Economy ruined by a neoliberal elite

IN his letter (September 4), John Mallon says Europe Minister Dick Roche and his colleagues in government appear to see the electorate as some kind of unfortunate byproduct of the democratic process.

This should be no surprise because our Government, along with the British and other EU administrations, have embraced neoliberalism and now can’t get free of it even though it’s ruining the economies of Ireland and Britain.

Apparently, neoliberals tend to be suspicious of majority rule and favour governance by experts and elites.

They also have a strong preference for government by executive order and judicial decision rather than democratic and parliamentary decision-making.

Of course the EU Commission and the European Court of Justice fit well into this neoliberal preference, which is probably why these elites throughout Europe were pushing so hard for a yes vote on the Lisbon Treaty and why, when given a chance, ordinary people who believe in democracy and who don’t want to be ruled by democracy-despising elites rejected it.

Brian Abbott

Glencairn

Bishopstown Road

Cork