A chara, - I came across an interesting Latin Phrase - post hoc ergo propter hoc, which translates as "after this, therefore because of this".
Immediately the fortunes of The Labour Party came to mind. For over 10 years, people have claimed that Labour's electoral success has faltered due to entering into coalition with Fianna Fáil in 1992. This is a fallacy. The FF/ Labour government was a very successful government. Fact: An ESRI study on the redistributive impact of budgetary policy suggests it was more progressive than its FG-led successor. It was also very popular. Successive MRBI polls over that period had Labour averaging 17 per cent whereas during the heady heights of the Rainbow Coaltition, Labour could only manage 11.5 per cent.
Just because two things happen in sequence does not mean that they are connected. Pat Rabbitte would do well to remember this. He should also listen to the many Labour party members who do not wish to deny the people of considering the option of coalition with Fianna Fáil. - Is mise le meas,
DONNACH MAGUIRE,
Fr Mc Cullen Park,
Kells,
Co Meath.