It's not a great time for visionary politics in Europe. Now Irish people are asking themselves how to vote in the coming general election. We are more dissatisfied than satisfied with our leaders, as the recent Irish Times opinion poll shows.
The poll indicates stability is at stake. But for that very reason, many voters may in the end opt “for the devil we know”. As earlier this year in England, Irish people will be reluctant to hazard even short-term economic security for longer-term political uncertainty.
Claiming that, "The existential crisis created by the last administration has been resolved" (Irish Times, November 16th), Labour's Brendan Howlin has failed to explain why his party has not benefited from such an achievement. He was canvassing not for a Labour victory but for a "balance" of Fine Gael and Labour.
The Irish Labour Party lamely offers itself to the electorate as ballast for Fine Gael. Elsewhere, the British Labour Party is tearing itself apart. The French Socialist president is saved from terminal political decline only by a “war against jihadi terrorism”.
Irish Labour Ministers blame voters for not appreciating politicians who make hard decisions. Only transfer votes from a strong Fine Gael, and regular Labour voters who see no better option, can save that party’s bacon.
Labour could and should have done more in recent governments. From the amnesty for criminal tax evaders down to the recent debacle over water charges, Labour never quite lived up to what even pragmatic voters hoped it might.
Had Sinn Féin ditched Gerry Adams it could have evolved into a party that offered visionary leadership. But voters stunned by the terrorism of Islamic State will think yet again about IRA influence at the cabinet table. The Irish Times poll shows 30 per cent of voters satisfied with how Adams does his job.
Toxic effect
It does not indicate how many voters detest him politically, or show his toxic effect on transfers.
Meanwhile, in Britain, Labour has reached a low as Ken Livingstone attacked its shadow defence spokesman who has spoken frankly about his depression. Livingstone told Kevan Jones MP he “might need psychiatric help”, later defending himself on the basis that this is how working-class boys behave. How patronising is that? And the most ardent UK Labour supporter could hardly be impressed by Jeremy Corbyn whose stumbling efforts to articulate policy last week saw him apparently suggest police have no right to kill terrorists in action.
Unconvincing alliances
Voters are realistic. They want jobs and social services that work. They are unimpressed by splinter groups of independents who contrive unconvincing alliances.
Depressed by recent savage terrorism, and worried by what looks like mass migration, European voters are only too well aware in their own families of the impact of global capitalism on local jobs, rents and resources, and on the limited capacity of any single government to control economic and social realities.
Overpopulation and climate change are world factors that complicate local political decisions in ways that are likely to get much worse.R Voters know it but see few parties offer long-term solutions.
There is one outstanding political leader, Angela Merkel, but her efforts to hold the EU together and to deal humanely with refugees find her increasingly isolated.
Yet most European voters, educated and sensitive to human and environmental dilemmas, are unlikely to lurch mindlessly into the arms of xenophobic, narrow and in some cases murderous nationalist parties.
Complex solutions must be articulated, and new political paths opened that inspire confidence. Pope Francis, in his recent encyclical on the social and economic realities of climate change has identified the thorny issues and suggested ways forward. He is sincere. Mere policy documents and PR ring hollow.
After a century of false hopes and ideology that led to gas chambers and slaughter, Europeans are slow to talk big about the future. But pragmatic short-term politics can only take us so far.
It requires big-thinking about social justice and respect for a range of beliefs.