secured arguably lay in the voter saying ‘no more’ to Fianna Fail. That does not equate with saying ‘more’ to Sinn Fein who will promise more soup but served up in the same economic poor house.

As the party leader has persuasively demonstrated, when he gratuitously inserted his presence into the 2007 televised leader’s debate, he knows little of substance on economic matters, His rhetoric, cruelly exposed by Michael McDowell of all people – then the bete noir of Sinn Fein - has little appeal for people who think food first and political parties second. There is nothing whatsoever to suggest that Sinn Fein would put an end to poor house economics or do anything to halt the Cromwellian economic spectre that is rapaciously haunting the country in the form of the IMF. Sinn Fein is the party of promise that has promised so much yet delivered so little

It makes little sense for Pearse Doherty to advise Labour to refrain from entering a coalition government with Fine Gael on the basis that the latter is a right wing party. It is no more right wing than Fianna Fail yet every dog in the street knows Sinn Fein was bursting to enter government with the Soldiers of Destiny before they waved the white flag of surrender to the IMF without reference to the people in case ‘the bastards’ might vote like they did previously on the Lisbon Treaty.

What is Pearse Doherty made of? Credit to him for an effective waste disposal strategy which saw Fianna Fail routed. An untested quantity at the uppermost political level, it remains to be seen if he and his more left leaning colleagues can prevent the party leadership entering a coalition with a right wing party. If Sinn Fein somehow managed to get a greater percentage of seats than Labour in the next general election, in which Fianna Fail should be sent packing, it will without doubt go into government with Fine Gael. Doherty will then be reminded of his own words about what left wing parties cannot credibly do. If he then fails to piss in the pot, Thursday’s trudge to the polling booth will for many have been a complete waste of time and a vote.

37 comments:

  1. Good article Antony,

    I tend to agree with almost all of what you have written.

    I have no intention in voting in the forthcoming General Election unless there is an attractive independent candidate in my constituency.

    While I don't doubt that there are many genuine left-wingers in the the Labour Party, the vast majority of the front bench are a pack of self-serving political careerists who will gladly collude with Fine Gael to shaft the working class.

    Poorhouse economics, I like that.

    Rory

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  2. Mackers, Pearse Doherty done well. The down side was looking at the Master clocked on the sofa beside him looking very smug and totally insincere.
    Also, the knowledge that Pearse is highly unlikely to bring about the revolutionary change that they still bleet on about.
    During the debate on socialism, I heard Eoin constantly talk about Sinn Fein's strategy for change and the need to have such a strategy, however he feel short of actually outlining the specifics of his argument and which part of thei strategy that was relevant to the pursuit of change via socialism.
    Last year Clonard remebered 69 forty years on. One of Clonards most prominent activists, proclaimed that they,the Movement had members actively sitting on every community body in the area,'hence our socialist credentials'
    Feet away from where the crap was being spewed stood the Master again looking smug and insincere.
    'He is going South to sort out Louth.' God help them.

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  3. Stood this morning in a store in Donegal whilst an extremely irate middle aged man suggested every TD's house should be burned to the feckin ground. He also suggested that 'them SF' mob should be voted in, just for one term to sicken those in the Dail, let them attack them from the top down.
    I hadn't the heart to tell him he really had no idea of the 'mob' he was talking about and they wouldn't be attacking anyone, economically or any other way.
    People are certainly angry, but there's nowhere for them to go for effective recourse.
    Hope there are enough independents put forward, just to prevent the same old same old. But once into Leinster House it seems they all vere to the trough, just a matter of how quickly.
    Get the degree and get the hell outa dodge larry.
    Only plus side is that smug gob berdy will be back in the dog house once this wee spell of rage is over. The people haven't seen the gospel according to Adams, they just need a filthy smelly enuff dog to annoy those who are responsible for this mess for a wee while.

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  4. Larry timing in politics as in life is the key,one mans misery is another,s opportunity.whether it was good fortune or good judgement Doherty,s forcing of the Donegal by-election guaranteed him that seat.the only real voice the people have is their mandate and its a safe bet to say that those who led the country into this mess will take a hammering at the polls, psf as a protest party will do well much the pity, but really that is all psf is. I think they will follow the path of those other ex revolutionaries the sticks,once they get their nose into the trough they to will factionalise into left/right splits and personality cliques,the psf will become the new ff if they haven,nt already

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  5. That Sinn Fein secured the Donegal South West seat comes as little suprise. They will no doubt take other seats in the coming economic/political turbulence.

    But any Republican observing developments will surely view such electoral gains as a pyrrhic victory. Sinn Fein set out their constitutional nationalist stall some time ago. They have recognised many of the structures and policies seen as anathema to Republicans. They will morph into the centre left amalgam of self serving gombeen parties that have made no difference to the peoples lives (other than their own).

    To continue with the dog theme of previous posts, Sinn Fein's search for power is akin to a dog chasing a car, if they caught it they wouldnt know what to do with it.

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  6. AM-

    the vengeance charge is to be led by the master of equality
    those who looked down there snouts
    are going to get it bloodied by the
    people-

    with luck this vote in the dail on
    the future of the anti- IRISH
    brian cowen will show who is bluffing

    who fears the future- money wise
    all of us- except the bankers and those bought fools who sold out their economy.

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  7. Michaelhenry,

    you are back! You were sorely missed.

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  8. liked that dog chasing a car thought...perfectly true.
    a guy said on rte/vatican tv we need rid of 'punch and judy' civil war politics in the south, audience rose to that.
    As long as we dont get a loadf of revolution and people power rhetoric shite im confident for the 'left' next election.
    remeber our people are the greediest cute hoors on earth. So, keep it sane!!!

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  9. Nuala,

    No chance whatsoever of Pearse bringing about revolutionary change, even substantial reformist change. Nothing like that is going to happen while the Master has his seat at the top table. It is how he and others respond to the Master sucking the blood out of radicalism that will give some indication.

    Eoin I think would like to see substantial change and he talks an awful lot of sense in a way that many of his colleagues don’t. They talk an awful lot of nonsense. I thought at the debate the other evening he tried to spell things out (to the extent that anyone spelt anything out) more than the Eirigi guy. It is all very well for us to say socialism but socialism has to be spelt out. Otherwise all we have is a hunch that because it is ethically better than capitalism it is workable. As Brecht said, food first then ethics. If capitalism creates more wealth than socialism and distributes enough of it throughout society under the pressure of a reformist drive then people will in all likelihood go for it despite it being an ethically inferior system to socialism.

    Rory,

    ‘While I don't doubt that there are many genuine left-wingers in the the Labour Party, the vast majority of the front bench are a pack of self-serving political careerists who will gladly collude with Fine Gael to shaft the working class.’

    I am far from convinced that front bench politicians are just a pack of careerists. Many of them actually believe that social democracy is the way ahead. I think the allegation of betraying the working class extends back to the Bolshevik days. They were the witchhunters yet themnselves turned many tenets on their head and flailed out at others who disagreed with them as they ruthlessly pursued power. The folly of such name calling led to the disaster of equating social democracy with fascism. This helped ensure the unchecked rise of Nazism. I think that many in social democratic politics would like to see a socialist society were it not for the sheer abuses the party would inflict through its committees for public safety and secret police etc.

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  10. The people in the Republic need to watch where this is going. Sinn Fein are clowns – all they did was build a mandate on victim mentality in the north – they haven’t a clue about real world economics.
    If they get elected on a nationalistic anti-IMF ticket they’ll find it tough in office. If they pull out of the deal Ireland will be a pariah state like Serbia. And it will take a man smarter than Adams to re-negotiate it.
    Someone has to pay the bill and there is no one left but the people.
    If the bill gets tore up then Ireland will virtually be an internal economy only. It will be tiny rural and backward.
    There is no point blaming the bankers. They may be cunts but they are no more to blame for this than anyone else. They were just a bit more greedy than the rest of us. Let’s face it just about everybody bought into the myth of the Celtic Tiger and the property boom. Everybody was on the make for a fast buck and now we realise there was actually no one to cheat but ourselves.
    But we’re too far in to go back and voting nationalist - while it may repair the dented Irish psyche and pride - it won’t solve any economic problems it will simply entrench them.

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  11. Framk,
    totally agree with most of what you say. The entire nation got way too big for its wee bog oirish booties. EVERYONE was up to their oxters in greed and easy money. Funny now how no-one saw it coming...that's just the latest instalment of 'blarney'. no one wanted to believe reality would kick in...well NOT YET eh!!!
    ching ching rub it rite up the lot of them....life is good..cuppo tae in bed 2pm...temperature zero degrees, may have to stay in bed til monday...its ok ive the pc here wifey has her blackburry...tv on and oil heating full throttle. agh this is the life.

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  12. frank-?

    You say that SINN FEIN have not got a clue about world economics,

    but after the last few weeks do you
    think that fianna fail as a clue
    [ maybe they do- so the banks paid
    their dues ]

    you argue that the people must pay back this treason imf loan and its
    interest because its the peoples fault-

    the people whos minimal wage was cut were blamless for fianna fails
    economy disaster yet these people
    will have to pay whilst your fat cats get of.

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  13. Michaelhenry
    You’re right about Fianna Fail – you could call them Fianna Failed.
    But giving Sinn Fein a go is hardly likely to be the answer.
    Fianna Fail fucked up the economy but at least they don’t have to look up ‘economy’ in the dictionary.
    And paying what you owe is hardly treason. What’s the alternative? Do you say it was ALL the fat cats fault – those damm fat cats – they’re practically super villains and scapegoats all rolled into one. That’s convenient…
    The Irish people – the good Irish people – are of course above reproach. Never greedy or profligate the Irish people shouldn’t pay a cent.
    The truth is - there is no way to write the debt off – there is no internal settlement on this. Whatever the Irish Government decides it needs to be ‘squared’ with the international political and economic powers that be. To fail to satisfy these is to put Ireland outside of these systems. This outcome - I would argue – would have worse and longer lasting effects on the economy and society of Ireland than the current deal.
    So while playing the nationalist card will hit all the right emotional buttons it won’t help practically. Playing the socialist card won’t help. There are no utopian solutions. Any solution – however difficult dirty and expensive – won’t change our essentially outward looking and consumerist society.
    The best the left can hope for is to enter a reasonably stable coalition - pay the IMF et al - and try to stop the inevitable pain of the years to come creating a society with yawning gaps in equality. Yes the fat cats need to be pursued but the cold hand of the taxman will hurt them more than hot heads shouting in the streets.

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  14. It's an oportunity now for the first time to totally overhaul the entire political system. Get rid of FF FG Labour antics and pantamime crap. Does anyone believe any party in the Dail were innocent in this? They are all complicit by their blind eyes and incompetence. The Dail is a private club with jobs for life.
    If SF want to take the 'gun out of Irish politics' then stay away, keep the provo blackmail strategy out of the south. There's a chance for some proper politics to emmerge here.

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  15. Larry, they should run you as a candidate, well you or David Cameron, same shite different day!

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  16. i wouldnt have the thick skin for it, nor would i know what to do with all that pay+xpenses. Not interested in a big house.

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  17. Fionnuala,
    you are devoid of argument political or historical point and frankly quite rude dear.

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  18. Frankly, Larry I don't give a damn!

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  19. well maybe you can take the girl outa the ghetto but not the ghetto outa the girl
    so it woul appear.
    political content is good tho.

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  20. How could anyone seriously have a political debate with you?
    You are totally dogmatic and completely insensitive to anyone elses plight.
    You are even coming out with crap statements about beggars, how low can you go? I would say very.

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  21. Fionnuala, it now appears obvious to me that cynicism and irony are wasted on you. I shall bear that in mind henceforth.

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  22. Larry, if I genuinely believed you were being facetious about people who did not deserve it, if I was wrong then I am sorry.
    I have friends who lost their home last year and trust me it is something that I would never wish on anyway.

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  23. Iknow how they feel Nuala,them auld homes are easily lost! I can never find mine on a Supday night!

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  24. Nuala,

    ‘You are even coming out with crap statements about beggars, how low can you go? I would say very.’

    This reminds me of the joke where a guy is up in court for having sex with an Alsatian. The judge looks down his nose at him and asks ‘how low can you go?’ And the accused replies ‘as low as a Jack Russell your honour.’

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  25. Or as the late Glasgow wit, Matt McGinn put it:
    A dog from the port was taken up to court
    and accused of molesting his father
    said the Judge to the pet, 'How low can you get'
    said the pet to the Judge, 'a Chihuahua'

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  26. Or when Paddy was done for interfering with a goat he got six months and a futher six for acting the goat!

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  27. Frank

    An air of realism injected into matters.

    ‘Sinn Fein are clowns – all they did was build a mandate on victim mentality in
    the north – they haven’t a clue about real world economics … Fianna Fail fucked up the economy but at least they don’t have to look up ‘economy’ in the dictionary.

    Hard to disagree with that. It helps explain why achievements here will be limited.

    ‘But we’re too far in to go back and voting nationalist - while it may
    repair the dented Irish psyche and pride - it won’t solve any economic
    problems it will simply entrench them.’

    A lot of sense in few words but I think you are maybe too harsh on the whole society. Some were clearly more guilty than others and the idea that all should pay because of the way the economy was managed begs serious ethical questions.
    ‘And paying what you owe is hardly treason.’
    Many got nothing and owe nothing.
    I think there is no chance of default happening. The situation you outline is the major constraint. It would only work, and not be ethically wrong, if there was a widespread international revolt by countries crippled by debt. A bit like the old argument against socialism in one country. Outside of that we will be paying the IMF and whoever after that for the rest of my lifetime.

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  29. mise eire

    My understanding is that the communist republicans failed simply becuase most of their leading figures were careerists looking after number one.

    When they were on the cusp of real power they abandoned the party to form a more elitist, less left wing party.

    Maybe they did this bacause of the fall of the Stalinist system in Eastern Europe, I don't know.

    Rory

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  31. mise eire,

    My apologies, I never heard of the League of communist republicns, I though you were referrring to the stickys.

    Rory

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  33. mise eire,

    Representative democracy=failure.
    Particapatory Democracy the only way forward?


    I agree 100%

    Rory

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  34. Mise Eire,

    Given the political history of Provisionalism, a wider conservative culture, the containment of the project to the prison, it would have failed without the additional factor of looking to the USSR.

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