O’Rourke’s ‘treason’ charge reveals FF’s one-party state mindset

THE fact that an influential and intelligent government politician like Mary O’Rourke (Letters, January 26) could describe opposition criticism of the Taoiseach as “treachery towards one’s country” epitomises the extent that the one-party state mentality has permeated the thought processes of the elite in this country.

That opposition parties have no right to criticise powerful government politicians, and that this democratic republic has no option but to become a one party state a mere 86 years after it was founded, are ludicrous propositions.

The reason for this ‘we are the state’ mentality derives from the fact that one party has been in power for so long. The exalted view they have of themselves derives from this fact.

It is part of the human predicament that power corrupts.

Why should members of a party which has been in government for most of the past 20 years be immune to that basic law of political science?

Because many believe Fianna Fáil propaganda that the party is indispensable, little wonder its elite feel themselves to be untouchable. In this they are supported by serried ranks of obsequious journalists who curry favour with those in power.

If influential media commentators did their job of holding powerful politicians to account, the one-party state mentality would not have become so much a part of the zeitgeist that criticising the Government can be declared tantamount to an “act of treason”.

Anthony Leavy

1 Shielmartin Drive

Sutton

Dublin 13