Failure of leadership hinders recovery prospects

Monday, October 26, 2009

NOT once has any one of our political leaders had the courage, foresight or common decency to acknowledge his or her contribution to the sorry pass we have arrived at in our country.

The absence of leadership and accountability makes our political leaders no more worthy of the authority to govern this nation than the crime gangs that dominate parts of Limerick and west Dublin.

So-called social partnership was a carve-up by strong-arm factions at the expense of taxpayers and the future. The chairmanships of critical state bodies were given out on the basis of friendship, not on competence and track record.

The abdication of responsibility for the failure to regulate our financial institutions by cynically pointing to foreign bank failures owes more to cowardice than responsible leadership.

Nothing will hinder Ireland’s capacity to move forward than the absence of meaningful, worthy leadership. Pitching threats at the populous, or cynically establishing false conflict between equally vulnerable social groups, owes more to the conduct of despots than leaders. It might be old fashioned and perhaps quaint, but our so-called leaders need to wear sackcloth and ashes, show humility, contrition and at least a commitment to learn why there is such a growing gap between the people and those we elect to lead us.

Government members should accept no more than jobseekers’ allowance in payment for the duration of our economic crisis.

They should travel on public transport everywhere and stop claiming that the sky will fall in if they don’t get to the opening of an envelope at breakneck speed in a state Mercedes with garda escort. Perhaps sitting on a bus might provide them with an opportunity to learn about the concerns of ordinary people.

Declan Doyle
Lisdowney
Kilkenny

This story appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Monday, October 26, 2009