In fairness to Claire, she had guests from across the spectrum both in favour of and against Sinn Fein’s policies. In the anti-Sinn Fein corner, we had the right-wing neo-liberal free market economist Eddie Hobbes, among other pro-establishment people, while an array of younger people, some party members and activists, were in favour of Sinn Fein.
Was Claire perhaps hoping the older wiser heads, as they like to consider themselves, would put the young people who are still living in the parental nest because they cannot afford a mortgage, in their place? Little wonder these young people, some Sinn Fein members, are voting for or are active in the party. If Claire Byrne was hoping the “sensible grown up’s” would put these young misguided kids in their place disappointment awaited. The young people, one who was engaged but could not afford to leave his parent’s home let alone get a mortgage with his fiancé shot down the experienced and unrestricted free market supporter Hobbes. Incidentally Eddie Hobbes was the face behind a property investment fund which ended up losing 13 million euro on disastrous property deals! The discredited Eddie “Baby” continued to pedal his usual clap-trap of scare mongering economics telling us how the rich were at the present “speaking to their financial advisers” about what to do in the event of a Sinn Fein government being elected! He told us these wonderful people could well leave the country if such a scenario evolved. Economic blackmail or what?
If Hobbes assertions are correct, it would bear out James Connolly’s claim that, in Ireland the “only true patriots are the working-class”, because when the capitalist economy had landed itself, yet again, in the shit back in 2008, it was the proletariat who took a pay cut or a wage freeze in the “national interest” to bail them out! If these rich and powerful would-be patriots are, as Eddie Hobbes suggests, preparing to leave the nest just because Sinn Fein may want a couple of euro extra off them for a health service, they are not very patriotic are they”! My answer to that would be, let them go on a one-way ticket, but their wealth and properties remain here in Ireland!!
Sinn Fein are perhaps the most metamorphosed party in modern Ireland. Like the Chameleon changes colours Sinn Fein shifts its political stance and identity, similar to what Various Labour parties have done to accommodate capitalism over the decades. Sinn Fein once preached their intentions of a 32-county socialist republic, the emphasis here on socialist, something which like "Brits Out" is consigned to history. I never did take the public aspiration of Sinn Fein’s socialism seriously. They never once mentioned economic planning, nationalisation of the banks or the common ownership of the means of production which are all ingredients necessary to bake a socialist cake. There was no mention of production for social need as opposed to capitalist greed, thus making their form of socialism a lighter shade of pink, rather than crimson red! Today the much-travelled Sinn Fein, notwithstanding the splits of 1969 and 1986, speak of a “new republic” in the space once occupied by the “socialist republic”!!
Despite the apparent negatives briefly outlined above Sinn Fein are perhaps the most progressive of the major parties in Dail Eireann. Even though the party have dropped any pretence of being socialist it would appear the Irish bourgeoisie are running shitless of them, terrified that these nasty republicans (debatable) might attract sufficient votes to either form, as the largest party, or become part of government as the junior party. If current trends are anything to go by, and continue at their present level then Sinn Fein are almost certain to be in a position by the next General Election to form a government. They may have to rely on one of the smaller parties to make numbers up and the obvious partner, for me, in government would be People Before Profit/Solidarity providing the numbers stack up. This would mean two former revolutionary parties, PBP are made up of former Socialist Worker Party members and activists, a party which spent years telling us there is “no parliamentary road to socialism” chanting “one solution, revolution” and Sinn Fein who, before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, would have considered themselves revolutionary. Whether they were or not I’ll leave to the readers description of a revolutionary. They were not, however, revolutionary socialists!
Sinn Fein are the only party which stands any chance of forming a government which advocates a single tier nationalised health service with treatment free at the point of need in Ireland. Should they become the next government and succeed in bringing this novel, for Ireland, idea into our lives it will mean a better health service for countless numbers of people. If it is funded correctly and managed competently, on a non-for-profit basis, the Irish variant of Britain’s NHS could overtake our neighbours in health service delivery. This is not because the British NHS is no good, on the contrary it is still one of the best around but various British Governments have been, bit by bit, selling parts of the service off to private enterprise. Covid-19 put the temporary brakes on this clandestine drive towards privatisation but the conservative administration in Westminster will no doubt soon resume their hostile actions against people’s health. While the British are doing this, the Irish, should Sinn Fein become the government and carry out their pledge, will be in the ascendancy regarding health care.
Sinn Fein are again the only large party who are committed to tackling the horrors of homelessness in the country. Once again very progressive, for parliamentary politics, policies which for people sleeping rough must be encouraging. For any person who has suffered as a result of numerous and various governments policies on health and for any person(S) who have nowhere to live a vote, first preference, for Sinn Fein should be a no brainer. Of course, we will have financial whizz kids like Eddie (Baby) Hobbes telling us it cannot be done, and how the rich and powerful will leave the country if such a despicable scheme as making people fit and well and making sure nobody sleeps rough ever comes to pass.
Sinn Fein are perhaps the most metamorphosed party in modern Ireland. Like the Chameleon changes colours Sinn Fein shifts its political stance and identity, similar to what Various Labour parties have done to accommodate capitalism over the decades. Sinn Fein once preached their intentions of a 32-county socialist republic, the emphasis here on socialist, something which like "Brits Out" is consigned to history. I never did take the public aspiration of Sinn Fein’s socialism seriously. They never once mentioned economic planning, nationalisation of the banks or the common ownership of the means of production which are all ingredients necessary to bake a socialist cake. There was no mention of production for social need as opposed to capitalist greed, thus making their form of socialism a lighter shade of pink, rather than crimson red! Today the much-travelled Sinn Fein, notwithstanding the splits of 1969 and 1986, speak of a “new republic” in the space once occupied by the “socialist republic”!!
Despite the apparent negatives briefly outlined above Sinn Fein are perhaps the most progressive of the major parties in Dail Eireann. Even though the party have dropped any pretence of being socialist it would appear the Irish bourgeoisie are running shitless of them, terrified that these nasty republicans (debatable) might attract sufficient votes to either form, as the largest party, or become part of government as the junior party. If current trends are anything to go by, and continue at their present level then Sinn Fein are almost certain to be in a position by the next General Election to form a government. They may have to rely on one of the smaller parties to make numbers up and the obvious partner, for me, in government would be People Before Profit/Solidarity providing the numbers stack up. This would mean two former revolutionary parties, PBP are made up of former Socialist Worker Party members and activists, a party which spent years telling us there is “no parliamentary road to socialism” chanting “one solution, revolution” and Sinn Fein who, before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, would have considered themselves revolutionary. Whether they were or not I’ll leave to the readers description of a revolutionary. They were not, however, revolutionary socialists!
Sinn Fein are the only party which stands any chance of forming a government which advocates a single tier nationalised health service with treatment free at the point of need in Ireland. Should they become the next government and succeed in bringing this novel, for Ireland, idea into our lives it will mean a better health service for countless numbers of people. If it is funded correctly and managed competently, on a non-for-profit basis, the Irish variant of Britain’s NHS could overtake our neighbours in health service delivery. This is not because the British NHS is no good, on the contrary it is still one of the best around but various British Governments have been, bit by bit, selling parts of the service off to private enterprise. Covid-19 put the temporary brakes on this clandestine drive towards privatisation but the conservative administration in Westminster will no doubt soon resume their hostile actions against people’s health. While the British are doing this, the Irish, should Sinn Fein become the government and carry out their pledge, will be in the ascendancy regarding health care.
Sinn Fein are again the only large party who are committed to tackling the horrors of homelessness in the country. Once again very progressive, for parliamentary politics, policies which for people sleeping rough must be encouraging. For any person who has suffered as a result of numerous and various governments policies on health and for any person(S) who have nowhere to live a vote, first preference, for Sinn Fein should be a no brainer. Of course, we will have financial whizz kids like Eddie (Baby) Hobbes telling us it cannot be done, and how the rich and powerful will leave the country if such a despicable scheme as making people fit and well and making sure nobody sleeps rough ever comes to pass.
Do not listen to these cowboys. They have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. Are they seriously telling us that those who can well afford would begrudge a few extra euro in tax to fund the nation’s health? Is this what the likes of Hobbes are telling us? If this is the case, and I do not believe it is, then Connolly’s statement that the “working-class in Ireland” are the most patriotic is proved, yet again, correct. It is, after all, they who make sacrifices to bail the nation's finances out. Maybe now it is the turn of the ruling class to come up to the plate! “Wrap the green flag around me boys”!!
The scaremongers of Fianna fail and Fine Gael continually tell us how Sinn Fein’s policies will never work. They even have the likes of such astute economists as Eddie Hobbes and other likeminded very clever men and women to reinforce their arguments. They often point to Sinn Fein’s record of government in the six-counties, or “Northern Ireland” in the Stormont Assembly. What they do not remind people, and many may not know, is that the Stormont Assembly, or Legislative Assembly in the north is not the government of a nation state. The Assembly is a sub-office of Westminster with little, if anymore, power than Greater Manchester Council! In other words, Sinn Fein’s hands, along with other parties in the Assembly are to a large extent tied. If they become the government down here in the 26 county’s they will be the Government of an independent sovereign nation state. There is a world of difference between being an MLA in the north and a TD in Dail Eireann.
When this scaremongering fails, as it appears to be doing, the good people of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will then point to Sinn Fein’s relationship with the IRA during the northern conflict. They will tell us that the organisation which gave political expression to IRA action during this war, are not fit to govern down here due to past “criminal” activities. Well, from where I am sitting, there is little if any difference to what Sinn Fein were doing in the North of Ireland giving the IRA a political voice, to what many who went on to form Fianna Fail in 1926 were doing down here during the War of Independence and the Civil War. While the IRA were fighting in the field, and rightly so, Sinn Fein were giving political expression and representation to the people and the IRA, just the same as they were for thirty years during the war in the six-counties.
The scaremongers of Fianna fail and Fine Gael continually tell us how Sinn Fein’s policies will never work. They even have the likes of such astute economists as Eddie Hobbes and other likeminded very clever men and women to reinforce their arguments. They often point to Sinn Fein’s record of government in the six-counties, or “Northern Ireland” in the Stormont Assembly. What they do not remind people, and many may not know, is that the Stormont Assembly, or Legislative Assembly in the north is not the government of a nation state. The Assembly is a sub-office of Westminster with little, if anymore, power than Greater Manchester Council! In other words, Sinn Fein’s hands, along with other parties in the Assembly are to a large extent tied. If they become the government down here in the 26 county’s they will be the Government of an independent sovereign nation state. There is a world of difference between being an MLA in the north and a TD in Dail Eireann.
When this scaremongering fails, as it appears to be doing, the good people of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will then point to Sinn Fein’s relationship with the IRA during the northern conflict. They will tell us that the organisation which gave political expression to IRA action during this war, are not fit to govern down here due to past “criminal” activities. Well, from where I am sitting, there is little if any difference to what Sinn Fein were doing in the North of Ireland giving the IRA a political voice, to what many who went on to form Fianna Fail in 1926 were doing down here during the War of Independence and the Civil War. While the IRA were fighting in the field, and rightly so, Sinn Fein were giving political expression and representation to the people and the IRA, just the same as they were for thirty years during the war in the six-counties.
Many people who Fianna Fail would today call murderers spent many years in Dail Eireann as Fianna Fail TDs. Marin Corry was a volunteer of the Cork Number 1 Brigade IRA and was described by the Brigade's Commandant, Michael Leahy, as their chief executioner! Corry was reportedly responsible for at least 27 killings of supposed informers. Not all of them were in fact informers and in some cases, this was known yet Martin Corry still went ahead with the executions. Corry went on to be a backbencher for Fianna Fail for many years. In a war informers must be dealt with by the only failsafe way of doing so, but when they are not informers should they still die? Yes, mistakes can and do happen, that is inevitable and regrettable but what right have Fianna Fail got to criticise Sinn Fein today for doing exactly the same as their members did during the War of Independence?
When Fianna Fail came to power in 1932 the man de Valera appointed as Defence Minister was Frank Aitken, former Commandant of the 4th Northern Division IRA. Like Corry some of his actions were questionable, but it must be remembered a war was in progress in much the same way as a war was in progress in the six-counties. Sinn Fein then, as more recently, supported the actions of the IRA in the field of conflict yet, it appears, it was alright between 1919 and 1921 but not alright between the years 1969 to 1998. Hypocrisy or what? People should remind Fianna Fail to re-read their history. They, Fianna Fail, will tell us the activities I have referred to happened a long time ago, too long ago to be worthy of mention. They may well have a point. So, let’s come a little nearer to present times. Sean Lemass was Taoiseach during the sixties. He took part in the attack and execution of the British Intelligence Officers, known as the Cairo Gang on the morning of 21st November 1920. These actions were warranted and I am not attributing anything against those who took part. The point I am trying to make is would Fianna Fail have supported Sean Lemass, their Taoiseach, if he had carried out such actions later in the century? Or would they have branded him a murderer? The IRA in the north did nothing different to their forbearers actions in the south. Yes, all these actions are history, so are those of the IRA in the north. It is now twenty-four years since the signing of the GFA therefore the activities of the IRA in the north, and Sinn Fein’s position regarding those actions, are as much a part of Irish history as is the War of Independence and should be treated as such.
Recently Fine Gael TD, Simon Harris, the man who has managed to fuck up every ministerial portfolio he has had, said he found it “astonishing Sinn Fein would appoint advisers with convictions”, the Irish Times could report. By criminal records it is meant people with convictions for their activities during the war in the six-counties, a little bit like Frank Aitken, Defence Minister as we have discussed, and Martin Corry, a Fianna Fail backbencher for many years. So, Harris is a Fine Gael TD and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, in the coalition Government of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party.
Recently Fine Gael TD, Simon Harris, the man who has managed to fuck up every ministerial portfolio he has had, said he found it “astonishing Sinn Fein would appoint advisers with convictions”, the Irish Times could report. By criminal records it is meant people with convictions for their activities during the war in the six-counties, a little bit like Frank Aitken, Defence Minister as we have discussed, and Martin Corry, a Fianna Fail backbencher for many years. So, Harris is a Fine Gael TD and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, in the coalition Government of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party.
Why would a Sinn Fein government not appoint other members of their movement into such positions, Fianna Fail, Fine Gaels coalition partners did! Would Harris and the newly renamed (formerly Cumann na ngaedheal) Fine Gael party have been so “astonished” back in 1932 when the newly elected government of Fianna Fail appointed the anti-treaty IRA former Commandant, Frank Aitken, as Minister for Defence? Sinn Fein’s Housing Spokesperson Eoin O’Broin said “a person’s history in conflict related activities would not be relevant” which is perfectly true. Speaking for myself, I couldn’t care less if an adviser or even a Sinn Fein Minister had been involved in the conflict, fair play to them, my question would be; will I be able to see a doctor within a reasonable time at the Mater Hospital, or will I have to wait two days? If the answer is the former, that will do for me. If I was sleeping in a shop doorway and wanted a roof over my head, would I care how many enemy troops a government adviser or even Minister had killed? No, my interest would be getting into a house or flat with a bed, not a sleeping bag on the street. If Sinn Fein are going to address this problem, that would be good enough for me.
For any young person who is waiting to buy their first home forget it if the present state of affairs carries on unchecked. On health, everybody who I know have not got a good word to say about the Health Service Executive (HSE), this is not a criticism of the doctors and nurses or, indeed any HSE staff, it is an attack on the system of delivery itself. If you have nowhere to live, please do not expect any improvements in your lot with the present government in charge. A change of government is needed and, if Sinn Fein are good to their word (it may take two terms) they will be the ones to deliver such change. I do not know with any certainty whether these policies will work, they have never been given a chance, but I do know the present government's direction is not working. Just look around you, do not even need to turn the television on, and the evidence is there for your very own eyes. It will be a Sinn Fein led government who will change our health service for the better, if they are good to their word. The only way to find out is to elect them.
Should Sinn Fein become the largest party and, therefore, the next government in Dublin they may have to compromise with the Irish bourgeoisie in order to bring about the changes they want. Such a compromise would not be necessary in a socialist republic because the bourgeoisie – the ruling class, or real government – would cease to exist as a class. However, we do not live in a socialist republic so it would be imagined some kind of compromise will be sought with the so-called ruling elite. The question would be, how far do they compromise their position before that position becomes unrecognisable from what their position is now in opposition?
For any young person who is waiting to buy their first home forget it if the present state of affairs carries on unchecked. On health, everybody who I know have not got a good word to say about the Health Service Executive (HSE), this is not a criticism of the doctors and nurses or, indeed any HSE staff, it is an attack on the system of delivery itself. If you have nowhere to live, please do not expect any improvements in your lot with the present government in charge. A change of government is needed and, if Sinn Fein are good to their word (it may take two terms) they will be the ones to deliver such change. I do not know with any certainty whether these policies will work, they have never been given a chance, but I do know the present government's direction is not working. Just look around you, do not even need to turn the television on, and the evidence is there for your very own eyes. It will be a Sinn Fein led government who will change our health service for the better, if they are good to their word. The only way to find out is to elect them.
Should Sinn Fein become the largest party and, therefore, the next government in Dublin they may have to compromise with the Irish bourgeoisie in order to bring about the changes they want. Such a compromise would not be necessary in a socialist republic because the bourgeoisie – the ruling class, or real government – would cease to exist as a class. However, we do not live in a socialist republic so it would be imagined some kind of compromise will be sought with the so-called ruling elite. The question would be, how far do they compromise their position before that position becomes unrecognisable from what their position is now in opposition?
As it stands Sinn Fein are the only chance of a better future regarding health care, housing, first time home buyers. It is all very well the so-called powers that be telling us these policies would never work, they have never been given an opportunity. The two major parties in the present set up have, between them, had over a century to get it right and have failed to do so. They have presided over mass emigration during the fifties to a barely recognisable health service and record levels of homelessness today. Let’s face it, if you can’t get it right in a hundred years, the chances are you never will!
(The above refers to Sinn Fein in Dail Eireann, not Republican Sinn Fein who split after the once unified party’s 1986 Ard Fheis)
(The above refers to Sinn Fein in Dail Eireann, not Republican Sinn Fein who split after the once unified party’s 1986 Ard Fheis)
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Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist |
The fundamental democratic issue with Sinn Fein is the control of it by the IRA Army Council.
ReplyDeleteOf which there is no evidence. Did the IRA control FF in 1932? Dev did release all republican prisoners! What I am saying is 1932 is history,
ReplyDeleteas are Martin Corry and Frank Aitken, and so is the northern conflict apart from those, a minority, in the British establishment and unionist community. Are you, or anybody else, suggesting people crying out for a health service or a roof over their heads, do not vote Sinn Fein, who are committed to delivering these services, in case it upsets the apple cart? The "IRA Army Council" you claim control Sinn Fein, where is the evidence. You cannot expect the electorate to vote on heresay.
Caoimhin O'Muraile0
PSNI and International Decommissioning Body reported in 2015 that the Army Council still existed if only in a political form, Caoimhin.
DeleteAs Anthony and many others will testify SF are run in a democratic centralist, Leninist manner with dissent carefully screened out. There have been periodic resignations of SF councillors because of its allegedly bullying culture.
Who elected Michelle O'Neill to be its Northern Ireland leader? The murder of Paul Quinn, the treatment of Maria Cahill and IRA/SF's covering up of multiple sex offenders in the movement shows evidence of at least a residue of criminal activity. Where does its wealth come from.
The gaslighting of victims of the Troubles by its troll army of Shinnerbots are another reason to tread carefully.
The electorate can voter whichever it likes; potential SF voters may need to be careful of what it wishes for.
Regardless of the Army Council Sinn Fein has shown itself very ready to jettison positions when political expediency calls for it. Someone once said to beware the revolutionary who gains power for they become the oppressor. The Shinners do not do solo runs, or members going off script or even worse deviating from the Party line. Even Mary Lou gets her fingers rapped if she has a moment of independent thought. They benefit in the South from a lot of the Northern baggage, and have artfully tried to spin away any inconvenient bad PR like Maria Cahill, Joe O'Connor and a plethora of other shameful endeavors but the southern voters would do well to look carefully at who they're voting for. Don't ask me, ask Anthony, Matt, Maria Cahill et al for their opinions because they were at the coal face.
ReplyDeleteI am aware of Anthony's opinions and respect them. As I stated, I do not usually shine a torch for Sinn Fein, but on a politically pragmatic note the rest of the parties have been tried and tested, and failed. Our health service is a mess, people dossing rough, have you ever slept rough yourself Steve? It is not great even for a few nights let alone indefinately. Sinn Fein are the only (capitalist) party who say their programme will address this. I am sick to the teeth of being afraid to get ill because the health service is inadequate. If they are good to their word, and it may take two terms, then they must be given an opportunity. Maybe you have private health care and can afford to be flipant about the state of our health (non) service!!
ReplyDeleteAs for Maria Cahill, I know insufficient about the case, no more than do you, but what little I do know is it had little to do with Sinn Fein. IRA yes, SF? What happened to Marie, or any woman was wrong and should not have occurred. I have seen similar scenarios in my time, people in positions of perceived grandeular taking advantage of those positions. Men, old enough to know better taking advantage of younger impressionable girls, its sick.
As for Sinn Fein "jettison" of political positions I am aware of that which is why I constantly repeat, "if they are good to their word". I cannot say, neither can you or anybody else, whether they will deliver but they must be given the opportunity.
As a socialist republican myself, once an erp, the state of our health service is a bone of contention within unionism to unification. They have a vallid argument which must be rectified.
Caoimhin O'Muraile
Caoimhin - wildly optimistic. It completely ignores the endless summersaults SF has made to become part of the establishment consensus including the Special Criminal Courts - the no jury court was initially introduced under the Defence Of The Realm Act, and here we have SF lauding it.
ReplyDeleteNothing other than the optics will change under SF. The party is committed to office not change. Like other parties it will behave in accordance with the structural function of government - manage the current economy and maintain law and order. It is going to make neither significant nor structural change.
They sound more progressive than the other establishment parties but soundbites do that for you.
A Marxist of long standing should be making a different argument than the one above. You have bought into their promises without once addressing the litany of broken promises. That is not to say you should not vote them - but if has to be for other reasons than on the basis of what was promised: something along the lines of say the thinking of the late Gerry Corbett
Here is another example of Sinn Fein's bullying culture:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/sinn-fein-td-violet-anne-wynne-resigns-from-party-over-psychological-warfare-41383512.html
Barry - I saw this earlier and was about to post it. However, it is much like what goes in in the British Labour Party under Starmer. You will always get this with control freaks and power mongers.
ReplyDeleteThe Adams strategy when distilled down was to infect the Provos with the Stick virus. And the Sticks found to their chagrin when they tried to impose their control on the wider party that the South kicked back. They split. A policy of growth was not going to be restricted by some Group B. The same is happening with SF. As much as people like you feel they are vastly different from other parties, the truth is that they are very much like them. SF will be no better than FF. Nor will they be any more draconian. In the South there is a vastly different culture within the party. I experience it first hand: there is little of the hatred that was on display in the North. The bad vibes I have experienced on the ground down here have come only from those who have history in the North.
Sinn Féin responds after TD Violet-Anne Wynne resigns from party over ‘psychological warfare’
ReplyDeleteI know that Anthony and detest the SF sell out of all their former republican principles particularly in the six counties. The Green Book has been tossed aside like an out of date annual, Roy of the Rovers, and all they once stood for has gone. That said, and as I said, they have not been given an opporrunity to put their, by comparison, progressive policies forward in the 26 counties. Yes, I am perhaps been optimistic, I did state several times "if they are good to their word", I also said, "I did not know if SF policies would work" but I do know the gang in charge for over a century have failed certainly on health and housing. Personal feelings should not come into it, if they do and are wide spread, prepare for another load of the present inane crap.
ReplyDeleteI have read of Violet-Anne Wynnes resignation, a bad do alright, but does this affect the possibility of a competent health service? Not as far as I can see. Health is a barrier for some unionists to unification. If the Naylor Report goes through the NHS will no longer be in a superior position, alas. Lets hope that report does not see the light of day. Therefore the unionists will no longer have this bone of contention because with or without a nationalised single tiered health service down here, the NHS will no longer be the jewel in the crown.
Caoimhin O'Muraile
Caoimhin - set aside the Green Book and that type of stuff, and focus on the political-social. They had choices in the North and did not make radical ones. I can't think of another party that has abandoned so much of what it claimed to be core tenets - and that includes the Irish Labour Party, and they take some beating.
DeleteOf course the current crop have failed. As a Marxist you could tell people that SF too will fail - that is not a matter of bad policy but one of policy being formulated within the structural economic context, which SF will not remotely challenge.
There will be no radical change in housing or health. SF will play the game. You know the old Einstein definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over again yet expecting a different result. Do you really believe that SF is going to stop lying or breaking its promises once in power. Don't build up false hope.
I would not vote them because I simply do not believe them. I think they have some good politicians and committed social activists but they are not going to change this society. Will they even improve it slightly? Perhaps, but it is unlikely. And not in a way that is going to radically distinguish them from the other establishment parties.
Poulantzas observed how power in a capitalist society circulates in order to prevent parliamentarians effecting real change. It is not that I think the SF politicians are all cunts - rather that they will never get their hands on the real levers of power to effect radical change.
Anthony,
DeleteYou know the old Einstein definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over again yet expecting a different result.
That in a nutshell is the reason I've never voted. No matter who gets voted in, nothing really changes. Maybe if people voted in brand new faces and parties... Well one thing is for sure the result wouldn't be the same............
Frankie - it is worthwhile voting against rather than for.
DeleteVote against who Anthony? Every political party in the six counties either want to keep ties with Westminster, the EU or both and they all agree-buy into the central banking system...
Deleteagainst whoever is in Frankie or against who annoys you most - whatever floats your boat
Delete"Old wine, in new bottles" may prove correct but nobody can, with any definitive proof, can say this until proved. That can only come about by letti g SF themselves mess it up, if indeed they do mess it up. Meantime, will my appointment with my heamatologist be kept, or will another years waiting be in store??
ReplyDeleteCaoimhin O'Muraile
Your view of SF is correct Anthony, was never a member myself, but the same must be said of all parliamentary parties. Harold Wilson found out back in 64 where "the real levers of power" lay, and it was not in his office as PM. That said SF will always be able to say, of their health plans, we were never given the opportunity, and, if they are not elected, they will have more than a point. As Marx said, echoed by Connolly, "governments are mere committees" to attend the affairs of the rich. When SF are elected, I expect, according to them, to see a nationalised single tiered health service in the 26 counties within two terms. I may well be disapointed I fear but I'll be even more disapointed if another "committee" is voted in who are not even committed to such a service.
ReplyDeleteI too am not pleased with SF over that farcical GFA, how or why they signed it is open to many accussations and interpretations! I have read the thing and, as I have said in the past, no self respecting shop steward would have signed such an ambiguous agreement.
When, or if, SF are elected and if they fail, it may prove to all right minded people that parliaments, and the parliamentary system is redundant as far as working-class interests are concerned. Time to take power ourselves, not a party but the class. There are those would be revolutionary parties who claim to advocate the socialist state. This is a contradiction in terms, as in the words of James Connolly; "under socialism, states, territories, or provinces will exist only as geographical expressions, and have no existence as sources of governmental power, though they may be seats of administrative bodies". An assessment by Marx and paraphrased by Connolly I subscribe to. Sinn Fein do not advocate anything like this set up, which may well prove the only way to bring about this long overdue health service. However, for most people the very notion of overthrowing capitalism is, for now, an antithesis. Therfore the nearest on offer is Sinn Fein, who are at least verbally committed to improvements.
Caoimhin O'Muraile
Caoimhin - I no longer see the government as a committee to manage the affairs of capitalism. I think it is too simplistic. I see the government as rooted in capital and its task is to ensure the economy stays on course. In that sense I again subscribe to the Poulantzas view that the role of the state in general is to organise capital, disorganise Labour and manage the relationship between the two. I think the Industrial Relations Act in the South is a fine example of how that is done.
DeleteIt was announced today by the government that there will be an 18% reduction in hospital waiting lists. I don't believe it. Yet, SF with its history of dishonesty, has somehow managed to have you believe it might just be serious.
All we are talking about here is different managers for the same economy. The managers change but the economy does not. I think as Orwell once said everywhere in the world there are three types of people - those at the top, those in the middle and those at the bottom. You and me will still be at the bottom no matter how many Sinn Fein governments there are. And not because SF plan it that way but the government slot machine only pays out a certain amount every time.
And that is it Anthony, "might just" a glimmer of hope, remote as it is, is preferable to not even a glimmer. The next time I am sat for ten hours, after blood pressure has been taken, before I speak to another living soul, a nurse, in the Mater I need to be able, without conviction, if SF are in government, to say that is the fucking lot of them. Each imaginable combination of committee members have been tried. Now the Shinners have also fucked up. People in the street, without your or my knowledge of the subject, are hoping above hope SF will make a difference. As I pointed out, have serious doubts but only doubts. With FF and FG those serious doubts are concrete guarantees they will do nothing. A little hope, is better than no hope. My preference, which will not happen, this I learned years ago, would be socialist revolution, led by and for the proletariat, not a party. This is not, alas, likely to happen and definately not in my lifetime. So, what MAY be the best attainable? A SF PBP/Solidarity coalition is probably the best we can expect. Maybe then, if that goes tits up, people might catch themselves on.
ReplyDeleteAs for you and me always being at the bottom irrespective of who is running the committee rooms, I had the same debate with Nick, my late dad. He was stauch labour, almost waiting for Harold Wilson to be reicarnated, and I argued what you have said except instead of SF the party in question was labour. That said, I still voted labour, simply because I could not in all concience vote tory. But, no matter who won, Nick would still be a Busdriver and sop steward. That did not stop me voting labour though, but certainly under no illussions. I only voted at all because it was/is the only democratic right I have. No party when standing for election asks us if we agree with capitalism. No, that economic shit system will still be in place, as the saying went; "labour or tory, same old story" and the same applies here in Ireland to Sinn Fein. If, on the other hand the Irish bourgeoisie allow them to carry out their programme of health and housing reform, which is unlikely, we may see a difference. Remember, when the NHS was formed the Attlee Government had a world war to fall back on, thus reducing bourgeois oppossition.
Caoimhin O'Muraile
Pregnant SF TD called an ‘effing eejit’ by colleague as she quits over ‘toxic faction’
ReplyDeleteFrankie
ReplyDeleteThere are quite a few far right and far left parties who share your hostility to the EU, banking, Westminster and admire Putin a sentiment I guess you share.