Sir, I write in support of Emer O'Sullivan's comments (April 2nd) in regard to Fianna Fail's poster "People before Politics". This is the most extraordinary slogan ever issued by any political party. It reduces politics to nonsense and if Bertie Ahern believes what is on the poster, he should then abolish the Fianna Fail Party.
Surely politics is all about people how to improve their lot economically, culturally, intellectually, to improve their health and education, defend their rights, give everyone a fair crack, with a bit of help for those with a problem or disability. That is the politics of the Left.
On the Right, you might want to give a free hand to the strong - the physically strong, the intellectually strong or the economically strong. Let them dominate and exploit the rest of the people to their hearts' content in a totally privatised and free market situation. That's the politics of the Right.
Could Bertie tell us where he stands? Does he mean people before profit, people before greed, people before treachery, people before personal aggrandisement? What is his politics? Or does he now believe that politics has reached such a low ebb that politicians are the enemies of the people? If this is so, we are moving close to anarchy. - Yours, etc.,
St Laurence Road,
Dublin 20.