Sir, – Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are the two largest parties.
Over the years these two parties have been jokingly dubbed Tweedledum and Tweedledee, owing to the painfully obvious fact that, despite all protestations to the contrary by both, there’s not a whit of difference between them in terms of economic or social policies or their overall political ethos.
They might reflect on what happened to the original characters in Alice in Wonderland. Tweedledum and Tweedledee looked the same, talked the same, and anyone looking at or listening to them couldn't tell the difference. Yet they doggedly insisted they were different, and even went to the extremes of engaging in mock battles to drive home this meaningless point.
By then, one day, as they were sparring and battling away as usual in a frenzied exchange of imaginary blows, what looked like enormous storm clouds began to form in the sky, and these then morphed into a monstrous crow that swooped from the heavens in their direction. The lads very quickly forgot all their imaginary differences.
The parties can learn from this episode in a children’s classic. This is no time for false pride and mock battles. The challenges faced by the nation are far bigger than any perceived dissimilarities between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. The economic recovery is too precious to be imperilled by instability. The housing crisis needs to be solved, the health service is crying out for fairness and efficiency, and many other compelling issues await decisive, no-nonsense handling by a government with guts.
So the big two had better get their together – before that metaphorical crow comes swooping (or crashing) down on us and the icy winds of recession and misery are once again blowing around our ankles. – Yours, etc,
JOHN FITZGERALD,
Callan,
Co Kilkenny.
Sir, – The only positive I can take from this general election is that it will give me the opportunity to resurrect my car sticker from 1982, “Don’t blame me – I am from Dún Laoghaire”. – Yours, etc,
DÓNAL KING,
Blackrock, Co Dublin.
Sir, – Why is the phrase “parish pump politics” used as a derogatory term? The fact is that politics is local, made up of an entire country of people living in localities, some large and some small. Our whole system of electing representatives to the Dáil is based on local people voting for local candidates. How is this fact lost on those in power, be they politicians or journalists, as they constantly snigger at the little people living in places far away from Kildare Street, speaking in normal Irish accents and with normal Irish problems? Yes, there is the big picture of a whole country to be legislated for, no one denies that, but forgetting the people who populate this entire country and not listening to their voices is a huge mistake.
Some politicians, once in power, forget they too came from the parish pump, where, in the main, intelligent people used to gather to fetch their fresh free water and discuss politics! – Yours, etc,
DOLORES KENNEDY,
Newbridge,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – It appears clear that Sinn Féin, which is “not prepared to prop up government”, is lying in the long grass to continue a steady and patient rise to be a majority party. It could take many years.
It is a vista that frightens me. – Yours, etc,
Dr PATRICIA
O’SULLIVAN,
Tullamore,
Co Offaly.
A chara, – “The people have spoken” will be an unacceptable excuse for Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to abandon their repeated pre-election declarations that they would not form a coalition.
If they do decide to go into coalition, it would have a detrimental impact on both parties’ integrity and credibility, and both parties would be severely punished at the next general election. – Is mise,
JASON POWER,
Dartry,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – Has the multi-tasking Irish electorate managed to give the previous government a good kicking while shooting itself in the foot? – Yours, etc,
PATRICIA MULKEEN,
Ballinfull,
Co Sligo.
Sir, – Given the remarkable rejuvenation in Fianna Fáil’s electoral fortunes may I propose that the goldfish replace the harp as our national symbol? The goldfish has a memory span of approximately seven seconds, which would seem to reflect the memory span of the electorate! – Yours, etc,
JOHN NAUGHTON,
Leopardstown, Dublin 18.
A chara, – Could some of the main stumbling blocks to a Fine Gael/Fianna Fáil union be irreconcilable similarities? – Yours, etc,
CHRIS O’KEEFFE,
Waterford.
Sir, – Would it be such a bad thing if Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael were to form a government?
The old history that sets them apart is no longer relevant. The policy differences are not beyond compromise. Old lines of conflict would become permanently blurred, ending historical rivalries and joining two solid parties that could, together, make Ireland a great place to work, to do business and to live in.
It looks like the electorate cannot decide between them anyway, so get together, lads and girls, and do it.
When I go abroad, I am always glad that I live in Ireland. It’s a lovely country.
We still need to fix a few things, and create a fairer society.
Fianna Fáil has learned how not to run the country, and Fine Gael has learned how to fix it!
Forget politics, and get to work for Ireland! – Yours, etc,
SHEILA DEEGAN,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Sir, – I have always resisted the notion that we are a nation of begrudgers. Sadly, however, with the election results, I am now convinced that we are. Five years ago, this country was on its knees. Now we punish those who have brought us quite far along the road to recovery. Are we fully there? No, of course not. A recovery takes longer that five years, particularly when you consider where we had to recover from. To borrow a phrase from a former politician, “A lot done, more to do”. I sincerely hope we do not regret our serious memory lapse. – Yours, etc,
PAULA MOLLOY ,
Baldoyle,
Dublin 13.
A chara, – Everyone who did take the time and trouble to go out and vote is to be most sincerely congratulated. In some cases, people travelled long distances and took time off of work or college to do so. On the 100th anniversary of the Rising, it noteworthy, however, that approximately 35 per cent of the electorate entitled to vote did not do so. That is the real scandal of this election. The ability to cast a free vote is a privilege and is the very essence of democracy. The right to determine our own future was long sought and hard-won in Ireland and is something that ought not to be taken for granted. It is also a right that is currently being fought for – and denied – in very many countries throughout the world. This very significant percentage of non-voters is primarily a damning indictment of the current system. Subject to the prevention of fraud and impersonation, voting ought to be mandatory, and it should be made far easier for people to cast their vote. Concurrently, of course, failure or refusal to cast one’s vote, in the absence of a good and valid reason, ought to be punishable by a fine. – Is mise,
E DILLON,
Farranshone,
Limerick.