Let us add one further thought to the criticism of this government… February 15, 2016

Posted by WorldbyStorm in Uncategorized

…when the histories of this last five years come to be written perhaps some thought could be given to a singular aspect of the Coalition’s ineptitude. That is its rank inability to fashion political approaches that were sufficient to resonate with the Irish electorate in all its forms. For it really is quite some achievement (in the negative sense) to arrive at a situation where the Coalition’s support is stuck within the 27-30% for Fine Gael area and 7-10% for Labour. In other words they’ve managed to convince somewhere between 34 and 40% of voters. Well, so one might say, that’s what FF did for quite some time at its height. Yet the difference is that FF was able to coalesce with others to make up parliamentary numbers. That task this time out appears radically more difficult for FG and the LP.

And yet the issue is deeper than the anything but simple Dáil arithmetic. It is about perception, and an understanding of how policies impact on the broader society. It struck me long ago that FG and – most particularly – the LP were remarkably cloth-eared in regard to their situation and those whose support they would ultimately require. Perhaps they were taken in by the siren voices who whispered (and in truth often shouted) out for ‘difficult measures’ and ‘courage’ in implementing them, though curiously those who made that case tended not to be those who would be negatively impacted by same (and ironically were the very ones who seemed to argue for a lifting of ‘difficult measures’ in regard to higher taxation and so on – i.e. the very measure that impacted upon them!).

Well, we know now where that has left the two parties, becalmed – at this point, on that far from sufficient share of the vote. This may all change. It is likely that there will be a massive assault on the electorate to do the right thing, to seek ‘stability’ and so on. And one would have to be fairly insulated not to understand how for those who are on low or lowish wages, in difficult and unpleasant work environments, owe money or are unemployed that is going to resonate. But then again part of the problem is that the stability that the government talks about is one which incorporates a continuation of just that sort of approach itself. Why not take a punt on an FF that has softened its image of hawkishness (whatever about the reality), or on SF which has presented a fairly traditional ‘moderate’ ILP approach (no doubt much to the chagrin of the actual LP) or to those on centre left and independent left and further left who stand waiting in the wings to take their share of the vote. There’s no end of choice – tellingly though the one formation seeking those who might drift rightwards waits in vain. There’s no one there to go to them.

But for FG and the LP not to game this out, not to realise the enormous gulfs in the society they have governed this last while, not to see that the animosity and outright hostility that was focused upon them might stymie their chances of cobbling together an even half functioning government without esoteric and likely short-lived alliances is quite something. To be here, just over half-way through the campaign facing all this. Quite something.