Sir, – Stephen Collins is an excellent journalist. However, he seems have joined the lotus-eating at the summer schools when he says, “Far from being a failed state, we are a highly successful modern country with a standard of living that would be envied by most people on the planet. That doesn’t mean there are grounds for complacency” (Opinion, August 10th).
This false dichotomy is straight from the cult of mindless optimism. It reminded me of a scene in Monty Python's Life of Brian. One dungeon prisoner rebukes another with "He spat in your face – you lucky bast**d". – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL DEASY,
Carrigart, Co Donegal.
Sir, – Stephen Collins (August 10th) quotes Abraham Lincoln “If they [the electorate] decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters”, and says that the Irish electorate’s blisters “arose as a direct result of its weakness for populist politicians and their easy solutions”. An election is a blunt instrument, offering limited choices to the electorate (as demonstrated by the forthcoming referendum to abolish – not reform – the Senate). The electorate never voted for ineffective regulation, risk-taking by management in institutions of systemic importance, nor the infamous guarantee.
Stephen Collins writes, “One way of trying to minimise the danger of a return to irresponsibility would be a genuine programme of political reform”. Our problems have not been caused by an irresponsible electorate, and political reform must be proposed to the electorate (unfortunately, as simple choices) not by it.
The electorate is now sitting on blisters from a fire lit behind it by others. – Yours, etc,
GORDON PINCKHEARD,
Ballygarron,
Spa, Tralee, Co Kerry.