Madam, - I'm tired. I'm tired of my name and citizenship being used by this Government. I'm tired of being told I live in one of the richest countries in the world. I'm tired of being told that economics takes precedence over everything. I'm tired of the media telling me I never had it so good.
I'm tired of the acres of space given over to pointless tribunals where we get to hear endless repeats of claim and counter-claim yet see no justice. I'm tired of advertisements from banks that fail to mention they were responsible for setting up illegal schemes for which they are not held to account. I'm tired of the harrowing stories of abuse and neglect and I'm tired of the way that this Government has cut back where it hurts the most.
I'm tired of a Government that opens more pubs than youth centres and funds more golf clubs than it does playgrounds. I'm tired of the culture of "me". I'm tired of the media circus which is more concerned about the seating arrangements at weddings than it is about hundreds of Traveller families denied accommodation.
I'm tired of acres of print that sanctify politicians as great men (and women) and demonises those who have a different point of view. I'm tired of a parliament that tries to create an impression of serious debate and a work ethic but then takes holidays at the drop of a hat.
I'm tired of schools where the rats outnumber the children. I'm tired of road carnage and gangland violence. I'm tired of domestic violence. I'm tired of opinion pieces that sit comfortably on the fence. I'm tired of analysis that smacks of intellectual dishonesty and instead plays the personality game. I'm tired of soap opera politics. I'm tired of IBEC and tired of ICTU. I'm tired of the ESRI and CORI. I'm tired of the hero-worship culture.
I'm tired of Boston and Berlin. I'm tired of drunken politicians and the religious who torture their victims. I'm tired of the arrogance which treats people as commodities. I'm tired of the scaremongering and creation of fear about anything which isn't white or pink-skinned. I'm tired of an Opposition that is afraid to be cast as innovative and which thinks it is functioning if it appears slightly less offensive than the present Government.
I'm tired of hospital queues and waiting lists. I'm tired of the portrayal of health workers as leeches. I'm tired of the investment bankers and economic gurus who have free rein in the media. I'm tired of computers and e-mails and mobile phones and TV programmes where tall and thin people tell me what I should wear and what I should eat and where I should go on holidays.
And I'm sorry. Sorry that I have sat back and let this happen to my country. But my tiredness has just about gone full circle. And I'm not a member of a political party or a trade union. So, I guess I'll have to get off my own little fence and get to it. And take my citizenship back. - Yours, etc.,
MURT FLYNN,
Irishtown,
New Ross,
Co Wexford.