Winston Churchill once said ‘Democracy is the worst form of government – except for all those other forms...’
After the disasters of democracy on both sides of the Atlantic this year, I am beginning to understand what he meant.
When the demographics are drawn up along religious or tribal lines, the minority almost inevitably suffer persecution, as was the case with the Catholic minority in Northern Ireland. Ian Paisley built a political career on the rhetoric of empty promises. He eventually gained his ‘rightful place’ in the highest office in the land and promptly abandoned the ‘Never, Never, Never’ politics of the previous 40 years just to satisfy his own ego.
America has now elected a president who has a military solution to most problems, who wants to demonise an entire religious denomination and build a wall along the southern border. The EU referendum was decided on a simple majority, with no safeguards regarding turnout etc – 52 per cent of those who voted supported the leave campaign.
As the turnout was only 72 per cent this decision was effectively made by just 37 per cent of the electorate. Within hours of the result questions were being asked about the validity of some of the claims made by Brexit campaigners – particularly the weekly £350m the NHS would benefit from. It has also emerged from documents written by Boris Johnson, that he was totally undecided as to which side he would support – political commentators have now suggested his personal ambition to be party leader and ultimately prime minister was the deciding factor.
In every election campaign prospective candidates assure us they are acting purely in the public interest. Once elected governments reward those they think will keep them in power. The poorest in society generally suffer under right-wing administrations while the rich flourish. Does the 1 per cent who own half the world’s wealth pay all their taxes?
George W Bush once said it is not in America’s interest to tackle global warming – which surely pleased his oil rich friends.
The majority in Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU and while Nicola Sturgeon is campaigning for a special status for Scotland, Arlene Foster has no such compulsion to respect the democratic wishes of her people. She is following the example of her former leader and ignoring democracy when it suits. Brexiteers hope to live in a Great Britain with borders closed to emigrants and open to free trade. In the final analysis Europe will decide on Britain’s access to free markets and it may not be too sympathetic.
However, the ongoing Supreme Court proceedings could be a game changer. If parliament has to make the ultimate decision on Brexit, the by-election result in Richmond Park will be a wake-up call.
P McKENNA
Newry, Co Down
Northern Ireland needs some ‘positive delivery’
After the last assembly election I had hoped that the new younger members would be more progressive that the previous assembly. Like many people, I was depressed but not surprised at the debacle of last year’s threats and counter threats over the future of the assembly. I am not really sure what was achieved by the posturing and belligerence.
The assembly is still perceived as dysfunctional despite what some members say about better cooperation between parties.
Northern Ireland needs some ‘positive delivery’ in order for everyone to see that progress is being made. Photo opportunities is one method but has none of the weight that project completion carries.
In order for Northern Ireland to start to pull its weight the executive would need to deliver things that we can see. The completion of the five big infrastructure projects before the end of this assembly term would be a real boost. A start could be made by appointing a project boss and publicising a date for completion, with all resources being made available.
One of the biggest wastes of ‘human capital’ remains the barriers to normality (usually called Peace walls), these disrupt normal life, job creation, education and cost the taxpayers some £1bn every year. For all the pious words about all the walls being gone by some date in the future, this won’t happen as long as local politicians continue to block progress, and there are no defined goals to be achieved, or no unified leadership. There is so much good work being done on the ground but there is a clear disconnect between the words from the assembly and the actions on the ground. The ‘tinkering’ must stop.
Do our executive and public servants really want to normalise Belfast, or are they content to accept the low standards of progress which we have now? How about a dynamic change?
TOM EKIN
Belfast BT9
Shame on us all
How sad to live in a society where a scheme designed for the well off will result in even more hardship for the most vulnerable. Who knows how many houses will be without heating this winter? How many old people will die this winter because they can’t afford to keep their homes warm? Now we have to watch the pantomime in Stormont where the arguments rage back and forth. ‘Whataboutery’ reigns, as usual. The most sickening image in my opinion was the showroom displaying cars that most of us can only dream of, nice and cosy. Now picture this. An empty fireplace, no coal. A silent boiler, no oil. Cold radiators. An old Superser, one bar spluttering. An old lady sitting wrapped in layers of clothes. The only warmth coming from the mug of tea at her side. She sits forgotten by her family, too busy with the new life far away. Forgotten by her friends, most of whom have passed on or have no way to come and visit. Forgotten by the people she worked with, time moves on as well as staff. Forgotten by the town she spent her life in, too busy getting ready for the holidays. Forgotten by the government too busy trying to fix a scheme designed to burn a fuel that is more environmentally friendly. Unfortunately the old lady isn’t part of the environment. She has no sheds to heat.
I made this old lady up but our towns and villages have many people just like this.
Shame on us all.
DOMINIC McALEER
Ballymena, Co Antrim
Arlene too big for her britches
So Arlene Foster, even after having been First Minister for a few months, believes she is infallible (despite the fact that 71 per cent of the people voted against her DUP) and has to answer to no-one.
£400 million being blown away is a lot of money. It works out to £222 from each and every citizen in the Six Counties. On the top page of the DUP website it says ‘Let’s keep Northern Ireland moving forward’. This, as all taxpayers now know, is a fiction. By her refusal to take any responsibility for the heating scandal she proves that indeed she has became away too big for her britches. Any responsible political leader would do the right thing and stand down from their office while an investigation was being held. It is time for her to finally do the right thing and resign.
ADAM DOYLE
Alberta, Canada
Thriving on blame games
If anyone was ever in doubt about the inability of politicians to govern sensibly, then the present debacle of the renewable heat incentive project should dispel any doubt in their mind.
Politicians thrive on blame games, as their salary carries on irrespective the extent of the financial shambles created.
As a taxpayer I don’t like to see millions of pounds of hard-earned money going up in smoke. I would like some answers. Who initially proposed his hair-brained idea? Who approved it? Were any Special Advisers involved, if so who were they? How much money has already been lost? How long will this loss go on for ? Why did it take so long to close this farce of a scheme?
If anything positive is to come out of this debacle, any further similar type proposals should first be published in the local press for the public to scrutinise. After all it is our money the politicians are wasting and abusing, not theirs.
HARRY STEPHENSON
Kircubbin, Co Down
