You know there’s a need for a new party (#rebootireland) when you find yourself agreeing 100% with 50% of what Clare Daly says. The problem of course is with the other 50%.
Clare shone like a beacon in 2014 with her stance on women/social issues, the Garda whistle blowers and the arrogance displayed by the establishment in relation to them. But her views on the economy, if implemented, would threaten to switch off not only the beacon but the lights as well.
Despite their lip service to the need to encourage SMEs and entrepreneurship, the traditional FG and FF parties remain hostages to the power of public sector unions as witnessed by the status quo in terms of taxation and pensions not to mention the stitch up in relation to Irish Water. As one letter to the Irish Times brilliantly put it: “I have no objection to paying for water. I do object to paying for Irish Water”.
Leo Varadkar did pop his head up in relation to Ireland’s anti-woman and anti-poor stance on termination of pregnancy and the cruel inadequacies shown up in relation to the Eighth Amendment. However, he soon popped it right back again. The established parties remain like rabbits in the headlights of the admirable organisational ability of the so-called Pro Life lobby.
(An inspired piece of PR by the way to brand it Pro Life as that implies that anyone who disagrees with it is anti-life).
Yes, there is a hunger by a young (and older) electorate for a new party which will encourage initiative and which reflects today’s views on social matters. Unfortunately, Lucinda’s new offspring does not appear to be it.
The elephant (or dinosaur) in the room is the issue on which Lucinda and the Reform Alliance was formed. Lucinda and like minded individuals are fully entitled to their genuinely held views and she is to be greatly admired for resigning on an issue of principle. However, opinion polls suggest that Ireland is ready to move on in terms of social issues.
As with Clare Daly, I find myself agreeing 100% with 50% of what Lucinda aspires to. The problem is with the other 50%.
The search goes on.
Clare shone like a beacon in 2014 with her stance on women/social issues, the Garda whistle blowers and the arrogance displayed by the establishment in relation to them. But her views on the economy, if implemented, would threaten to switch off not only the beacon but the lights as well.
Despite their lip service to the need to encourage SMEs and entrepreneurship, the traditional FG and FF parties remain hostages to the power of public sector unions as witnessed by the status quo in terms of taxation and pensions not to mention the stitch up in relation to Irish Water. As one letter to the Irish Times brilliantly put it: “I have no objection to paying for water. I do object to paying for Irish Water”.
Leo Varadkar did pop his head up in relation to Ireland’s anti-woman and anti-poor stance on termination of pregnancy and the cruel inadequacies shown up in relation to the Eighth Amendment. However, he soon popped it right back again. The established parties remain like rabbits in the headlights of the admirable organisational ability of the so-called Pro Life lobby.
(An inspired piece of PR by the way to brand it Pro Life as that implies that anyone who disagrees with it is anti-life).
Yes, there is a hunger by a young (and older) electorate for a new party which will encourage initiative and which reflects today’s views on social matters. Unfortunately, Lucinda’s new offspring does not appear to be it.
The elephant (or dinosaur) in the room is the issue on which Lucinda and the Reform Alliance was formed. Lucinda and like minded individuals are fully entitled to their genuinely held views and she is to be greatly admired for resigning on an issue of principle. However, opinion polls suggest that Ireland is ready to move on in terms of social issues.
As with Clare Daly, I find myself agreeing 100% with 50% of what Lucinda aspires to. The problem is with the other 50%.
The search goes on.
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