Madam, - I must take issue with Joe O'Carroll (April 14th) for describing the PDs as radically right-wing.
The truth is, unfortunately, that Ireland is culturally and intellectually unfit for a true right-wing party to exist. True neo-liberalism is all about individual independence and responsibility. Irish people are so far removed from that concept that to even suggest that a political party would seek to promote it is laughable.
The previous PD/FF government lowered taxes dramatically. How did the Irish people respond? By campaigning vigorously against any attempts to make them pay for their own services. Just look at the uproar over bin charges and the ideological vehemence stoked by suggestions that we pay for our water consumption. The PD/FF government threw €9 million at the health service, achieving nothing more than full employment. These jobs were and are untouchable regardless of economic downturn.
It is true that the PDs, more than any other Irish party, have some notion that the State best serves its citizens by keeping out of their lives as much as possible, but they lack the true belief to stake their political existence on it.
They are happy to fiddle about with pub closing times. They are happy to support the destruction of the Freedom of Information Act and are content to allow the tribunals to bury political criminality under a deluge of time, petty legalisms, money and yet more time.
However, I do vote PD in elections and, despite Mr O'Carroll's assertion, we do get the politicians we deserve. The PDs succeeded in reducing taxes, which happily coincided with an economic boom. They attempted to attack vested interests and have failed. They are failing because they are not truly right-wing, not radical. To exist only because the electorate knows exactly what Bertie is all about is not radicalism. It is mere good fortune and it can't last. Even FF backbenchers know the game is up on Bertie.
It is time for the PDs to decide what they truly are. If, as I hope, they are a radical right-wing party, then they should say so and begin to educate the electorate as to what that means. If they exist merely to assuage people's fears abut FF, then oblivion beckons and I'm stuck. I'm stuck because I can't even take the easy route and vote Green any more. So I wait in hope. - Yours, etc.,
PAUL BOWLER, Grosvenor Park, Rathmines, Dublin 6.