We all know over here in Ireland, how little politicians actually care about doing a good job and representing the people whom they are elected to represent. My question is when did this swing into full blown indifference about their lives and wishes.
In Ireland we are subject to a group of people running the country that care no further than reclaiming their seats in the next election rather than trying to stand for their constituents and run the country in their best interests. They are based up in Dublin city in their ivory tower on their huge wages, claiming every expense they have allowed themselves whether right or wrong and then proceed to lecture down to us commoners on how we must live our lives. All the while they blow away our tax money on one stupid endeavor after the next while laughing from behind covered mouths.
They laugh and waste, steal and lecture before the smell of a new election rallies them into action for the first time in years. Then they go in all out promise mode, with promises of less tax, more money, better life for all. Then they get elected and can relax for a few more years until the next one as long as they don't do something stupid enough for the media to hunt them out of office.
The worst part is that all of the other parties are the exact same. They might have different faces and a different set of lies but in the end they have the same rotten agenda. When did our proud forefathers who fought and died to represent their countrymen turn into a bunch of sneaks and cowards only trying to make themselves rich.
There was a time in this country where our government had to meet in secret for fear of persecution and death. Even in the face of this there were people willing to stand up and fight for the freedoms to allow it's people to prosper and create a better country for all.
There have been 3 examples in the present which have really gotten me fired up about the arrogance and incompetence that currently resides in our government buildings.
Case 1: Maria-Bailey: Swing gate.
This was a case in the summer where a government minister who is part of the party that are trying to solve our issue on high insurance costs and fake claims, thought it would be a good idea to sue a hotel where she fell off a swing on a night out while drinking.
If the Government is serious about driving down the claims culture, we cannot stand idly by when adults lose their seat with two objects, one in each hand, and fall off a swing and then claim there should have been a supervisor looking after them.
Ref: Rte.ie
When called out on the case she then went on a radio show the next morning where she was asked about attending a music festival the week after the accident, running a 10k, just 3 weeks after but claimed to be out injured for 3 months after the accident and despite the hotel offering to cover her medical expenses she pushed through the claim anyway out of greed. All the while she cried out against the public and the media looking into the story and causing her distress as she tried to rip off the people she claimed to represent attacking everybody who dared to question her motives.
Thankfully after a few months she was pulled from government for her behavior and won't be put forward in the next one.
Case 2: The €1.8m Printer.
At a time when the focus is on our environment and reducing waste and harmful products, some geniuses in the government went ahead and commissioned a €0.8M printer for their own use. Mainly for printing flyers, cards and notices which can all be done digitally these days and far more effectively.
It was so big that it would take about €200,000 of structural works to fit the building. To make it even worse upon delivery the printer did not fit the space that all the money had been spend on so had to be placed in storage for a further €2K per month.
Ref: RTE.ie
This is only one example that has been highlighted of the tragic misuse of public funds and sheer waste by our officials when the country is falling apart. There is the attitude within their buildings of it not being their own money so it doesn't matter about getting full value for it.
- This is a time when we have record homeless numbers.
- Record waiting times at hospitals.
- Rural decimation.
- Huge issues with suicide.
- Criminals having the run of the country.
- A justice system that cannot cope.
Now not all of these can be solved with extra money but if people have a better quality of life and better prospects then it will go a long way towards fixing these issues. Instead, while we are trying to refund €14.3 Billion of taxes to Apple the the European courts said was owed to us there is a hospital being built in Dublin that was priced at €650M but will end up at over 3 times that much nearer to €2 Billion.
If I was building a house for 1M and they wanted me to pay 3M by the end there is not a hope it would happen. How can a project triple in price while being built and get away with it.
Only on a government project, as you can guarantee no sound business would let it happen to them.
Case 2: The RIC commemoration.
"Fine Gael's epic own goal on RIC event can't be blamed on the public's "disappointing response""
For those that don't know the history of our country, the RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary) were part of the police force on the side of the British army who had certain segments made up of auxiliaries and regiments that made up the, "Black and Tans". These were a police force who through violence, murder, rape, evictions, torture and other abuses tried to keep down the population of our country.
Not all RIC regiments were part of this abuse and some did just policed their areas. However, to try and commemorate this force in the place where they tortured Irish citizens fighting for freedom was a huge mis-step by a government who are not in touch with the people whom they represent a lot of which had relatives tortured and killed by segments of this same police force.
If they had read the country properly then and apologized for getting it wrong there would be no major story but as usual they strode arrogantly up to the pulpit and lectured down to us simple peasants about why we were wrong and it would be going ahead regardless of the majority of Irish people thinking that it was an utter disgrace.
Just today,
"The government has been forced into deferring the commemoration for the (RIC) on 17 January.The commemoration was condemned by large swathes of the public and almost all of Fine Gael's political rivals, while the mayors of Galway, Clare, Cork, and Kerry had announced that they would boycott the event. Charlie Flanagan and Leo Varadkar remained adamant that the event was a good idea, and that it would go ahead, all the way up until the moment they changed their minds."
Ref: Joe.ie
It might have taken a while and eventually they got the message but the damage is done. Once again they tried to ignore the people who they represent and this time it will hurt them. With elections only months away this is one more nail in the coffin of the current government and one which will be remembered come polling time.
There is one truth which the Dublin politicians fail to realize and that is there is a long memory outside of the capital buildings which they have found out this week. It's interesting to watch them squirm for the past few days, through their own fault and arrogance. Thinking that we would just let it go if people were told not to think about it.
Hopefully events like these will inspire more people to get involved and try to change how the game is being played. We need a new generation of politician but one that goes back to the old style of representing your people instead of your own interests.
